Copyright 2021. All characters are fictional. All characters are over 18. Any resemblance to persons living or dead are coincidental.
Jaqueline was deeply confused by recent events. Her executive assistant, Edward had been offended by the lack of respect shown by a rising star on the staff, Dasha, and had offered to resolve the problem. While normally unperturbed by office politics and gossip, Edward had been visibly annoyed by Dasha's attitude, and had asked Jaqueline for a few days off and permission to resolve the problem. Jaqueline was getting fed up with Dasha's attitude, and said, "Please, do whatever it takes."
With this, Edward had flashed one of his rare smiles, and assured Jaqueline that Dasha would see her in a new light. Jaqueline was a little puzzled by Edward's lack of detail as to his intentions, but given his efficiency in every other task, didn't give it much thought. That smile, though. He didn't often smile. He was either alert and focused on a task or resting his eyes, and not much in between at the office.
Jaqueline thought about that smile and her assistant's physique and posture, and she got a fluttery feeling between her thighs. He wore a suit well. On the few occasions, always after normal business hours, when he took off his jacket, his broad shoulders, narrow hips, and flat stomach had given Jaqueline something to think about, even though he was years, well over a decade older than her. But while a successful executive, she hadn't had much time for romance or relationships, and Edward scrupulously avoided any hint of his relationships, or even his orientation at work. What a waste if he was gay, reflected Jaqueline. Occasionally she heard rumors about him politely declining flirtations and invitations from both men and women on the staff, and speculations about his tastes, but that seemed like the usual office cattiness.
Once, someone had remarked in front of him that he must be in love with his boss, and Edward went cold, gave the staffer his full attention and focus in silence until the staffer lost her nerve and apologized profusely. He just nodded, thanked her for her apology and returned to his tasks. That staffer had later gone to Human Resources and tried to complain that Edward had intimidated her, but all he had done was look at her, and she had made comments about his personal life, accusing him of an improper relationship without anything to back it up, she was warned about her conduct, and Edward's behavior was deemed appropriate to the circumstances. Jaqueline felt comfortable working with him, as his conduct made it easier for her to maintain her professional reputation, and after the lone incident, no one even hinted that there was anything between them. Still, Jaqueline reflected, if there were to be an office romance, he would be the man she picked.
Jaqueline had a few relationships over the years, but the inept fumbling of her boyfriends left her uninterested in going any further than fumbling, and girls simply didn't make any sparks for her. At the office, however, the women were very talkative, and her reputation was too important to her, and the men were, well, too unattractive, or married, or gay, or... Edward. She had come to the conclusion that no man was ever going to be as satisfying as her own fingers, but somehow, she felt Edward might be different. He was the ideal executive assistant, but apparently unavailable for anything else, and Jaqueline felt that was a bit of a pity.
Then Edward and Dasha disappeared for a few days, and when they came back, Dasha was a reformed character. Every aspect of her work and behavior was improved, and Dasha's respect for Jaqueline was above reproach, a complete change from the sullen, snide remarks from prior to their trip. Edward, on the other hand, acted as if nothing happened. He managed Jaqueline's calendar and appointments, and tracked operations as deftly as ever. After three weeks of Dasha's new respect for Jaqueline, Jaqueline had to know what happened. She wasn't sure how to approach it, so on a Friday morning she started by asking Dasha point blank what happened.
With her eyes down, she said, "Miss Jaqueline, you'll have to ask Mister Edward about that." Which piqued Jaqueline's curiosity even further as Dasha had never used formal address before that weekend, and now only used it for Jaqueline and Edward. To everyone else, she was very much the tough girl; a little intimidating, and always forceful and energetic. Dasha was an attractive young woman, and a little on the butch side, which Jaqueline found cute and occasionally annoying, but this docile, submissive manner was confusing, but very sexy in a way Jaqueline couldn't put words around. Not that Jaqueline wanted to bed Dasha, but that she wanted to share in whatever had led to this subtly sensual transformation.
That evening, as the office was clearing out for the night, having spent the day thinking about how to approach the subject, she waited for Edward to come in for the end of day and end of week task checks. At the end of normal business hours, Edward had hung up his jacket and loosened his tie a bit. As was their habit, at the end of every day, Jaqueline took a few minutes with her assistant to go over the statuses of the projects, and the schedule for the next day, or on Fridays, for the next week. She listened and adjusted the plans and priorities for next week, and was reminded of a few things that needed to happen. As Edward was closing his old fashioned black notebook where he tracked all this, Jaqueline, instead of the usual closing politenesses, said, "Edward, I had a few words with Dasha. About her attitude."
His lips tightened into a line for a moment. "Ma'am? Has she been a problem?"
"No, not at all. The opposite. What happened that weekend? I asked her, and she said I needed to ask you about it."
"Ma'am, I helped her see a perspective she hadn't considered, and you did say 'do whatever it takes'."
"But how? She's such a wild cat normally. She stands up to everyone. She doesn't take anything from anyone."
"Except you, and, apparently, me. Now."
The sun had set, and the stars were coming out over the skyline visible from Jaqueline's corner office window. As was often the case, Edward and Jaqueline were the last two in their office's suites, which occupied two floors of the building. Edward took a deep breath, and looked uncomfortable. Jaqueline had never seen him uncomfortable. He was always in command of himself, even as the most heated discussions were being held around him, or when addressing issues that would have other staffers trembling and stuttering. This was even more disconcerting than Dasha's meekness to Jaqueline.
"I... helped her understand that her... tough girl attitude wasn't helpful, and that... um... your... quieter approach didn't mean you were weak or to be bullied."
"Edward. I need to hear the whole story. Now." She went over to the couch, and gestured for him to take the other end of the couch. He hesitated, then complied with the implied order.
Then Edward began to share the story.
---------------
He explained how he created a pretense to get Dasha alone and away from the amenities of civilization. He explained how he had presented her with a choice of consenting to his tutelage or calling Jaqueline and apologizing for her bratty, spoiled attitude. He mentioned that he had told Dasha that 'Miss Jaqueline' didn't believe Dasha could do it.
"I never said that! And when did I become 'Miss Jaqueline'?"
