Mariko's Story

Mariko locked the door behind us after we entered her office, then kneeled down on the carpet and invited me to do the same. I kneeled facing her and she began to speak.

"When I joined Hiromoto Industries I was an intern in my final year of university study. I was nearing the end of my internship when an executive told me of their plans to begin a nude courier service in the building and invited me to join. I declined, of course, telling him I could never do such a thing. He returned the next day with an offer of a substantial salary and bonus. I declined again. He returned each day with a greater offer until one day I felt I could no longer decline. I am not from a wealthy family and it was more money than I could imagine. Another intern I worked with also accepted an invitation and we began our lives as mailgirls."

I listened quietly as she spoke not wanting to interrupt.

"After I began I felt great shame in what I was doing but continued carrying out my duties. I did this for several weeks until I felt I could no longer bear the shame. I returned to that executive and informed him that I must leave the company. He told me that I must fulfill the contract or repay the bonus I had been given with interest. I informed him I could not because I had already used it to help pay off my family's debts. He then ordered me on to my hands and knees and whipped me with his belt for my insolence. I was told never to ask again to leave unless I repaid the money. I knew I could never repay this and was trapped until my contract ended."

A chill went up my spine as I heard her talk about being trapped in her contract. I thought about my own contract with the large bonus up front to pay off my student loans that I could never hope to repay if I wanted to leave. That's different, though, I told myself. I'm going to be a manager, not a mailgirl.

"After that," Mariko continued, "I resolved to fulfill my contract and performed my duties to the best of my abilities, although it was very difficult. I was often groped and fondled and one executive ordered me to pleasure him orally. As the day approached that my contract would end I resolved to leave the company and never return. That was when Mr, Hiromoto summoned me to his office for the first time. I had never met or spoken to him before."

I thought about my trip to Mr. Hiromoto's office that afternoon and how intimidating the man had been. I understood how Mariko must have felt that first meeting.

"Mr. Hiromoto invited me to remain on as a mailgirl and help them manage and improve the program. I politely declined, telling him about my treatment as a mailgirl and the abuses that I and others had suffered. After I had finished he told me to prepare a list of changes I believed should be made to improve the lives of the mailgirls and bring it to him the next day. I did so and he agreed to all of them but one. He insisted mailgirls must not be allowed to have names while on duty. He said he would use his power to protect the mailgirls from further abuses, but only if I remained to help manage the program."

"I was anxious to leave the company but felt I could not abandon the other girls so I agreed to stay, but told Mr. Hiromoto that I would sign no contract and would leave if the promises were not fulfilled. He agreed to that but added one final provision. If the mailgirls were not to suffer for their failures then someone must. I must agree to be punished for each demerit my mailgirls receive."

"Oh my god," I said. "Do the other mailgirls know you're dong this?"

"No," she replied, "and you must speak of this to no one. You must promise."

"I promise," I told her. "But why would you agree to that?"

"Mr. Hiromoto has kept his promise to use his power to protect the mailgirls and I will keep mine. It is much better for them now and my punishment is a small price to pay for that."

"Hiromoto is still a sadistic prick for doing this to you," I said. "He should be protecting the mailgirls because it's the right thing to do."

"Mr. Hiromoto does nothing without receiving something in return. That is how he does business and this is a business arrangement."

"Business? You don't think he gets off on whipping you? He probably jacks off the minute you leave the room."

"Perhaps he does, but that is not my concern. My concern is the protection of my girls."

As I sat there thinking about what I'd just been told my admiration for the nude woman kneeling before me continued to grow. I was beginning to believe that Mariko was the strongest and most selfless person I had ever met.

"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked. "Why did you allow me to go up to Hiromoto's office to witness that?"

"I sense an inner strength in you that has not yet been tapped," she replied. "You have many challenges ahead of you and I felt it best to pull back the veil and allow you to see that there are powerful men and women who will seek to take advantage of you and your girls."

I thought about this for a moment. "I may have made a terrible mistake, Mariko." I told her about the large bonus I'd accepted to pay off my student loans when signing my contract.

"Is this something you can afford to repay if you choose to leave?" she asked.

"No way. The money's gone. It's already been used to pay off the loans." Mariko's face fell when she heard this.

"Then I believe you are trapped as I was."

"We were told we'd be managers, we wouldn't be mailgirls."

"I fear this will not be the case," Mariko said. "You and Kelly each have extraordinary beauty and were most likely selected for that reason. I believe the intent is to make both of you their first mailgirls. But perhaps I am wrong."

A surge of panic went through me as I heard that. "What should I do, Mariko?"

"You must do what you must to protect yourself and your girls. You must be the shepherd that watches over her flock."