The Temp 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. ©2015

Luv Karen

I needed to replace my secretary immediately. My old one had a family emergency she felt she needed to go and sort out, something about a nephew and niece that needed her now their mother was ill. Fine but what about me? Some people have no consideration at all.

I needed someone fast to replace her. If she still wanted to stop out west after a few weeks I’d look for someone more permanent. I called down to reception and asked them to send me anyone who arrived looking for temporary work. She sent up three and I hoped one would do. The first just wasn’t going to work, you could tell in the first five seconds. The second was a sort of maybe. You know with six months training she might just manage the basics. Then Georgina arrived and announced “Hi guy I’m your next temp.” Different, “Why?” She walked round the desk and perched on it hitching her skirt up slightly as she did so. “I’ve got better legs than the others.” “I’m supposed to ignore them.” “Really? You poor man. I could arrange some spectacles if that would help.” “They aren’t supposed to be taken into account as part of the decision making process.” I felt quite proud of myself for that sentence. To my surprise she unbuttoned her blouse and displayed a very flimsy see through undergarment and two firm nipples. “I have nice nipples if you’re a nipple man.” I closed my eyes for a moment. “Get dressed then tell me one good reason why I should employ you.” “You’re desperate and you didn’t hire either of the other two.” What could I say? “OK you’re hired.”

She stood and made a small curtsey. “Thank you O lord and master.” I frowned and she grinned. Still, she made good coffee and her mid thigh skirts were something to look forward to in the office. Some idiot sent me the Burton file with a recommendation to abandon it. Georgina looked over my shoulder at the numbers “It’s quiet so want me to run my eye over them?” Why not, it would keep her quiet for an hour or two. Two days later she came back with the analysis and sat me down in front of the computer.

“Right guy, this total here means you shouldn’t go ahead but if we go back to the original figures and compare them over time this one sticks out as being inconsistent. I suggest you get that number checked. I called the regional office and got them to double check the original paperwork. The number was out by a factor of a thousand. The project would be very profitable on the correct figures.

I picked up the phone and enjoyed myself. The guy on the end didn’t. “Stephan how are you?” Stephan answered guardedly. “Splendid work spotting the Burton project wasn’t profitable. You did personally double check the figures of course?” You could feel the sweat running off his brow. “Well not exactly. I had an intern check them.” “Double check January’s figures for me again, they seem to be about a thousand times greater than I’d expect to see and I’ll have your report either way by four p.m.” He rang back thirty minutes later apologising. “Make sure it doesn’t happen again or I will.”

I reclassified Georgina to a senior analyst. She wore a big grin and even shorter flared skirts with two inch heels for a week. Rumours were rampant round the office. Even the head of HR came in to see me. “It doesn’t look good in this day and age to promote someone because of their legs.” “Damn it I’ll promote who I want to thank you.”

She was good, she could dress the airhead but give her a set of numbers and she was in her element. I had her double check the numbers we used to run the company. She picked up a number of inconsistences and I throughly enjoyed the follow up phone calls. I looked blankly at the numbers she showed me on the screen. She typed a few commands and the information came up as a graph. “That’s better could we provide the feedback reports as graphs?” We could, we did and we provided them both to managers and any staff who wanted them. Profits went up.

I looked at the calendar she’d been with me for three months now which meant it was time to sort out my old secretary. We had a three-way video conference call to see what was the best way forward. Georgina suggested my old secretary could telework and anything that required her physical presence Georgina could handle. I left them to sort out the details but it seemed to work. She could sort out my emails for me, and provided we video conferenced meetings seem to work out fine.

“What are you planning for Christmas?” One of my acquaintances had had too much to drink at a Christmas party and since then the company does not hold alcoholic Christmas parties. “I hadn’t thought about it but there will be no office Christmas party after an acquaintance had a drink drive moment.” “You could give the staff a bit of extra time off?” I sent an email out reminding people they could only carry forward two weeks vacation and giving them another day off to be taken before March 31st. Georgina frowned, “You could have phrased that nicer. It almost sounds like they’ll be punished if they don’t take it.” “They won’t but their managers will. I can squeeze them by bringing forward their deadlines.”

There was a knock at the door. “A delegation to see you sir.” My nose twitched as Jacob showed himself. “It’s not contract negotiation time.” “Well to start with what’s this about giving the workers an extra day off without consultation?” Jacob said belligerently. Georgina’s expression was a sight to see. “I’ll send an email out and tell them it’s been taken away after union representation shall I?” I wasn’t sure who was going to get her wroth at that point but someone was if not both of us. “What are you in for today anyway?” “Six hundred workers are about to lose their jobs.” “I didn’t know you had access to my confidential documents about automating everything. Anyway the union will make up for it since it takes two of you now rather than one?” Georgina was set to explode and I didn’t want that to happen. “Oliver is a shop steward next door and its his six hundred we’re worried about.” I switched on the video conferencing machinery and called up Ms. Penn. “Sit down round the table, you too, Georgina and let’s talk this through.” Jacob spoke across the table to her, “He likes his bit of theatre so just ignore the theatricals.”

Oliver made his pitch, the family firm had passed from one generation to another and the new owner was inept. “How bad is it?” “On the shop floor we know how many units we make and we’re being hit with shortages. Either we aren’t ordering in enough or it’s the wrong part or quantity. Besides that he won’t even talk to the union.” “Take Georgina and go and talk to them.” Came the suggestion from Ms. Penn. Mind you that’s her answer to everything. “Grab your coat Georgina and we’ll drop by.” “Want Oliver or myself along?” “The fewer of us the less intimidated he’ll feel.”

I recognised the salesmen as they left the office. Big ticket guys, buy our big box and all your problems will be over. “Let me guess for only five million they’ll sell you a Mk2 which will produce you widgets for half the price?” “It was six million but where I’m going to raise the money I don’t know. Running a company is far more complicated than I thought it would be.” I introduced myself and Georgina and we talked about life work balance and what he’d like out of life. I suggested he might like to sell the company and his reply was if only. I turned Georgina loose on the books and had Oliver seconded to her as she worked. It took her ten days to go through things. Then we sat down. “I’d give you three months before you go under.” “As long as that? I’d thought two.” “Can we do anything?” “If we took them over we could turn them round but there is a risk they could drag us into bankruptcy with them.” “Your suggestion?” “Buy them out for two million cash, or three million in shares. Two million conservatively invested would give an annual income of $80,000 a year but three million would give $150,000 a year in dividends at current rates which can be expected to increase over time by at least inflation. Our cash flow would prefer the share option but there isn’t much to choose financially. We’d need the workforce onside so Jacob and Oliver would be key.”

Ms. Penn wrote up the agreement and Jacob, Oliver, Georgina and I talked to the workforce. Oliver spoke first and with the aid of some graphs described the problems the company was having and the options. I’ve never been described as a least unattractive option before.

“Basically I can take you over but it’s a big change and changes don’t always work so before I do I want to feel comfortable we can deal with each other. First you get to keep your jobs. Well not quite true, you’ll be paid your current rate for the next twelve months and at least that in the future. I may want you to do other work. Second everyone will be reclassified and placed on a pay scale and conditions that my existing company uses. This means your current contract will not apply but Jacob can explain the basic differences. Third we think that by combining some functions we can gain some efficiencies. For example the combined group will be able to purchase in larger quantities so I expect we’ll get better pricing. This means some staff will not be required but I undertake to find you work and your pay will be red-lined. In other words if you’re sweeping the floor, you’ll still be paid your current rate although we have a pension scheme so you may pay larger deductions. Questions? And I’ll let Jacob answer them first off.”

The questions started slowly then grew more pointed. Jacob fielded most of them and I stepped in when needed but I think we gained their respect if not their whole hearted support. That would come later. Looking back at the effort we put in and how close we came to losing the lot by over extending ourselves I’m not sure I’d do it again. We made some economies by consolidating the warehouse and making do with two forklifts rather than four. We made mistakes on transferring the new staff to our payroll system and I ended up writing cheques to cover those who were short. We spent a fortune on training. Some of it was sitting next to Nelly some of it more formal. All of it expensive in staff time away from the desk but slowly the numbers turned round and Georgina was in the middle of it all, charming staff to do things differently, explaining the numbers both to me and many of the managers. She even took the time to present what was happening to the shop floor at the union meetings.

By fall things were running more smoothly the cash flow problems had eased away and we were beginning to show a profit. Not a major one but at least the company as a whole was profitable and more profitable than the old company had been a year ago so the new bit was pulling its weight. I created a new level of analyst on the org chart and promoted Georgina once more. This time she wore below the knee length pencil skirt. At last I thought office respectable, well I thought it was until we were travelling in the elevator together and she hitched her skirt up high to adjust her stockings. Later that day I noticed the seams at the back of her legs. Even more rumours were flying round the office by the end of the day.

November went surprisingly well. Georgina worked her magic to graph the profit margin by line and the staff responded well by filling the most profitable orders first. Plus having more staff on hand we were more flexible being able to fulfill the orders. I caught sight of Chloe working on the shop floor giving the eye to one of the female fork lift drivers. I’m sexist about fork lift drivers, the machinery lasts longer but I don’t know why. They have some sort of magic touch. I got HR to dig out her CV. She looked trainable so I had her into my office for a little chat. I made her permanent and gave a promotion to a management position and sent her off on a management course. Now that really did get the rumour mill flying as she was a vocal LGBT supporter. There were a lot of confused female employees floating around. Mrs. Baker who has only been married of few months went so far as to ask me bluntly “What do I have to do to get a promotion?” “Be in the right place at the right time?” I hazarded. “We’d all made our minds up that short skirts and heels were the magic thing to wear and then you promoted Chloe and she’s never going to wear a skirt never mind a short one. I don’t think she even has any in her wardrobe.” I sat down with her and we went over her strong points and her weak points and I left her the problem of what she wanted out of life as opposed to what other people thought she should do. I don’t usually spend that much time with any of my staff on career development but perhaps I should do. I left Ms. Penn the problem of Mrs. Brown and she suggested that since we had a bigger workforce what we needed was someone in charge of staff development and training.

I had Georgina do the sums and it looked like with the complexity of the rules around staffing these days it would pay to have our own dedicated resource. I walked down to Mrs. Brown’s cubical and asked her to come to my office. She had a rather nice flirty skirt I think they’re called, and for the first time I could recall was wearing heels. “You lead the way.” She paused after I’d followed her and had my eyes glued on the outline of her knickers over her bum as she wiggled in front of me. “Take a seat.” I suggested and she sat down on the low chair opposite mine with the coffee table between us. I passed her the paperwork for her promotion and supporting training as I admired her lacy knickers and tops of stockings that were revealed when she sat down in the low seated chair. She froze. I went to the door and nodded to Georgina that I needed her presence. “Something wrong?” Enquired Georgina “Everything, after Chleo’s promotion I thought I was safe when hubby suggested I wear something a bit flirty to work to see if I could get a promotion. He enjoys his fantasies and I enjoy his attention when he’s thinking them.” “So?” “I had Frank pick out what I was to wear today, so underneath I’m wearing my wedding day undies, stockings, garter belt and all. That’s why I was late into work this morning. I mean it was just a fantasy until he offered me a promotion.” “You mean you don’t want to turn it down because you’d need to lie to Frank when he asked you if you were offered a promotion?” Mrs. Brown nodded. “And if you accept then he’ll have expected you to offered yourself sexually.” She nodded again.

“We can do this.” Georgina returned to the office door and turned the key before pooling her skirt and stepping out of the apology for a pair of knickers she wore underneath. She looked directly at me then started to masturbate in front of me. “Kneel in front of him.” Mrs. Brown looked doubtful, “It’s the subservient thing you can tell Frank how you knelt in front of your boss then took his thingy out and gave him a slow hand job.” “I can?” “Of course you can just think of Frank’s attention when you tell him what you had to do to get this promotion.” I was hard just watching Georgina fingers slowly inserting themselves with Mrs Brown’s fingers doing what I felt like doing myself this was hot, totally forbidden but hot. Georgina scooped herself with two fingers “Open wide.” I couldn’t believe what she was suggesting and opened my mouth to protest. To late her fingers covered with her juices were in my mouth. I was stunned to say the least. She picked up a ruler from the desk and passed it over. “You’d better measure him so you can tell Frank how big he is.” “Twenty-two centimetres or eight and a half inches.” Georgina laughed “He sounds bigger in centimetres.” “How big is Frank?” “I’ve never measured him.” I wondered what all the fuss was about weren’t they all about the same size? Still if it kept them happy measuring things what did I care.

Georgina opened up her purse and took out a packet of condoms. “Rip it open and cover him with it.” Mrs. Brown fumbled a little as if she hadn’t had much practise but soon it was stretched out over me. “Now open your mouth and cover the end of his cock with it.” “I couldn’t, could I?” “Just think of Frank’s reaction when you tell him. You don’t have to mention the condom.” “I’ve never done this before.” “It’s fun, try it with Frank I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.” A pair of lips descended and her head was soon moving up and down. “I think that’s enough, you only need to tell Frank you did it not for how long.” What about me? Mrs. Brown stopped and stood up slowly. “There see you didn’t need to have his naked cock in your mouth.” “That’s true.” “So you’ll take the promotion and training?” “Yes thank you.” She kissed me on the forehead and waltzed out of the office. Georgina went and relocked the door before coming back and taking me in hand once more. “You did very well so I suppose I’d better finish you off.” I must have looked hopeful, “By hand only I’m afraid.” Better than nothing I suppose. Still she moved the other chair next to mine and gave me a hand job with one hand whilst she masturbated with the other. We both shuddered within seconds of each other then there was a silence whilst we recovered. “What happened just then?” “I’ll see if I can find my old sex education books shall I?” “No I meant Mrs. Brown.” “Oh easy, she’d feel guilty if she accepted and guilty if she didn’t. You couldn’t tell her to give you a blow job or it would have been sexual harassment time, and she was never going to put herself forward to that extent but if I suggested it her then I took the responsibility for the decision away from her so guilt free pamper the boss time. You’d better send her an email inviting her to your office for a weekly progress report say 11:00 a.m. Thursday.” “But that’s when I video conference with Ms. Penn.” “So she can tell Frank there is just the two of you in the office for a weekly progress report and having Ms. Penn on a video conference will see to the proprietaries.”

I got a kiss on the cheek from Mrs. Brown when I told her about the weekly progress meeting. She was very good and allowed Frank to choose her undergarments on Thursdays. I do like the low seat chairs in the office. She sat facing me and Ms. Penn’s camera was at right angles to us.

Christmas came at last. The rush was over and we shut down for a week. Christmas eve, well we didn’t have a party but Santa was there and you could bring in your children in the morning. By eleven o’clock the offspring were getting tired so I sent everyone home including myself. I switched off my phone and threw myself down in an armchair to finish a detective story I’d started a month ago but hadn’t had time to finish yet. I wondered what life must have been like in the 1930s without computers and mobile phones simpler perhaps but then I wouldn’t have had a microwave oven or a breadmaker, good heavens I’d need a wife to do all the chores. I double checked to see my phone was definitely off.

The doorbell rang and when I answered it there was Georgina in jeans “Merry Christmas.” She kissed me on the cheek as she slipped in through the door pulling a shopping cart on wheels. “Oh this is Nicole by the way. We share an apartment.” Nicole followed her pulling another one. “Where’s the kitchen? Oh here it is.” Georgina disappeared into my kitchen. I turned to Nicole “Have I been invaded?” She grinned “We wanted somewhere to hide over Christmas. Both families are in town and it’s interrogation time. When I was your age I’d already had two children and when can I be bridesmaid?” “It only started last Christmas for me, now you’ve turned thirty it’s time you were married.” She gave me a look of sympathy. “Georgina I thought you said he was twenty-two not thirty.” Georgina came back and whispered something into Nicole’s ear which set them both of giggling. “So you don’t mind us hanging out over the holidays. Georgina thought you won’t mind too much. We’ve a full Christmas dinner for three in the shopping carts.” I led her into the kitchen where Georgina was opening cupboards. “I love being nosey, are we sleeping on the couch by the way?” “I have two spare bedrooms but it’ll be fewer sheets to wash if you both share my bed.” I added hopefully only to be met with a look of disdain from Georgina. We’d all eaten fairly well from the pot luck that we’d had that morning so I threw together a chocolate sponge cake. They don’t take much effort but it’s not really worth baking for one. “He can cook?” Nicole exclaimed as she ate a bowl of chocolate sponge cake with ice cream on top. “I had no idea.” Replied Georgina. I thought about tossing the sexist pair out onto the street. “You realise if mother knew about him she’d be planning the wedding.” At my puzzled look Georgina murmured “Nicole thinks boiling an egg is advanced cookery.” Nicole put out her tongue. “What about you and toast?” “You need a degree in software design these days to work an electric toaster.” “Can you believe she spent a thousand dollars on a commercial toaster?” “It was on sale.”

I retreated to the kitchen to make more tea and coffee. When I returned with a tray peace had descended once more and Nicole was looking through my DVDs and had pulled one out. “I fancy watching this one.” It was one of my favourites so I was happy. I’d thought about buying a Blu Ray player but DVDs look good enough to me and I admit I’m a cheapskate.

After we’d watched the DVD Georgina picked up a pack of cards and looked at us speculatively, Nicole pulled a face but agreed as long as it wasn’t for money. I had a jar of buttons and we played for buttons. Two hours later I was out of buttons but had the perfect hand. I looked at my cuffs and laid them on the table. Nicole laughed, “You have six on the front as well. Go on. We said the buttons you sat down with.” I wrote out an IOU for eight buttons which Georgina cashed for me and the play continued for another three hands. I looked on in disbelief as Georgina scooped the pot once more. “Your face is priceless. You didn’t really expect to win against our maths genius here did you?” “Maths genius?” “He doesn’t know?” “He hired me for my legs.” Georgina added primly. “Are you a maths genius?” I asked. “She has an advanced degree in probability theory or some such.” “You didn’t mention it.” “You didn’t ask.” “Tell me about the legs then.”

“My secretary had a family crisis so I needed someone fast. There were three candidates in reception for some sort of job in the warehouse and I interviewed them. Georgina was the last one in and after perching on my desk announced she was my new temp and when asked why she replied because she had better legs than the others.” “The research post interviewed me and said they’d let me know within two weeks. So I needed a temporary two week job.” “So why did you stay on?” “Oh it was fun teasing him and the numbers were real rather than theoretical and quite interesting to work with, besides I’d never got a job for my looks before so it was flattering.”

Nicole creased herself with laughter. “Each time I promoted her she wore shorter flared skirts.” “Not always, I did wear stockings the last time.” “The rumours going round the office were rampant.” A giggling Nicole looked across at Georgina “You poor man.” “HR dropped by twice to give me a hint but what could I do? We don’t have a formal dress code. I daren’t say anything because it gets into personal choice and anyway I was making so much money off her I didn’t want to upset her.” Georgina grinned. “Time to settle up.” I looked puzzled “She wants the shirt off your back.” Clarified Nicole collapsing with the giggles again. “Well you bet the buttons and they’re attached so the shirt off your back please.” Begrudgingly I took it off and handed it over. “Nice chest.” Giggled Nicole then she stood and ran her hands over my neck and shoulders. “Feels nice as well.” It did, I could have sat and had her run her hands over my body for hours. “You’ll only get him aroused. Men don’t get an orgasm from just being massaged.” Nicole looked puzzled “Ever had one?” “I’m not sure.” “Tomorrow then we’ll sort you out. Now then children time for bed.” I sat up straighter. “I’d better remind you separate bedrooms.” I slouched back down, disappointed.

Georgina wondered into the kitchen wearing my shirt she’d had off me the previous night. “Looks a bit creased.” Commented Nicole, “I slept in it and found myself tangled up with the sheet this morning. Still I’d better hand it back so he can put in the washing hadn’t I?” She slowly unbuttoned the top button. Nicole bit into the toast I made to go with the coffee. “It’s soft and moist in the middle.” Georgina paused with three buttons undone. It was just getting interesting and tried her’s “So it is. Where’s your toaster? What make and model is it?” “I always make my toast under the gas broiler. Electric toasters leave the toast too dry for my taste.” Georgina turned and looked at my range. “You cook on gas?” “It’s easier to cook on and much more responsive when you turn the heat up or down.” “But isn’t it dangerous?” “Most water heating is gas. Most furnaces are gas what’s the difference?” “I never really thought about it I guess.” I thought she looked better in my shirt than I did especially with the buttons half undone and no way was I washing it after it had spent the night wrapped round her soft warm body.

“Right children, Matthew take off your shirt please. Nicole spread two thicknesses of bath towels out on his bed.” “I thought it was just the one shirt?” “You’ve a button hanging off so I thought I’d sew it back on before it did.” I had a small pile of shirts that had lost a button that were waiting for me to drop them off at the recycle bin but I thought I’d better not mention them at the moment. We trooped into my room and Nicole spread the thick towels out on the bed. Georgina snipped the thread with a pair of scissors and put them on the side. She handed Nicole pair of simple brief cotton knickers and said “Get changed, everything else off.” “In front of Matthew?” “I’m sure he’s seen a pair of boobs before.” “But not my boobs!” “Turn your back on him then.” She turned back to me and caught me grinning. “You too.” Handing me a nearly identical pair except the back was a thong. “Why?” “Because I’m going to use oil when I massage her and you’re going to do her feet at the same time and it’s easier to put you in the bath than get the oil out of your clothing.” I saw Nicole tremble at the idea of me massaging her feet. I got changed and the bit between my bum cheeks felt different. I felt naked and exposed so wrapped a towel round my waist but it started to fall down. Georgina rewrapped it so it didn’t. She got undressed as well and slipped on a pair of the thin cotton knickers.

Finally Nicole was laying face down on the bed. Georgina poured some warm oil over her back and started to massage it in. Then she moved down to Nicole’s feet and ran her hands over them spreading the warm oil before instructing me on how to massage them. We worked together. I was allowed to massage Nicole up to her knees. Georgina worked her body above that. After twenty minutes Nicole was rolled over and I got to work on her toes. Nicole was beginning to relax and Georgina worked on her breasts and upper body. My towel slipped off and my erection grew hard at the sight of Nicole’s oil-covered breasts and hard nipples. “It’s turning you on isn’t it having Matthew looking at your exposed nipples whilst he manipulates your toes.” There came a whimper from Nicole that could have been anything. Georgina moved one of Nicole’s hands onto an oiled breast. “You carry on here and I’ll work my way down to your tummy.” Nicole gave another whimper. By the time Georgina’s fingers had covered the thin cotton knickers with oil they were translucent and her dark pubic hair could be seen easily through them. “You know your knickers are transparent when covered in oil. I’d better cover them with my hand to keep them shielded from his sight.” A moan of agreement came and Nicole’s mound was covered with Georgina’s hand much to my temporary disappointment.

I almost stopped rubbing Nicole’s toes when I noticed Georgina’s finger disappear and Nicole’s moans grew louder. How long was this going to take for heavens sake? I could have ejaculated in half the time. Still, she seemed to be definitely aroused. I kept up massaging her feet and toes whilst I watched. They did seem very sensitive. Georgina seemed to have two hands on her mound now, one was caressing her knob and the other had its fingers up inside Nicole. Nicole had taken over both breasts now and to my fascination was squeezing them and pinching her nipples. Georgina pulled her hand away and made a sort of scissoring motion. I picked up the scissors “Matthew is going to cut your knickers off.” There was a gasp and I moved the scissors to cut the first side. Snip, then the second side was snipped. “Spread your legs so Matthew can get a really good look at my fingers wiggling in your pussy.” To my amazement Nicole did as she was bid. “Toes.” Came command so I put the scissors back on the side and resumed my post. “You dirty girl getting off on displaying yourself to Matthew.” There was a protest from the bed but her legs inched further apart as Georgina’s fingers brought her to protest “No more please, no more.” Georgina’s fingers continued their work and the first shudder happened. Nicole was flush now. “Dirty girl has three pairs of hands groping her body and manipulating it to give her pleasure.” There were more moans. Just think my finger’s only eight centimetres long I’m sure Matthew has something longer he could use.” I’m hopeless at metric, would my finger being an extra centimetre longer make that much difference? “Shall I ask him to insert it in you?” There was no question about it Nicole cried out, shuddered then collapsed. “Lie on the bed and cradle her.” I lay down besides Nicole and just held her in my arms cradling her and feeling protective. She opened her eyes and blinked “That was an experience, I never knew my feet were so sensitive, thank you.” Before giving my hand a squeeze and closing her eyes again, Georgina’s oily hand caressed my crotch throughly I was almost at the point of spurting when she stopped. “Dirty old man exposing yourself to your staff.” I started to protest I was covered by the scrap of cotton when I looked down. The oil from her hand had soaked into the knickers and they might as well not have been there. She poked her tongue out at me and sat on the side of the bed whilst Nicole recovered.

“Off you go now and have the first bath, we’ll be there in a moment or two.” Nicole trotted off meekly to the bathroom. “I suppose I’d better take care of you again.” Georgina’s fingers caressed my crotch and a few moments later. I’d spurted.

I had fun teaching Nicole to boil an egg. I taught her how to make bread as well so lunch was boiled eggs with fresh bread all week. When she came across my stash of shirts with a button missing, she insisted on sewing them on rather than have them thrown out in the recycle bin. She dug out the manual for my washing machine and found a special wash for dress shirts. I’d never have found it by myself. I mean real men don’t need manuals. Apparently it had another wash called handwash which meant their delicate underwear could be washed in the machine. Seemed odd to me that a machine could do a handwash but I didn’t like to say anything.

The girls dressed in casual clothes such as fleece pants and T shirts for the week and we all relaxed. Playing board games, reading and watching the DVDs I’d brought but not got round to watching. We were lazing around discussing where we’d like to go for vacations and Nicole mentioned some sort of conference on reducing environmental impacts. “Can you imagine everyone flying there will have an impact on the environment and greenhouse gases?” Georgina threw in “Still it’s warm and south in the middle of winter. When was the last time you had a company paid for vacation? Can we go?” Put like that I agreed as long as Georgina saw to the arrangements.

We didn’t fly. Still we didn’t have to go through security and travelling overnight. We had sleepers. A bit cramped but more room than a first class airline seat and little more than the cost of a night in a hotel. When we arrived early on a Saturday morning at the hotel, Georgina dashed to the counter for her room key. I picked up a coffee and made my way over more slowly. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She had her fingers running up and down his chest “Five hundred a night?” He nodded and she went off with him. I blinked. I mean to say the weekend was in her own time but to pick someone up like that how could she? I picked up my keys and started to walk to the elevator. “Hi Matthew is Georgina around?” “Well she’s here or was moments ago but I think she’s wondered off somewhere.” “I’m supposed to be sharing her room for a cheap vacation.” “Want to drop your bag off in my room for the moment?” “Sounds like a plan.” We drifted upstairs and I caught up with what she’d been doing for the last few weeks.

Nicole sent a text to Georgina and unsurprisingly had no reply. “I have a guide book if you want to play tourist for the day?” Well it got us out of the hotel and away from Georgina at least so I let her guide us to a small museum of motorcycles of all things. There were big ones, and small ones but the interesting thing was you could see how they had evolved over time. Nicole thought the monkey bike was cute but didn’t think motorcycles were practical. “Allison had one, practical you could park it anywhere and the gas mileage was good, but she had a bad smash. Two years off work and facial scars. The other driver was at fault but it doesn’t compensate.” I suspect Nicole was thinking of the facial scars. I was thinking of two years of hospital food. I’m sure it would drive me nuts. We left on that dismal note and walked out into the sunshine. Two milkshakes and banana splits later which Nicole insisted on paying for we were in a more cheerful mood and stepped forth to explore the city.

As we found ourselves in a more crowded area she stepped closer and slipped her hand in mine. It felt natural somehow and we just ambled along people watching. Around five I started to feel peckish so Nicole drew out her smartphone and brought up a map. We followed the little blue line to a small café. It looked a bit down market and not perhaps one I would have found by myself, but whatever. Nicole led the way in and spoke hesitantly in Italian. There was some hesitant discussion back and forth until an older Italian woman stepped through the door. Nicole drew out her smartphone and passed a series of photographs across. Then the discussion grew more intense and we were led to a table and we were commanded to sit. I was dispatched for a bottle of wine at the store down the road since they had no licence. When I returned and my choice of a brunello di montalcino was approved by the matron and when I tried a glass, well it was extremely reasonable. Nicole explained that when she was a child she had Italian neighbours who had a daughter about her age and would often look after her after school and in the holidays so she’d picked up street Italian. She’d been advised not to study Italian at University level as the way she spoke contained grammatical errors which had become fossilised over time and would take a great deal effort to unlearn. The café was owned by some second cousins of her old neighbours so here we would have tea.

The lasagna was out of this world. Nicole pulled her purse out and paid exactly what was asked. I quietly left a fifty under my plate as Nicole was entreated to return the following day.

We got back a bit late and I checked my phone and there was a text message from Georgina saying she was warm and safe but could I look out for Nicole. We tried ringing her room, well they wouldn’t tell us what the room number was but they rang the phone for us but there was no answer. “I don’t know what to say.” “She’s probably with the boy of her dreams.” I could hardly say she’d was screwing someone for money now could I? “So now I’ve nowhere to sleep.” My room had two beds so what could I do but invite her to take her choice. “Are you sure?” “No I’m certain I’ll live to regret it you’ll probably snore or something.” I defended myself from an attack with a pillow, caught her round the waist and tickled her until she cried pax.

In the morning Nicole guided me to a workman’s sort of café for breakfast. Quite filling and the price for the two of us was far less than a breakfast for one at the hotel although some of the complementary comments put Nicole to the blush. At least I wasn’t being guided to expensive French restaurants. We strolled round finding points of interest in Nicole’s guide book. The shop that sold wooden dolls houses and furniture was more fascinating that I’d expected it to be.

That afternoon our Italian café had out done itself. We were met with a table with both a hand written sign saying riservato and a small vase of flowers. I assumed it wasn’t the menu. Our bottle from the previous day was brought out. Don’t ask me what we had that week apart from the lasagna. It was unpronounceable. On our third visit I assumed we would be eating there each day for the rest of the week so I brought a case of brunello di montalcino, I assumed it would find a good home of we didn’t drink it all. Besides it was cheaper by the case.

We registered for the conference, still no sign of Georgina but Nicole seemed to know a bit about the subject matter so I passed her the second pass.

Bits were actually interesting especially the zero waste presentation when they showed that by looking through how things were done you could both cut waste and more interestingly costs as well.

As we checked out, I heard Nicole cry out “Georgina! So how was the honeymoon?” Honeymoon, I grew suspicious, had I been set up? I turned and there was Georgina looking very contented almost like a cat who has found their own private source of cream all week. “Fabulous my dear, somehow love making seems even nicer once you’re married. You should try it sometime.” She was looking very pointedly at the pair of us arm in arm. “I’ve been set up.” I exclaimed. “But of course you have my love. Now when are we going to try making love after we’re married?” “To each other I hope?” I heard myself say and then thought did I really say that? “Oh my I think he’s just proposed.” Georgina’s new husband gave me a grin. “It’s not so bad.”