Chapter 3: Jill

Oh, boy ... what had I gotten myself into? As I left the trailer I could almost feel Randy’s eyes follow me out the door.

He seemed nice, and I instinctively liked him - but that’s the problem. My instincts were often all wrong when it came to men. Look at what I had just narrowly escaped today, for example! I had a really hard time discriminating between my libido and my morality!

I had liked my boss on a very visceral level and would have hopped up on his desk or into his bed in a heartbeat if he asked me to. I would have endured rug-burned knees daily if only I knew it was just him and just me involved. But I had seen those dozen doppelgangers parade their battle scars daily for two weeks before I found out that it wasn’t just one girl - one guy that interested him, it was many girls, many guys, and some of them strangers!

I actually found that thought arousing and realized that I probably would have responded very differently if the situation had been presented very differently. I was no stranger to sex, not even group sex. But I refused to be demeaned and treated like a human vacuum cleaner! I also was no stranger to paid sex. I had friends in Austin who had financed their college education with their bodies, and frankly, in my current predicament, I wondered why I didn’t consider that option now!

Well, it’s never too late to try that out - at least until I wrinkled up like a prune. I grinned inwardly as I realized that I had decided to accept whatever offer the partners might make later on. If they made me no offer, I would not accept that. I would go to each partner, starting with Randy, and show him just how ‘suitable’ I would be in this business!

At home, I said nothing to my parents about being fired. After all, I had settled what my new job would be - what did they care where the money came from, as long as I was a success?!

“Hello, dear,” Mom greeted me, “how’d your day go?”

Dad rustled the pages of his book to let me know he was there and listening.

“Really well, I think. I’ve only been there for three weeks. Two, if you don’t count the training week. Today, they told me to give the executives the morning report. I managed to avoid cleaning duties - vacuuming, for example - and tomorrow I think I’m getting new responsibilities. I’ve been told the partners will call me later tonight if they agree that my work and background are suitable.”

Dad reacted to my choice of words instantly.

“What’s that? The partners will call? You? What kind of bullshit is that? Why would they personally call a two week intern?”

“Dad, you told me to make a hit. I think I did that. The executives all know me now, and I’m very confident about this call tonight. I actually had a face-to-face with one of the partners this afternoon, that’s why I’m a little late getting home. He was really impressed with my degree from UTA and told me he was very impressed with the way I’ve handled myself in these first few weeks. I don’t know yet what he sees in me that you don’t, but I guess we’ll find out tonight!” I flounced to my bedroom and closed the door loudly behind me, cutting off the sound of Mom criticizing Dad’s attitude behind it.

Okay, I exaggerated a bit. Laid it on thick, and who wouldn’t doubt the words of a tadpole claiming to have the personal attention of the pond’s bullfrog? Even I couldn’t believe the events of this day!

When I came out later, I had to go right back in again to change clothes.

“Honey, WHAT on earth are you wearing?! We can’t take you out to dinner if you’re wearing sweats!” Mom chided.

I forgot it was my birthday! Back I went and put on an evening dress, freshened up my face and hair, and put on my favorite pair of shoes that had medium high heels. The mirror said that there was ‘None so fair in all the land, my Queen!’ and I was happy again.

“Oh, that’s MUCH better, dear,” Mom said.

Dad grunted, “Well, let’s get this show on the road! Some of us are hungry!”

I kept my phone in hand all the way to the steak house and next to my plate throughout the meal. Anticipation made the steak taste SO much better than usual, and I could feel my metabolism burn its way right through all the excess calories from dessert!

We had finished eating when my phone rang. I jumped from the excitement and almost peed my pants. Dad, watching like a cat waiting to pounce, said, “Well, I guess you were right about the call, anyway. Go ahead, answer it. Let’s see what ‘the Partners’ have to say to you!”