Elaine Ch. 01

She moaned slightly and whispered "Mmm, you could probably snap my little neck like a twig; it's such a silly little scrawny neck." Elaine's thoughts had drifted back to an unkind comment Tim had made about her skinny neck.

Steve's voice was deep and soft, "Elaine, I love your sweet little neck, it's elegant, long and elegant, like a swan's. You could model pearl necklaces."

Even as she melted beneath his hands and words, Elaine had snapped abruptly out of the spell realizing someone could come through the office door at any moment and witness Steve appearing to throttle her. She repeated the thought aloud to Steven and it broke the spell for him too.

The feeling of Steve's hands around her neck however, stayed with her the rest of the afternoon, all through that evening, as she stepped into a hot bath after dinner, and as she got into bed.

She tried to repeat the sensation on her own as she played with herself that night, but her dainty little hand just wouldn't do the trick.

She thought about using one of Tim's many unused silk neckties to accomplish the feeling, but she had heard too many news stories about auto-erotic strangulation and she didn't want to risk it. She had begun to understand the powerful attraction that had lead those people to their tragic deaths, and wondered obsessively about what it would be like to have an orgasm with the blood flow to your brain interrupted.

Having strong male hands wrapped around her throat during intercourse became a favorite masturbation fantasy after that, and she knew very well whose hands they were.

----0----

Elaine again snapped out of her late afternoon daydream, and her eyes returned to Steve's e-mail.

This particular message had a little red exclamation mark on the subject line, along with a "Reply Requested Immediately!" note.

Elaine, who always bordered on anxiety even in her calmest moments, opened the message immediately. The message had appointment confirmation check buttons at the top of the page, ACCEPT or DECLINE.

Dearest Elaine,

You'll be happy to know I've finished your annual review early, and you'll be getting the maximum allowable pay raise, effective today after we meet, discuss and you sign your review.

You have conspicuously not applied for the newly opened position as my Executive Assistant. I am beginning interviews tomorrow and want to see your name on the list tonight.

You don't need a resume (I already know yours by heart) but to make it official, you do have to fill out the application.

Please fill out the attached form and return it to me before you leave tonight, and please click the 'accept' button for the appointment I have set up with you at 4:30 today.

Elaine? In case you were thinking of squeaking out of this:

It's a direct order!

I'm absolutely sure this situation is going to work out in everyone's best interests.

Best Regards,

Steven Wolfe

Elaine's heart raced. It was already 4:28 and she was extremely conflicted about the situation.

She had not intended to apply for the new job because it would place her in even tighter quarters with Steve. Part of her desperately wanted to be there, and the part of her that did not was suddenly feeling pretty weak.

She had many times thought about quitting and finding a different job because of her moral dilemma, but she knew she couldn't find anything comparable.

Honestly, she knew she couldn't bear to leave Steven.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitatingly. Finally she clicked the button to accept the appointment then steeled herself to walk into Mr. Wolfe's den.

Damn! Elaine suddenly realized she didn't have time to run to the restroom, and she had grown quite slippery from her reminiscing of the past few moments. Her flight mechanism reared up in full force, she was shaking and her heart was pounding. It was as though her body had a mind of its own.

Panicked by the overwhelming sexual arousal, the more she fought it, the worse it got. Her panties were now far beyond damp, and she realized that sweet, familiar, engorged, inflamed sensation had been flooding over her swelling labia and clitoris for some time now.

What if Steven caught the scent of her sex? He had demonstrated the ability to do so on what seemed to be a predatory subliminal level; he was on her like a blood hound every time she got horny at the office. She was so wet now that her scent was likely to be far beyond subliminal.

Her Outlook alarm rang suddenly as the recently accepted appointment time arrived, sending her into over the top panic mode. Her pulse pounding hard all through her body, Elaine got control of herself, drew in a deep breath and exhaled powerfully.

All she could do now was to roll the phones, lock the front door, flip the closed sign, do a last minute grooming check and go in to Steven's den.

She knocked and entered with as casual a greeting as she could manage given her state, then walked over and stood in front of Steve's desk, very formally with her hands clasped together in front.

She had conscientiously crossed them in front just in case any moisture had flooded through her slacks. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight the urge to look down and check.

"Hey Elaine, thanks for stopping in!" Steve wore his usual cheery demeanor. He tilted his head slightly to the side and gave a pouty little frown. "Elaine, you look so tense, don't stand there at attention, you know I don't roll that way, come on over here girl!" He spread his large hands to his sides, the hug invitation.

The good girl inside Elaine already had the words ready: "No, I'm fine standing, thanks Steve!"

But those words didn't come out. Elaine wordlessly crossed the short distance of floor between them, right into his waiting arms, which folded her in and squeezed her gently. She found herself beginning to lean into him for a little more, when he suddenly released her. She was left standing in an awkward lean, almost stumbling forward.

"Have a seat E, we have exciting things to talk about, and I will keep it brief. First off, congratulations for your pay raise, you really deserved it!"

Elaine blushed, "Thanks Steve. You really are the best boss ever!"

Steven's handsome face grinned "Your welcome hon, you've worked very hard for it!"

He handed her a sheet of paper, "Here's your review, look it over and sign it."

She glanced over the document briefly, dwelling on some of the more glowing comments and recommendations Steven had written about her, then signed it an laid it on his desk.

"That said; I have some issues I need to address with you." Leanne felt her heart drop a little. "I know why you didn't apply for the Assistant post, I understand and we don't need to talk about that," he continued, "but I do want you to hear me out on this: It is my wish that you apply and I want you to have the position above anyone else. If you apply for the position and aren't selected for it, that's fine, you'll get your raise and continue on in your current position," He paused, looking slightly pensive, "But I won't be your boss anymore"

Elaine was shocked at the turn of events, but just looked on, puzzled.

"Now listen carefully here Elaine, there are things happening in the company that you don't know about, things that will affect you directly. I am going to tell you some things I'm not supposed to talk about with anybody, but it's worth the risk for me because I want to see you make the right move."

Elaine always felt insecure about management's view of her, and she started to panic a little.

Steven continued, "You know what a great couple of years we've had, and it hasn't gone un-noticed by the Hawthorne office." Steven looked as though he would burst, "As a result, I got a really big promotion last week. Elaine, they gave me the whole east side, all three offices!"

His words began to build a synergistic enthusiasm; she knew how hard they both had been working and she knew Steven deserved this, but where did it leave her? A certain wariness added a nervous edge to her excitement.

"That's not all my dear...the company bought a new block of office buildings in Westwood, and they gave me a suite of two adjoining corner offices on the top floor, and gave me carte blanche to hire an executive assistant to suit my needs"

Steven's tone changed slightly, losing a little enthusiasm and taking on a sympathetic, parental shade, "Elaine, it really pisses me off, but the Hawthorne people failed to recognize your contribution to our success, as much as I tried to make them see. They're assholes, what can I say?"

Elaine was fighting internally, and her guilt over her feelings about Steven was beginning to lose ground, and the new position was looking brighter by the second.

"Here's the thing E," Steven frowned slightly, "when I go to that office, unless you take the Exec Assistant job, you stay here."

Elaine couldn't stop the little pout that was forming at the bottom of her face.

"If that weren't unpleasant enough for you, listen to this; Phil Alden is taking my place at this office."

The ground fell away from below her as Elaine got the news. It was like a sucker punch to the gut.

Alden was an aggressive 'A type' manager from the Glennstone office. Elaine had prior experience with him, and it had not been good.

"Yes, I can see from your face that doesn't sound good. I don't think he's happy about it either, we were competing for the position I won, so he probably won't be his usual friendly self when he shows up here."

The irony in Steve's words was not lost on her.

"Okay, before we dwell on the unpleasant prospect of my favorite office girl slaving her cute little butt off under a king-size dick like Phil, let's talk about something that sounds nice, like you coming along with me to Westwood."

Elaine's head spun a little trying to pull together and at the same time downplay Steven's last sentence, but she shook it off, smiled a little and looked up into his face, her big brown eyes shining with hope.

"Elaine do you understand how much my Executive Assistant will be paid?"

Elaine, thought for a second, "I was thinking its right around my pay grade, isn't it?"

"That would be correct for most of the other applicants," Steve smiled like a kid handing her a Christmas present, "but not for you. If you apply and win this position, I am prepared to double your current salary."

Steve cocked his eyebrow and waited for her reaction. Elaine just sat there shocked, her mouth hanging open. Steve smiled a Cheshire cat grin "Would that change your life a little?"

Not giving her a chance to answer, he continued quickly, "That's just the beginning. I'll double your vacation days, you will get an expense account, and a monthly stipend for clothes and hair. There's a gym on the third floor and your own parking spot inside the building. Starting to sound attractive?"

Elaine was starting to forget about her reservations. She swallowed hard and looked down at her shoes, "Steven, it started to sound good from the beginning, I just...well, I have had mixed feelings. I..."

Before Elaine could finish fumbling for words, Steven interrupted, "...but they are starting to get a little less mixed, right?"

Elaine smiled a weak, happy little smile and met his eyes again. She felt like she was starting to fall into those eyes again, but the warning alarm was fading away into the background.

Steve continued, "Listen Hon, I know hard life has been for you these past few years and I want to change that permanently. I want you out of this crappy old building, working in a nicer part of town, working with me."

Steven leaned forward and took her hands in his. "I don't want to lose you. There really is no-one who could do this job for me like you could, but I really don't care about that."

Elaine smiled and blushed, looking down.

"Here's what I want you to do," he stroked her hand softly and sat back in his chair, "go home tonight and run it by Tim and the kids.

Let them know about the raise, but I also think it's fair to tell them that you will be gone from home more." Elaine looked thoughtful and Steve explained, "Actually, you will work the same hours you do now, but you'll be getting paid for all of them. We will have to attend meetings; you'll be my Executive Assistant, not just the office girl. I will be expecting you to go out of town with me once a month or so on weekends."

The thought of being in another city with Steven in a nice hotel spun quickly through her head, dinners and lunches out together, she'd dreamt of them as a distant un-reality. Her husband wouldn't approve of her going out for after work drinks or dinner with Steve here in town, but if they were traveling it would be part of the routine.

Steven sprang suddenly to his feet and headed toward the door "Alright, we can talk about everything in detail tomorrow, for now, I'm out of here! E-mail me your application before you leave, talk to your family tonight and we re-convene here in 24 hours for your decision. Goodnight Elaine!"

Elaine was left breathless, not knowing what to do for a second. She decided to move before she had time to think about this. She got to her feet and headed for her desk, to fill out her application and get it e-mailed quickly.

As she rose to her feet, her head reeling at the roller coaster of emotions she had just undergone. As she started to walk across the room, the climate controlled air found its way to the inside of her loose slacks and chilled her wet panties. It was a slightly uncomfortable feeling, but combined with the way the sensitive tissues of her recently aroused pudenda had begun to contract and feel slightly irritated, it began to get the vibration going again, warm and wet, deep in her pelvis. She fought back a strong urge to drop her pants and finger herself to orgasm right then and there.

"God!" she thought, "What the hell is wrong with me?" Before she gave herself time to answer, Elaine filled out the application and shot it off to Steven. She grabbed her purse, shut the lights off and walked out into the chilly autumn evening.

----0----

Elaine arrived home and pulled up at the end of the long, tree lined driveway. It was a warm, spacious home, quiet and secluded. She was thankful for her family connection which allowed them the privilege of living here at ridiculously low rent. Uncle Bill was wealthy and didn't really need the extra income.

Uncle Bill knew Tim's "situation" and had told Elaine upfront that if things got tight she could skip the rent for a month or two and it wouldn't be any trouble for him, they would work something out. He had mostly opened the property to her as a favor to her mom.

Elaine smiled to herself. The fact that Uncle Bill had always been sweet on her didn't hurt her situation, but those thoughts brought up uneasy feelings about memories from her teens, and she quickly put them from her mind.

She hadn't had to take advantage of her Uncle's generosity yet, but she was thankful they would still have a place to live if anything worse happened to their income. She was also glad they hadn't got to the point where she had to 'work something out' with Uncle Bill.

With the prospect of her salary doubling, rent would be one more thing she wouldn't need to worry about, and the question of moving for any remote opportunity Tim might get was now off the board. She had decided long ago that they were done with moving and they would stay here and try to buy a house in her home town. She belonged here, even if Tim felt like he didn't.

Elaine threw her keys on the counter as she came into the dining room where Tim and the girls were sitting, just having finished dinner. Her face brightened as the worries of the day left her mind.

"I have some pretty big news," she exclaimed, "Let me grab some left-over's, because we need to have a family meeting."

Elaine sloughed her coat off and on to the back of a chair, letting her purse drop beside it. She filled a plate from the stovetop and nestled in between the girls.

"Mommy got a raise today, that's one piece of the news!" The girls both cheered and high fived her enthusiastically, Tim smiled weakly, and she continued, "the other thing is, I was offered a new job at double my current pay," she let it sink in for a second, "how does that sound?"

The girls both went wide eyed and gasped, and Tim seemed to have just awakened from a daydream.

"Who offered you the job, a different company?" Tim asked, the wheels obviously starting to turn behind his sleepy eyes.

"No actually, Steven offered it to me. It's not really a new job, much anyway, kind of like my same job at a new location. He got a big promotion, a new office in Westwood and he gets to have an Executive Assistant now. He told me tonight that he wants that person to be yours truly!" Elaine pointed her fingertips at her face and tilted her head sideways in a look of glamorous mock pride.

The girls giggled, cheered and congratulated her, and Tim became slightly agitated, waving his hands slightly in front of him, saying "Wait a minute, hold on! Did you say twice your current salary? That's amazing darling!! This could change everything for us!"

Elaine, buoyant on the girls' wave of enthusiasm, beamed pleasantly at Tim and said "That's true; it would change our lives significantly. Oh and one more perk, I'll also be getting my paid time off doubled, so we could finally take that trip to Disney World!"

Before she let the party get too far over the top, Elaine brought things down a bit. "Listen gang, it's not a done deal; there are other applicants I have to compete with. The other thing is, there are some further demands on my time to think about if I get the job, and you should think about them too."

Elaine diminished her enthusiastic tone a little and continued, "I will still be working as late as I am now, probably more, and I have the commute to think about. And there's one more thing..." Elaine made a little cringing face, "I'll be going out of town on occasional weekends...Is that going to be ok?"

The girls were already thinking about new i-Phones and clothes. Elaine knew they had been going without things they wanted for a long time now. They both tried to look regretful as they gave appropriately pouty little affirmative nods. Tim had a harder time veiling his greedy excitement as he also nodded yes with mock reluctance.

"Well then!" Elaine said brightly, "girls, homework!" As the girls skipped off, the weight of Elaine's day suddenly began to fall around her shoulders. She let out a big breath and sank back into her seat, "Honey, would you mind clearing up the table, I'm exhausted."

"Sure darling," Tim said distractedly, already picking up dishes, "I'm sure it's been a pretty big day for you."

"Well I'd like to think it's been a big day for all of us Tim, but anyway, I can't think of anything but a nice hot tub right now."

Elaine dragged herself up the stairs and into the bedroom. She got the tub running and had stripped halfway out of way out of her clothes when a quiet knock came on the door.

Tim poked, his head in. "Oh, sorry darling," Tim's eyes fell on her breasts as Elaine's hands moved to pull the sides of her blouse together. Tim continued hesitantly, eyes not moving from her boobs, "I, um, it's just that I felt I needed to talk to you alone about this new opportunity."

Elaine noticed a strange uneasiness about Tim, and grew concerned. Her head tilted slightly, and a small sympathetic frown turned the corner of her lips, "What is it dear? What's wrong? Come on in and let's talk!"

Tim slowly entered, turning to close the door behind him. Elaine's fingers still unconsciously clasped her open blouse together over her breasts.