Getting Ahead at the Office

The next morning at work, I was whiling away the time until I could start on Gem Ladies.

The whole morning was awkward and stilted. Vanessa and the others obviously knew something had happened with Ethan last night, thankfully he hadn't told anyone the details. Not that I would expect him to, basically no way he can spin a halfway believable story that doesn't also put him in a bad light.

People's eyes followed my every move the few times I had to walk through the main room.

I had to dodge questions from Vanessa and the other girls from last night. All I did was tell them that no, I did not want to press charges or file any complaints. Honestly, legally speaking, Ethan might have more ground to stand on than I did...

It didn't help that even my baggiest pencil skirt clung to my new hips like shrink wrap. If I didn't pay attention I strutted with an outrageous sway more fitting for a stripper than an office worker. I was torn on whether to try to tone it down or own my new mannerisms.

I had no idea what my coworkers thought was going on. I did my best to ignore the rumors about me.

Thankfully, my job was pretty simple and I was left alone 90% of the time. So I had plenty of quiet moments to mull over my new reality. Which led to a bit of an unsettling realization.

The Challenge would be finished in just over a month at most, win or lose. If I buckled down and somehow perfected all 100 levels on my first try I'd win the mysterious Prize in nine more days. That's the best case scenario.

I needed to play at least three games every day. Which means 27 more days if I did the minimum to not lose. However, if I tried to stretch things out to buy time for some reason, I would be overwhelmed by potentially dozens of punishments I had to pay to remove, all for an extra month. Or, I will have become someone's personal plaything. Mind, body, and soul subject to their whims.

I can't do this perfectly on the first try every level and attempting a slow approach didn't appeal to me. Why wait? So, let's give it two to three weeks until I've won or lost.

What does my life look like after that? Up to thirty Rewards, a dozen Upgrades, and who knows what Punishments I'll decide to keep. I already look and feel amazing, people stop and stare when I walk past them. I barely recognize myself in the mirror. (Not that I'm complaining about it...)

There's already some downright bullshit magic within reach. For 50 Gems I can buy hypnotic eyes to give people sufficiently attracted to me simple commands. I can easily imagine a more powerful variant that enslaves them permanently. Why would I need a job when I can mind control a billionaire into my devoted sugar daddy? I won't need to buy clothes when I can have a magical set of transformable clothing. Hell, I might be able to do the same for housing or food with the right Reward!

How high was the power ceiling here? And what the fuck was the Prize?

All of that musing was meaningless if I didn't actually play the game. So during lunch, when the chime rang out, I pulled up the app without hesitation.

PERFECT! +10 GEMS!

+9 GEMS!

I growled in irritation and bit into my sandwich savagely.

PERFECT! +1 GEM!

There! I finally have enough to buy something substantial. Hehehe! TENTA-TONGUE here I come~

People turned to stare at me in the break room. I could imagine what they saw, a gorgeous woman huddled in the corner, giggling over her phone like a maniac. I blushed and ducked my head to hide behind my bangs. Maybe I can buy it later...

I pressed onwards in the privacy of my little side office, determined to pass level 13 without a hitch. It was an arduous ordeal, eight imps in total, an unforgiving timer, and a newly introduced hazard of a sleeping hellhound on the board that would wake up if I wasn't careful.

A few minutes in, I'd given up on perfection. Too many new variables for that, but I remained undaunted! I had set up for a glorious chain of combos and driven off the imps, seconds away from victory!

BANG! BANG!! BANG!!!

"AH!" I yelped and flailed at my desk when the door burst open. The phone fell into my lap.

The red-faced form of Mr.Ross glared down at me, making my small office feel like a closet. I had never seen the jolly bear of a man so much as annoyed at anyone. His bushy red beard bristled as he ground his teeth. He closed his eyes and took a steadying breath.

I meekly looked up and asked, "Can I help you with anything Sir?" I hadn't called him sir since my first week on the job.

"Miss Turner. A...new development involving you has come to my attention—" He was interrupted by the sad womp-womp noise from Gem Ladies.

I couldn't resist looking down.

FAILURE!

CHOOSE A PUNISHMENT

•REFINED TASTE

•PRETTY IN PINK♥️

•OVERFLOWING CUP

Ah, shit. I slowly peeked at his reddening face.

"Turner. My office, Now!" Mr.Ross barked, he spun on one heel and stormed out.

I jumped out of my seat and fumbled my phone, trying to read all the options, but I had already pressed one. I didn't know which.

Fuck.