I would have been...

If I sat with these two in a room, alone, one and a half weeks ago, it would have been a punishment. These two were probably the most critical of me, maybe even hostile. But either through my charisma, the app, or both, it got better. Now Floria felt like a colleague and Christine... well Christine was smitten and only had gotten one date so far. The workday started off quietly, with the occasional talk between Christine and me about the articles we were writing on.

Oh right, Floria. Floria chose to sit with us because... well I don't know. Gloria was still here, sitting alone in her room. But Helen wasn't here. Maybe Floria didn't want to return to Gloria in tears? Well, I didn't want to remind her that she cried either, so I just left it at that. Today was just going to be a lot of reading of materials and taking notes. Not the biggest issue, if you ask me. Lunch break came around, Donna was once again bringing us food.

James: "Donna, don't forget about Gloria, please."

Donna: "Is she still here? Why didn't she join you?"

Christine: "Floria decided to join us for today and well..."

Donna: "I'll get her here if that is okay with you?"

Floria: "Yeah... don't worry."

James: "I'll have to make a quick call, I hope that's fine."

Christine: "Sure, go ahead."

I quickly called Em.

"Hey Em, sorry for the sudden call. Can you talk?"

"Yeah sure. Another moving in thing?"

"Oh no, I was mainly asking if you wanted anything for Christmas. I was going to go shopping after work. so if you want anything..."

"James, I... can't really buy you anything in return. I can't really do that right now."

"It's okay, that's not my goal. Just a small gift for having to endure me for two days."

"You say that as if the alternative wasn't fifteen times worse."

"Well, you get what I mean. Any wishes? Anything you'd like to eat for Christmas? I'm not the best cook, but if I can find a recipe online, I can make us something nice."

"Uhm, it's not a present, but... I'll send you our family recipe for a Christmas goose. If you don't mind, I'd like it to feel a bit like home..."

"Of course not. I'll do my best, Em, okay? Are you otherwise fine?"

"Yeah, don't worry. And thanks."

"Oh Em, I have a question... I got invited by the new mayor, it seems that she wants funds for her re-election campaign. Any thoughts on her or the LPP? I figured you'd know that better than anyone else I know."

"Well, Donalds is a studied economist. She'll certainly know what's good for business but the LPP finds the tax breaks for family businesses unfair... They don't have a council majority though, so you either convince her or you fund the CTP in the municipal elections the year after."

"Alright, I'll see what she's going to say or offer. Thanks for your help, Em, I really appreciate it."

Gloria and Donna had returned with food.

Gloria: "So, what's everyone's plans for Christmas? I have to leave work early today to get to my family."

Christine: "I'll visit my parents. I'm kind of dreading it already, but... I guess once a year isn't so bad."

James: "I'll be home with a friend of mine. Nothing special planned." Well, except making a goose. Maybe I should ask mom how to prepare one.

Donna: "I'll also be with my family, but they're here in the city. So I don't have to leave early."

Floria: "I'll be volunteering."

Christine: "Volunteering? On Christmas?"

Floria: "It's when most people don't have the time to help."

James: "That's understandable but also unfortunate. I'm glad you are able to help in these times."

Floria: "Th-Thanks."

After lunch, Donna and Gloria left again. Well, Gloria left the office. Seems like she barely had anything left to do. Donna stayed in hers. Suddenly, Floria interrupts the silence.

Floria: "James, what did you discuss with Emily?"

James: "Huh? Christmas preparations and also the dinner with the mayor later. Em is staying with me for Christmas and I figured I'd gift her something but she didn't want anything. I'm just making Christmas dinner the way she wants to."

Christine: "James, can I ask you something? What do you think about her?"

James: "She's a very competent craftswoman, and a really nice person with an awful place to call her home. I want to help her both because I think I can and because she deserves it."

Christine: "And... as a woman?"

James: "Hm, I haven't really thought of her like that. She isn't interested in me that way and honestly, I don't think I am either. I don't think I've ever tried to flirt with her. Not just because it seems inappropriate at the moment, but also just because... I never cared that way."

Floria: "Really? You know how many women you have slept with already?"

James: "Well yeah, I do, but they liked me that way and I liked them that way. If it weren't for that, what would be the point?"

Floria: "I mean, sex is sex, right? Your father certainly didn't seem to care."

James: "I'm sorry for what has happened to you, Floria. But well for me, I don't see the point of forcing someone to have sex with me or having sex with someone who doesn't want to. I mean, if I want to get off that badly, I can just masturbate, you know? It's not a big deal. Porn is free and plentiful if I have that kind of urge."

Floria: "How often do you have that urge? To have sex or masturbate, I mean?"

James: "On my own... not that often I guess. But now it's more often. I'm surrounded by more women I'm attracted to, that are attracted to me, and that sometimes want sex themselves. It's nothing all too surprising, really."

Floria: "Do you have that urge right now?"

James: "No, not really. I'm focused on my article and our conversation. I'm not horny all the time."

Christine: "And if I did something to make you horny?"

Floria: "Christine!"

James: "Well in all honesty, I do want to make some progress on my article. We're going on another date some time soon anyway, right? Why not wait until then?"

Christine: "Haha, alright then."

Floria: "What was that about, Christine?"

Christine: "I told you."

Floria: "Yeah, but just wait a bit. And not while I'm here. Can't believe I'm agreeing with him on this."

James: "Hey..."

Floria: "Sorry." Floria +1SP (+38SP)

Christine: "So you're saying that if you're gone I can..."

Floria: "Christine, what has gotten into you all of a sudden?"

James: "Honestly Christine, I don't wanna get in trouble with Beth again."

Floria: "Again?"

Christine: "Well, last time it was I that reported you and Donna to her. But if I were involved... I'm sure Donna would let it slide."

Floria: "What is going on with you?"

James: "I'm a bit surprised too, honestly."

Christine: "Don't you want to?"

James: "Not at work, Christine..."

Christine: "If the article matters so much to you, just let me do it and you keep working."

James: "I mean, if you want to masturbate, go ahead. Maybe want to do it away from Floria, though. Just make sure you continue working soon, Beth got mad at Donna and me for doing it on company time and in her office."

Floria: "What? That was her issue?"

James: "Businesswoman through and through, I guess."

Floria: "Christine, what?" In that moment, I heard a zip sound, suspiciously close to my own body.

Christine: "Wow, you're genuinely not hard. Look, Floria." Floria flinched away and began packing her things.

James: "Christine, get out of there. What's gotten into you?" I zipped my pants back up.

Christine: "Sorry, I'm just... very horny."

James: "I can tell, but that ****?" She just nodded. "Listen, if you want to do this this badly, just stay with Amber and Klara for a while. I'll return from the dinner at some point and will write you when I'm home, you just come whenever you want, okay?"

Christine: "Alright." She seemed bummed out by the course of the events. "Sorry James."

James: "I think you need to apologize to Floria more than me."

Christine: "You're right. Sorry Floria for dragging you into this mess."

Floria: "It's okay, I'm just concerned. Are you sure everything is okay?"

Christine: "It's better now that I'll see him this evening."

Floria gave me a concerned look. I didn't quite know how to respond. Instead, I continued working for the rest of the day.