Agreeable Kate

I'm posting here as I write the story so the drafts aren't fully polished. Feel free to add to it, or comment some suggestions. Enjoy!

***

"Hey Katie, I think I'm having some issues with my computer."

She hated that name. Kate cast a glare at her computer monitor before softening and turning her head towards her boss's desk. Their office was small. Since the two of them comprised the entirety of the company's staff, it didn't make sense for them to lease anything bigger. Still, she sometimes wished she could get away from her boss's lecherous gaze and his goddamn pet name. He had the desks placed so he could stare at her while pretending to work at his computer, but she'd need to turn her head to catch him, which she had done more than once.

Kate constantly had to remind herself that she really needed the job. If she and Jake were going to buy a house together, they needed all the cash they could get, and Andy was paying her really well. Way more than market value considering her responsibilities and experience. She knew that he only paid her that much because she was attractive, hell, even Jake knew that, but the end absolutely justified the means. All she had to do was suffer his ogling and sidestep his blatant innuendos for a few more months and then she and Jake would finally have enough for a down payment.

She looked at Andy, wondering what he could possibly think she'd be able to do to fix his computer. She figured that telling him to turn it off and back on again wouldn't go over well. Hell, he'd probably ask her to crawl under his desk and unplug it for him just so he could stare at her ass. Kate shuddered. Andy looked back at her with his cold blue eyes. He always seemed to be looking below her neckline, but sometimes it was hard to be sure. She shivered just imagining what weird fantasies he'd play out in his head with her as the star.

"Whats wrong with it?" she asked, "Do you need to get the tech kid to come in?" Kate had a knack to avoid getting herself into compromising situations.

He shook his head, "No, no, no, nothing like that. I -uh-," he stammered briefly and his eyes flitted back to his monitor. He was definitely acting strangely, but Kate couldn't figure out why. Was he actually trying to come up with a reason to get her under his desk? She knew he was a sleaze, but she didn't think he'd actually try anything.

"It's just this video I'm trying to open," he said, "It's not working on my machine."

Kate furrowed her brow. A video? What the hell did he need a video for? And how was she supposed to help? "OK?" she said quizzically, "What do you want me to do?"

Andy's eyes quickly and deftly darted back to the woman. "Can you try it on your computer?"

"Yea, sure. Send me a link?" Kate navigated over to her email in anticipation.

"On it."

Within moments, the link appeared in her inbox and Kate opened it. The video didn't have a title or description, and when it opened in her media player it was hours long. The time stamp on the player showed that the video was playing, but all Kate could see was a blank screen.

"The file seems to be playing," she said to Andy, "It just doesn't seem like there anything more than a black screen."

Andy seemed surprised. "Weird," he said, "Is there any sound?"

Kate grabbed her ear phones which were plugged into her station and quickly threw them in her ears. She spoke a bit louder than before, "There's like a buzzing or something, but no- Wait." She leaned forward and looked closer at her monitor. She could make out faint lines and hues amidst the sea of blackness. Maybe there was something in the video after all. Her eyes darted around. It felt like she could make out shapes or letters in her peripherals. "There's definitely some..." Kate blacked out, lost in the inky alphabet soup on her screen.

**

"Hey Katie, I'm heading home. Are you OK locking up?"

Kate startled and pushed away from her desk. The ear buds ripped from her face. Her eyes ached and she rubbed them before addressing her boss. "Oh, uhhh, yea... I can... Is it five already?" She looked at her watch and back at her screen. Weird. She remembered working at her computer, but now the active window was some video... She must have tabbed over by mistake when Andy startled her.

Speaking of Andy, he was staring at her while standing still, as if he was watching for something and pretending to get dressed to leave. His hands were holding the scarf around his neck, but they weren't doing anything to actually secure it. Also, he wasn't staring at her with his usual lecherous gaze, he seemed to be taking stock of her actions. Was he internally ridiculing her for falling asleep at her desk? Was he concerned about her health? Why wasn't he answering her? The silence was going on too long.

"S-sorry," Kate managed to stammer, "I must have dozed off or something. I'll lock up when I leave." She rubbed her eyes again, the soreness was dissipating at an excruciatingly slow rate.

Andy laughed one of his irritating, fake, cloying laughs. "It's fine, Katie. Just make sure you have the Bergeron account wrapped up before you go."

Kate felt the blood fall from her face. The Bergeron Account? That wasn't due until Thursday, and today was... Monday... Right? Unless... Had she forgotten two whole days? The woman felt her body enter panic mode. There was still so much to do with the Bergeron account! She only remembered working on the final touches for the Ramirez account... How? She reached for her mouse and opened the calendar. It was still Monday. Five PM, Monday. Kate couldn't remember where the day had gone, but it was definitely still Monday nonetheless.

"Don't I still have two days to wrap up the Bergeron file?" she asked her boss.

Like a freshly-wounds clockwork toy, Andy's body kicked into action again and he finished wrapping his scarf around his neck. It felt as if he were waiting for this moment to come. "I figure it's better to have these things buttoned up in advance rather than always working to the deadline."

Kate frowned. Bosses were excruciating to work with, and Andy sometimes took it to the next level. Why would she focus on the Bergeron account if the Ramirez file was due earlier. "Yea, it's just that the Rami-"

"Don't you agree," Andy cut her off, his eyes seemed to be boring a hole in her head, "That it's necessary to wrap up the Bergeron account tonight?"

Kate felt her frown fade until her face was left as an emotionless canvas. She wasn't used to Andy using a stern tone like that, certainly not over something so trivial. Still, she had to admit that he had a point. Even if the Ramirez account had an earlier deadline, wrapping up the Bergeron file first would allow her to completely focus on the Ramirez account all day Tuesday, and considering that she had lost most of her Monday, that would be helpfuly... Then she could use Wednesday to do... other important things. She couldn't think of anything off hand, but having the Bergeron files finished tonight would give her all day Wednesday to get a head start on other projects. It actually made a lot of sense to wrap up the Bergeron account that night. In fact, she had to agree with Andy, it was down right necessary.

Kate composed herself. "Yes," she said, "You're right. I'll get it done tonight." Then her heart sank again. There was at least five hours of work left to do on the Bergeron file, and she was supposed to be going out with Jake after work.

Andy smiled at her triumphantly, like he had won the greatest war known to mankind, when really he just had an idea that made sense. "Very well, I'll see you tomorrow," and he turned to leave.

Kate was back in panic mode. "Umm... Actually..." she said, eager to get his attention again. Andy's shoulders slumped before he turned around to face her. A bemused look adorned his face. "Are you able to stay and help me get it done? There is a lot of work left for the account." Kate's face burned. She couldn't believe she was asking her boss for a favor like that, but maybe if he stayed, she and Jake could still go out for eight.

Andy paused while the gears turned in his head. There was a pregnant moment before he replied, "Don't you agree that since the Bergeron account is your responsibility, you should be the one to finish it up?"

Kate felt her cheeks flush again. He was absolutely right. Even though they had often shared workloads before and were able to seamlessly integrate each other's work for a single account, the Bergeron file was indeed her responsibility and it wasn't right of her to ask him to bail her out when she had to work late.

Kate tucked an errant lock of auburn hair behind her ear. "Absolutely," she said steadfast. Her eyes locked on her computer screen and she tabbed over to her workspace. "I shouldn't have asked. Have a good night, Andy."

Andy paused before turning away again. "Good night, Katie," he said and he slowly walked away. "Oh, one more thing!" Kate glanced up at her boss who was still turned away from her even as he continued speaking. "Don't you agree that you should call me Mr. Cowall?"

Kate didn't take long to consider it. She had always called him "Andy", but he was her boss and the owner of the company. It only made sense she employed proper decorum and acknowledged his place above her.

"Good night, Mr. Cowall," she responded as she looked back down at her computer. Her boss walked away, seemingly standing straighter than he ever had before.