Cassy's Awakening Ch. 01

Synopsis : Cassandra Riley, a young and powerful rising star in the business world, meets her match in a coworker, Jane. Unprepared for the feelings that Jane's domineering personality brings out in her, Cassandra begins to unravel, and takes drastic action not to lose herself completely.

Author note : The following story is the beginning of an ongoing, multi-part series.

It is a work of fiction. All characters, places, etc are completely made up, as is the plot.

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Chapter 1 : An Awakening Begins

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"I'm sorry, but this is just... far below our standards." I said, my cherry red lips pursed into a condescending frown. "I hate to say it, but I think your roll here might need to be readdressed. Perhaps even your employment here at Illuminate Media."

I stood up from my large, polished desk.

"Jane," I said, looking over the pathetic woman across from me with obvious disdain, "It's not entirely your fault. I should have known better than to leave your little department so unsupervised. I'd been told you were capable... but I suppose that was my mistake."

The face staring back at me was defiant, instead of horrified. That surprised me. Normally, just being paged to my office sent shivers down spines.

To say I was not known as an easy going coworker was an understatement. It was well accepted that I was not afraid to put my heel through those who came up against me.

'Cassandra Riley : The Tech World's Brightest Rising Star under Thirty!' proclaimed the tag line of last year's "Cutting Edge' magazine. 'Energetic and ready to conquer the world!' it added for good effect, under a large, full-cover, glowing picture of me.

The magazine had featured the story of my rise to stardom not even one year ago -- and though it was hardly my only claim to fame, it was one of my favorites, mainly because I liked the photo they'd used.

The girl on the cover was beautiful, pale skin with a smattering of freckles, her golden blond hair pulled into a tight, militant bun, and piercing emerald flecked eyes. Her cherry red lipstick was the same shade I was wearing today, exploding with colorful contrast against the bright white business blazer and matching skirt she was wearing.

The picture of me also wasn't subtle in capturing my thin, curvaceous frame. The pose and the angle made sure to extenuate my ample, heavy breasts, as well as the slender and perfect frame, all the way past my sexy ass to my long, smooth legs.

I was a knockout, and the cover could have easily passed for a men's magazine splash page, if not for the fact that I was looking up, as if towards the future, commanding respect and admiration!

"I'm sorry," I said, pointing to the large, blown-up framed poster of the cover that adorned the wall of my expansive office, "Does that say anything about showing up late, putting in a half ass effort, or making snide jokes about superiors?"

"No, Cassandra," Jane said flatly, cringing as a pair of coworkers walked past my open office door. "It doesn't."

"Ms. Riley," I corrected, "Let's not forget this is a place of business, not one of your little party scenes or dance clubs."

The girl looked truly chastised now. Good. It had taken long enough for the insolent little brat to remember her place.

That I'd made her leave the door to my office wide open was probably aiding in my efforts to tear her apart. The office floor was quiet enough that there was little doubt everyone outside was hearing my remarks with ease.

But this woman deserved it.

I'd called her into my office almost a half an hour ago, but she hadn't shown up. In a rage, I'd had to page her a second time, and then a third, before she'd finally sauntered in, as if it was a casual affair.

It was anything but. Jane Scott had been a thorn in my side for two weeks now, ever since she'd somehow been promoted to my department.

It was anyone's guess how she'd rose to this level so quickly, though I had my share of depraved ideas. Not since my rise to stardom had anyone at Illuminate Media reached such heights so quickly.

My office was perched in the corner of the third highest floor of the towering complex that housed the super-star tech company. I was second only to the the board of directors, and the President, and a handful of powerful figures.

While technically I didn't outrank anyone on this floor -- we were all senior executives, after all -- it was well established that I was in charge. I made it clear that I was not to be challenged, and my skill, success and influence with the higher ups gave me all of the ammunition I needed to reign over my coworkers with ease. More than once, I'd skillfully outmaneuvered those that opposed me, and my quick rise to my position was built upon the ruined careers of those who thought they could best me.

Jane, however, was different.

Shorter than me, with sandy brown hair pulled into a tight little pony tail, she was as young as I was, and every bit as confident. She had piercing blue eyes, and smooth, unblemished skin. If it weren't for the fact that she wore whoreish, dark eye shadow and had a gaudy, emerald piercing in her nose, she could have found herself on the cover of her own high end fashion magazine. But unfortunately, she seemed more content to play the roll of an office slut than something respectable.

I'd meant what I'd said about her clubs and party scenes. Though I didn't know much about her, I could easily imagine her pounding back shots, stripped down in a skanky, cheap little outfit, flaunting her body.

She was definitely the type, I thought dryly. Aside from her pierced nose, there were also several small gold rings that rose up the back of her right ear. Her lipstick, a cheap, inexpensive brand from the local outlet mall, no doubt, was often smeared onto her pouting lips in a thick, tramp-like blob.

We couldn't have looked more contrasting, especially at this moment.

Leaning against my desk in a designer, power skirt and blazer, the clothes on my body were worth more than this harlot made in a month.

My wrinkle-free skirt clung to my long legs like it'd been made for them. My blazer and shirt similarly matched the curves of my voluptuous body, buttoned up just high enough to agonizingly restrict anyone's direct view of my large, perfectly teased breasts.

By contrast, Jane's outfit was ill-fit. Her black skirt, shorter than mine in an obvious attempt to show a little more leg, barely covered the tops of her cheap stockings.

Her blazer, a dark blue that failed to match her skirt, was clearly right off the rack. It had obviously been purchased for one effect only: to push her tits up and out as far as it could manage, creating a valley of cleavage that would border on indecent outside a work place, let alone in one.

Nevertheless, this petulant little whelp had become a prickly little weed in my otherwise prized bed of flowers.

Since she'd started her job in my department two weeks ago, she'd been finding ways to annoy me at every turn.

She was immensely popular, especially among my male coworkers, and she was confident enough to challenge me in front of them! I'd even heard whispers of comments she'd made about me, jokes at my expense. I'd more than once heard someone chuckle and whisper "Sassy Cassy!" when I'd walked by.

Though I couldn't prove it, I knew it was a name she'd started. I hated that name, more than I can describe.

Despite my condemnations and snide remarks of her near every move, I'd failed to garner much support against her, and this morning it had culminated exactly how I'd feared.

We'd had a morning meeting, to go over various proposals and ideas for our next quarter. Normally, the meeting was less an exchange of ideas, and more a circle of coworkers listening to my thoughts and praising me accordingly.

But this morning, Jane publicly spoke out against some of my ideas in a meeting.

In front of everyone, she'd had the nerve to tell me a proposal I'd put forth needed revision. Worse, she'd commented on past decisions I'd made, even going so far as to bring up financial numbers to back up her assertions that I'd been less than effective in my position.

It was an unmitigated disaster. Her sudden and unprovoked attack upon me had left me completely in disarray. Worse, my co workers had leaped to her side... agreeing with her point by point revision of my ideas and proposals, agreeing at the end that there was ample "Room for Improvement".

Clearly, she'd been waiting for this moment. I saw now that I'd have to be more direct.

Jane had to be put in her place, and quickly.

"Cassandra," Jane said, and I raised an eyebrow, defiantly.

"Sorry - Ms. Riley," she corrected, with an eye roll that nearly made me leap across the floor and slap her, "I'm sorry if you were embarrassed earlier, but let's face it, there's obvious room for improvement in this department. Quite frankly, your own office has been rather down in the numbers lately-"

I raised my hand, silencing her for the moment.

Quickly marching across my expansive office to the door, I closed it shut, and clicked the lock shut.

"That's enough," I said, my fists clenched at my sides, my back to her as I faced my door, "You're not going to lip off to me in front of my co workers. You're an immature, inexperienced brat who has no place on this floor!"

I was almost shaking with rage, but I kept my back to her, dramatically making my point.

"There's a reason why I'm up there on the wall, and you're not. I'm this company's future. I'm the star, here. You're nothing. You're just a trashy, insolent tramp who's here to provide some eye candy.

There. That should do it, I thought. Now, for the final nail.

"I have half a mind to go straight to the board and recommend your immediate termination." I added, "And in fact, I think I'll begin drafting up a memo to that effect immediately."

I smiled, still facing away, listening to the silence of the room for a moment.

Unfortunately, I was unprepared for what I heard next.

"Go ahead," Jane said, and I spun around, aghast.

She was leaning against my desk now, a crooked grin on her face and a sultry pose.

"Excuse me?" I demanded, failing to mask my surprise.

"Go ahead," she repeated, "Write a letter to the board. Hell, storm up there right now, see what happens."

She was confident, effortlessly staring me down from across the room in a way I'd never seen before.

"Let's just hope they don't decide to go another route, though," she said, picking a pen up off of my desk and idly twirling it in her long, delicate fingers, "Would be a shame if they felt... compelled... to let you go instead of me."

"Compelled?" I asked, my concern betraying me.

Jane shrugged, standing up from her lean and walking towards me, casually tossing my pen into the air and catching it playfully.

"You're not the only one who's good with computers, Cass," she said, and I glowed red with anger, "And with a group like those upstairs, it can't be too hard to find a little dirt here and there... grease the wheels a bit."

So, there you had it. Jane was essentially telling me how she'd landed such a cushy job. She'd been blackmailing the board of directors.

I knew it!

"Poor Sassy Cassy," she said, "You really are overrated, you know that? You should hear what people say behind your back.... about how you're only here because you bullied your way through a pile of weak willed posers. About how Illuminate Media likes using your sexy little face on its monthly reports to pump up interest. Hell, I can't say I disagree."

She looked me up and down, an obvious lust that sent a shiver down my spine.

"That tight little ass... those knockout tits... that sexy face is just begging me to show it its place between my thighs."

My mouth hung open in utter shock at her words.

"You strut around here like you're a big star, but I can tell what you really are. You're a slutty little bimbo... stuck in a roll that you're not built for."

She licked her lips seductively.

"I'd love to show what you what you're really built for..."

Jane had tossed the pen into the air again, but I'd reached out and grabbed her arm, and the pen fell to the ground with a clatter.

I was beat red, flush with anger and shock at her vulgar comments.

"How dare you speak to me that way!" I said through gritted teeth

Jane shrugged, "Because it's true." she said, smiling, "You're a slut. You just don't know it, yet."

I glowed red with rage.

"Do you have any idea who I am?!" I snapped.

"I have a pretty good idea, cutie pie," she said, an impish smirk on her lips.

"I'm going to destroy you," I said, "If you've committed blackmail, you'll pay for it with more than your job. I'll make sure your piece of shit ass lands in jail. I'll make sure you end up in the shittiest, darkest, poorly funded prison I can find, but not after I run your name so far through the mud, they'll be cracking jokes about you in China."

Jane remained calm, twisting her arm with surprising strength and forcing me to release her from my grasp.

"We'll see, Cass," she said, still smirking, and then stepped around me.

"By the way," she added, half way out my door, but popping her head just before she'd left, "You look smokin' today. But between you and me, you really should show off those girls a bit more."

She nodded to my chest. I gasped, covering my chest with my arms.

"Way too nice to be locked up inside that boring shirt -- they should be displayed loudly and proudly. Mmm... just thinking about them straining to get out of that tight little outfit gives me shivers. Tell you what -- when you get home tonight, pop those tits out and give them a squeeze for me, mkay?"

And then she left, and shut the door behind her.

I was stunned. For a solid minute after Jane had left, my mouth hung open like I'd been hit with a shot of tranquilizer.

I wanted to go after her, to come up with some final remark of my own, or even just to wring her scrawny, low-class neck in my manicured hands.

But I just stood there, stupidly, completely paralyzed by the unexpected barrage I'd just been subject to.

The nerve of that woman. The insolence! The... stupidity!

That she had dared to speak to me in that way was one thing... but to threaten me with some half-baked threats of using blackmail against the board to get me fired!?

She'd crossed a line. Hell, she'd flown miles past the line.

The day was only half over. For the next hour or so, I sat dumbfounded at my desk, trying to sort out what had just happened. Eventually, I gave up, admitting to myself that I was too wound up to get anything further accomplished today.

I paged our floor's secretary, and made up some excuse about not feeling well. Then, after collecting my things, I left my office, and headed to the elevator, thankfully avoiding anyone else on the way to my car.

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Still practically shaking with anger as snippets from my conversation with Jane fluttered through my mind, I nearly ran several red lights on the way home.

It was only when I pulled into my lengthy, sprawling driveway, and pulled through the doors of my automatic three-car garage, did I begin to feel my nerves start to calm.

My house was a near mansion in size, though humbler and less gaudy than some celebrity get-up.

Sleek, modern and expensive as hell, walking into my multi-million dollar residence reminded me exactly who I was.

"I am Cassandra Riley," I said, smiling into the reflection of the ceiling high, expansive bay windows that overlooked my landscaped yard. "I'm THE Cassandra Riley."

That pathetic bitch had nothing on me. I'd destroyed more prominent people for far less than what she'd done.

Feeling reassured of my abilities to deal with Jane, I slipped out of my work skirt and blazer and hopped into a bath, hoping the warm water would sooth my stress-addled nerves.

I spent most of the rest of the afternoon relaxing in my mansion, and trying to keep Jane out of my thoughts. It proved to be difficult. Our conversation kept running through my head. Her lewd comments. Her cocky, confident demeanor as she'd talked down to me.

It frustrated me that I had taken the rest of the day off. It felt like I was hiding... like she'd somehow won.

She had though, hadn't she? She'd given me a lashing, and I'd run off like a scolded schoolgirl

As the sun set, I poured myself a tall glass of wine from a bottle that cost more than most people's paychecks, and lounged down onto my white sofa.

I was wearing nothing but a silky, semi-transparent nightie. It felt a little over the top, but I'd thrown it on after my soak in the tub, wanting to further reassure myself of my superiority.

I felt sexy and successful in it. I looked down at my perfect body and bubbly tits as I sipped my wine, feeling like I could conquer the world.

It's no wonder she was so intimidated by me, I mused, letting my free hand run down the length of my flat, toned stomach. I fidgeted with the fabric of my negligee, lifting my leg slightly to let the fabric tumble down and reveal my smooth, perfect skin.

She probably meant that scandalous thing she said, I thought. That thing about wanting to stick my face in between her thighs...

"That sexy face is just begging me to show it its place..." she'd said in my office, a lewd, completely inappropriate comment.

Without warning, an image flashed into my mind. Standing in my office, looming over me with her cocky smirk, I pictured Jane in her cheap, black skirt.

"Your place in between my thighs..." she said, and began to pull up the hem of her skirt.

"Come on, Cassy," I imagined her saying, as her skirt rose higher, "You know you want to..."

"Shit," I said, sitting up from the sofa. I'd spilled a bit of wine, fortunately missing the couch but staining my nightie. I'd grown distracted for a moment as I'd thought of -

Fuck, what was going on inside my mind?!

"That bitch is in my head," I mumbled to myself, shaking the cobwebs from my mind. As if I could ever want to stick my face anywhere near her pitiful body!

Sure, she was attractive. Her clothes may be of poor taste and quality, and she was a complete slut in the way she presented her body for everyone to gawk at... but she really was sexy as hell.

I pictured her deep, smooth cleavage, pushed up by her cheap bra, staring me in the face as she'd spoken to me in my office. The buttons of her shirt were stretched. The garment was clearly a size too small, ready to burst open any moment and spill her breasts out for me to -

Fuck.

She'd probably love that I was thinking about her, I knew. She'd love that I was lying on my back, clad in a skimpy thong and nightie, picturing her perky tits bursting out of her tight shirt.

Blushing slightly, perhaps from the wine, I felt a small tingle between my thighs.

I ran my free hand along the bottom hem of my negligee again, feeling myself grow warmer as I pictured Jane's perfect tits perking up in my office.

I could imagine the look she'd have, catching me getting flustered and wet at the mere thought of her firm, supple chest and inviting thighs.

She'd been completely in control in my office, I thought. It had shaken me deeply, and somehow it felt like I was still under her powerful command.

Once again the image of her confident smirk popped into my mind. I pictured her skirt again, partially pulled up. I pictured her judging eyes as they watched me bite my lip... eagerly awaiting her to pull the skirt up even further.

I was the one who needed my tits out, I thought, suddenly remember what she'd said about my shirt.

I could see the look of elation she'd have had if I had ripped open my blouse right there for her. She'd already been ogling me, and the thought of letting her drink in the sight of my voluptuous, naked breasts aroused me in a way I wasn't prepared for.