Maintenance Ch. 02

[This story is loosely intended as a sequel to the first Maintenance story. It is not necessary to read the other one to enjoy this one.]

The lights were off and her office was quiet. She sipped her coffee and reviewed the morning reports. Opening shifts were busy and chaotic, but she enjoyed the pre-shift serenity and solitude. She took another sip of her brew and zoned out, staring at the computer screen.

With a smirk on her face, she flashed back to the week before when she was announced as winner of the annual management award. Three years ago she was out of a job and began working as a part-time cashier. She quickly moved up to barista which got her a full-time position. Within a year she was a shift lead and just a few months ago she was promoted to store manager.

Her job was demanding and at times stressful, but she was otherwise thankful to have it. Whereas she could barely pay the bills upon accepting the job, her salary as a store manager had made life a lot easier from a financial standpoint. From what she had seen in the past, the winners of the management award were typically promoted soon after and she couldn't help but feel nervously optimistic.

The sound of the front door opening snapped her out of her daydream.

"Good morning!" Her shift leader entered the office and approached the timeclock, waiting to punch in.

"Hey, good morning!" She replied, before shifting her attention back to her award.

Originally, the award ceremonies were held at the corporate offices in Seattle, but the city had been reeling from a massive tsunami; she knew an alternate location had been chosen but hadn't had a chance to read over the details. She opened the email and began to skim through, reading quietly to herself.

"...due to the on-going recovery and rebuilding efforts, the annual awards ceremony will be held in," her mouth dropped. "...Dallas Texas, of all places are you kidding me?!" She threw her head back, laughing and catching a curious look from her employee. She continued reading.

"Attached you will find your itinerary, please check-in at least 24 hours prior to boarding."

"Texas, huh." She smiled as she remembered the week prior and her rendezvous with the maintenance guy. That morning she thought about her recent streak of good fortune and couldn't help but wonder if it was a sign of things to come. She had never been to Texas, but she knew it was a huge state. She had no clue what city he lived in, or if he was traveling for work, or if he would even want to hear from her. She didn't want to get her hopes up, but the thought of somehow seeing him again excited her.

Her week was crazy busy and she hadn't prepared, packed, or much less enjoyed the fact that she had a few days of well-deserved recognition and downtime coming up. Her flight left early the next day but since she was working an opening shift, she would have plenty of time in the afternoon to pack and get ready.

Before long, the rest of her employees showed up, prepped the store, and opened the doors. Like clockwork, the morning rush began and the hectic morning shift was in full-swing. Her mind got lost in the work and the hours clipped by as she hustled around the store, helping where needed and keeping operations moving swiftly and efficiently.

Before she knew it the afternoon crew began clocking in and getting ready. She put out a few last-minute fires, went over some reports, and did a walkthrough before handing things over to her shift lead.

"The floor is all yours, have a great shift! Just remember I'll be out for a few days but call or text if you need anything, OK?"

As she made her way out, several employees stopped to congratulate her, thank her, and give her a hug. Overwhelmed by their kindness and support, she fought back tears all the way to her car. She had come a long way since first starting at the company and she felt particularly grateful for her team.

~~~

She folded and packed a few sets of business causal outfits. The idea of running into him hadn't left her mind.

"Stranger things have happened," she thought to herself.

She took a black dress out of her closet and held it out at arm's length; it was low-cut, tight, and had a cute belt. It went into her suitcase along with a pair of black heels. Still entertaining the idea of seeing him, she opened her underwear drawer and chose a black lace bra and panties set.

Staring into the open drawer, she imagined herself in the outfit having dinner with him at a nice restaurant. Like a scene in a movie, she watched as they ate, chatted, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company. She wondered what would happen next; would he flirt with her? Would he even have any interest in seeing her? While she loved the idea of another encounter with him, she forced herself to be realistic and thought it would be unlikely. She reached into the back of the drawer, grabbed her vibrator, tucked it away into her suitcase and zipped it shut.

Stretched out on her couch, the relaxing wave from the wine kicked in and she once again revisited the idea of another date with him. But how, exactly? Her mind traveled back a few years and then quickly to the present. Everything, including her present situation, was a result of steps she took to make things happen; for the first time she was starting to realize it and believe in herself.

When she first started with the company she worked hard out of necessity and though she still had bills to pay, she was doing drastically better now. It occurred to her that the reason why she worked hard was because she liked it; she liked the results, growth, and challenges. She planned on having fun during the trip, but she also intended on hunting down the next promotion.

She wondered if the situation with the maintenance guy was no different; was it within her power to see him again? Opening her phone contacts she scrolled through the entries under the letter M.

"Maintenance Man," she whispered to herself.

Her chest was pounding as she created a new message. She was afraid of being disappointed and accepted the fact that he might not respond for whatever reason. But what if he did? What would he say? Would he be happy to hear from her? She sipped from her glass, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly as she began typing.

*I'm flying to Texas tomorrow for work and couldn't help but think of you, maintenance man.*

She laughed to herself and hit the send button. Reality was starting to kick in more and more each second; she was really going on this well-deserved and much-needed trip. One thing was certain, she planned on enjoying every minute of it even if she was by herself. She looked at her phone again, locked the screen, and tucked it away. She was proud of herself for texting him and had no expectations about him responding.

She did one final check of her luggage before crawling into bed. Despite the excitement, she was exhausted and ready to sleep. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander, smiling gently as she drifted off.

~~~

The entire trip was paid for by the company, including taxi to and from the airport. In fact, the trip was considered official business and it was mandatory to take the company-provided car to the airport. The car arrived right on time and was a black, luxury sedan. The driver took her suitcases and loaded them into the trunk, and away they went.

The backseat of the car was spacious and comfortable. There were phone chargers, drinks, and snacks.

"I can get used to this!"

She opened the trip pamphlet and reviewed the itinerary for the next several days. There would be an optional meet-and-greet happy hour her first night there, but aside from that her weekend was free. Beginning Monday she would have a schedule full of corporate events, meals, and awards ceremonies.

The car slowed as they arrived at the curb. She exited the vehicle as the driver brought her bags around.

"Have a safe flight, ma'am!"

"Thank you," she replied as she handed the driver a tip.

Once inside, she breezed through security, grabbed a cup of coffee, and had a seat at her gate. She continued reading the trip pamphlet, particularly about the happy hour that evening.

*Join us for an informal cocktail hour at Pegasus Bar, located inside the hotel.*

She was happy and excited to travel, but she was also slightly anxious as she didn't know anyone and would be in a new city in a new state. Her boarding group was called and she put the pamphlet in her purse. As she waited to board the plane, she debated going to the happy hour. The thought of showing up without knowing anyone was terrifying, but she was motivated to network and potentially meet some corporate big-wigs.

She made it to her seat, stored her bag in the luggage compartment and buckled in. The crew worked swiftly and minutes later the doors were closed and they were taxiing. She stared through the window and watched her town get smaller and smaller until it disappeared from her view.

~~~~~~~

The intercom woke her up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be starting our descent into the Dallas Fort Worth Metro area, please take your seats and fasten your seat-belts. Crew, prepare for landing."

She stretched her legs out before bringing her seat-back into the upright position. The flight was about two-and-a-half hours long and she was out like a light for most of it. Prior to the flight she did feel nervous as she had not flown in years, but she had been working a ton of hours and was exhausted, so she welcomed the sleep and felt somewhat rejuvenated.

Looking out her window, she saw a big, sprawling city with all types of buildings, lakes, farms, and massive highways. As the plane got closer to the ground, she even saw cattle with massive horns in the distance.

"This is definitely Texas," she whispered to herself.

The plane landed and they taxied to their gate.

"On behalf of myself and the crew, we'd like to welcome you to Dallas. We hope you enjoy your stay, fly with us again soon!"

She grabbed her bag and slowly made her way off the plane.

"God, this place is huge!"

She walked briskly, following the signs for baggage claim. She found her carousel and once again reviewed her trip pamphlet as she waited for her bags.

"Transportation from the airport to the hotel will be provided. Use Exit D and a driver will have a sign."

The Exit D sign was near her baggage carousel and as soon as her luggage came around, she grabbed it and rushed to the doors. She immediately saw the driver standing against his car holding a sign that said: "Amy -- Store Manager"

"Hi! That's me!"

"Hello, welcome, let me get your bags!"

He took her bags and opened the rear car door and she got in.

"Thank you!" The relaxing feeling of being on vacation was starting to hit her.

The driver put her bags in the trunk then got in the car and drove off.

"Can you verify your destination, ma'am?"

"Uhhh yes, one second," she flipped through her itinerary, "The Omni Hotel, please."

"Excellent, it shouldn't take too long to get there, we're beating rush hour."

She leaned back in her seat and breathed a sigh of relief. The city looked big and exciting. The highways were massive and the speed of the car was relaxing. It was starting to hit her; she was there for fun and there was nothing to worry about. There would be no work stress for a few days, and the only thing she had to do is have fun, relax, and be recognized for her accomplishments. She was still a bit nervous about not knowing anyone, but knew she would be meeting fellow managers and leaders from all over the country.

The car slowed and she looked out the window, seeing the large, luxurious hotel building. The driver stopped near the front entrance and bags and opened the car door for her. She stepped out as the porters took her luggage.

"Good afternoon, ma'am, welcome to Omni Hotel Dallas," the young man greeted her as she exited the vehicle. She had to admit, it was nice to be tended to.

"I can get used to this."

She walked into the large lobby and looked around, finding the front desk. Everything looked so nice, new, and clean. The clerk was friendly as he checked her in.

"Here's a welcome basket from your organization. In your room you'll also find a list of sights and events in the local area, as well as a directory of bars and restaurants right here in the hotel."

"Great, thank you!"

"You're all set, the elevators are just behind you to your left. Your bags are in your room. If you need anything else, just give us a call."

She entered her room, walked to the window opened the blinds, revealing a beautiful view of the city. There was a big comfortable bed, and a large bathroom with a walk-in shower.

"Too bad I'm here alone..."

In her basket was an envelope with her name on it: "Congratulations on being selected for the annual Management Achievement Award. Below you will find a schedule of events, beginning tomorrow at 9 am. Enjoy your stay, and we look forward to seeing you."

She had almost a whole afternoon and evening to herself. Days off were rare and she borderline didn't know what to do with herself. She jumped into the large, comfortable bed and turned the TV on, letting the local news run in the background. The fluffy comforter wrapped around her and she felt herself begin to drift. She quickly set an alarm on her phone, closed her eyes, and before long she was out.

~~~~~~

The buzzing of the alarm woke her up. She hadn't napped in ages and for a moment she forgot where she was and what day it was.

"Jesus, I haven't slept this much in a while!"

She started the bath and began to undress. She slipped the large, plush robe over her as the tub filled. Looking through her welcome basket again, she noticed a bath-bomb and threw into the water. It spun and fizzed and once the bath was ready she hung up the robe and got into the the tub.

She slid into the water and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the warm water and bubbles flowing over her skin. She inhaled deeply and stretched out, then slowly exhaled, feeling her muscles relax. Her hands ran slowly down her body, gently gliding down her breasts, then hips, before coming to rest on her thighs. She remembered her toy, but it was still in packed up in the suitcase.

"Maybe tonight after dinner," she mused.

She took her time washing, then stood up and used the shower head to rinse off. She stepped out of the tub and back into her robe.

"What am I going to wear?"

She initially planned on dressing casual for the cocktail hour, but after the bath she was feeling herself and decided to wear her black dress. The prospect of networking and meeting some higher-ups was once again on her mind and gave her more incentive to look good.

She took her underwear and dress out of her luggage and laid them out on the bed. As she did her hair and make-up, she rehearsed a few lines and ice-breakers in case she ran into anyone important. Once she was done, she stepped out of her robe and got dressed. She looked in the full-length mirror and turned from side to side, happy with what she saw.

"Looking good, girl!"

~~~~~~

The elevator dinged and she arrived on the lobby floor. She noticed the bar right away and a sign that read "Welcome Sun Cents Coffee Personnel." There were only about five people there and one of them she immediately recognized as the president of the company. He was speaking with another gentleman and as she walked towards the bar she observed them shake hands and finish their conversation.

The president checked his phone, and just as he went to put it in his pocket, he turned towards her and looked up, startling himself.

"Excuse me, sorry about that!" He caught himself.

"Oh, no worries! You're Mr---"

"Neil, please, call me Neil." He smiled at her. "And you are?"

"Amy, I'm over in district---"

"Ah, yes, I do know your store. I've seen some pretty good numbers this quarter from your section!"

Her heart raced as she realized the opportunity she hoped for was right in front of her.

"Why thank you, sir! I have a remarkable team and of course the support of a great company."

"I'm very happy to hear that! Actually, you're one of the award winners, right? If I recall correctly I saw your name on the winners' list."

"Yes sir, I am actually! I'm very proud and thankful to be here. Sun Cents has provided me with more opportunity than I could imagine and I just want to say I am dedicated to the growth of this organization. I'm happy with my team's results but I am already focused on how I can bring that success to my entire region."

"Well thank you, Amy, we are certainly thrilled to have you leading our troops!" His face turned more attentive as he spoke to her. "I'm sure you know we are opening several new stores in your area, which will then increase the size of the region. Would you have time to meet with myself and our VP this weekend? In my opinion it's never too early to look towards the future."

"Absolutely, I would love to meet and discuss!"

He handed her his card.

"That's my personal cell, find a time that works for you and shoot me a text. We're looking forward to it!"

"Absolutely, sir, I will be in touch, thank you again!"

They shook hands.

"I have a few suits needing to talk to me, enjoy the evening and please, help yourself to the open bar."

He walked away and greeted a group of gentlemen in suits and she breathed a sigh of relief. There weren't many other people at the happy hour so she took a seat at the bar. She figured she would have a bite and a couple of drinks, then head to her room for a date with herself.

She set her phone down on the large marble bar-top. There were several TVs and the vibe was upscale, yet casual and inviting.

"Good evening, welcome to the Omni Bar. Can I get you something to drink?"

"A vodka martini, please, dry, up, slightly dirty."

"Excellent, I'll bring that right out for you."

She began looking over the menu as the bartender poured her drink. A few pages in, she noticed a vegan section of the menu, complete with tacos, BBQ, and other Texan dishes.

The bartender set the drink in front of her.

"Anything to eat for you tonight, ma'am?"

"Yes, I'll have the vegan tacos, please! That's really cool you have a vegan menu. Most places I go to I have to ask and even then a lot don't accommodate."

"Absolutely! We pride ourselves on providing options for all of our customers. I'll get that ordered started right away."

She sipped her drink and sat back in the seat. Zoning out, she stared at the martini glass, noticing the condensation and the tiny ice chunks floating on the surface. She saw the reflection of a blinking light in her drink and as she looked closer her phone vibrated and startled her. She laughed at herself as she looked at her screen, seeing the "New Message" notification.

~~~~~~~

"Hey Amy! Sorry it took me so long to reply, I've been traveling and just now got your message. Are you seriously in Texas??"

Her jaw dropped slightly, she put the phone face down on the bar, then closed her eyes. Her heartbeat began to race as she took a moment to comprehend what was happening. She took a sip from her drink then opened her phone again, reading the message and sender name quietly to herself over and over.

"Maintenance Man..."

She took a deep breath, attempted to gather her thoughts, then began typing.

"I am, actually! I just got in today." She hit send.

*Maintenance Man is typing...*

"Well what are the odds?! What part of Texas are you visiting?"

"I'm actually in the Dallas area, I think. I'm at a place called The Omni. I have a work conference in town."

"...You're kidding? I just landed at DFW, I don't live too far from there! What are you doing tonight?"

Her heart stopped as a million thoughts and emotions flashed through her mind. She went through endless possible replies as she stared at her phone. A calm feeling suddenly took over, and she slyly grinned and typed.