Michelle hesitated and looked at the dark green front door.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she looked around, an embarrassed look on her face. Slowly she reached her hand out and pressed the doorbell.
The ring echoed in her ears, thought it wasn’t loud. She felt a weight dropping to her shoulders as she heard the footsteps rushing to the door.
She turned her head, her body torn between doing what she had to do and running away.
The door opened slowly at first, and then completely.
“Michelle,” she looked up at her husband’s boss. “What are you doing here?” He leaned, using the door to prop himself up, a newspaper folded neatly between his arm and his side.
“I,” she hesitated again, “I came here because…”
She felt her words trailing off. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Her legs wobbled from the stress as she slowly put her head into her hands and began sobbing.
“I came here to convince you that you shouldn’t fire my husband,” the words finally blurted out. “Please, Mr. Harris, he’s a good man.”
She slowly looked up at him, the tears streaking down her cheeks. He stared at her smugly.
“Michelle, these are tough times,” he started slowly, with eat word she felt herself struggling to keep her composure, “and in tough times I have to make tough decisions. You see, I simply can’t afford his salary.”
Michelle felt her legs giving out on her as she stumbled back one step and then to her knees.
“Please,” Michelle put her hands together and looked up at Mr. Harris. “Please isn’t there anything you can do?”
She let out a whimper and put her head into her hands again.
She felt his firm grasp pulling her to her feet.
“Come in the house, you’re making a scene,” Mr. Harris pulled he towards the door and quickly shut it behind them.
Dragging her by her arm forcefully, her feet shuffling underneath her, he pulled her into his office and sat her in a chair.
“I live in a nice neighborhood,” he stated irately, “and the last thing I want them to see is a young woman on her knees on my front porch. They might get the wrong idea.”
Michelle looked across the desk at him and nodded her agreement.
“I’m sorry,” she said between sobs. “I’m really sorry.”
Michelle felt herself settling down, as the gasp of air became less pronounced.
“It’s just that, you don’t understand, we just bought our house, got married, we have a lot of bills. Isn’t there something you can do,” Michelle pleaded.
Michelle felt nearly suffocated as silence filled the room. She looked at him for an answer, his eyes staring coldly into hers.
“I don’t know,” he finally broke the silence. “I really don’t know.”
Michelle felt her heart drop.
“Please,” she begged, “Please I’ll do anything.”
She looked at him, her eyes filling with tears. She watched him staring into her eyes coldly again, she wondered how he could remain so untouched, so cold.
“Anything?” he stood up and looked down at her. “Anything at all?”
Michelle was frightened. He was so tall standing next to her.
“What do you mean?” she looked down at the floor afraid to look into his eyes.
“You said you would do anything if I didn’t fire your husband?” He looked at her and slowly walked towards his door.
“Is that true?” He looked at her. “Is that true?”
Michelle felt her body break down in a giant sob.
“Yes,” she sobbed. “Yes I’ll do anything.”
She watched as he turned the lock on the door, the loud click echoing through her ears.
“Good,” he looked at her as he walked back to his chair. “Very good.”
Michelle looked around the office, pausing on the pictures of Mr. Harris’ family.
“That’s my son,” he nodded at the picture on the wall.
Michelle just nodded yes and turned back to look at him.
“Now I’m prepared to let your husband continue working at my company,” he looked into her eyes, “if you are prepared to do anything for him to keep his job.”
She looked back at the pictures of the family, his wife, his son, his daughter. Maybe he wasn’t so cold, she thought.
“I understand,” she looked towards the floor.
“Good,” he looked at her, “now stand up.”
Michelle still felt her legs wobbling as she pulled herself up. Afraid to look him in the eyes, she turned her head slightly.
“You are very sweet to do this for your husband,” he looked up at her. “Why don’t you slowly take your top off.”
Michelle felt the tear running down her cheek. Slowly she put her hands at her waist and tugged on the shirt, pulling it over her head. She felt her nipples harden as the cool air rushed through her bra, sending goose bumps down her back.
“The rest of it,” he commanded from his high leather chair. “I want to see it all.”
Michelle felt the sob shiver through her body as she reached her arms behind her back and pulled the clasp apart. The bra fell to her elbows before she pulled it off and carefully placed in on the chair.
“You aren’t very old are you?” she felt him looking at her breasts.
“Twenty,” she looked away.
“That's young for a wife?" he looked suprised.
"Why don’t you touch them,” he commanded. “Play with them for me.”
Michelle reached up to her breasts and slowly wrapped her hands around them. Still looking away, she gently rolled the nipples through her fingers.
“You are very sweet,” he looked at her again. “Can I see the rest now please?”
She gasped, but slowly reached down to her jeans and unsnapped them. She wriggled her hips out of her jeans and pushed them to the floor.
