“Ah,theretheyare,”Taisaid.Hewalkedovertotheoldwomanandher charges.“I’lltakeitfromhere.”
“Tellhertostopgrabbingme,”Terisaid.“Wedon’tneedhertoleadus
around.”
“Ofcoursenot.You’remorethancapableofgettingaroundonherown,”
Taisaid,buttobeliethishepattedherontheheadasifshewerealittlegirl.Jeri grinnedatthewayTeribristledatthis,butthegirlwasn’tstupidenoughtosay anything.
“Hi,Mr.Lecau!”Sherisaid.“Thisbuildingissopretty!Dowereallyget toworkhere?”
“That’sright,sweetheart.Yougettocomehereeveryday.”
“Wow!”SheriskippeduptothecounterwhereJeristood.“Hi,Jeri!
You’relookingsoprettytoo!Wehadsomuchfunlastnight.Weate hamburgersfordinnerandthenwegottowatchtelevisionandwehadourown roomwithsomanyprettyclothes.Youwanttocomeoverlater?”
“Maybe.Ifthere’stime.”
“Allright.”Sherididn’tseemfazedbyJeri’snoncommittalansweratall.
Shejustgotonhertoestopeeroverthecounterattheguard.“Hi!Myname’s Sheri.MysisterandIareworkingforMr.Lecautoo.”
BythenTaihadsteeredTeriovertothecounter.Jeribentdowntopinch Teri’scheekasshesaid,“Oh,lookhow adorableyouare!Suchabiggirlnow.”
Terionlyharrumphedatthis.Theguardleanedoverthecountertoask,
“What’syourname,darling?”
“Teri.”
“That’saprettyname.”
“Iguess.”
“Well,comealong,girls,”Taisaid.HegentlyshovedTeripastthecounter.
HersisterboundedalongbesideherwhileJeriwalkedbehindTai.Hetookthem tooneoftheelevators,whereamaninareduniformwithatinyredhatwaited forthem.“Takeusallthewayup.”
“Yes,sir.”
Jeri’sstomachknottedalittleastheelevatormadeitswayupthebuilding.
Shehadneverbeensohighupbefore;shedidn’twanttothinkofwhatwould happenshouldtheelevatorfall.Teri’sfacehadgonepaleandevenSheriwent quietforonce;theybothprobablyfeltthesamefearshedid.
Buttheydidn’tfall.Theelevatorjoltedtoastop,abellsounded,andthen thedoorsopened.Themaninthefunnyredhatheldthedooropensotheycould pileout.Therewasaveryshorthallway,attheendofwhichwasafrostedglass door.Taiunlockedthisandthenusheredtheminside.
Jerigaspedattheroom.Itwasasbigasthemesshallatschool.There wereonlythreedesksinthere,aswellassomefilingcabinetsandacoupleof tables.Oneofthedeskswaslargerthantheothertwo.Jerisquealedindelight
toseeaplacardwithhernameonitandthetitle“ExecutiveSecretary”beneath it.
SheriandTeri’sdeskswerenexttoeachotherandhadaplacard,though withoutatitle.SherisquealedlikeJerihadassherushedovertoherdesk.Teri, alwaystheblacksheep,trudgedovertoherdeskandthrewherselfonthechair.
Shecrossedherarmsoverherflatchestandgloweredattherestoftheoffice.
“Yougirlsgetsituatedinhere.I’llbeinmyoffice,”Taisaid.Therewas anotherfrostedglassdoorthathadhisnameonitandthetitle,“CEO.”He noddedtothemandthenwentinside.
***
Afteranhourofgoingthroughherdeskandlookingoutthewindowatthe restofthecity,JeribegantowonderwhatanExecutiveSecretarydid.Theyhad onlylearnedaboutcooking,sewing,cleaning,andchildrearinginschool,none ofwhichwasnecessaryhere.
Shegaspedinsurprisewhenaboxonherdeskcametolifewithstatic.
ThenTai’svoicesaid,“Jeri,wouldyoucomeinhere?Andbringanotebookand penwithyou.”
“Yes,Mr.Lecau,”shesaid.HehadsaidtocallhimTai,butitseemedmore appropriatetousehislastnamerightnowwithSheriandTeriaround.She foundanotebookinherdeskandapen.Thenshedartedintohisoffice.It wasn’tquiteasbigastherestoftheoffice,buthisdeskwaslargerthanhers,as washischair.Hefacedasemicircularwindowtostareatthecitybelow.
“Haveaseat,Jeri.”
“Yes,sir.”Shesatinthechairacrossfromhisdesk.Sheplacedher notebookonherlapandthenfoldedherhandsoverit;thatwastheladylikeway theyhadlearnedtositinschool.
“I’msurethisisallverynewtoyou,”hesaid,“butIthinkyou’reuptothe challenge.”
“Thankyou,sir.”
“Jeri,Itoldyouwedidn’tneedtobesoformal.”
“Iknow.Itjustseemswhenwe’reworking—”
“Isee.Youwanttoappearprofessional.That’sagoodattitudeforan ExecutiveSecretary.”
“Thankyou.”
“Now,thefirstthingIneedyoutodoistakealetterforme.I’lltellyou whattowritedownandyou’llputitonpaper.ThenyoucangiveittoSherito typeandhaveTerimakecopies.”
“Yes,sir.”
Hebegantospeak.Shetriedtokeepupwithhim,buthetalkedsofastand
usedsomanywordsshe’dneverheardbeforethatshecouldn’tkeepup.Ashe talked,hepacedaroundtheroom,untilhewasbehindher.Whileshefuriously wroteonthepaper,hebegantorubherrightshoulder.“Doyouneedmetoslow down?”heasked.
“Yes,sir.I’msorry.”
“Don’tbesorry.Thisisabigadjustmentforyou.”Heleaneddownuntil hisbreathbrushedagainstherear.Hewhispered,“Iwantyoutoknow,I’llhelp youhoweverIcan.”
“T-thankyou,sir,”shesqueaked.
Hebrushedhairbackfromhershoulderandthenkissedherneck.“Now, let’scontinue,”hesaidandthenbegantowhispertherestoftheletter.
Hercheekswereflushedwithheatwhenshefinallylefthisoffice.Just beforeshehadleft,hehadslappedherontherearandwinkedather.“I’llsee youlater,”hesaid.WasthisreallywhatanExecutiveSecretarydid?
ShetookthelettertoSheri,whoatthemomentwasformingachainwith herpaperclips.“Mr.Lecauwantsyoutotypethis.ThenheneedsTeritomakea dozencopies.”
“WhydoIhavetomakecopies?”Teriwhined.
“BecauseIsaidso.”
“You’renotmyboss.”
“Iamtoo.I’mtheExecutiveSecretary.You’rejustinterns.ThatmeansI canbossyoubotharound.”
Teriharrumphed,buttherewasnothingshecoulddo.Shejustfoldedher armsoverherchestagainwhilehersistertypedtheletter.Sheritappedeachkey andthenspentaminutetolookforthenextone.BythetimeSheriwasdone withthefirstsentence,Jeriwantedtoyankthepaperoutofthetypewritertodo itherself.Shehadn’tusedatypewritereither,butitcouldn’tbe thatdifficult.
ThensherememberedTaihadtoldSheritodoit,andhewastheboss.SoJeri turnedtostareoutthewindow.
***
Bytheendoftheirfirstweek,theyhadgottenadjustedenoughtotheirnew jobsthattheyonlyneededhalfthetimeasbefore.Whenitcametimetoleaveat theendoftheweek,Taisaid,“Yougirlshavedoneatremendousjob.I’mso proudofyou.”
Ontheirwaytotheelevator,TaipinchedJeri’srear.Shehadgottenused enoughtothisthatshedidn’tsquealoutofsurprise.Astheelevatorgroundits waydown,Taipressedclosetoherandwhispered,“HowaboutyouandIgoout foralittledinner?”
“Thatsoundsallright,”Jerisaid.Sheknewshedidn’thavemuchchoice
aboutit.Taiwastheboss.
“Good.”
WhileSheriandTeriwenthomewiththeirgoverness,TailedJeriouttohis car.Itstartedawayfromthebuilding,awayfromherapartment.“Aren’tyou goingtodropmeathomefirst?I’mnotreallydressedforafancydinner.”
“Oh,yes,howsillyofme.”
There
wasaflashofwhitelightandthenJerifoundhersweaterandskirt hadturnedintoablackgownthathuggedthecurvesofherbody.Herhairwas putup,exceptforonelockthatframedherrightcheek.Shereachedintoher purseforhercompactandstaredatherface.Shelookedsosophisticatednow, notatalllikethelittleorphangirlshe’dbeenjustaweekearlier.
“Wow,”shebreathed.
Taileanedacrosstheseattokissheruncoveredneck.“Youarethemost beautifulwomanonthiswholeplanet,”hesaid.“Idaretosayeveninthiswhole galaxy.”
Shegiggledandsaid,“Thankyou.”
Theywenttoarestaurantevenmoreelegantthanthelobbyofthebuilding sheworkedin.Jerilookedaroundattheotherwomenintherestaurantwith theirhusbands.Shegrinnedtoherself.Theywereallso old,withwrinklesand grayhairstheytriedtohide,butshecouldtell.Assheglidedacrossthedining room,shesaweverymaleheadturntogapeather.Shereallywastheprettiest girlontheplanet.Shesmiledwiderassherememberedhowinschoolshe’d alwaysimaginedthisdaywouldcome.
Fordinner,TaiorderedathicksteakwhileJerionlyorderedapieceoffish withasalad.Shedidn’teatmuchofeither;shedidn’twanttoseemlikeapigin frontofTai.Hereachedacrossthetabletotakeherhand.“Youdon’thaveto worry,mydear.You’llneverlooklikeanyofthesehags,notaslongasyou haveme.Aslongasyou’rewithme,you’llbeyoungandbeautiful.Doyou understand?”
“Yes.”
“Iknowwe’regoingtogetalongwonderfully,justlikewehaveallweek.”
“Ihopeso.”
“Youdon’thavetobesonervous.I’mnotgoingtohurtyou.”
“Iknow.Thisisallsomuchtotakein.”
“Iunderstand.It’sanewworldforyou.Theydidn’treallyprepareyoufor thisinschool,didthey?Therewassomuchtheyleftout.”
“Nottoomuch,”shesaid.
“Well,thereweresomeveryimportantthingstheyleftout.I’llshowyou whatthoseareafterdinner.”
“Y-youwill?”
“Onlyifyouwantmeto.Doyouwantmeto,Jeri?”
Sheconsideredthisforaminute.Theyhadnotgottenintoadult relationshipsinschool,buttheteachershadsaidyouonlydidthosekindof thingswhenyouweremarried.“Shouldn’twegetmarriedfirst?”
“Married?Don’tbesilly.We’rebothgrown-ups.That’sallthatmatters.”
“Oh.Well,Iguessit’sallrightthen.”
Taicluckedhistongue.“Youdon’tsoundveryenthusiasticaboutit,Jeri.
Don’tyouloveme?”
Sheconsideredthisforaminuteaswell.Taiwassoveryhandsomewith hisbigstrongmuscles.Andhe’dbeensonicetohersofar.He’dmadehera grown-upandgivenherajobandanapartmenttolivein.Asmallvoiceinthe backofhermindnaggedthatifhecouldgiveherthosethings,hecouldtake themfromheraswell.“Idoloveyou.”
“Youdon’tsoundverysure.”
“I’mjustnervous.”
“Don’tbe,Jeri.Youdon’thaveanythingtoworryabout,notanymore.”
Shenoddedandthensqueezedhishand.“IthinkI’mreadytogonow.”
“Excellent,”Taiwhispered.Hereachedintohispocketforhiswallet.
***
TheywentbacktoJeri’sapartment.Themomentthedoorclosed,Tai kissedheronthelips.Shedidn’treturnitatfirst,butwhenhistonguefoundits wayintohermouth,shekissedhimback.Thiswaswhatgrown-upsdidwhen theylovedeachother,shetoldherselfastheykissedtonegatethequeasinessin herstomach.
Thoughitwasherapartment,heledherintothebedroom.Hesatonthe bedtolookupather.“Goahead,takeoffyourclothes.”
Shenoddedtohimandthenbegantofumblewiththezipperofherdress.
Withasigh,hespunheraroundtoyankthezipperdown.“Sorry.”
“It’sallright,sweetheart,”hesaid.“Youjustneedpractice.”
Withthezipperundone,itwaseasyenoughforhertoslipoffthedress.
Whensheunfastenedthebackofherbraandthenthrewitonthefloor,he cluckedhistongue.“Doitniceandslow,Jeri.”
“Sorry,”shewhisperedagain.Shetookhertimewithherstockingstoslip themoffherlegs.Lastwereherunderpants.Herfaceturnedwarmasshe startedtopullthesedown.Shethoughtagainwhatherteachershadsaidin school.ButTaihadsaidthiswaswhatgrown-upsdidwhentheylovedeach other.Thatmadeitallright,didn’tit?
Finallyshestoodnakedbeforehim.Hestillhadn’ttakenoffanyofhis
clothes.Instead,hereacheduptocuponeofherbreasts.“Suchaflawless beauty.IbrokethemoldwhenImadeyou.”
Hishandwentaroundherback,uptoherhair.Heseizedherhairwithone handandthenyankedherdowntoherknees.Shecriedoutinpainatthis.
“Whatareyoudoing?”sheasked.
Shedidashesuggested.Hegotupjustenoughsoshecouldsliphispants downtohisankles.Therewasalreadyabulgebeneathhisunderpants.Shetried toclosehereyes,buthesaid,“Don’tbeafraid,Jeri.Thisishowgrown-upslove eachother.”
Shewhimperedasshesliddownhisunderpants.Shestaredattheawful magentaappendagenowunleashed.Itseemedtoglareatherlikeaterrible serpent.Whileshewasforcedtowatch,itgrewlongerandmorerigid.
Taitookherhairagainandthistimepushedherdownuntilherlipsbrushed againstthetipof it.“Goon,takeitinyourmouth.Justlikealollipop.Youlike lollipops,don’tyou?”
“Yes.”
“Thensuckit,Jeri.Suckitlikealollipop.”
Hefinallyallowedhertoclosehereyesasshewrappedhermoutharound it.Ittastedsalty,notsweetlikethelollipopstheyreceivedastreatsatschool.
Still,shesawnochoicebuttodoashesaid.Shesuckedonitwithhereyes squeezedsotightlythathertearscouldn’tescape.Eventuallyhermouthfilled withsomethingsticky.
Shedesperatelytriedtopullback,buthemaintainedhisgriponherhair.
“Swallowit,”hecommanded.
Sheswallowedit.Onlythendidhelethersagontothefloor.Shecurled upintoaballandsobbed.Isthisreallywhatitfeltliketobeawoman?
“Notyet,”hewhisperedintoherear.“Butthatwasjustthewarm-up.”
Beforeshecouldaskwhathemeant,hetookherbythearmsandthen hurledherontothebed.Shescreamedandtriedtogetup,butheslappedher acrosstheface.Shesaggedbackontothebed.“ThisismorefunthanIthought it’dbe,”hesaid.Asshecontinuedtosobonthebed,hetookofftherestofhis clothes.Thenhesatdownbyherlegs.“Situponallfours,justlikeadoggy.”
Sheknewbetterthantoargueatthispoint.Shepushedherselfupontoall fours,whereshequiveredwithfearatwhathemightdonow.Wouldhehither again?Amomentlatershefeltastabofpain,buthehadn’thither.Instead, he’dshovedsomethingbetweenherlegs,intotheholeshepeedfrom.
Whateverhe’dputintoherwentbackandforthinsideofher,eachtime
bringingafreshwaveofpain.“Ithurts,”shewhimpered.
“Justgiveitafewminutes,”hesaid,thoughhesoundedoutofbreath.
Shenearlytoppledoverashethrustinsideherharderandharder.“Yes, that’sit,”hemuttered.“That’stheway.”
Heletoutascreamatthesamemomentshefeltsomethingwarminsideof her.Thenhepulledawayfromher.Shecaughtaglimpseofthatawfulthing she’dhadtosuckjustbeforehecollapsednexttoheronthebed.Hadthatbeen whathe’dputinsideofher?
Heclosedhiseyesandbegantostrokeherhair.“Iloveyou,Kari,”he whisperedbeforehefel
lasleep.
Jeriwasstillawakewhenhewokeup.Shehadmanagedtogetthecovers aroundbothofthem,withwhichshecoveredherselfuptoherneckwhileshe cried.Heawokewithagroanandthengropedarounduntilhefoundher shoulder.Hiseyesflashedopen.“Hey,beautiful.”
“Whoisshe?”
“Who?”
“Kari.”
“Idon’tknowwhatyoumean.”
“Yousaid,‘Iloveyou,Kari.’Who’sKari?Issheyourwife?”
“No,don’tbesilly.IsaidJeri.Don’tyouknowyourownname?”
“Iknowwhatyousaid.”Freshsobswrackedherbody.“Ithoughtyou lovedme,butthenyoumakemedosuchawfulthingsandcallmeanothergirl’s name.”
“Jeri,stopit.Iknowwhatwedidseemsstrange,butit’swhatadultsdo, trustme.Intimeyou’llgetusedtoit.”Eveninthedarknessofthebedroomshe couldsensehisglare.“Unlessyouwanttogobacktoschool.Doyouwantto bealittlegirlagain?”
“No.”
“Good.Intimeyou’llseehowmuchfunthisis.”Hepulledhercloseto himandstrokedherhaironcemore.“Iloveyou, Jeri.”Heemphasizedthelast word,whichonlyprovedshehadn’theardwrongbefore.Butshedidn’tsay anything.Shedidn’twanttoendupbackinschool.Shewantedtobeagrown-upandthisiswhatgrown-upsdid.
Chapter10
EverymorningwhenJeristaggeredtothemirror,adifferentfacestared backather.Yesterdaymorningshe’dlookedintothefaceofayoungwoman withfrecklesandahelmetofblackhairthatmadeherthinkofTeri.Shehad remainedthatwayonlyuntilTaiwokeup.Thenshehadrevertedbacktoher prettierself.
Todaywhenshewokeup,shecouldn’tsee.Everythingaroundherwasa brownishblur.Sheflailedaroundwithherhandsinthehopesomethinghad beentiedoverhereyes.Therewasnothing.Shewasblind!Oratleastalmost blind.