As the great singer songwriter Neil Young put it, "Rust Never Sleeps", meaning that once the rot sets in it endures to the end.
This pretty much sums up my life. My name is Lexie and my husband is Richard. We met at work. Both of us were hired as line workers at an auto glass manufacturing plant at the same time. We were the only two new hires so we kind of bonded.
Our dating really started with an after work pub visit, maybe a dozen of us. We were the youngest in the group and of a similar age. One of my favourite ballads came on the jukebox so I grabbed Richard and we danced. That was so much fun we kept at it till closing time.
We made the after work dates a regular thing. We were of marriageable age and dating steadily, so nature took its course and we got married. There was never really any mountain-top experience or declarations of undying love for each other, it just kind of fell into place.
After a while I asked for a transfer off the production line and into the office. It was a relief to earn the position and it was viewed as a promotion. Richard was happy to stay where he was.
So when and where did the rot set in? Pretty much the day I started in the office. I was assigned to work in the vice president's office. The VP's name was Derek. He was tall, handsome and young for the position. He also had an eye for the ladies and he certainly had his eyes set on me. Richard hated him with a passion, so did most of the production staff. My working with him set up some tension between us.
Derek didn't appeal to me on a gut level. He was a powerful man, charismatic for sure but a bit too sure of himself. Mind you he tried mightily to spend time with me. I turned down his many offers of lunches, dinners and after work cocktails.
One day, after a prolonged, heated argument about whether we needed to trade in the old car, Richard suggested that I had gotten a little too friendly with Derek.
"Me? I have done nothing but turn him down at every opportunity!" Immediately I knew that I had said the wrong thing.
"So that stuffed-shirt asshole has been asking you out has he? How many times? What has he been asking for, quick blow jobs in the copy room?"
"No, just lunches and stuff. If I ever get to advance in this business I will have to engage in lunches with the staff."
"I don't like that the slimy asshole is asking you out. He fucking knows you are a married woman."
"I don't think a wedding ring is much of a deterrent to Derek making his desires known and pursuing them. He has a bit of a reputation."
"Maybe you should come back to work on the line or find something somewhere else."
"No way! I like my job and I am good at it. Just relax okay?"
But Richard couldn't relax. My slip of the tongue had him worried. He knew Derek's reputation and if he set his eyes on winning a woman he was never known to fail.
Derek asked me to come to his office for a minute. He asked me to sit down opposite his big mahogany desk.
"Lexie, I wanted to thank you for the marvellous work you have done here in the office. Since you have proven yourself I would like to offer you a promotion. I need to replace Karen, personal assistant since she is retiring. I would love to hire you for that position. It will have a number a benefits for you. it will mean a 15% increase in salary. You will be asked to attend luncheon meetings that I have to take as well as attending various trade shows etc. So you will have the opportunity to travel."
"Wow Derek, thank you. I am honoured that you've asked me. Please let me think about it and I will let you know."
"You're welcome. Discuss it with your husband tonight. I am sure he will approve."
Derek was certainly more sure of Richard's approval than I was.
Richard laughed when I told him about the offer.
"He just wants to get into your pants Lexie."
"Come on Richard, I think he is being genuine."
"Let me fill you in. He called me into his office this afternoon Lexie. He told me about the offer and asked me to approve of it. I told him that I didn't think it was a good move for you. I also told him to quit asking you out for lunches and drinks. He said that would be part and parcel for the personal assistant position. I told him to stop trying to seduce my wife. He fucking laughed at me, saying that was the least of my worries. He said if I didn't allow you to take the position offered he could move me to permanent nights. If he does that we will hardly ever see each other."
"Richard, I want that job. I don't want you working nights. I have rebuffed Derek before okay?"
"Do what you want. I don't give a shit anymore. You have been warned." The rot continued to grow between us.
Derek was thrilled that I had agreed to the job. He pulled me into a hug that lasted maybe a second or two longer than was appropriate. He wasted no time, having me book luncheon reservations for him and I and clients. I was quite enjoying being involved in this level of the business. Derek was a gentleman and he made no untoward advances.
Richard was unhappy with my getting so involved on the business side rather than production. He was also not thrilled about my wardrobe changes. I needed to be presentable to clients which meant dressing for success. Richard could see Derek had an influence on what I wore, it was markedly sexier than I used to wear. The tops were tighter and more sheer. My bras were less pedestrian and more silk and lace. My skirts were shorter and my slacks tighter.
Derek had me book a flight for he and I to travel to a big auto expo in Germany. He also asked me to book a hotel suite for the full week.
"Derek, are we expected to be sleeping in the same suite?"
"Yes, tell them it is the same suite as last year. Don't worry, it is a two bedroom suite. Richard won't have anything to worry about."
So far he had given me no reason to disbelieve him but staying in the same suite was flying a little too close to the sun for my comfort.
Richard disagreed with my assessment of the risk. He out and out told me that if I went on this trip with Derek then Derek would have fucked me at least once before I returned. I told him to get real. He threw that back in my face.
"You need to get real. You and the asshole have been getting along like you were made for each other. He isn't ugly and you are fucking beautiful. He makes you wear clothes that he finds sexy. Come on Lexie, he has you wrapped around his little finger. If he wants in your pants he'll get there and you know it."
"Well thanks for that vote of confidence Richard."
That was our last conversation before the Germany trip.
Before we left Derek pulled me aside to make suggestions for my wardrobe. We would be entertaining in the suite, so I would need business appropriate and cocktail appropriate outfits. He also slipped in a sly suggestion that some sultry sleepwear would not go amiss. Yeah right.
The show itself was tiring but exciting. There were many clients taking advantage of the hospitality we offered in our suite. I noticed a number of very attractive women working the room that I hadn't seen before. I asked Derek and he said, "They're "escorts", locally sourced women to act as goodwill ambassadors and to accompany visiting clients if they wished."
"Really Derek, who are we kidding?
"I know but it is expected and appreciated Lexie, don't throw stones."
Drinks were mixed, wine was slurped and finger food devoured. The "escorts" found eager companions and some had left the suite for other rooms. The crowd thinned out and we began the process of cleaning up the detritus.
Derek motioned me over to where he was standing with an older gentleman. He introduced me to Mr. Smith and asked me a shocking question.
"Lexie, would you be interested in accompanying our client Mr. Smith this evening?"
"I am not one of the escorts and since all the escorts have left with customers, I am afraid not."
"Just a moment Mr. Smith, I need a word with Lexie."
Derek lead me by the arm across the room so we could not be overheard.
"Mr. Smith is a huge client of ours. He specifically asked for you to go with him tonight. Please just go with him, have a few drinks, dance, see a show."
"I am not an escort Derek. If he expects me to act as an escort he will expect me to give him a version of a "happy ending" to his evening. He will then be upset and maybe take it out on the company. Far safer for you to either find him an escort or tell him to show up earlier tomorrow."
"Shit! Come on Lexie, just go to his room and make nice okay?"
"No."
"Fuck!"
Derek scowled and turned toward Mr. Smith and put on a broad smile as he walked across the room.
"I am really sorry Mr. Smith but Lexie is not feeling well, you know, jet lag. If you visit the suite tomorrow night a bit earlier we should have some escorts available then."
"Will the delectable Ms. Lexie be available tomorrow night?"
"Who can say? In any case I wish you a good night."
Smith left but he gave me one last leer and smacked his lips. Ewwww.
It was only Derek and I left in the suite and I was a little afraid of the aftermath of my refusal.
"Fuck sake Lexie. If a client wants us to entertain them then we entertain them! I didn't ask you to go and bear his children, just be arm candy for the evening. The old bastard would probably fall asleep before he could fuck you anyway!"
"I am just uncomfortable with fulfilling that role. I simply can't do it. Look Derek I'm exhausted, I am heading to bed. Goodnight."
That night I FaceTimed with Richard. I told him about how exhausting the expo was on top of jet lag. I said that the hospitality aspect was totally new to me and I had a lot to learn. Richard just told me to keep the asshole at arms length or farther.
I slept like a stone that night.
The second day of the show was a bit less stressful and I was better acclimated to the time zone. We met so many potential clients and listened to some fascinating lectures during the day but the night was for entertaining.
The second night was a little bit more cocktail party than reception. I was wearing a cocktail dress that I felt was very sexy. It was short and showed considerable amount of cleavage. When Derek saw me come out of the bedroom in the dress he gave me a hug and moaned into my ear then said, "I like!"
