Returning to work

I sat up in my office, gasping, my heart beating quickly. Slowly, I calmed down and began to look around, wondering if it had all been a dream. My office was growing dim, the sun slowly beginning its retreat below the horizon, otherwise it was normal. I had fallen asleep, a few hours lost. But then, I nodded, I had worked late last night as well, the annual reports being due shortly. Stressful work, especially when lower level managers were slow in turning in the numbers I needed. I snorted. Typical behavior, really, trying to get ahead by making the boss look bad. Ha! That wouldn’t get rid of me! I smirked, turning my chair around, and looked out the window at the city, lights flickering on as night approached.

I shook the thoughts away, my mind sliding back to the unearthly encounter. Just what do I want with this – this power, if it is real? Money? I have that, most if it tied up in the company. Freeing it up would be a little difficult, finding a buyer or buyers with the capitol to buy out my share. Power? Again, technically I had that. Again, from the company. Women? Hmmm. Never had much luck there. Dated a few times, here and there, but nothing ever came out of it. I wanted – a partner, I guess. Someone to share my life with. Now… Could I even find an equal with this supposed power? Doubtful. Ba’al said I was the only one.

Still… If this power worked, sex would be easier, much easier, to come by. Hell, I nearly giggled, I could fuck every woman in the office and keep them from telling each other about it! No one would know! They might figure it out, if any STDs started to spread throughout the office. Hmmm. Do I want to fuck that many women? Do I want to take a chance at getting a disease? Damn, I frowned. Not really. Especially if I managed to knock up a lot of them. Think of the child support! Though there were a few I wouldn’t mind seen preggers, the stuck up bitches. Like Miss Templeton, the holier-than-thou clerk in Receivables, with her nose always up in the air and preaching to everyone about our sinful ways. She always seemed to give me the evil eye and I’ve never spoken to her. Hell! My mind might be in the gutter more often than not, but I’m one of the best at emulating the lifestyle she preaches! I shook my head. Yeah, fucking with her and her head would be a little fun. Don’t know if I’d go through with it. Riskiest thing I have ever done was put up the money for the startup of this company with Ken and Derek.

Ken, I blinked. He’s been irritating me more and more. Getting more pushy around the office, tired of my **** – hell, out and out balking – to go with his schemes to increase revenue. I would have thought he’d understand – I’m pretty good at seeing how the numbers work out at a glance. He doesn’t want to lose money, does he? Or was it so I would lose money, lose control of the decision-making process in the company, and give him the power? Hmmm. Wealth and power had always been Ken’s dream. He was the public face of the company, had been since we sat around and dreamed it up in Derek’s basement. If I left… I’d have to be paid out, my investment capitalized. Could the company afford that? I glanced down at the reports laid out across my desk. No, no it can’t. Even with his salary alone, Ken couldn’t. Neither could Derek. They would need a group of investors and that would mean even more people who would stand up to him. Shit. I don’t want to take a loss on my share. I fronted the money for this venture. I don’t want to lose a penny of what I deserve. Damn.

Knock-knock.

I turned my chair to face the door, slightly ajar, a pair of pretty green eyes peering through the crack.

“Mr. – Mr. Wilson?” I recognized the voice of Miss Wade, one of the secretaries of the company. Working later than most of them, I noted, glancing at the clock. Much later. A little strange. The redhead did work whatever overtime she could nor was she one to leave right at the end of the work-day. She liked to ensure that her desk was in order.

“Sir?” Again, a little odd. I’d never received a ‘sir’ from anyone. “Are – are you okay?”

“I’m – fine,” I said. “Just a little tired. I – fell asleep.”

She remained silent, standing at the door. I wondered why Miss Wade was still here. I knew of no reason for her not to have gone home hours ago.

“Is there something I can do for you, Miss Wade?” I asked.

“No – no, sir, there isn’t,” the woman answered. I raised an eyebrow, thinking. I wonder… Should I test the power? On her? She wasn’t one of the original hires for the company, but Miss Wade was one of the longest employed persons still with us. The redhead was – maybe in her mid to late thirties. And – attractive. Not in the curvy wave like Stacy, Ken’s daughter, who flaunted what she had in tight pants and tops – not very professional in my mind. More like the women in some of the porn I watched – a corporate hotness with her business skirts and jackets, dark hose and glasses. Miss Wade was slim but not bony, perhaps a little hippy and maybe enough in the chest for a small handful. I’d say she was a head shorter than me, but not much more and I stood in at 5’8”.

Yet… did I want to try – on her? I liked the woman, not that I knew how she specifically felt towards me – I don’t know of a woman in the company who was even friendly towards me – and Mrs. Mitchell, the head of human resources, was the friendliest – generally no more than a curt nod and slight frown for a greeting. I don’t know why but somehow I – turned off the women in the company. One of the many reasons why I never looked for dates among my co-workers. Among those reasons was that it was unethical.

Damn it, I’m making this hard for me test Ba’al’s – gift. If I start – and it works as intended – I would be walking a very thin line. I know power corrupts, having witnessed, for example, Saddam in Iraq, Dennis Kozlowski of Tyco and – Ken, living it up through – what it is? – Two? Three wives now? And who knows how many mistresses. Stacy’s the only kid out of all of them, thankfully. Too bad he set her up an employee, a top-level manager who reports to – me, of all people. Lousy slacker.

“Mr. Wilson?” Miss Wade cut across my thoughts.

“My apologies, Miss Wade,” I said, blinking. She hadn’t returned to her desk among the cubicles. “My mind was wandering.”

The redhead continued to stand there, behind the door, once more returning to silence. I began to feel – irritated. She had a reason to be there; she just wasn’t coming out and saying what she wanted. I wish –

I cut off the thought. I guess – What the hell? It would enlighten me and prove – maybe – that Ba’al – if it wasn’t more than a dream – was telling the truth.

“Miss Wade,” I said, my voice a little resigned and very, very tired, “I wish you would please enter my office and tell me what is on your mind.”