Chapter One -- The Porn Shop
It was the same year the "dot coms" went bust that Mark lost his high paying job. Unemployment covered him and his wife for twenty-six weeks, but when that money ran out he was desperate; willing to take any job that paid money.
Mark ended up with a job that took him to the inner city, to the red light district, to a porn shop. It was the only thing he could find. There were just too many other professionals out looking for work. Mark was not proud that he was working the porn side of the tracks, so he hid it from his friends and family. Interestingly enough, there were some benefits to this job: it paid better than minimum wage, and he was learning more about sex than he had ever thought possible.
Mark had invested six years of his life after high school to earn two degrees. He worked hard to get through school, worked hard in the job that he just lost, and applied this work ethic to all his endeavors. Mark was still driven at age thirty-five and knew it would only be a matter of time before he'd be back in the computer field once again. For now, this job would have to do, and he made the best of it.
Sam was the owner of the little porn shop. He had taken an immediate liking to Mark as soon as he had stepped into his business. Sam desperately needed the help after firing the last guy he caught stealing from him. He knew as soon as Mark opened his mouth that he was dealing with someone that did not have the best street smarts, but had brains. Mark was clean cut and looked like he could be trusted. Sam offered him a job immediately and Mark accepted it.
Sam was twenty years older than Mark, a product of the love generation, trying to run an upscale adult novelty shop. A few had suggested that he should place video booths in the back, but he opted not to do this; figuring this would attract the wrong kind of clientele. Instead he sold movies, magazines, clothing, and novelty items he thought most open minded couples would be interested in purchasing. During the week the shop would see mostly single men who came in to browse. They usually migrated to the back of the store, away from the front store window, always looking down to avoid eye contact. Sam enjoyed watching their reactions, especially when they finally had to approach him to pay for an item. He was pretty sure he could tell those that were just embarrassed for thinking about sex, apart from those that could use a shrink.
Sam looked over to where Mark was working. He would never tell Mark directly, but part of the reason he hired Mark was due to his strong physical features. There stood a tall, muscular young man with a full set of wavy brown hair that definitely would attract a pretty lady. He was hoping that just having Mark visible in the store would help bring some women into the shop to check out the "male eye candy". Sam was a good business man and fully understood what the balding, over weight, old man he saw in the mirror was telling him.
Sam's shop was only a few blocks away from the movie district. On the weekends the couples would come pass the shop and a few would come into the store. Sam really enjoyed watching these pairs. They would float through the shop, picking up items, giggling, exchanging naughty thoughts, until they found an item that they could use later in the privacy of their homes. In most cases the guy would hold his head up high when he paid for the item, locking eyes with Sam, giving him that
I'm getting some tonight look
, while the woman hung on his arm, looking down, shyly trying not to make eye contact.
Sam would take their money with a knowing smile and hand the change back without saying a word. Sam's eyes spoke for him,
yep -- you're getting lucky tonight. And you'll be using this. Not bad!
It was one of those nights after an attractive couple had just paid for their toy and was leaving the store; Mark had just come up from the back of the store carrying a box of items that were being readied to restock the shelves.
Sam turned to Mark. "I sure wish I could attract more twosomes like that into this store. Not only is she easy on the eyes, but having both of them in here would help to attract more males/females like them." Sam sighed as Mark started to stock the shelves.
"If you want to attract more couples, you will need to change the window display outside to get their attention." Mark remarked almost mechanically.
"What do you mean?" What's wrong with the window?" Sam asked indignantly.
"What
isn't
wrong with the display," Mark answered while he continued to stock the shelf. "What you need is a display that would get the attention of couples."
"And what would you suggest that I do?"
"Put a display in the window that would create a fantasy. That is what I would recommend." Mark answered with a matter-of-fact tone as he continued to stock the shelf.
Sam reflected on Mark's comments for a few seconds and then responded. "Okay smarty-pants. I'll give your idea a chance. And because it was your idea, you get to set it up."
Sam's answer caught Mark by surprise. He was not expecting him to agree and agree so quickly. Worst yet, he now had the responsibility to make it happen. "Whoa, not so fast. I would need a lot of props that you don't have." Mark thought he had figured a way out of his predicament.
"There you are wrong," answered Sam with a smile. "I've got a storage shed out back with stuff that would probably do the trick. I'll show you the room after we close tonight and give you a few weeks to make it happen.
Mark did not say much after hearing about his new task other than to say, "Okay, we'll take a look at the room later." And returned to stocking the shelf.
Later that evening, Sam led Mark out into the ally, across the access road, back to what looked like a small storage garage. He unlocked the door and ushered Mark into a large high ceiling room. He flicked on a single light that hung from a wire high above the floor. In the room Mark found a blend of items that ranged from things you would find in a home to objects you would find in a clothing store. What caught Mark's attention were the mannequins. Most were in the form of females with a few male dummies. There were a number of wigs and assortment of items that could be used to dress the fake bodies. Now Mark's mind was starting to work in overdrive as he considered the possibilities.
"Okay, here's the deal." Sam started, "Two weeks next Friday I want you to have a new store display in the window. Use what ever you can find in this room and we can talk about anything else you might need from the store. Have fun, but just make sure I see more couples in the store over the days that follow. Do we have an agreement?"
Mark turned to look back at Sam, and then lowered his eyes in thought. Thinking quickly he added, "Okay, if I do this, what's in it for me?"
Sam was half expecting this response from his smart employee, "If you do this and we increase sales by ten percent, fifty percent of that profit will be yours."
Mark smiled, held out his hand, "We have a deal."
***** ***** *****
Mark shared his new task over dinner with his lovely wife two years his junior. Morgan immediately opened up a line of questions, clearly showing her interest in this new activity of her husband.
Mark and Morgan had developed a very healthy attitude towards sex early in their marriage. During their honeymoon in Hawaii, Mark had no problem with Morgan running around topless, wearing only a small tight thong on the beach. They both enjoyed her being half nude. He had no problem enjoying the tan lines she displayed in the privacy of their room later that day.
Morgan had been concerned when Mark first took the job with Sam. Not really knowing what went on during the work day at the store played in her thoughts until he brought home a few 'girlie magazines' he said were popular with the clientele. For a few of the pictorials, Mark pointed out his favorite models. The following afternoon she took one magazine into their bedroom to compare her body to the women in these pictures. Morgan quickly realized her large breasts and tiny ass were more than comparable to these models; she was 'HOT'!
"Have you picked the fantasy yet?" she asked between bites.
"Yep, it's my favorite fantasy." Mark answered while glancing up into his wife's green eyes and flashing a smile.
"And what fantasy might that be?" She asked using a playful tone.
"The one you keep teasing me about."
Morgan knew exactly what he was talking about. She had stumbled upon this fantasy during one of their wildest love sessions. Morgan had found herself describing how she would act if someone surprised her while she was answering the door in a bathrobe. She placed her naked body into a white robe and watched his penis grow as she opened the white material to illustrate her story. She reflected on this fantasy, quietly taking another bite of food through a smile.
Mark recognized the look on her face, "Yeah, I thought you might like that one. And that is why I picked it."
