A new job

This one's for looker7.

"John, I've got a job for you" your boss said. You looked up at him and saw him put a manilla folder on your desk.

"Yeah? What's that?" you asked.

"There's a late 19th century building up in the mountains that's just been discovered. It's structurally sound so they need someone to go in and see what's what" Colin told you.

"How am I going there?" you wanted to know.

"Train" you were told. With a nod you opened the folder and went flipping through the pages. "Hey Colin, why do we still even use paper? It's tremendously wasteful and emails are much quicker."

"Well, there's a few good reasons for that. The 1989 heritage protection law means we have to keep paper records, for one. Plus any reports we make can be easily added to existing files, for another. On top of that, preservation societies need us to do it in paper because hard drives can deteriorate. Just like the buildings, those societies are very old." Hearing this you snorted.

"Like there's no mice that can get at our papers" you replied.

"Well, yeah, but that's why we put them in non-biodegradable sleeves which we then put in safe storage" Colin told you.

"So it's either saving old buildings or the environment" you said.

"Smartass" Colin said with a smirk. "Just read up on the file and go home. Get some rest and take the train tomorrow morning." You took the folder and studied it.

"Hillhurst?" you asked.

"Yeah, it's an old mining town up in the mountains. You'll be travelling most of the day" your boss said. "When you get there, you'll be met by one of the locals from their historical society. No idea who they'll send, but you'll know when you see him, is all they said."

"Oh, like one of those drivers who hold up signs at the airport?" you asked.

"Probably. Just don't go expecting a driver in uniform" Colin said. "Now go on, pack up your stuff. I'm sending you home for the day so you can get some rest and get your stuff together." You got up from your desk, putting your laptop away. "And by the way, I didn't spring for a first class ticket, either" your boss added.

"I knew it was too good to be true" you said with a laugh.

"You should've known, yeah. We're doing fine but I can't splurge on travel and still do fine" Colin said. "Now go on, get out of here. Your train leaves at 6 in the morning."

"Hang on. How long am I even going to be gone for?" you asked.

"A few days, probably. I booked you a motel room" Colin said.

"Let me guess. It's the cheapest you could find? Complimentary roaches and all?" you wanted to know.

"Hell no, those cost extra" your boss told you.

"Fuck" you said, putting your bag over your shoulder by its strap and walked to your car.

You took your leave from your family at a quarter to 5 in the morning the next day, because it was a 40 minute trip to the station. A bleary-eyed baby sister who'd gotten out of bed just to see you off hugged you, followed by your mom, then by your big sister, who was wide awake because she had to start work at 6 herself. When you left for the station you rubbed the last remnants of sleep from your eyes and made good time, with plenty of time to spare to reach the train. Once at the station, you showed your ticket and entered the train, finding a spot and closing your eyes to get some more sleep.

When you woke up someone was sitting in the chair across from you, quietly reading a book.

For a moment you looked at her, finding her cute in a shy kind of way.

"Morning" you said.

"Hi" she replied. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

"Nah, you didn't" you said. "What's that?" you asked, gesturing at the book. The young woman smiled.

"I'm afraid it's nothing glamorous" she said. "It's just a book about

"Huh" you said. "You're right, it isn't glamorous."

"What, were you expecting 50 Shades of Gray?" the girl joked.

"Well, no. I should hope not. Though...I've seen women read it in public. Even the most boring-looking housewives. It's kind of weird" you said.

"Are you saying you aren't into bondage?" the woman across from you teased.

"Hey, I just met you. Hell, I don't even know your name. I'm not telling you anything about my predilections in and around the house" you told her.

"Around the house?" the brunette asked with a laugh.

"Again, not sharing" you said.

"Fine" she said, grinning. "I'm Charlotte."

"John" you said, unable to keep a grin off your own face.

"So now that we know each other's names, how about it?" the somewhat dorky but cute girl asked.

"How about what?" you asked.

"You being into bondage" she asked. She was being very flirty and you didn't mind in the least. If she was single, which you didn't doubt, you might ask her out for a date and see if she was actually up to putting her money where her flirty mouth was.

"Well, since I now know your name and we're likely not to see each other again after my work here is done, I might as well tell you that no, I've never tried bondage. Why, have you?" you shot back.

"Yes, actually" she said. "It was pretty fun. I loved tying that guy down and having him at my mercy." This took you by surprise. You'd expected the brunette to be pretty vanilla and just teasing you, but having actually tried bondage? On top of that, being the person doing the tying up? You gave her another look and smirked. You had figured her to be a submissive kind of girl, not the dominant party. The more you thought about her, the more aroused you got. She was cute in a homely way, not a way that made men turn their heads, but fuck, you were honestly getting a little aroused. Imagining her tying you to her bed and taking her time with teasing you was starting to get to you.

"So what do you do?" you asked, hoping to get to another topic.

"Why? Does it make you uncomfortable to talk about bondage?" Charlotte teased.

"In a sense" you said with half a shrug.

"Oh, I think I see" the brunette said with a grin. Sure enough, her eyes flitted down to your crotch that was indeed showing signs of life. "Well, I'm a journalist. I'm just coming home from a long assignment on unions" she told you, her eyes lingering on your crotch before looking you in the eyes again.

"What was that like?" you asked.

"Boring" she replied, shrugging. "Comes with the territory. I'm glad unions exist but damn, those people are some of the least inspirational people to talk to, other than this one guy who was a pretty decent orator. Don't get me wrong: they are fighting for their livelihoods and that deserves to be seen by others, but it's just not my cup of tea."

"Doesn't Hillhurst have any unions?" you asked, having read up on the town last night.

"No, not anymore. The last mine closed 70 years ago, so unions weren't necessary here any more. So what brings you to town, anyway?" Charlotte asked.

"It's actually somewhat related to mining" you said. "They found an old building from the Gold Rush and since I work for an archeological survey office, they sent me."

"Oh, that's cool. Do you think I could tag along?" she asked.

"I'd have to check with my boss" you said. "But just to save some time, I'll send him a text." You did so immediately, not caring that it was barely even 6:30 in the morning. He was the one who put you on the early train in the first place.

"Thanks" Charlotte said. "Huh" she said next.

"What is it?" you asked.

"Just thinking about how it's unusual to have a nice conversation this early in the morning with a handsome guy, is all" she said.

"Oh, is it?" you asked. "Which part is the most unusual?"

"Hmm, I'd have to say handsome guys" she said. "We don't get a lot of those in Hillhurst."

"Huh. So I'm going to be a curiosity, right?" you asked.

"Oh, for sure. Maybe I should do a piece on you, huh?" she said.

"What would that entail?" you wanted to know.

"Me following you around, watching your every step" she said. "You know, like when you go to work, when you take a shower, that kind of stuff."

"Oh, really now? The shower?" you asked.

"For sure. Just to get to the bottom of who you are" Charlotte assured you.

"In depth, huh?" you asked, now pretty much throbbing in your pants thanks to the image of the cute brunette watching you shower.

"Very much so" she agreed. "So how about it?"

"Like I said, I asked my boss. I'm not sure if you peeping on me while I'm showering is included in that part of the assignment, though" you told her with a laugh.

"Don't worry, I'll do it during your downtime if he objects" she said, shooting you a wink. You laughed and continued to talk with her, you noticing that the time and miles went by in a flash as you chatted with Charlotte.

It was 4 PM when the train pulled into the Hillhurst station. In the time it took for the train to come to a halt, you got up and helped Charlotte with her bag. She smiled at you and thanked you for your help, leading the way out of the train.

"So, have you decided what you're going to do yet?" she asked when you were on the platform.

"Come with you or look for the guy they sent to come pick me up?" you replied.

"Yeah?" she said.

"I dunno yet, honestly" you said, shrugging. "I mean, I had a lot of fun chatting to you. Even if you were a bit weird about that shower thing."

"Oh, you loved it" Charlotte said, grinning. It was true, you did. She had given you plenty of things to add to the spankbank during your trip on the train, after all.

"Maybe a little" you teased.

"Yeah, I bet" she said, her grin growing bigger. "So, are we skipping that boring local history dude and going to my place?"

"To do what?" you asked.

"Well, you're here now, so you might as well come with me to carry my bags" she said. "I might even tie you up when you're not expecting it."

"Are you planning to kidnap me or tease me?" you asked, raising a brow.

"A little of bit of column A and a little of column B, I must confess" Charlotte admitted. "I told you: you're one of the most handsome guys we've had here all year. I might want to keep you around."

"So I don't get to do my job?" you asked.

"Depends on what job you mean. Looking at that old building up on the peak? Unlikely. If you mean entertaining me, though, you'll get to do it all day and night."