Dressed down

[Author’s Note: will use 3rd person going forward]

Jenifer followed the angry woman into her office. It was modern with one wall made from frosted glass blocks and the side walls being taken up by book shelves and cabanites and a big glass window wall looking out over the city behind the desk at the back of the office. To the end of the walls to the left and right were wooden doors in the same dark stained wood of the shelves and the desk. Jenifer looked the angry owner over as she walked towards her desk. She was maybe late thirties with raven black short hair in a bob cut, she was tall and slim but with the curves a man would want in the right places. She wore a skirt suit to show off those curves too, black silk blouse, grey linen medi-skirt and jacket with a pair of heeled ankle boots. As she rounded the desk Jenifer could see with her light makeup she was still very pretty but also extremely angry right now. Jenifer walked up to the desk and stopped when Madam Illich breathed sharply indicating that she had gotten close enough. Jenifer took half second to scan the room with the sides of her eyes to look for clues. She realized from the art that she had screwed herself. There were framed photos of women embracing in shiny costumes and a painting of a woman in leather holding the leash of another woman in leather cuddling her booted leg like a sexual pet. Madam Illich grabbed a folder and held it up. Jenifer could see a copy of her old student ID with a hand written note on the front of the folder. It was a lot thicker than just transcripts.

“Miss Hewitt,” Madam Illich intoned like a judge having just ready a guilty conviction and about to prescribe the **** sentence, “Based on your papers in school, the application sample writing you submitted and the recommendations of your professor’s I was ready to offer you a paid permanent position today instead of an internship. HOWEVER! It is clear that you are completely non compatible with the work culture of this office.”

Madam Illich slammed the folder down on the desk like a gavel. Jenifer jumped a bit. She barely managed to keep from peeing her self in fear.

“I should tell you to get out of this building right now and never come back. Maybe if I can calm myself down I will tell your professors that we agreed you were looking for something different in your work environment, I might even pass your recommendations on to one of my friendlier competitors with a note to that effect. Of I could just write ‘biggoted bitch’ on your file jacket and pass it around town.”

Jenifer’s eyes went wide. That would be the scarlet letter to any HR department that even heard of the file if Madame Illich did that. Jenifer could see Madam Illich’s expression change as she watched her. Clearly Madam Illich was thinking of something, and the fear she had invoked in Jenifer pleased her.

“Put your hand on that ruby on the front of my desk,” the older woman commanded.

Jenifer did as she was told.

“Now, Miss Hewitt,” Madam Illich put her hands together and leaned forward, “Tell me how you feel about homosexuals.”

“They are mentally ill and what’s worse is they are trying to make everyone else a crazy homo like them,” Jenifer blurted before she knew it.

In panic and shock at her own words, Jenifer pulled her hands back and covered her mouth.

“Well now that we have that out of the way,” Madam Illich leaned back in her seat, “It is a magic truth stone, you couldn’t lie if you wanted too while touching it. So don’t bother asking any more questions about it. How about a challenge? If you can complete the challenge I will pay you a contract salary of one thousand dollars a day before taxes, seven days a week, fifty two weeks a year for five year. You wouldn’t have to come into the office, in fact it would recommended you find work at another place of employment to keep yourself busy. But if you fail, you have to take a very demeaning job as my secretary for five years with very stiff early termination clauses. Make no mistake, you will be my secretary in the very most demeaning sense. Not an executive assistant or personal aid, but a lowly subordinate secretary. So, what will it be?”

Madam Illich leaned forward again and had a cat that ate the canary grin. Jenifer didn’t know what the challenge was and it was likely that what ever it was it was rigged so she would lose. Did she want to risk going to apply to other companies wondering if Madam Illich had shared the notes of what happened today with them?

“What is the…” Jenifer started to ask.

“No, you either accept the challenge or excuse yourself and hope I don’t feel vindictive tonight,” Madame Illich cut her off.

Jenifer gulped. She should walk away and pray. Maybe cry in the lobby in hopes that will sate any vindictive nature of the woman. But something tempted her. Maybe she could beat the challenge…