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From: Ann Douglas <annd@pop.tiac.net>
Subject: AnnD: Behind The Curtain - FF - (1/4)
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Hello once again. As in the past, comments are both
appreciated and encouraged. Suggestions are also
welcome. Please respond by E-Mail as it makes it
easier for me to get your reaction. One thing I do
ask is that you now include your first name and age
in your comments. It gives me a better idea who my
audience is.
Behind The Curtain
by Ann Douglas
Part 1
“You wanted to see me, Shelby?” Annette
Delany asked as she knocked on the opened door of
the office and stuck her head inside. “Sally’s not at
her desk and .....”
“Come on in and have a seat, Annette.” he
replied with a quick wave of his hand as he continued
his phone conversation. “I’ll be with you in a few
minutes.”
The 22 year old brunette stepped into the
large office and sat down in one of the two chairs in
front of Shelby’s large oak desk. Carefully she
adjusted the conservative blue and white business suit
she wore. She really would’ve preferred to have
waited in the outer office while her boss finished up
his business call but with his secretary at lunch she
had no choice but to announce herself.
Shelby Thomas was 44 and quite a good
looking man. He had brown hair and beard which
coupled with the glasses he wore always made
Annette think of one of her college professors. Still
trim unlike most men his age, he was just beginning
to fall victim to the effects of a lack of exercise. It
was the price of success -- too many hours spent
behind the desk.
The young woman really didn’t know him too
well. Aside from her original interview and office
gatherings, she had few personal dealings with him
other than staff meetings in her short time at the firm.
Not wanting to stare, Annette instead looked
out the window, fixing her gaze on a ferry boat in the
distant harbor. The view from Shelby’s office was
certainly much better than hers, not that she ever
thought of her cubicle as an office. One of the perks
of success she reminded herself. After all, this was
her first job since graduating college and she really
hadn’t expected to start at the top. At least not in
the first ten months at Moore and Stanley she
reminded herself.
“...and I look forward to seeing you next
week.” she heard Shelby say to his associate on the
phone as he brought his conversation to a close.
Shelby took a few moments after he hung up
the phone to jot down a few notes on a pad before
looking up and giving Annette his full attention.
“I guess you’re wondering what was so
important that it couldn’t wait until after lunch.” he
said as he dropped his pen back into the holder on
the edge of his desk.
Truthfully, Annette had a really bad feeling
when Sally had called her an hour ago and said that
Shelby wanted to see her at noon. One of her best
friends had just been fired from her job a month
before and her boss had done it during the lunch hour
as to have as few people around while she cleaned
out her desk as possible. She didn’t think Shelby was
that kind of boss but didn’t many of these middle
management types go to the same schools.
She’d wracked her brain to come up with any
major error she had made and came up empty. In
fact, she thought she was doing a really great job, a
lot better than her predecessor had -- and his
performance had earned him a promotion.
“I’ve been going over your handling of the
Peterson Foods account.” Shelby said without any
preamble as he removed a large folder from his file
cabinet. “In fact, Gustav Czerny, the general
manager of Peterson called me this morning to
comment on it as well.”
“Oh shit.” thought Annette, “They’re not
happy with the changes I made. I knew I should’ve
played it safe and just follow Carson’s previous
recommendations.”
“Needless to say, Mr. Czerny was quite
surprised at what he considered such a radical change
in the way we handle his account.”
“I’m going to be fired!” the brunette said to
herself she squeezed her hands together below
Shelby’s line of sight.
“He also remarked that if he’d ever come
across such malfeasance in his own organization,
he’d have been inclined to immediately fire the
individual responsible. After taking a more detailed
look at these accounts, I had to tell him that I
agreed.”
“Malfeasance?” Annette mentally repeated to
herself, how could they even accuse her of such a
thing. “All she did was correct what she had thought
were sloppy errors and poor practices.”
“Needless to say, Jim Carson no longer works
for this company.” she heard Shelby say.
“What?..” Annette said, confused.”
“And if it wasn’t for the bad publicity that
would come out of it and the fact that I think it was
more incompetence than malfeasance since he
doesn’t seemed to have profited from the errors, I
might’ve even considered criminal charges against
him.”
“You fired Carson?” Annette repeated.
“I had to.” he replied. “This company can’t
afford to lose clients because of shoddy work. The
only reason we haven’t lost the Peterson account is
that Czerny is willing to overlook Carson’s poor
management if we guarantee a better handling of
their affairs in the future. That plus a certain financial
adjustment that I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time to
read up on later. ”
Shelby paused a few moments while he
dropped the file back into his cabinet. Then with a
much wider smile on his face he stated again.
“I know you haven’t been with us very long,
Annette.” he began. “but if you continue to deliver
work like this I see a real future for you with our
company. The most immediate aspect of my
appreciation for your work will be seen in your check
next week. It’s a small increase but one which I’m
sure will be repeated on a much larger scale before
long.”
“Thank you.” Annette said both in relief and
appreciation.
“I wish it could’ve been more.” he said. “But
as it is all I really did was move up the raise you
would’ve been getting by a few months. At you’re
level there are limits to what I can do in regards to
salary.”
“It’s more than enough.” Annette said. “It’s
enough to know that someone notices the work you
put in.”
“But as far as other areas, I do have a bit
more leeway.” Shelby noted. “I want you to take
the rest of the day off.”
“You really don’t have to...” Annette started
to say.
“....In fact.” Shelby cut her off. “I don’t
expect to see you in this office again until Monday
morning.”
“But it’s only Wednesday...” Annette noted.
“I’m well aware of that.” he responded.
“And Monday is Monday, ... I’m well aware that
you’ve acquired the habit of coming in on weekends
to catch up on some work. That’s commendable but
not this weekend. ”
Annette didn’t know what to say, except
thank you one again.
“Now get out of here.” Shelby said in a
mock gruff voice. “Some of us have work to do!”
Annette rose to her feet and started for the
door. She was half way there when Shelby said in a
much quieter tone.
“Enjoy the weekend.” he said as he looked
up from his desk and admired the feminine form that
even her austere attire couldn’t conceal.
“If I was only twenty years younger and not
her boss.” he thought before he caught himself. --
“Hell, forget the twenty years.” he concluded as he
decided to allow himself this small indulgence. “If
only I wasn’t her boss.”
Back at her cubicle, Annette took a half hour
to finish up what she had been working on. It wasn’t
that important, but it would’ve been on her mind all
weekend if she hadn’t. By the time she shut down the
computer on her desk, most of the other associates
were returning from lunch.
Annette looked up from her desk to see a tall
olive skinned blonde standing over her. Yvonne’s
hair color was a recent change, prior to that she’d
been a brunette just like Annette. She had to give her
friend credit -- she wouldn’t have had the nerve.
Yvonne was two years older than Annette
and had been at the firm that much longer. She also
had been hired right out of college. That was were
the comparison had ended. Whereas Annette was
always trying to blend in and let her work speak for
her, her friend was always trying to be a center of
attention. Like right now, she wore a blue skirt
which most people would’ve considered too short for
an office. It was topped by a pristine white blouse
which strained against an impressive bosom.
“So what did old man Shelby want.” Yvonne
asked.
“You really shouldn’t call him that.” Annette
said. “He’s really not that old.”
“If he’s over 30, he’s old!” Yvonne replied.
“So what happened?”
Annette quickly told the story.
“So they fired Jim Carson, huh.” the blonde
noted. “Couldn’t have happened to a nicer prick.”
“That’s not very nice.” Annette said, trying
to show some sympathy for the man.
“But true.” she said. “I went out with him
for drinks one Friday night after work with some of
the other associates. We wound up being the last
two at the bar and he started giving me all that crap
about how his wife didn’t understand him. All the
while he was staring down my blouse to get a good
look at my tits. Not that they don’t deserve a good
look. Then he got all pissed off when I wouldn’t
give him a blow job to help ease all his pain.”
“I guess he was a prick then.” Annette
agreed.
“I think if it wasn’t for the fact that he was
afraid of your boyfriend here,” Yvonne said as she
rested her hand on the small photograph on
Annette’s desk. “he’d have been trying to get into
your panties too.”
“There was very little chance of that.”
Annette smiled. “In fact none at all.”
“Oh I know that.” Yvonne laughed. “I know
you have better taste than that.”
Annette smiled a grin which held a secret that
Yvonne never would’ve guessed.
“Speaking of good taste.” Yvonne went on
as she picked up the photograph. “I don’t know how
you do it?”
“Do what?” Annette said as she picked up
the last of her stuff to leave.
“Stay celibate while lover-boy here is off
playing soldier.” she replied.
The first picture in the double frame was
indeed a soldier -- specifically a U.S. Marine.
Close-cropped black hair framed a ruggedly
handsome and deeply tanned face. The dress uniform
he wore concealed an equally rugged and handsome
body. The other photo had been taken a few months
ago at the office Christmas party when he had been
home on leave and came to the celebration with
Annette -- much to the envy of half the offices female
population.
“Well, I do keep busy.” Annette quipped.
“And Danny does write every week.”
“Girl, a letter isn’t going to keep you warm at
night.” Yvonne said as she replaced the photos. “I
would think you were at least burning out the
batteries when you read them.”
“That, I’m not going to comment on.”
Annette laughed.
“I know if he was my guy, I’d have taken him
to bed and fucked him till he couldn’t walk. That’d
be the end of that soldier crap.”
“He’s a Marine, not a soldier.” Annette
corrected. “They’re a little particular about that
point.”
“Whatever...” Yvonne said. “The point is
that he’s half way around the world in Korea. You
don’t really think that he’s suffering from a terminal
case of blue balls do you. Or that he’s faithfully
jerking off every night into a tissue while thinking of
you. My brother was in Korea while in the Air
Force, there are plenty of “mama-sans” to take care
of a lonely soldier .. OK Marine.. far way from
home.”
“We have an understanding. I told you that.”
Annette concluded as she noticed that more people
were back at their desks and she no longer wanted to
continue this conversation.
“If you’d take my advice.” Yvonne said,
having to get in the last word. “You’d go out and
have some fun over your days off. Go find yourself
someone nice and more importantly ... available. It
wouldn’t hurt you to get laid more than once or
twice a year.”
As she watched Yvonne head back to her
own desk, her ass swaying much to the delight of her
male co-workers, Annette’s face again filled with that
‘I’ve got a secret smile.’
“I wonder what you would think?” she
thought as her eyes followed Yvonne down the aisle.
“If you knew that if I woke up with a warm body
next to me tomorrow morning, I rather it be yours
than Danny’s.”
Annette let the thought of Yvonne’s naked
body pressed next to hers rest in her mind for a few
more moments, enjoying the imagery. She knew that
the tall blonde was somewhat of a sexual adventurer
-- if all of the stories she had shared where to be
believed. Maybe someday the younger woman
would have to nerve to see how much of an
adventurer she really was.
With that she grabbed her purse and was
gone as well.
An hour later after a not so quick subway ride
, Annette was home at the Soho apartment she
shared with a roommate. It was only three in the
afternoon and Michelle wouldn’t be home until six.
Then she would be gone by seven, off to her part
time night job. If nothing else, Annette would have
the apartment to herself tonight. But to do what?
One of the reasons Annette had been
spending so many hours at work lately was that she
had broken up with her last steady lover four months
ago. Not that it had been much of a relationship, but
still it had been something. In fact, the relationship
had set a new record for longevity -- three months.
In the end it had come down to one big
incompatibility. Vanessa was out of the closet, living
her life openly as a lesbian. Annette, on the other
hand, still lived a life of secrets -- hiding behind a
false identity as it were. She had told Vanessa that it
was because of her job that she couldn’t come out.
It was one thing, she repeatedly had said, to
be an open lesbian when you worked in the
entertainment industry as Vanessa did. It was
another when you worked for an old-fashion,
establishment banking firm; and you had only been
there less than a year. Maybe when she was more
established things would change. She didn’t want to
have to start looking for a new job in a small tight
knit community carrying the label that she was ‘that
dyke bitch that Moore and Stanley fired’. Oh they
couldn’t fire her for that of course, not in this age of
political awareness. But they could make you
miserable enough that you eventually gave them a
reason to fire you.
To all of this line of reasoning, Vanessa had
simply replied that it was so much bullshit. All
Annette lacked was the guts to stand up and be
counted for what she was. Deep down, Annette had
to admit to herself that Vanessa had been at least
partly right.
So for what ever reasons she used to justify
it, Annette had created a false identity to carry
around like so much excess baggage. Right down to
a conveniently absent boyfriend which took care of
any questions as to why she didn’t date any of the
guys she met.
Technically, Danny Ryan was both a boy and
a friend -- one of the best friends she’d ever had. He
just wasn’t the boyfriend most people took him for.
Their friendship went back to grammar school and
was based on a lot firmer foundation than sex. Not
that sex didn’t enter into in, at least on one occasion.
Like thousands of other girls, Annette had
lost her virginity on prom night. Like so many of her
contemporaries, she had found it a somewhat
disappointing experience. Taking the adage that you
can’t make a judgment based on only one taste, she’d
gone to bed with another young man with equally
discouraging results.
Finally, she concluded that perhaps it was the
emotional aspect that was missing. With that in mind
she’d taken her best friend in all the world to her bed.
It had, she was quite willing to admit, clearly been
the most physically satisfying of the three encounters,
resulting in her first orgasm during sex. Yet as
physically fun as it had been, it had also been as
hollow as all the previous attempts.
Six months later, after a few beers in her for
courage, Annette had given in to a yearning that she
had kept secret since she’d first became aware of it
shortly after her 16th birthday. The next morning
when she’d woken up in the bed of another woman,
she’d found what she’d been searching for.
Strangely enough, the song on the clock radio that
woke her up that morning had been ‘Looking for
love in all the wrong places’. Quite appropriate she
later thought.
Despite a few affairs she had during her
remaining years in college, Annette never found the
courage to ‘stand up and be counted’ as Vanessa
always called it. In fact, except for the other women
involved, the only person she told was Danny. It was
a testament to their friendship that he’d told her that
no matter what, he’d always be her friend. The idea
that she could use him as an absentee boyfriend had
been his.
So here she was, a four day weekend in front
of her and absolutely nothing to do. Perhaps she
should take Yvonne’s advice and go out and find
someone. Maybe not the someone that Yvonne
intended but someone nevertheless. The more she
thought about it, the more it seemed a good idea.
“Maybe I do just need to get laid.” she said
out loud, laughing that she was starting to sound like
Yvonne.
Annette spent a few hours running errands in
the neighborhood before again returning to the
apartment to make dinner for Michelle and herself.
Sure enough, just as the clock was striking six,
Michelle came prancing through the door.
“Honey, I’m home!” she announced as she
dropped her knapsack onto the couch.
Her announcement was a little joke that both
she and Annette shared. Though both were lesbians,
they didn’t have a sexual relationships. It just
worked out better for both of them to have a
roommate that they didn’t have any secrets from.
Annette had a ‘straight’ roommate back in college,
one of her best friends as a matter of fact and it
caused all sort of problems. She’d lost track of all
the times Karen Robinson had tried to fix her up. It
had also precluded her bringing home any of her
dates. One thing both she and Michelle had in
common was that they both were at a point in their
lives that they weren’t looking for a long term
relationship anyway. Both were too young to settle
down and it was a big world out there. They once
discussed sharing each others bed for a night, just to
see what it might be like. But after a little heavy
petting on the couch, they decided that each of them
would rather have the other as a friend. If they were
lovers it would only complicate their extracurricular
activities.
“Welcome home, Dear.” Annette said as she
walked out of the small kitchen, dinner in hand.
“And how was your day?”
“Oh, just about the same.” Michelle said as
she took a sniff of the pleasing aroma of the dishes
Annette was carrying. “Hmm, that smells wonderful.
Some special occasion?”
Annette quickly gave an abbreviated version
of her own day as they sat down at the table in the
common room. Michelle said she was happy for her
friend.
“So what are you planning to do with your
sudden vacation?” Michelle asked as she finished off
the last of her meal.
“Well the idea of hopping on a plane and
shooting off to Los Angeles suggested itself. But
then reality set in and put a kibosh on that idea. I
guess maybe I’ll just go out tonight.” Annette said as
she sipped at her drink. “See what happens.”
“Great.” Michelle beamed. “Where are you
planning to go?”
“I thought maybe I’d go up to Scarlett’s
Rose.” Annette answered.
“It’s too bad I have to work. I haven’t been
there in weeks. I’d love to go with you.” Michelle
said as she pulled off her blouse to put on the
uniform she wore at the local restaurant where she
worked nights.
“You could always call in sick.” Annette
suggested as she look a longing look at Michelle’s
bra-enclosed mounds. There were times she
regretted their decision not to be lovers.
“I’d love to, but if you want to see my half of
next month’s rent, I really need this job.” the long
haired blond said as she buttoned her blouse.
“Maybe next time then.” Annette said as she
carried the now empty and dirty dishes into the small
kitchen.
“Well I’d better run.” Michelle said as she
picked up her knapsack.
“You be careful.” Annette said as she came
back into the room. “May sure you take a cab home,
no more walking home in the middle of the night. If
you need it, I’ll pay for it.”
“Yes mother.” Michelle chuckled. “I’ve
saved up my allowance and I will be careful.”
Annette just gave her a disapproving look.
Despite being almost a year younger than Michelle,
Annette did sometimes feel like her mother.
“Now give me a kiss and I’ll be on my way.”
Michelle said as she pressed her lips against
Annette’s.
The kiss was brief, almost platonic, just as
Annette had expected. The second kiss wasn’t and
took her by surprise. Her eyes opened wide as she
felt Michelle’s tongue side between her lips.
“That’s just to warm you up.” Michelle said
as she disappeared out the door. “Now go out and
have some fun. And if you bring anyone home, be
sure to leave the table lamp in the hall on so I don’t
walk in on the two of you. It’s been so long you
probably forgot about that.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” Annette said quietly as
she closed the door behind Michelle and locked it.
Cleaning up after dinner only took a few
minutes and Annette decided to take a shower before
going out. Feeling the need for something special to
wear when she was done, she began going through
her lingerie draw.
She quickly found what she was looking for
-- a pair of sheer black lace panties and a matching
bra. They were still in the original wrappings. She
had bought them to wear for Vanessa but never got
the chance.
Underneath the plastic package was another
plastic bag containing a bright red kerchief. Annette
took out the scarf and lifted it to her face. Sealed in
the zip lock bag, it still held a trace of perfume.
“Vanessa.” she said out loud as the fragrant
aroma filled her nostrils.
Visions of the last time Vanessa and her had
made love filled her head. It was as clear as if it had
been last night.
“Come on baby,” Vanessa said as she rubbed
her bare, dark breasts against the back of the light
skinned girl beneath her. “When are you going to
take me home to meet your Mom and Dad?”
“We’ve been through this all before.” the
scantily clad Annette replied. “It’s not that simple.”
“Oh don’t tell me that.” Vanessa argued.
“You just take me home and say, “Hi Mom and Dad,
I’d like you to meet my lover.”
“After which I’d be calling 911 for the heart
attack my mother would then be having.” Annette
said as she rolled out and from under the larger girl.
“Maybe you’re just underestimating their
tolerance?” Vanessa said as she sat up and ran her
hand through her long shoulder length black hair.
“Besides, since I’m a Nurse, I can always administer
CPR.”
“I don’t think so.” the brunette said as she
reached for the lamp on the night table.
In truth, she wasn’t sure which would be the
greater shock to her parents. That her current lover
was a woman ... or that she was as black as the night.
“Leave the light on.” Vanessa said as her
hand closed on Annette’s. “I want to watch you
make love.”
“All right.” the younger girl replied. “If it
makes you happy.”
--
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