Most employees are heading down the escalators, but she's heading up. It's late afternoon and Janet has been called to the CEO's office. Women like her don't usually get that kind of invitation. She's with the accounting department, there is never any reason for the boss to speak with her privately. At most she's shaken the man's hand a few times during company events.
When she reaches the upper floor she uses the bathroom first to straighten her appearance in the mirror. Her thick framed glasses are on point. Her blouse is neat. She uplifts her spirits with affirmative self-talk to perk up.
The secretary, a young black woman named Monique, tells her the door is open and the boss is waiting. Janet enters the office space. The place is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows and it's a real technological haven. Screens flicker with designs, a symphony of innovation.
She shakes hands with Emerson, the rockstar billionaire who enjoys being on the controversial side. While she is nervous with perfect posture and straightened appearance, Emerson is casual in jeans and a tshirt. There are two men in suits sitting around a small conference table with their neckties loose after the long day. There are also papers on the table along with a small box.
"Welcome," he says. "Great to finally meet you."
"Actually we've met before."
"Have we? Apologies, I meet so many people."
"Don't worry about it," she says. "I'm just an accountant."
"Yes, I know everything about you. I went over your file."
"May I ask why?"
"I'd like to research you. Are you a fan of technology?"
Emerson gets the small box on the conference table, opens it, and shows the earpiece inside. He explains this in simple terms, but much of it goes over Janet's head. She deals with numbers, not science, though her curiosity is piqued to the fullest.
He explains that the device has the power to manipulate neurons in the brain and control thought patterns. It's the latest technology, he explains, which few people know exists.
"I'm sorry," she says. "But I'm curious, why are you showing this to me? I'm... I'm..."
"Boring?"
"Well, I wasn't going to call myself boring, it's just that I'm unfamiliar with this."
"Exactly why you've been selected. You come without bias. I like that you're boring. Perhaps we can come to an equitable agreement."
"Such as?"
"I'll pay you $100,000 for a week. Just stay at home and wear the earpiece everyday."
The number is so staggering that Janet stands there frozen trying to process this. She'd gone through a divorce years ago, she currently supports her son in trade school, and she helps her elderly parents as well. It takes her two seconds to realize her boss already knows this, which is probably the main reason she was selected.
"I'm interested," she says. "Everyone could use more money these days, well, except for you."
He laughs. "Right, right. Before we go any further, I should clarify, this device will influence your thoughts. Harmless, I promise. Are you still interested?"
"I'm assuming we're talking about menial things. Or maybe to see how I perform while doing work at home. Is that what you're saying?"
"Actually I'm more focused on your sexual being."
"My sexual being?" she asks.
"You're smart, ordinary, non-sexual -- our ideal candidate."
"Can I have a few days to think about it? The sexual part is a bit... weird."
"No, this should be spontaneous. I want authenticity. If you think too much, it may skew the results. We've tested this in the laboratory but I want real world findings."
She's directed to the lawyers at the conference table, who've drafted an agreement that binds all sides to secrecy. All she can think about is the money. Sure, she lives with her son, but how bad can it be? Her boss would never take it too far, she thinks.
"Fine, I'll do it," she says.
"Excellent. And please remember, this is not about perversions, although sexuality is part of this. This is not about voyeurism, though we will observe closely. This is about testing a product that will change society. Sexuality happens to be a facet of humanity. You know, the horny part of the brain."
Emerson laughs at his last statement and Janet pretends to laugh along. She's given a moment to sit and review the contract. Simple terms. After she signs, Emerson signs as well, then a lawyer places a check for $25,000 on the table. Partial payment in good faith, she'll receive the rest of the money next week when everything is complete.
The boss tucks Janet's hair back and places the earpiece in her ear. It's a comfortable fit. It amazes her that she'll earn beyond a year's worth of salary for doing something so simple. But then again, her boss is known for bending regulations, doing whatever it takes to get the job done, no matter how ruthless.
Emerson goes to the laptop on the table and starts typing a few keys. The effect of the device is so subtle that Janet hardly notices it, but it's there, however faint.
"Feel anything?" he asks.
"Actually... I feel a little light... like I'm floating."
"Perfect. That means it's working. I'm accessing your cerebral cortex now."
He types on the laptop and Janet feels her nipples turn erect.
"I felt a tingle," she says.
"Excellent, mind if I call my secretary for a final test? After that you can go home."
"Umm... sure. Go ahead."
The boss summons Monique into the office, who knows exactly where to stand, and the two women are side-by-side awaiting further instructions.
"Janet, have you ever touched another woman before?" he asks.
"No, sir."
"Janet, reach out and touch my secretary's breasts for a while."
Before she can politely decline, both hands move, reaching forward and groping another woman's breasts. Monique is unphased by this random touching, suggesting she's open to it, or that she's done it before. Janet, on the other hand, is wide-eyed about what's going on. She's never done anything close to this before, much less in front of prominent men in the workplace.
Her hands cup and massage Monique's tits. She can feel the breasts stiffen with arousal. The secretary's blouse and bra are thin, so Janet rubs the front of the boobs and feels the nipples become erect.
As if a spell has worn off, Janet pulls her hands away, hoping she doesn't get scolded for this.
"I'm so sorry," she says. "I... I have no idea why I did that."
The secretary smiles and says it's okay, while the men in the room look pleased with the result, as if a strategic objective had been achieved. They'd seen this before, but with a plain woman like Janet doing it, it's all the more satisfying.
"So it works," he says. "This week is going to be a turning point in your life."
"What did I just do?"
"You massaged Monique's breasts, just like I asked. Told you this would change humanity."
"I'm flabbergasted. I mean... how could I?"
"You followed orders. Or maybe, deep down, you had an interest in touching another woman, and the device helped your secret desire come alive."
"I can assure you that's not the case."
"Perfect, you're perfect. I want to see what other secrets we can pull out of you. Still want to continue?"
Her fingers still buzz from having rubbed the fabric of Monique's top, she can still feel the sensation of having groped the secretary's breasts. Going further could result in anything, potentially ruining her reputation in the process, but another $75,000 would do wonders for her bank account. Plus this is her boss, the last thing she wants is to upset him. Who knows, this could result in more bonuses in the future.
"I'd be happy to continue," she says.
The boss shakes her hand, so do the lawyers, and the secretary tells her that she has an amazing touch. Janet smiles back, a forced smile, wondering where this is headed.
xxxxx
Later that evening she's soaking in a warm bubble bath. Quick showers usually do the trick after work, but now she needs something more calming. She's holding the small device in hand and wonders how it made her do something obscene. The terms and details of how far this will go were left vague, which was intentional. The boss wants her caught by surprise.
She puts the device back in her ear and enjoys the bath. Her hand drifts below. She fingers herself. Doing this in the bath is an occasional indulgence as she prefers her bed at night, but sometimes she needs the outlet to unwind after a stressful day. She makes herself orgasm thinking about the secretary's tits.
After that she drains the bath and runs the shower to get the dirty water off. She'd already explained the situation to her son and she's 100% certain that she'll make a fool of herself at some point. It may become amusing in the future, but for now she's just living in the moment. She and her son agreed that the money was worth it.
When she steps out of the shower and dries her body with a towel, she stands naked in front of the mirror and examines her reflection. The lines around her eyes look deeper at this age. 'Maybe a touch of concealer?' a voice whispers in her ear, not a literal voice, but a suggestion that feels uncomfortably close to reality. She flinches at the mental intrusion.
She sits naked in front of her dresser after drying her hair and digs through her makeup case. There's a forgotten world of texture and colors, some of which she hadn't used in years and had no intention of using again, but she's always been frugal and never tosses anything out.
Maybe a touch of old magic won't hurt. Even though she's staying at home, she applies mascara, more than what she'd normally wear. Eyeshadow, blush, concealer. She uses shiny lip gloss that makes her puffy lips more prominent. Her ex-husband joked that the shiny gloss highlighted her 'dick sucking lips' and she was so mortified by his laughter that she never wore it again.
All things together, she looks like a college girl again -- especially without her thick-framed glasses. Still naked, she digs through her closet and drawers, going through her memories, things she wore for her ex-husband in her younger days. In the back of her drawer, in the forgotten space, she finds her old bras and panties. Smaller in size from when she was thinner, with a racier style than what she'd normally wear today.
The voice in her head whispers, 'Confidence booster, increased social interactions.' Excitement bubbles in her stomach from the thought of being 'hot' again. Is this her real self? A woman who prioritizes getting attention over being respectable? She prides herself on being a professional working for a major tech company.
Janet goes down the stairs to make dinner, and as expected, her adult son is preparing food in the kitchen. He almost flips when he sees her new appearance. In a good way... maybe. The outfit clings to her curves. The neckline is almost plunging to give a partial view of cleavage.
"What's this about?" Cody says. "Is there a party later?"
