Yes, back to work

I need to get cleaned up again before I go back about my business, I realize. I don’t know what my record for most showers in a day is, but I think I might break it today. I turn on the water, give my phone a quick check, and climb in.

*******

I dress and reflexively check my phone. I shake myself free and head out the door.

No one’s home at #103. According to the list, that’s the Starrs, a couple in their 30s with twin 12-year-old boys. Apt. 104 is home to three women in their mid-20s: Jenna Paul, Madison Ryder, and Tara Tigh. I knock, and a woman in blazer, blouse, skirt, and heels answers. She looks at me with frank curiosity. “May I help you?”

“I’m Iain Roberts—I’m the new building manager,” I say. “I’m just going around introducing myself to the tenants.”

Her face clears. She nods and shakes my hand. “I’m Jenna Paul,” she tells me. Her voice is clear and confident. “I’m glad to meet you. My apartmentmates aren’t here—I just got back from the office. Will you come in?”

“Thank you,” I respond. I follow her into the apartment. We sit down at the kitchen counter. I raise my phone. “One of the things I’m doing is taking pictures of the tenants to help me keep everyone straight. Do you mind if I take yours?” I ask.

“Go ahead,” she replies, her voice a little warmer and a little richer.

“Thank you,” I say sincerely. “What do you do for a living? You said you work in an office?”

She laughs merrily. I suddenly realize she’s discreetly checking me out. My nipples stiffen and I feel myself getting a little wet. You wouldn’t think it would, with all the action it’s gotten today. Jenna becomes much less discreet as she sees me flush. She looks up quickly and clears her throat. “No,” she says with a slightly-embarrassed grin. “I do a lot of my work from home, actually. I’m a coder. Even when I go in, I don’t usually dress like this, but we had an important meeting today.”

“Oh, so you work for a software company?” I ask.

Jenna’s grin widens. “No, I’m head of software for a hardware startup. It was a meeting with a major VC.”

My eyes widen. “I’m impressed.” I give her a respectful nod.

“What brought you here?” Jenna asks curiously in return. “Our last two supers were the stereotypical old fat guys.”

“I couldn’t find a job worth taking in my field.” I tell her a bit about my situation and long-term plans. She looks more and more interested as I talk.

“Let’s move to the couch and get more comfortable,” Jenna says abruptly. “I have an idea for you.” I nod in agreement and she slips off the stool. She takes off her coat and tosses it aside. “If you want to keep taking pictures,” she adds mischievously, “I won’t stop you.” Then she starts unbuttoning her blouse.