Crack. The sound slices like a steel blade through the chatter of the conference room. Heads whip around, staring at me, while I stare at the broken glass of water. The glass of water I was supposed to bring.
"Well don't just stand there, clean the bloody thing up."
I bend down, black pencil skirt riding up slightly as I gingerly pick up the delicate shards of glass. I glimpse my face, flushed bright red, reflected in the glass. To say my first week as an assistant at Rowle-Huntington LLP was not going well would be an understatement.
"I'm so sorry sir, I didn't mean to, I tripped over the carpe-"
"Tales of your incompetence to not interest me Miss Rose. Clean it up, and do not disturb me again."
Mr. Rowle. The iciness in his tone matched is matched by the colour of his pity less eyes.
I nod and quickly dispose of the shards in the garbage, and scurry out of the conference room. My first week, and I managed to embarrass myself in front of every attorney on our firm's biggest case, not to mention opposing counsel. I rush to the bathroom hoping to find solace. I can hear the other assistants already snickering and laughing outside. Martha is already taking bets on when I would be fired. If I were her, I would bet on today, 100:1.
I look up at myself in the mirror, and two dark brown, almond shaped pools, peer back at me. I imagine how stupid I must have looked in the conference room. Water stains dot my light cream silk blouse, creating tiny translucent peepholes to the black lace lingerie and perky breasts beneath. Wait, could Mr. Rowle have seen through my shirt? I shake my head at such an inappropriate thought, surely not.
"I am a smart, confident, successful woman."
I dab dry my blouse with paper towels, and give myself one last look in the mirror as I stride out of the bathroom. I'm relieved to find that the office is quiet once more. Settling down in my chair I bury myself in my work, and let my mind be distracted from the day's incident. Soon my head is abuzz with legal briefs, memos, meetings, and court dates.
At 5, everyone begins to pack up and chatter about evening plans. I stand up from my chair and stretch my arms up towards the ceiling with a yawn, skirt brushing my thighs as it lifts slightly.
"Ahem."
I swivel around to find myself staring at a steel grey tie, then a white collar, then ice blue eyes.
"Do not leave Miss Rose, I have something to discuss with you in my office."
The snickers and whispering start again as I sit down and a small sigh escapes my lips. Great job Rose, this was probably the best job got and you just had to go screw it up didn't you. I mentally prepare myself for my dismissal, well if Mr. Rowle was going to fire me I was going to give him a piece of my mind.
Time trickles by, a slow stream of minutes that quickly turns into half an hour, and then a full hour. By 6:30 I was getting antsy, one black stiletto hanging off my restless, stocking covered leg. I glance into Mr. Rowle's office and I see him concentrating on the papers on his desk. He would be handsome if he weren't such an arrogant ass. His body is toned, broad shouldered under his fitted suit, and his eyes, mmm his eyes...He looks up and my dazed expression meets his piercing gaze.
"Oh shit."
I quickly pretend to be busy on my computer as I hear the sliding glass door open and his heavy footsteps behind me.
"Miss Rose, my office."
He has had me waiting so long, the floor is nearly empty now. Thank god, I can still maintain a shred of dignity when I'm fired. I trail behind him, head down, as I rehearse my speech in my head.
"Sit down, and close the door."
I slide the glass door shut with a clink. How apropos, I muse, glass started this whole thing and now it will seal my fate. I start on my tirade.
"Mr. Rowle I would just like to say, although this firm is a pleasure to work at I feel your behav-"
"Do you know the company dress code?"
His comment throws me off, I was expecting something else, and my carefully rehearsed lines go out the window.
"W-why yes of course, though since we are a Silicon Valley-based firm the dress code hasn't been enforced in some time..."
"So, because a rule is not enforced means one should not obey? Miss Rose, may I remind you that you are a new employee and should be treading carefully particularly regarding company policies."
"I'm sorry Mr. Rowle, I didn't realize it was so serious." My voice is a trembling mixture of nerves, fear, and anger.
"Do you realize how incredibly distracting your attire is to male employees? Especially after your little water glass performance this morning, incredibly insolent!"
"I-I just.."
"You just what Miss Rose? Stand up. I am going
to make clear your violations of the dress code."
Unable to speak, I slowly stand up from my chair.
"Your skirt is much too short, for example. When you bend over like so," he pushes me down, bent over the smooth mahogany of his desk. "I can see your skirt riding up."
I gasp in surprise, and struggle, futile against his tightening grip
"And these stockings are absolutely unacceptable," he says, tracing his finger along the black lace tops, "in any office environment."
My body tenses at his touch, I can't believe this is happening.
"Please Mr. Rowle, this won't happen again, now if I could please go on my way home, I'm supposed to meet a date tonight." He ignores my poor excuse.
"You will address me as Sir while you are in this room. Now, if you want to keep your job you must remove your inappropriate attire. I will let you go now, but I can just as easily overpower you again, so don't think about doing anything stupid."
He releases me from his steel grip, and I straighten up and turn to look at him, tall and broad shouldered. His eyes are now glued to my bottom and stocking tops. My eyes widen in horror.
"Excuse me?"
"Excuse me, what."
"Excuse me, sir. This is completely unacceptable, I-I will report this to HR, I will file a complaint, I will-"
"You will do no such thing. Particularly since I have already filled the paperwork to have you fired. In fact it is sitting there right there on my desk" He motions his hand lazily. ",and need I remind you that should you threaten to sue, you are in the presence of the best attorney on the market."
He smirks.
"I must say Miss Rose, it is a shame, because you are not a terribly incompetent employee. If I were in a better mood, this could all disappear."
I bite my lip in frustration, trying to think the situation through my cloudy mind.
"What do you want, sir?"
"For you to disprove your insubordination, Miss Rose." I feel his gaze move like a burning brand over my body. "I am offering you a chance to redeem yourself to me, in exchange for your job. The question is, what are you willing to do to keep it?"
My body betrays me, palms perspiring, stomach somersaulting, face flushing. I can't tell if I'm disgusted or excited at the rabbit hole I am about to fall into. I close my eyes and brace myself, he's right, I have no choice.
