This is my submission for the
2021 On The Job
Story Event.
Michelle and I were doing some late-night stocking. I had been forced to keep my doors closed for eight months, but the governor had allowed us to open at limited occupancy. From the first day, there was a line at the door, and after a couple weeks of open business, I was beyond relieved to have made enough profit to update my collection. We had just gotten all of the spring dresses in, and the two of us had been in the back adding them to the inventory for hours. Once that was finished, we were ready to go make some room for them in the store.
"Michelle! You left the damn gate up again."
"I locked the door."
"You know I get nervous being here at night. You're lucky we're friends, 'cause sometimes you can be a lousy employee."
"I didn't see anyone else back there helping you."
"Point taken."
"Alright, Boss Lady. You get the gate, and I'll flip on some lights."
We separated to do our tasks, but the silence of the room was shattered by a male voice, "Sorry Ladies, but I can't let you do that."
We both screamed and instinctively dove down behind racks of clothes.
"No, no, no stand up and raise your hands where I can see them, or I'll shoot you through the clothes."
I heard him say, "There's one," and knew that Michelle must have popped up. I was paralyzed with fear. We were two women in a store with someone who said they have a gun. My head was running through every episode of Forensic Files and Unsolved Mysteries. There probably wasn't anyone in the adjoining shops to hear us scream. Someone at the Applebee's across the street might have been able to hear a gunshot from the parking lot, but it wouldn't matter by then. So, I stood up and raised my hands.
He was standing about ten feet from the register. I was about to tell him that he was being recorded on security camera to scare him away, but when I looked at the camera it was pointed in the wrong direction. So was the one at the door. Someone must have come in during the day and created a blind spot.
Michelle looked to me and said, "It'll be okay, Emma." She seemed nervous, but unafraid, and I felt calmer after seeing her.
"Get over here and put your phones on the counter."
I walked slowly, but with every second I was still alive, I felt calmer. Really, I think it was just how together Michelle looked that soothed me. My eyes had adjusted to the dark well enough to see that she had actually rolled her eyes at how slowly I was moving. It was like she was just checking her watch for this to be over.
I put my phone on the counter. He told me to put my hands down and open the register. I said, "I'm sorry, but there's no money in there. We empty it at close and there's a timer on our safe. We can't get any money until 8:30 AM tomorrow."
"Shit!"
I tried to calm him, "I'm sorry. We're insured. I'd give it to you if it were there."
"Just show me the empty tray. How can I be sure you're not lying?"
Michelle chimed in with, "I'm sorry Emma."
"Sorry for what?"
"I didn't actually empty the register. I'm opening alone tomorrow, and I just didn't feel like messing with it."
I popped open the register and was relieved to see money in there. Something struck me as odd about it, but I couldn't quite figure out what. I was just happy that the man could get what he came for. Hopefully, he would leave, and leave us alone.
"Nice work ladies. Now you bring the money and your phones. Wait! Why is there only one phone?" He pointed the gun at Michelle. "Put your fuckin phone on the counter right now!"
"I can't. It's in the back. I can get it real quick."
"No you fuckin can't. I'm not letting you out of my sight much less with a damn phone. Empty your pockets. Wait, never mind. Take off your clothes."
"What!?"
"I don't trust you not to have stashed your phone while you were ducked down. You act too much like you know something. Look, I don't want to hurt anyone, but I want to go to prison even less. Get naked or get dead."
I was starting to think that Michelle was some kind of superhero. Even while being forced to strip, she didn't seem upset at all. If anything, I would describe her mannerisms as impatient. Until that is, she started taking off her clothes. Then she seemed something different altogether.
She dropped the blazer we wear as our uniform behind her on the floor revealing a spaghetti strap cami tucked into her pencil skirt. Then things got weird. Instead of pulling it over her head, she crossed her arms to slide her cami and bra straps off at the same time and began to slowly glide them down her arms. I assumed she was trying to seduce the criminal, but why? He was about to take the money and leave.
Then her eyes looked right into mine, her lips parted just slightly, and her breasts sprang free. They were full and heavy, her nipples ready to cut glass. Why was she looking at me? Was I supposed to do something while he was distracted? If I was, then I was failing, but I was frozen. Maybe it was the adrenaline or maybe it was my pounding heart, but seeing her hardened nipples made me aware of my own rubbing against my bra. More than that, my pussy was wet. I wished she'd stop looking in my eyes. What the hell was happening? Is that how people react to mortal danger?
Michelle was sliding all her clothes over her hips at once. Her top and her bra were joined by her skirt, hose, and underwear. As the clothes lowered, there was indeed something stashed in her underwear, but it wasn't a phone. Resting on her underwear, riding them down her legs like it was taking the elevator, was an egg shaped vibrator.
"Whoa, what is that?!" said the criminal who had no right to judge my friend.
"I like to wear it at work sometimes. Makes the day more interesting."
"It's really none of your business," I said confidently, defiantly even. I felt like Michelle could no longer be the assured one, now that she was vulnerable and exposed, but then I instantly regretted provoking him.
"Put it back in."