Let’s celebrate

I make a fresh pot of Victoria’s fancy coffee and pour it liberally for the employees. Their mood makes a sharp upswing as I give them the good tidings. Rachel looks like she needs it more than most, sitting in her cubicle, distraught.

"Cheer up, Rachel. Victoria is gone for the day and I have her best coffee to squander on my friends."

She only manages a weak smile. "A little coffee would be nice, thanks." She is the first person to not jump with joy at the news.

"What's going on? Are things not okay?" I pour a small amount into her travel mug.

"It's not..." She stops and frowns. Her eyes waver as she decides whether or not to share. Finally she shakes her head with a huge sigh, as if disgusted with herself. She takes a breath and starts again. "It's surprisingly hard to talk about money, even though I'm an accountant... I was going to take my husband out for dinner last night, but my car broke down. It is a expensive repair."

"Ouch! Sorry to hear that. Is it fixed now?"

"No, I couldn't afford to start the repair. I’m short over $500" She looks a touch embarrassed and guilty. "I usually have more in savings, but I recently prepaid most of the honeymoon trip."

"Oof. Didn't you say that you two share a car?"

"Yeah. He works nights so we can trade off pretty easy. Now we are trying to learn the bus system, but the bus is only during the day, so he has to pay for ride services." She looks so conflicted. I think about it for a few seconds, then I make a spontaneous offer.

"If I were to loan you the $600, how soon could you pay me back?"

She looks shocked. Then relieved. Then guilty. Then thoughtful. "Oh, we should have the money within a week. Next Monday. Are you serious about helping us?"

"Of course. I can send it through my banking app using your cell number. But I do need to be paid back right away. Next Monday?" She nods. "Okay, then I'm happy to help." I get her number and initiate the transfer. As soon as she has it, she calls the auto shop and authorizes the repair.

"The car should be ready tomorrow evening. Thanks so much, Warren!" Feeling kind words are inadequate, she stands and gives me a big hug. For a brief second I am in ta-ta heaven. Her tits press and swell and squish, filling the gaps between us. My uneven intake of breath indicates how unprepared I am for the sudden contact. That is quite a thank-you.

I pour a little more coffee in her mug before leaving. "Live a little."

{if tom_fired = false}

I find Tom sitting at a break area table with a paper cup filled with vending machine coffee.

“Throw that swill out. I just brewed this and Victoria is gone for the rest of the day.”

“I’ll drink to that!” Without hesitation, he walks to the sink, dumps the contents of the cup, and comes back begging for a refill. I give him what he wants and we cheers each other. "I can't tell you what a relief it is." His shoulders lower dramatically and he lets his language get slightly less professional. "I swear I've been within a cunt hair of getting fired several times now. Sometimes I even freeze up at the urinal since I feel like she might be watching me. Then I sit in a stall just to get an extra wall between us."

"Karma will get her for all the shit she puts us through."

He scrunches his face. "I wish I believed in karma. Some people only slip if you push them."

Damn, Tom! You might be a better ally than I thought. "I hear ya. I'm her assistant, but that doesn’t mean I always helped her."

“Oh?”

“Lets just say there is an angel of vengeance that is haunting her.”

Tom's bushy eyebrows levitate. "Oh fuck, really? Like how?" He leans in, eager to hear something juicy.

"I can't say. Plausible deniability, you know..."

He swings his head to the side. "Damn! Give me a tiny hint. I need to know enough to give me hope."

{else}I continue to pour coffees, until I see Tom’s empty cubicle and feel angry on his behalf. Someone should check up on him. I ask his former coworkers until someone gives me his phone number, then I give him a call from my desk.

“Yeah, hello,” a voice says flatly.

“Hey, Tom? This is Warren. How are you doing today?” He groans in response.

“Not great. Not great. BUT I don’t ever have to see that fucking cunt again, so... that is a big plus.”

“Are you going to land on your feet?”

“Eh, maybe. I’m reaching out to old freelance clients. Now I’m just at home, looking up how to make voodoo dolls.”

“Well, that’s a good hobby! I’ll take twelve.” Tom laughs at that. I have another thought, but hold off on mentioning it. “Seriously, I could sell them for a good profit around here, and I could sure use the money. I could get axed any day.”

“She needs you too much to fire you.”

“Don’t be too sure. {if victoria_birthday = true}I recently learned that all of her former assistants got axed without warning.{endif} Anyway, things got real tense here after that all went down. Victoria left early today so we are finally breathing again. We are all pissed for you and Sydnee.”

“I’m pissed, too. Can you push her down a long flight of stairs for me?”

Oh, Tom. We might become better friends than I thought. After a pause, I decide to hook him.

“What if I were to say that a... an avenging angel was already acting out some karmic **** for everyone that has ever worked for her?”

Tom got silent. “Really? Like what? That would be the best news of my life. Tell me!”

{endif}