When I was eighteen, relatively young and naive, I worked in a corporate colossus type building in the city. The bottom three floors of the building had been converted to a mall, and an upper class one at that. I used to spend lunch time wandering around the mall, looking at all the expensive things.
I tended to sort these things into three broad groups. Group one, probably the largest, consisted of things I wouldn't buy in a fit. Who needs a stuffed elephant leg? Group two was things that might be very nice to have but what would you do with them? Finally came group three consisting of things I want, I want, I want, usually clothes or jewellery. Mind you, I did come across a set of dishes that I wanted. Bone china, very thin, hand painted with a dragon motif.
I got into the habit of looking through the window of one particular jewellery store almost every day. They had the best jewellery.
One afternoon as I was looking the store manager called to me.
"Good afternoon," he said. "You like my stuff?"
"What's not to like?" I quizzed. "You have the best stuff."
"Thank you. I do try. I have noticed you looking a number of times but I've never seen you inside. Feel free to come in and look around. No insult intended but at this stage of your life I have you targeted as a looker not a spender?"
I blushed at the implied question and nodded.
"Don't let it bother you. That may change as you grow older. As it is could you make sure not to impede genuine customers and staff when we're busy. In our slack times you can talk to me or other staff. Also your feedback on some items we show you would be appreciated. We always like customer feedback"
"You want feedback from me? But I'm not trained in that sort of thing,"
"Maybe not but I've seen you silently lambasting some items, what's wrong with that owl?"
He indicated a fat crystal owl.
"Too thick generally. He's not silent death from the sky."
"In other words too unrealistic. What's your name?"
"Julie."
"I'm Balrock. Owner and manager of Balrock's Jewellery. "
Over the next few months I got to know Balrock quite well. Everyone seemed to address him as that and I didn't know if it was his first or last name or purely a made up name/title.
The year advanced and the weather changed. I was wearing lighter blouses and skirts, the occasional breeze plastering them against me, showing off my figure. I didn't mind. I had a good one.
"Why don't you call by the shop after work," Balrock suggested one day. "There's something I want to show you."
I agreed and after work I stopped by his store. He was closed by this time, but was watching for me and let me in. We went to the back of the shop and he produced this lovely little necklet for me to look at.
"This is lovely," I confessed, really wanting one. "How much are they?"
He pointed to a stand in the store and I crossed to take a look. Several very similar necklets were on the stand with their prices discretely hidden behind the stand. My honest opinion was WOW.
"Very nice but a bit pricey for me," I said with a rueful smile.
"You never know. I own the place so I can always do a special price for a friend."
"One dollar and services rendered," Balrock said. "You get an official title proving ownership."
One dollar? I could do one dollar without so much as skipping a cup of coffee. Then the second clause reached over and tapped me on the shoulder.
"Um, services rendered?"
"Nothing too arduous," Balrock said with a smile. "You take off your clothes and just wear the necklet. I'll then make love to you to seal the deal."
I just stood there, trying to understand what he meant. He wasn't suggesting that if I had sex with him I'd get the necklet, was he? I found myself looking at the stand and the prices listed. Yes, those prices were still out of my league.
I looked down at the necklet in my hands. It was probably the nicest piece of jewellery I'd ever held. Balrock reached around from behind me, taking the necklet, lifting it, fastening it around my neck. It looked good.
"Let's see what it looks like against your skin," he said softly.
Reaching around me once more he started flicking open the buttons to my blouse. I was just standing there, letting him do it, watching how the necklet stood out against my cleavage and it looked as if it was made for me.