Bound

The tower's security office is located in the building's basement not far from our makeshift Mailgirls locker room and that's where Anna and I found ourselves when Barbara swept into the room. "It wasn't our fault...," I started to say to her.

"Shut up!" Barbara interrupted. Then she turned to one of the security guards. "I want to see the security tape."

"Yes, Ms. Anderson," he said and led her into a room full of security monitors. Behind the closed door of another room I heard Anna's mom screaming at the head of security about lawsuits and police brutality.

Anna and I sat naked on the cold metal bench with our hands bound by plastic ties behind our backs as a room full of security people stared at us. Normally the tower only had two or three security people on duty but apparently every security guard in the complex felt the need to show up after hearing that a couple of mailgirls had gotten into a donnybrook.

About fifteen minutes later Barbara emerged from the monitor room and walked through the crowd towards us. "Yes, these definitely look like dangerous criminals," she said acerbically. "I'm so glad you're all here to keep them from escaping." The security people looked at each other sheepishly but no one left.

Barbara stood over us and focused her attention on Anna. "So I'm guessing that you have serious Mommy issues at home and are using our Mailgirls program as a **** act of rebellion, am I right?"

"Yes, ma'am," Anna replied quietly keeping her eyes glued to the floor. "Something like that."

Barbara was silent for a moment. "Okay, if you were any less adorable I might have a problem with that. You're going to be an absolute hit as a mailgirl, though, if you decide to continue. Are you?"

"Yes ma'am. I want to."

"Good," Barbara replied, then turned to the nearest security guard. "Go get Psycho-mommy and escort her from the building."

As Anna's mom was led out she spat at Barbara. "I'm going to sue the hell out of you and this company. My name will be on the building before I'm through!"

"Yeah?" Barbara replied. "Good luck with that."

The plump Mrs. Davis was still with Anna's mom and was about to leave when Barbara stopped her and looked at her company ID badge. "Are you the one who brought this crazy bitch here to disrupt our work day?"

The woman glowered at Barbara. "You bet I did. What you're doing with these girls is wrong."

"You're fired then."

The woman's face turned red. "You're not my boss! You can't fire me!"

"Wanna bet?" Barbara replied calmly. "Escort her out of the building too."

After the two of them were hauled out she turned her attention back to Anna. "Do you have a place to stay tonight?" Anna shook her head.

"Any money?"

"No ma'am."

"A car? Do you even drive?"

Anna shook her head. "My mom drives me to and from work."

Barbara sighed. "Well then I guess you'll need to stay with Danica for awhile."

"With me?" I asked. "Why?"

"You're the one who found this stray. She's yours to take care of now."

I was about to protest when I turned and saw the silent pleading coming from those blue eyes and that angelic face.

"Yes ma'am."

"Good," Barbara replied. "I'll have someone bring Anna's clothes down to the locker room. Get dressed and get the hell out of here, both of you. I'm going to let Kelly go too. It'll take me the rest of the afternoon to smooth things out on the tenth floor so I don't need any more mailgirl problems today. Be back here at seven tomorrow morning." She turned and headed toward the door.

"Cut them loose," she said to the security people as she swept out of the room.