The air conditioning inside the elevator chilled the back of Sophie's neck. She straightened her thin, professional top and worried her stiffening nipples would show. She really needed to ace this interview.
Six months ago her husband had been laid off from his job at a prestigious financial firm. With the economy in recession, gainful employment had been difficult to find and their debt had climbed dramatically. With the stress mounting, Sophie and her husband had weeks of difficult arguments over bills. They weren't even sure they could afford to send their daughter, Sarah to college. After one particularly exhausting fight, Sophie resolved to take matters into her own hands, even though she had little work experience and had spent most of her life a stay at home mom. She had been applying and interviewing ever since.
The office was surprisingly small and nondescript. The email had said something about a consulting firm, though Sophie wasn't sure what that really meant. She paused for a moment, tugged her skirt and walked through the frosted glass door.
John checked his phone and saw he was due to interview another candidate. He had started the company on his own out of college, and business had grown rapidly over the last couple of years. It had grown so much in fact that he really needed some help around the office, clerical duties and such. He had already turned down plenty of applicants, many of them too young or inexperienced. He really needed someone more mature, someone who could handle the sensitive nature of his work. Perhaps he was too exacting.
When his latest interview sat down across his desk, John had to suppress a start. She looked to be in her thirties, though her pale, soft features made it impossible to place. Sophie had a slim frame with nurtured curves and her long, dark brown hair framed a pair of pendulous breasts pressed tightly behind her button up blouse.
"Nice to meet you, I'm John."
"Hi, I'm Sophie. Sorry I'm late..." Sophie shifted nervously in her seat and crossed her legs. She wasn't expecting someone so young.
John went through the formalities of the job and Sophie did her best to explain her suitability for the position.
"Well to be honest, even though you seem to be perfectly competent I'm concerned about your lack of experience. My clients are very demanding and I'm not exactly the easiest boss to work for."
Sophie straightened, her eyes flashing. She was so close!
"Please, John, I really need this job! I can make this work. We've been really struggling at home and I need this paycheck. I'll do anything."
John struggled to keep his eyes off her diaphanous top. Her mild, floral perfume had filled his office and he was starting to regret spending all of his time working instead of chasing women.
"Alright, you can start next week. I'll send you the paperwork."
A few days after Sophie started, John began to regret hiring her. She was fine as a personal assistant and in that sense he was happy he brought her on. But he hadn't considered the distraction she would bring. When she entered his office to bring messages or coffee, he couldn't ignore her legs and the way they met her supple bottom. It didn't help that she favored skirts that clung to her shapely hips. It was driving him crazy.
One afternoon he called her into his office.
"Sophie, have a seat."
"Yes sir?"
"I got an angry email this morning from IGC and they say they didn't receive the paperwork?"
Sophie shifted uncomfortably. She couldn't believe she had forgotten. With everything going on at home, her arguments with her husband, she must've let it slip her mind. Her husband Mitch had grown resentful given she was the sole breadwinner for the family now.
"You realize this could cost us the contract? They're our biggest client. I can't excuse such a basic mistake. You should know how important this is."
"I'm so sorry John! I can't believe I forgot," Sophie pleaded. "There's been so much going on at home, and--"
"And nothing. Pack your stuff. I'll find someone else who can remember to send an email."
Sophie felt her heart clutch. If she lost this job she wasn't sure they could even make rent. She couldn't imagine telling her daughter they would have to leave their home. Where would they live? It felt like a terrible responsibility. Her eyes began to water.
John listened as Sophie begged to keep her job. He had intended to fire her, but as he heard more about her home situation, as he watched her ample breasts rise and fall with her pleas, he realized there was another way. Was he really going to do this? He felt compelled, but he wasn't sure what would happen.
"That's enough. I'll consider keeping you on. But things will be different from here on out."
"Oh thank you!" Sophie rejoiced. "I'll do anything. Please John, I need this! I'm so sorry."