2
CHAPTER TWO
Two weeks later, I arrive at my office very early. I’ve been working relentlessly on a large software project contract. There are people under me who normally handle the day-to-day management of contract negotiation, but this one is special. This contract is with a specific location operated by the government, but this particular facility has cornered the market in their niche. The sensitive nature of their business dictates that only the most senior level executives can see their confidential information. I’m mulling over certain aspects of the contract when Dana’s three-tap knock interrupts my thoughts.
“Good morning, Mr. Powers. Here’s your coffee, newspaper, and your schedule for today. Is there anything else I can get you?” Dana cheerfully asks.
“No. Thank you, Dana,” I reply and pick the contract back up with one hand while holding the hot coffee in the other.
“Miss Vasco is scheduled to be here at nine o’clock this morning. After I get her set up, do you want me to send her in here to you?” Dana asks, a little too nonchalantly, even for her.
I arch one eyebrow and give her a look that relays my suspicion of her inquiry. “Yes, Dana, you may send her to me when you’re finished with her.”
Dana smiles and leaves me to finish my work. After a couple more cups of coffee, I think I finally have the contract where I want it, positioning my company to be the sole provider of software upgrades throughout their entire top-secret facility. Since they are actually a facility that is owned and operated by the government, the contract has to be approved through so many red-tape channels it’s ridiculous, but it will be more than lucrative in the end. It will also give my company footing to take on more government contracts and effectively corner that market in the process.
Dana’s knock signals that Miss Vasco has graced us with her presence today. “Come in,” I call from my desk.
Sophia enters and closes the door behind her. She is dressed in a straight skirt, form-hugging shirt, and heels. Her hair is down, flowing over her shoulders and shimmering in the light. Walking directly to my desk, she looks as if she is more than ready and eager to get started with her lessons.How fitting, I think.
“Good morning, Mr. Powers. How are you today?”
“Good morning, Miss Vasco. Call me Dominic,” I say with a smile, “I’m great today. How are you?”
She’s a bundle of energy but I don’t get the sense that it’s nervous energy. She seems really glad to be here and ready to start in her new role. I briefly consider how fortuitous it was for her to walk into my office so unexpectedly, right when I was ready to throw in the towel on finding a suitable assistant.
“I am wonderful today,” she gushes. “I’m so excited to work with you and learn from the best of the best.” Her tone is honest with no hint of insincerity. I feel a gush of humility wash over me and quickly dismiss it. There’s a reason why I’ve reached this status well before my current age of twenty-nine and reacting with ridiculous feelings are not part of that reason.
“Very well. Let’s get started then,” I say as I put the confidential contract away. “We’ll start with a tour of the building. By the time we’re finished with the tour, the management staff meeting will start and I can introduce you to the team.”
Sophia nods in agreement and follows me out of my office. “DPS occupies the top five floors of this office building. We have the best view in the city,” I explain with pride. The Dallas Arts district is one of the most coveted areas for business. “The top floor is, obviously, where all of the senior executives’ offices are located. The four floors below us are all software engineers, divided by function and expertise.” We continue walking through the expansive offices and I point out the office specifics she will need to know.
“These offices are so chic-modern while yours is more conventional. Was that by design?” she asks as we walk side by side down the corridor.
“Yes, it was. I like the big, heavy oak desk, the built in bar, and the clean, crisp look that shows my professional side. But since the programmers don’t meet directly with the customers and they are tied to their desks, for the most part, I wanted them to have a more relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.”
“I love the ambiance in here. You’ve made it very conducive to working long hours while your employees are shackled to their computers,” Sophia says with a warm smile and appreciation in her tone.
The vision of acertainemployee in shackles flashes through my mind and my eyes drink her in. I can picture her delicate wrists and ankles bound as she’s writhing and waiting for me to take her to the places I alone can take her. The vision of her face in the throes of passion is all I can see now as she takes all the pleasure that I alone can give her.
I clear my throat lightly, and as if I’m on autopilot, my feet turn and carry me on to continue our tour of the offices. As we turn the corner heading toward the bank of elevators, I instinctively place my hand at the small of her back. The intimate act feels so natural that I don’t even notice it for the first couple of seconds. When the electricity from our touch courses through my hand, I look down and suddenly jerk my hand away.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“I sincerely apologize for that, Sophia. It’s purely habit for me, but I assure you it won’t happen again,” I try to explain.
“I didn’t mind, Mr. Powers,” she replies demurely with her eyes cast down to her feet, her black lashes lying against her soft cheeks, and her fingers clasped together as she lightly wrings her hands in nervousness. “Honestly, it’s alright.”
With an incline of my head toward the elevator, we wordlessly walk the remaining few steps to it. I press the down button and silently curse myself for the egregious mistake on my part. To avoid temptation again, I quickly thrust my hands into my pants pockets and resolve to keep them there as long as possible. When the elevator dings, I allow her to enter first and have to consciously fight with my hand to not touch her again.
On the next floor, we walk and I explain the basis for the office arrangement. “The programmers on this floor all handle some type of application programming. This type of programming has the end user in mind so it’s much more user-friendly and gives the output they need in order to conduct business,” I explain. “For example, some of the programmers have built a new accounting system for one of our customers. It helps them track and maintain their inputs and outputs much easier.”
After I show her around this floor, I continue to relay the information to her about the way our business is structured. “The floor below this one houses the system programmers who build the actual operating systems. They control everything the computer does, how it reacts with the applications, and the most basic level of technical functions it’s capable of handling.
“The floor below that is for game programmers. We also subcontract with several high-end game companies. Below that is the floor where all of our web designers are. They build and design complex web designs, including the language, graphics, and web-based security systems. Each floor is set up like this one, so it’s just a matter of tracking down the desk of the specific person you need,” I finish and glance around the floor.
“This is very impressive. I’m really looking forward to jumping in and getting my feet wet.”
I don’t need any mental images of anything related towetright now. My imagination is active enough without the constant reminder that I can only look and not touch. I can look at her perfect, perky breasts, as they push against the fabric of her shirt and beg for my hands to take them. The rise and fall of her chest as she breathes normally mocks me. The pulse of her jugular vein in her neck beckons me to nibble on her perfect skin. Her beautiful brown eyes are expressive, and her modesty causes her to blush when she thinks she has been caught in an errant thought.
