The Corner by Karen Blayne

Oh by the way red tape first.

Be warned these short stories contain mature content or naughty bits and as such may corrupt you if you’re under 12, 16, 18, 21 or 25 depending where you live thus they are not suitable for you so put them back on the shelf and let them age for a year or two.

They were sort of scribbled for fun. ©2018

Luv Karen

Gary swore no one had ever had to put up with workers like his. Some just weren't team players. George didn't join in with anything totally anti-social so he'd put him in the far corner away from all the rest. That way he didn't have to think about him. Now Chelsea was totally different, outgoing happy smiling and he dug those heels of hers. Definitely promotable material, he'd have to tutor her after work hours of course but the potential was there.

The phone rang, “Hi guy as a special favour I'll let you have one of my programmers.” You just had to keep in with people. “Send him over Martin.” “She's a her. Equal opportunities and all that.” Gary felt a bit suspicious still he'd keep an open mind until he saw her.

Well yes she was female, he wasn't certain if he approved her fashion sense, she looked dressed more for comfort than anything else. He'd heard about women who didn't wear makeup but did they have to be in his team. “You'll meet the rest of the team when we go out for lunch on Friday lunch time. We go to a really nice Italian restaurant.” “Are you paying?” “Well no team members pick up their own bill but we have a really good time.” She gave him a look, “I don't think I'll be joining you then.” She obviously wasn't the smiling happy to be a team member either. “I'll put you in the corner office with George.”

He led her down to George's office and motioned her to the empty desk. “George will show you the ropes.” And moments later he was gone. “You will have heard about the Friday lunch by now?” “I was invited but declined when it became obvious I was expected to pay.” George turned and looked at her with respect. “You wouldn't mind just casting your eye over some code?” Estelle nodded and started to read through it on her screen after George had brought it up.

“Line 54 doesn't look right. A variable name looks misspelt.” George looked at it and nodded. “So that was the problem.”

Three months later Estelle and George were working well together. Gary would dump the more complex tasks on them and save the simpler ones for Chelsea. They didn't respond to his praises as the rest of the team did but whatever at apprisal time they would be useful since he couldn't appraise everyone outstanding and they would bring the average down. Chelsea still hadn't come across, she flirted with him and understood his approval was necessary to reach the next level but the leveler had been her comment about how did she know she could trust him to follow through after they been sleeping together. He'd show her, for once he'd put through the promotion first.

“Gary my man I have a problem work experience girl I can let you have free for four months.” “What sort of problems?” “Oh chip on her shoulder, didn't come across and face doesn't fit. I'll throw in a pair of tickets for the game on Friday.” Gary was tempted he could always dump her in the corner office. “For you not a problem. They are box seats?” “The most expensive in the place and they come with dinner included.” He'd take Chelsea to the game.

Anya followed Gary to the corner office, “Works experience four months” he announced. Estelle swivelled on her office chair and turned on the screen on the spare desk. She brought up a screen then nodded to a disengaged Anya. “Use the values in the test data screen and cut and paste them into the other screen. The idea is to break the program.” Gary retreated.

Anya perked up and applied herself. Twenty minutes later she turned “Broken!” Estelle looked over her shoulder and then at the code. “One of your's George.” There was a grump and George swivelled round inspected the code, corrected it then picked up a coffee mug and set off down the corridor. Estelle handed a vendor's mug to Anya “We'd better follow or he'll sulk.”

“I'm quite all right without a coffee.” “I'm paying so don't argue its not as if you'll be asked to give me a blow job in return.” “The last one didn't even offer a coffee.” They walked across to join George. “We should have taken the table over there in the sunlight.” “Why?” “Well we've fed her a chemically laced drink and we could have sat her in the sunlight with us in the shade whilst we gave her the third degree.” “Has this coffee got chemicals in it then?” Anya who had been about to take a sip placed it quickly down on the table. “Ignore her its just coffee which contains a bit of caffeine.” Anya picked it up and sipped it. “It tastes OK.”

“So how did you come to be sent to Siberia then?” Anya blinked, “We call the corner office Siberia since that is where the Russians used to send those who didn't fit in.” “George is anti-social or rather doesn't support the right sports teams and I refused to go to an expensive lunch on Friday each week if I was expected to pay. I think you mentioned you might not have been open to giving your old boss blow jobs?”

“Its my skin.” George peered her. “Looks good to me, clear, no blemishes.” Anya looked at him in exasperation. “Is he all there?” Estelle grinned “I think so. You'd didn't leave your artificial leg behind did you George?” George carefully tapped both legs, and looked puzzled. “Explain to him.” “George did you notice the colour of Anya's skin?” “Sort of sun tanned?” “Give up. I'm black so I get hidden away and given all girl make my coffee sort of jobs.” “Oh good Estelle isn't bad at making coffee but its nice to have a specialist.” “George do you want the next mug of coffee poured over you?” “No.” “Then be nice. George is a bit one tracked mind, he doesn't mind the colour of your skin and thus can't imagine why anyone else would.” “Why would it make a difference? I mean she can spot mistakes what else do we need?” Asked George in a puzzled voice. “You're suppose to be training me for better things.” George looked puzzled “I didn't think the coffee here was that bad.” “I don't think she meant that. Are you planning to become a brain surgeon then?” “No I think it was just a plot to get me off the unemployment roll.” “Well you never know something might turn up.”

Anya shrugged, these two were different, their work she could never do but she felt as if she was adding something to their efforts. Back in the office she started testing again and was quite surprised when they were pleased when she found an error and even more pleased when she spotted a spelling mistake on the screen.

“I'm tired of living at home but I can't afford to move out.” “I have a spare room, its free if you run the vacuum cleaner over the apartment once a month.” Replied Estelle. Anya grinned.

A month later, the apartment would even pass inspection by Estelle's mother as long as she didn't go in Anya's room. George asked Anya to sit besides him as he took her through a new task he wanted her to do. He rather liked Anya as she fitted into the office routine nicely. Estelle wasn't too sure about Anya pressing her thigh quite so hard against George's as she tried to get a better look at the screen. At the end of his walk through she turned and kissed him on the lips. Estelle was shocked by the brazen hussy and it showed in her face. Anya turned and kissed her lightly on the lips. “There one each.” “But you've had two.” George lent across and kissed Estelle with what was supposed to be a light kiss on the lips but somehow it deepened until they both stopped and sprang apart. Anya hooked her arm through a dazed Estelle “Time for a cake and coffee I think at the new cake shop down the street.”

As they stepped through the door Anya saw a courier on a bike swerve to avoid hitting a pedestrian on the sidewalk. Unfortunately he swerved into Estelle and knocked her down. Anya froze for a moment then pulled out her phone and snapped the bike which had no front brake then the rider. Behind her a security guard came out of the building and rushed to give first aid. “Are you alright Miss?” “I can't feel my legs.” He called an ambulance whilst Anya stood on the bike defiantly. A police car arrived first and Anya pointed to the bike. “He was cycling at speed on the sidewalk and he has no brakes.” “It's a fixie and I got letters to deliver.” sulked the cyclist. The policeman took his details whilst the paramedic examined Estelle and decided to put her on a backboard, just in case.

The next morning George and Anya called at the hospital were they were told Estelle was comfortable. They approached her bed. “Are you really comfortable?” Asked Anya. “No and I'd like to go home.” Replied Estelle then looked at the flowers George was holding. “Flowers I'm surprised. If you give them to the ward orderly they'll put them in water.” “Anya thought you might like some. How long before you can work again?” muttered George who wasn't much good at this flower sort of thing. “Well my fingers still work and so does my brain so it’s a matter of getting me and a computer hooked up.” 

“I'm an insurance assessor. How are you doing?” “Apart from not being able to feel or move my legs I'm fine.” “Do you have a lawyer that I should talk to?” “No, and I'd prefer not to use one. What I'd really like is some help in getting out of here perhaps a wheelchair or something.” “You know the cyclist has five million dollars of third party liability insurance and since the police have decided to prosecute you'd probably win the lot.” “Of which I wouldn't see anything for five years and the lawyers would get the bulk. No I'm not saying I'm not taking anyone to court but for the moment I'd prefer to get back home as quickly as I can. The doctors tell me they can't see anything wrong and hopefully in a few months time my legs will start working once more. Until then I'll need a few things to make life easier.”

A doctor rolled up on her rounds. “Feeling better? Any feeling in those legs yet?” “No and what do I need to go home?” “Someone to lift you in and out of bed, a wheelchair and for the moment someone to cook your meals.”

“I can cook her meals and look after her generally.” Volunteered Anya. She turned and looked at George “And since George wants her to work on his project he can lift her out of bed and stuff.”

“I can ensure she has a wheelchair within an hour or so.” Estelle looked astounded. “Well the cost of hospital room per night is such the faster we get you home the cheaper it is.” “I've got my SUV in the car park.” Remarked George and it seemed in a remarkably short time Estelle was lifted into a borrowed wheelchair by George under supervision so he would know how best to lift and carry her and driven home.

“Food George?” Asked Anya. “I've got to get back.” “Err not quite. I can't lift her and what happens if she wants to go in the night?” Estelle smiled sweetly at him “I think you're staying.” George looked taken back. “Even worse the only spare bed is the other side of my double one. Still it will be handy if I need to get up in the night.” Estelle added cheerfully. “Your sofa isn't a sofa bed by chance?” Asked George hopefully. “Sorry.” Estelle replied. Anya grinned at him in his distress.

By next morning they had the laptops in Estelle's apartment connected up to the office and they began teleworking. By evening Anya asked tentatively if they'd managed to get much work done. George looked through what he and Estelle had got done. “We seem to have got through a lot more work than normal. It must be the lack of interruptions and meetings.” Anya relaxed a little when she heard the words.

Over the next few days work continued. Anya dressed a little more casually and as Estelle couldn't quite walk to the wardrobe Anya selected what she wore. Without Gary there it was more acceptable to wear a thin summer dress and as she watched George's hands linger over the thin material she thought he approved as well although he wouldn't say so. It was fun people watching George was obviously enjoying Estelle in dress or skirt and since Estelle couldn't walk to the wardrobe to choose her clothes it was only natural that Anya chose them for her. She even slipped in one or two new items that were a little skimpier than Estelle might have worn otherwise. Well it compensated for not paying any rent.

Estelle looked over the work one more time. “I think its complete. All we need do now is present it to the clients and management.” “Well I'll need you there to answer questions at least. Would you like to do the presentation?”

Three days later Anya was getting Estelle ready when she had a thought and whispered in Estelle's ear. “We'd never get away with it.” Estelle whispered back. “George can you help Estelle get ready whilst I sort my hair out? Everything's laid out on the bed.” Anya slipped away to the bathroom and locked herself in. “Stockings?” George queried. “You can't expect me to go bare legged into a meeting surely. It wouldn't be decent.” “Well couldn't Anya help?” “There isn't time.” George found himself fastening straps and rolling nylon stockings up Estelle's long legs. “Don't forget to put the straps under my knickers.” Estelle smiled sweetly enjoying every minute and mutter that George was making under his breath. Anya phoned the doctor's office and asked if Estelle could have her check up after the meeting since they were out anyway.

They met with the clients, and a vice president to present their proposed solution, Anya took a seat at the side of the room. The meeting went well but afterwards Estelle was called into the CEO's office. “I hadn't realised we had hired a disabled engineer?” “You didn't, I got knocked down by a bicycle on the sidewalk. The doctors tell me there is hope I'll walk again but for the moment I'm in a wheelchair.”

The CEO looked thoughtful then called in his executive assistant. “Mrs. Groves can you arrange with the city for our young lady here, as part of a group of disabled people, to inspect the new subway cars our competitors are building?” Mrs. Groves blinked, “Of course sir. If you'll come with me I'll see what I can setup.” “Don't forget to find her a copy of the specifications before she goes.” Mrs. Groves turned and gave him a disapproving look. “As if I'd forget.” When she got Estelle back to her office she murmured “He was upset at not getting a chance to bid on the contract. The justification was their subway cars were the only ones that could meet the disabled requirements and that was the justification for replacing the older units. Unfortunately the company is running behind schedule and its costing the city money to keep the older units in repair if you can scrutinise those units from the disabled wheelchair point of view that would be very helpful.”

Meanwhile George had stopped by to see Mrs. Banner who worked for Gary. “Can you manage to have Gary sign this letter of offer?” Mrs. Banner looked at it. “Well he's on vacation at the moment and he's not going to be happy when he gets back. You heard Chelsea got her promotion yesterday through then arranged a transfer to happen on Friday?” “Anytime will do I set the start date for the day after her work experience ends.” “Leave it with me I'm sure if I time it right he'll sign without even noticing but it won't be for a day or two.”

“So have you managed to walk round the block yet?” “No but I had a slight tingle in my toes this morning as George was slipping my stockings on.” “Excellent news. You had sensitive toes before all this?” “Yes.” The female doctor turned to George “Well then I suggest you nibble her toes for twenty minutes a day to see if we can get a bit more feeling in there. After that it should just be a matter of time before you're walking again.” “But wouldn't nibbling her nub be better, I'm sure its more sensitive.” “All in good time start with the toes first.” “I could just give her a spank on her bum.” Grumped George. “Well yes but we're trying to get the nerves back functioning again and for that a longer, gentler stimulation would be better. So toes first if that doesn't work you may try a gentle spanking with Estelle's permission of course. Oh don't forget to get her aroused first, that will make her more sensitive. So a few kisses and caresses on her neck and shoulders but I'm sure you know best what she likes in foreplay.” The doctor make a few notes on Estelle's file and missed the glower that George sent her way.

Estelle joined a group of wheelchair users for lunch paid for by Mrs. Grove's company credit card and feeling in a good mood they descended on the subway car that had been arranged for them to preview. Estelle was pushed by Anya in her lightweight wheelchair but found it awkward to enter the carriage when propelling herself. The floor was raised at an awkward level. The heavier wheelchairs hadn't a problem with this they just pushed the power up but even so they bounced as they entered and had to brake sharply. She also noticed that the larger heavier wheelchairs barely could turn into their allotted spot.

“So?” “Their floor needs to be 70 mms lower to prevent bouncing.” Mrs. Groves looked up “In English?” “Three inches and I suspect it's a major redesign.” “Oh he'll love that. Anything else?” “I'm not sure but some of the heavy duty power wheel chairs have a 27 inch turning circle so that's in the specs but I saw one of the more manoeuvrable ones have problems turning.” Mrs. Groves face lit up. “You won't happen to know the name of the model with the 27 inch turning circle would you? And why are they important?” “The heavy duty ones are better in snow.” Estelle handed over a brochure for one of the less manoeuvrable heavy duty wheel chairs.

Gary came into the office. “Apparently Estelle is to be seconded to the design office for some subway car project or other.” “I'll need the other two for support.” Gary looked puzzled. “I'm still paralysed from the waist down. George knows how to lift me and Anya wipes my bum.” Gary shrugged if they wanted his bunch of losers they could have them. “OK.”

“The target is a smaller city who need a maximum of two dozen units but it might lead to bigger things.” Estelle sat in on the meeting and had a thought about the procurement process. “I noticed you're ordering two dozen units bit I'm sure you'll find them so successful you'll want more.” “We thought about asking for an option for another six.” “I could offer you a $1,000 discount per unit if you made the maximum option number a 1,000.” “We wouldn't have room for a 1,000 on our track.” “Still it would be nice to go back and say you'd negotiated a lower price. A saving of $24,000 would be nice for you to announce in a press release.” The CEO looked on from the end of the table puzzled for a moment then beamed his approval. The publicity alone would be worth it.

Mrs. Groves arranged for both a disabled journalist and a councilor who used a wheelchair to inspect their new light rail tram and for them to have one of the larger turning circle wheelchairs available to try out. Both were very impressed with the ease of access and the way that wheelchair users had been accommodated. Then she suggested they might like to compare them to the ones the city planned to buy.

“But this is unacceptable. The main justification for replacing the old ones was that they didn't meet modern day accessibility requirements and you can hardly tell me that getting stuck in this motorised wheelchair meets the requirements.” “It is rather large.” “Hawkins tells me it is within the specifications that were drawn up and accepted. I'll try the lightweight one next.” The lightweight one bounced as it entered and not having the brakes of the powered one the councillor hit the far side of the tram. “I think you have some work to do. Let me know when your revised tram is ready for inspection.” The senior manager grovelled. It would be sorted out immediately. He started to look for another job that wasn't quite so demanding, the way this project was going it was a death wish to anyone's career.

Estelle, George and Anya were roped in to ensure the new tram line went in on time and budget. Everything that could be was double checked, then checked again. The units themselves were assembled from kits in the maintenance sheds by the workers who would maintain them plus a few other local contractors who worked under the maintenance staff's supervision. “You could have saved time by using our own staff to assemble them.” “Yes but by the time they'd been flown in, put up in hotels the cost isn't that much different. This way the maintenance staff will know them inside out and we let them take their spouses with them when they went on training. Besides the later stages will go faster.”

A year later the first trams were being tested. Their competitors had fallen well behind after delays redesigning their trams to meet the specifications.

The CEO took the call, he'd be delighted to supply sixty one trams by the end of the year. Procurement, not a problem there was a contract with an option for a thousand floating around that he was sure they could take advantage of.

A second phone call came two hundred and four units with an option for sixty more, well rather than go through the procurement process why not take advantage of an existing agreement.

“Garth come in come in.” “It's Garry sir.” “No matter I've been wanting to talk to you about some of your employees.” Gary sat up straighter. “George, Estelle, Anya and another one Chelsea I think was her name.” Gary quickly distanced himself for all four. “Not really team players and I think they're working in other sections now.” The CEO blinked was the man a fool that little group team players or not had just been instrumental in landing the biggest contract in the company's history. “Sorry to have bothered you then. Good day.” Garry left the office smiling, near one that. “Mrs. Groves get rid of that person. He doesn't even know his own name never mind his staff. That nontechnical girl Anya was it can replace him just sort out the training she'll need to sign the leave forms.”