It was now early June, and the summer heat was building, and the fact that it was so hot this early in the season meant that the entire summer would be sultry. That was fine with me, because I enjoyed hot summers, and it is during the heat of summer that some of the best erotic moments happen. I was looking forward to see how my situation with Sophia would develop.
Still, there was business to conduct, so one morning I called her into my office. There were some prospective art works to be purchased and then traded and I wanted to discuss these with her, but instead of her normal enthusiasm, she seemed a little distracted and somewhat upset. I thought it was because of what she sensed about me and Gael, but when I inquired, she told me a different story. I did notice something different about her though: her outfit. She was dressed in a short, breezy skirt, of very fine fabric, all of which highlighted her lovely thighs. I also noticed, very slightly beneath the fabric, a hint of her small and sexy panties. Her blouse was also fine, and the first few buttons were undone and beneath them I could see a light blue, lacy bra. She somehow seemed a little less modest than before. I wondered if our encounters had created this change in her, but I felt there was something else. The quality of her outfit seemed to be the highest caliber.
I was sitting at my desk. “Anything wrong?”
Sophia looked away, as if hesitant to tell me anything. “Well, I really do not want to get anyone into trouble.”
“No, go ahead. If there is problem here, I need to know.”
“It’s just…”
“Just what?”
“Well, my former manager, Rick. He always seems to be bothering me.”
I leaned back on my chair. “Really. How so?”
“He comes by my office at least once a day. Sometime several times. He does not really do anything except say hello and ask me some stupid questions. Even when I was coming here, right now, he somehow managed to pass me in the hallway. He stopped and tried to talk to me. I told him I did not have time today. He seemed a bit peeved.”
I tapped a pencil against the desk. “Go on.”
“And…well I noticed the other night, when I went home…I noticed his car…sort of following me. Really. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but it felt kind of creepy.”
“Well, that is interesting. Anything else?”
“He sends me texts, several a day. Sometimes he says inappropriate stuff.”
“I see.” I rested my head in my hand using my forefinger for support.
“Once, he even mentioned you.”
I looked at her firmly. “In what way?”
“He made some sort of suggestion, about you and me….like he knows something.”
I sensed there was still more. “And?”
“Oh yeah, one day Gael and I were having lunch in the cafeteria, and he came by and sat with us, uninvited. It felt really weird.”
When Sophia mentioned that she was having lunch with Gael I sat up. This was news to me. “Oh really.” I got up from my desk and walked over to her and put my hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. He won’t be bothering you anymore. I will take care of this.”
Sophia’ eyes welled up with tears and her hands were slightly shaking. “Thank you, sir. As I said, I really do not want to get anyone into trouble, but I do not know what else to do. I really did not want to bother you about all this. I just…I just thought…”
I kissed her. “No…don’t worry. As I said, I will take care of this. Now, why don’t you get back to work. We will do our assignment for today another time. I will let you know when.”
“Yes, thank you.” She started for the door and turned around. “Oh, and today Gael and I are having lunch again. I think we are becoming friends. She seems quite nice!”
I tried as best to mask my surprise, even shock at all this, as neither of them let me know that they were having lunch with each other or even talking to each other in any way. I don’t know why I should be shocked at something like that. Women are quite devious in their own little ways, and they are most devious when it comes to men.
“Yes, she is quite nice. Well, enjoy your lunch.”
Sophia left and I got Sal on the phone. “Hello, Sal. I need you to come by my office ASAP. And yes, bring all the information you have found. You have some photos too? Yes, bring those as well.”
Later that day Sal arrived, efficient and as professional as usual, his menacing nature well concealed beneath a veneer of well-dressed restraint. He had a folder with him, and in this folder were some photos, and those photos were of Rick sitting in his car, and his car was sitting outside of Sophia’s house.
“How long has this been going on?” I flipped through a number a large photos on glossy paper.
“It is hard to say boss, but I would say it was well before you put me on this case.”
I stared carefully at each one.
“Do you want me to take care of him?”
I thought for a moment. “No, at least not right now. There will be more to do, and I will contact you when the time is right. But for now I will take care of this.”
“OK Boss, just let me know when you need me.”
“I will. Thanks, Sal.” I patted him on the shoulder and he left and I returned to my desk and stared out the big window. I had much to ponder, as this situation needed to be handled with extreme care and complete finality.
The next morning at exactly 9am I called Rick into my office. I knew he was now a problem for my business, and for the integrity of the Underground, and decisive action had to be taken.
Rick came in, all smiles and eagerness, but also with a little hint of nervousness, as I had never called him into my office before without some business reason. I sat back casually in my chair, holding a pencil between my hands.
Rick stood before me, his big belly quite prominent, and I noticed some drops of sweat seeping through his tight fitting, blue polyester Oxford shirt. “What can I do for you, Boss?”
“How is everything going? Are you doing well?”
“Great.”
“Good. Glad to hear that. Things going well at home?”
“Oh yes, the wife is expecting. About two months now. Our third child. I can’t believe it. Three already. I thought two was more than enough, but you know, things happen!” Rick laughed, but it was a nervous laugh, as he was clearly trying to mask his anxiety at being called into my office for no reason.
“Well, that is good. It is good to have a nice little family. But I am wondering,” I said as I put the pencil down on my desk and leaned forward in my chair. “Does your nice wife know?”
The laughter stopped, and a serious look came over Rick’s face. “Know what?”
“That you have a thing for Sophia?”
Rick gave a throaty laugh and ran his hand over his half bald head. “What are you talking about, Boss? A thing for Sophia? Your kidding. Come on!”
“No, I am not kidding.”
Rick stiffened his round body, as much as a soft, round body can be stiffened. “I don’t have a thing for Sophia. I am happily married man.”
“You are happily married? Well, does your wife in this happy marriage know that you have been stalking Sophia?”
Again he laughed, but now his laugh was more subdued. “Stalking Sophia? Your joking! Yeah, my wife would kill me. Come on, what is this really about? Am I on candid camera or something?” He looked around the room as if trying to find a hidden camera watching him.
“Yes, well, here is a photo I want you to see.” I put the photo in front of him, showing his car in front of her house, with Rick clearly in the car, watching her windows while eating a bag of Doritos. His white shirt in the photo did have orange Doritos stains on them.
A blank look came over his face as he stared at the photo on my desk. “What? What are you talking about?”
“That is you, isn’t it?” I gently pushed the photo towards him.
Rick picked up the photo, looked at it more carefully, and stuttered. “I…I…well…”
“No more needs to be said. Clean out your desk. You are fired.”
Rick laughed again. Now the laugh was less vigorous and much more nervous. “Oh, you are too funny boss. This is a joke! You must have made this up. That thing is quite easy these days, you know! Photos can be doctored.” He then thrust out his hands as if he were about to be handcuffed. “You got me!”
“This is no joke, Rick. The photo is legitimate. And you know it is legitimate.” I stood up and walked over to him. I could not get too close because his big belly was in the way. “You are fired and I want you out of here within the next hour. If not, I will have security help you out.”
He realized I was not joking and the sweat that was only a few spots on his big belly a few minutes ago had now become giant wet stains that covered his whole blue shirt. His round face and partially bald scalp were now moist with anxiety. “Please, Boss. I’m sorry. I really did not mean anything with Sophia. I was just, just concerned about her. I wanted to make sure she was doing ok. I know how busy you are and everything.”
“And everything? Sophia is no concern of yours. And you stepped over the line by parking your car outside her house to watch her.”
“I…I really did not know what I was doing. I’m sorry. Really…it is just…well, all the pressure with another kid coming. I don’t know.” He wiped his face with his hand and his hand became covered with sweat as he tried to compose himself. “Is there anything I can do? Anything to make this up.”
“No. Your done. Out. Leave immediately.”
Rick stared at me for a good few moments, silent. He then suddenly lost his submissive demeanor and his eyes widened with the sort of wild look a rat might have if cornered. “What the fuck! You can’t fire me, you fucking asshole. I have been here for ten years. What, are you jealous? I know you must be fucking her. Just the way you have been fucking that other one, what’s her name, oh yeah, Gael.”
I said nothing. “One hour Rick. After that, security will help you exit the company.”
“You won’t get away with this!”
“Now, Rick.”
He knew what his options were, which were none, and he began to walk towards the door, but before he did he turned towards me. “Oh yeah, well everyone is going to know about you. I am going to let the whole world know what a fucking degenerate fuck you are. You are fucking with the wrong guy here!”
I calmly sat down at my desk and picked up the pencil. “Good luck, Rick. I hope everything goes well with your wife and the new kid.”
He briskly walked through the door. I was not worried about him. I would have Sal continue to keep an eye on him, and, if needed, if I felt he were a true threat to the Underground, further action would be taken. All that was usually needed with guys like Rick would be a quick and private chat in a dark alley or the back seat of a tinted car with Sal, who would be more than willing to use whatever means of intimidation he felt best, and Rick would learn that he was never to mention anything else about his experiences here, or else he would be losing a bit more than simply his job. For now I would deal with him by cutting him lose from my company, protecting myself, my business, as well as Gael and Sophia, but the severance check he would get in the mail in a few days would cover his expenses for a while, until he could find a new job, and his wife and kids would be taken care of for the time being. I had met his wife before so she was more than simply a faceless spouse of an employee. She probably knew nothing about Rick’s behavior, and she seemed like a genuinely good woman, so I did not want to punish her too, and I wanted to make sure she was ok, at least for a while. I am not, despite all my other actions, a total asshole.
But he was on his own now and would be free from any further action, so long as he kept his mouth shut and did not interfere with my interests.