Halloween Morning

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed. She kept her head down, fingers gripping the strap of her bag as she navigated the maze of cubicles. The air smelled of burnt coffee and ozone.

Just before Lunch the intercom on her desk crackled, a sharp sound that made her jump.

"Nicole. My office. Now."

Jefferson's voice was a low rasp. Nicole felt a cold knot tighten in her stomach. She stood up, her knees feeling like water.

She pushed open the heavy oak door. The office smelled of expensive cigars and aged leather. Mr. Jefferson sat behind a mahogany desk, his bald head gleaming under the recessed lighting. He didn't look up from his tablet for a long minute, letting the silence stretch until Nicole's breath came in shallow hitches.

"Come closer," he commanded.

Nicole stepped forward, the carpet muffling her heels. She stopped a foot from the desk, her gaze fixed on the polished wood.

"Do you have your costume for tonight?" he asked.

"I... I haven't decided yet, sir."

Jefferson finally looked up. His eyes scanned her slender frame, lingering on the curve of her hips. He leaned back, a predatory smile spreading across his face.

"I've decided for you."

Nicole swallowed hard. Her mind raced through the images he held, the secret she guarded with every heartbeat. She braced herself for the inevitable demand, the cold touch, the humiliation.

"I want you in something that leaves nothing to the imagination," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Minimal fabric. High slits. Something that makes the other guests forget how to breathe. I want you looking like a complete slut, Nicole."

The tension in her shoulders didn't break, but the sudden lack of a physical demand left her lightheaded.

"Is that... all?" she managed to whisper.

"For now," Jefferson replied, his gaze hardening. "If you arrive under-dressed, we'll have to discuss those photos again. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir. Perfectly clear."

"Good. Now get back to your desk. I can still smell your fear, and it's distracting."