Modern Secretary Ch. 01 - Starting Over

Alex removed the last shirt from his last box, hanging it in a closet with the last of his mismatched hangers. It was official now, he was moved it. He turned to the bay window in his bedroom. It made up almost the entirety of his exterior wall and gave a beautiful view of the forest preserve below. It's why he purchased this home.

A perfect piece of paradise, a place close to the city but far away from society. The best of both worlds, minus the association and taxes. But Alex didn't think about that, he thought instead about new beginnings. About how this home crested a chapter of his life that he never thought he'd be able to achieve.

A time of peace and stillness.

Alex had to count himself lucky, it was a life most would only dream of living. Success had found him, or rather, he had found success, even if it was a little later than he had hoped. Alex was not the successful twenty-something he had dreamed of becoming, he was the mid-thirties bachelor who had worked too hard and drank too much to get where he was. More importantly, he was there alone.

The isolation stung, but that was the cost of going freelance, it was the necessary sacrifice he had to make. His loneliness was a small price to gain freedom from the corporate machine. While his colleagues still toiled away under their Corporate Lords, Alex could pick and choose when and where he worked. What's more, he could afford to not work if he decided that was best. That was real freedom, but the irony was Alex would never cash in that check. He was too bound to his work, the drive for success meant too much to him. For all his self-talk about being free from the system, Alex was not really so different from his colleagues.

Lost in thought, Alex walked down to the living room, his bare feet sticking to the brand-new wooden floors. Real wood was pricy, but Alex insisted they be installed as it reminded him of his childhood off-world. He stopped in the living room. It was oversized for just one man, the whole house was oversized for him. He was used to the small apartments he'd spent most of his life in. The wall-to-wall lifestyle that was so common amongst the countless serfs he shared life with. Once, he had three roommates in a single-room flat. The three of them barely being able to afford the fluctuating rent each month. He smiled as he recalled the countless sleepless nights they shared together, writing code and AI algorithms they were convinced would change the world.

Life took them their separate ways, life consumed one of them whole. Alex could not be sure what happened to the other. The world of Mega Corporations was brutal, and most would live and die on dreams. Alex was the survivor's bias.

Alex moved to his kitchen and opened up his oversized refrigerator to grab a beer. As he did, there was a wrap on the door. Absent-mindedly, Alex went to open it, surprised when a familiar face greeted him.

"Hello, Alex!" It was Sarah, and Sarah was vulpine. A species once considered greater than humans, vulpine had become little more than playthings that the richest desired, traded, and envied.

But to Alex, Sarah was much more than a prize. She was his closest friend, one who had lived with him during the first famines, someone who had immigrated back to earth with him as New Earth Three's atmosphere collapsed.

He became lost in her blue eyes. Familiar old feelings began to well up inside him, Alex hated how her presence froze him in place.

"Haven't heard from you in a while," Sarah said gently.

"I guess... I got a little busy. You shouldn't be here." Alex said. She gave him a dismissive wave.

"Whos going to stop me? It's not every day a human move to these parts, so I couldn't help but say hello." She peeked into his home. "Wow, you really updated it huh?"

"Yeah, I figured if I was going to set roots down for a while, might as well make it nice."

"So I take it the tech field is going well?" Sarah asked, still peering inside Alex's space.

"Very," Alex replied. He wanted to say more, to gloat about the success he had found with his flagship AI, but the better parts of himself restrained that desire. For Sarah especially, he wanted to make a good impression, and it seemed he had succeeded. Sarah smiled coyly.

"We miss you at the office." She said playfully. There was a heat to her words, Alex felt his heart race as his eyes inspected Sarah's chest. He tried to make it quick, but Sarah caught it and perked up her breasts in response. Alex's eyes shot back to hers before he cleared his throat.

"I doubt people miss me that much, I can think of a few who were happy to see me go," Alex said.

"Oh stop being dramatic. You had one manager who didn't like you, and that's because you refused to do overtime, and it looks like it was worth it... Are you going to invite me in or not?" Sarah asked, taking a step into his door frame, her golden tail swishing back and forth as she did so.

A sign of excitement. At least, that's what Alex had read, though he knew tail signals were different depending on the vulpine.

"I'm alone, Sarah," Alex said as she stepped into the door. Only inches from him now.

"I know..." Sarah replied. She looked up at Alex, and placed a hand on his chest, pushing him back gently so she could enter, closing the door behind her once they were both inside. Alex stepped back, but not far enough to break the tension between them.

"We... probably shouldn't do this," Alex said, feeling his cheeks blush as Sarah let out a playful laugh and walked over to his couch. She seemed right at home, weaving between his unpacked boxes and dropping herself gracefully among his pillows and clothes.

The sun was setting behind her, making her blonde ears and hair appear golden. She wore tight blue jeans with an even tighter black shirt. She stared at Alex with a coy smile as he casually walked closer to the couch.

"Won't you sit?" She asked, patting a cushion next to her.

"I probably shouldn't."

"Why not?"

"Sarah... you're dating someone..." Alex replied. "It wouldn't be right..."

"Oh... you didn't hear then?" Sarah asked as she played with some of the fringes on the couch's throw pillow.

"I guess I didn't."

"We broke up, Paul and I," Sarah said, looking over at Alex and smiling.

"Really? Sorry to hear that. Seemed like you two were a good match," Alex said. Sarah nodded in response.

"Things sometimes don't work out, at least, we didn't. He started growing distant and then... we decided it was best we both move on." As Sarah spoke, Alex could hear a tinge of pain still in her voice. It helped him choose his next words.

"How long ago was it?"

"I guess... two months? Time really does fly. I can't believe you've been gone three already, I also can't believe how little we've seen you," Sarah said, quickly rebounding from her melancholy. "How little... I've seen you."

"Like I said, things got busy," Alex replied, his eyes beginning to dart around Sarah's body once again. She noticed.

"Won't you sit with me, Alex?"

"Two months isn't a lot of time, Sarah."

"It was enough for me," Sarah replied. They went silent for a moment, and Alex cleared his throat.

He and Sarah had always had a dynamic about them. There was always an air of tension. He laughed at her quick jokes, she seemed to be able to finish his sentences, and in what ways they disagreed, it was healthy. Alex knew that had they met under different circumstances, his future might look very different now. But Sarah had been a friend for so long, and for as long as Alex had known her, she had been in a relationship, and so had he.

"I guess... it wasn't enough time for me." He said quietly. Sarah sat up, looking at Alex with compassion.

"I'm sorry, Alex. I was trying to be playful... maybe you're right? Maybe I'm not really over my own thing, and I didn't even think about how you might feel about Chloe."

Alex felt a twinge of pain at the name, but waved Sarah off gracefully. "It's alright Sarah. I just... I guess I thought taking the plunge into the freelance world would give me the fresh start I needed, you know? But instead... it just highlighted the emptiness. I bought this house thinking... I don't know what, maybe it'd help me find a better future? But it's just more empty space, and my mind can't fill it."

Sarah nodded standing up from the couch. Her tail gently swayed as she walked toward Alex. She got close, but it was different this time. Sarah was his friend, and Alex was hers. There was vulnerability between them, a shared pain. Years of turmoil and struggle between them. As always, Sarah made him feel safe.

"Have you tried reaching out to her?"

"No, I would never. Not in a million years.," Alex said with a scoff. "At least she was decent enough to leave me be."

Sarah nodded, her hand seeking Alex's.

"So... you're not... we're not..."

"I just need more time. But I'm happy you're in my life. You know that."

Sarah nodded, looking down as her hand stopped right before Alex's.

"I guess... I need time too," She said with a sigh, before looking into Alex's eyes. Her gaze was intoxicating, and Alex knew she could have him right now if she wanted. All it would take was a kiss. But Sarah touched his shoulder and walked to the door. "You better not be a stranger anymore, Alex."

"I won't be," Alex said. Though he did not realize how true that statement would be.

---

Alex's dress shoes clacked off the polished concrete of SharpEdge's main lobby. It felt strange returning to his former job, his former corporate lord. The office building's entry was opulent and large, designed to make even the most confident person feel small. Truthfully, Alex was surprised when he received a call from the business he had said goodbye to only several months earlier to work as a freelancer.

Sharpedge was a marketing company, young, vibrant, and exciting. Delivering all the amenities and attractions which brought in young talent from both on and off the planet, Alex included. When he first saw the large white pillars, trendy ad displays, and fully decorated social areas, Alex remembered feeling like he had finally made it. But as Alex recalled the long hours, minimal pay, and ruthless workforce cuts, returning to SharpEdge felt more like walking into a well-decorated prison.

Lost in thought, Alex entered a clean white elevator and pressed the 11th-floor button. He waited as the elevator shot up without a sound, tapping his foot as he adjusted his dress shirt nervously. Alex knew he should be mentally preparing to sell his work to the corporate Nobles, but every time he tried running through his pitch, a familiar face appeared in his mind. His former girlfriend, Chloe, and whether or not he might run into her.

Chloe worked at SharpEdge as well, they had both joined the company together, granting them permanent planet-side residence. What was worse, Chloe worked on the same floor he was visiting. Alex adjusted his hair and let out a deep breath, doing his best to put Chloe out of his mind and focus on the job at hand.

The elevator doors dinged, and Alex promptly made his way over to the private offices. The office was familiar to him, and several old coworkers noticed him passing, giving him surprised smiles and waves. Alex reciprocated, finding himself almost missing the everyday comradery.

For the briefest moment, Alex found himself feeling hopeful, that perhaps this visit wouldn't be the torturous experience he had mentally prepared for. That was, until he turned a corner, and found Edward Solace standing at the office Alex had been directed to. He was tall, overdressed, and dripping with a level of arrogance befitting of a Corporate Lord. Alex contemplated taking another lap around the office to see if Edward might move on, but Edward noticed him before he could make a getaway.

"Alex! I see you found my office alright," Edward said with a booming voice as he outstretched his hand. Alex, knowing he had little choice, walked over to Edward and shook it. Edward's grip was crushing, as imposing as his overbearing persona. He smiled devilishly, his giant frame towering over Alex. Edward was a suppressive force, the kind of person who got what he wanted by sheer will alone, and Alex had always hated him for it.

"Ed," Alex replied dryly, he knew Edward hated the nickname. He tried to pull his hand away, but Edward tightened his grip.

"Chloe and I have been wondering how you're doing since you left," Edward replied smoothly. Alex's clenched his teeth, doing his best to hide his contempt at hearing Chloe's name come out of Edward's mouth.

"Well, it's been busy. A lot of clients are interested in my product, so I've been buried in meetings. Between that and the new home... well, it's hard to find free time at the moment," Alex said.

"Oh, I'm sure! Someone as talented as you is bound to have more work than they can handle. I heard you were thinking about moving, didn't realize it was official! Did you decide to take that place near the Petrie forest preserve?" Edward asked as he opened the door to his corner office, gesturing for Alex to enter.

"Yeah, that's the place," Alex said as he walked past Edward. The office was much of what Alex had expected a Corporate Lord's space would look like, an overly large room with full bay windows overlooking the bustling downtown area below, complete with its own private bathroom, fridge, and lounge area.

Edward spotted Alex's eyes darting around the room as he walked past him, "Nice office, huh?"

"Yeah, it's definitely nice," Alex, taking a seat in one of the chairs opposite Edward's desk, "I take it Lords have it pretty good here?"

"Oh, better than good. I still can't believe it honestly. With the SharpEdge family having the first choice for promotions and positions, I really thought I'd never get a shot at becoming a Lord myself. But thankfully I was able to get the proper accreditation, and my father's sub-merger gifted me as part of the dowery. So, here I am," Edward said as he raised his hands and smiled.

"Didn't think you'd be one to hire freelance. Nobles don't typically go for that kind of thing," Alex said softly. He thought the comment would create some sense of equality as he sat in Edward's den of power, but Edward simply laughed at the comment.

"Oh... you might be confused. I didn't hire you. That wasn't my decision. I simply offered to greet you. After all, it's been so long since we caught up."

Alex nodded slowly as his body tensed. Edward's lack of respect was infuriating. Alex wanted to speak up, to finally confront Edward over how he had treated him... how he had betrayed him, but instead, he cleared his throat, adjusted his color, and smiled politely. He had to remember that Edward was a Noble now. He carried real power, and that power was foolish to challenge directly.

"Fair enough, do you know why I've been hired?" Alex asked. He expected a quick and dismissive reply, but he did not receive one. Instead, Edward's smile dimmed for a moment, a look of genuine confusion passing over his face.

"Did no one brief you?" Alex asked, Edward sniffed and leaned back in his chair.

"Honestly, it's been busy. I haven't had a chance to look into the details. I figure it has something to do with the data scrubbing work you were doing before?"

"I did AI work before," Alex said shortly.

"Right, of course. Computer stuff. I figured maybe you're looking to make ends meet with your old work family? After all, I know how hard Freelancing can be," Edward said. His voice remained even and casual, but his furrowed brow told Alex that Edward genuinely didn't know why he'd been brought back to SharpEdge. Edward had been left out of the loop, and Alex couldn't help but find some satisfaction in that.

"AI integration. Amber, to be specific." Alex replied. Edward leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk as he looked at Alex with skepticism.

"Amber isn't on the market, only a handful of people have access to that kind of technology..."

"I am that handful of people," Alex shot back. Edward's look of skepticism turned into a glare.

"You have access to the Amber AI model? Did you buy the rights?"

"I made Amber, Ed," Alex replied shortly. Caution was key now, Alex could gloat, but only in a politely curt way. A Corporate Lord could destroy any commoner they wanted. They could pour millions into lawsuits and marketing allegations to annihilate one's character and future job prospects, and Alex had no Nobles or Lords to defend him if it happened.

"I see, so... freelancing really has been successful for you then."

"Very," Alex said, but before he had a chance to gloat, there was a wrap on the door. Edward's smile returned at once.

"Well, isn't that perfect timing, I'm sure we'd both love to hear more about your success. Come in!" Edward said. Alex's stomach dropped, he didn't need to turn to know who had entered the room.

"So, they really did hire you," Chloe said.

Alex turned slowly and looked at her. She was a beautiful, dark haired vixen in her mid-twenties. Chloe's athletic build popped in her skin-tight dress, Alex couldn't help but watch her thick hips sway as she entered the room.

"Chloe hey," Alex said softly. His voice shook a little bit, but Chloe didn't seem to mind. She smiled at him as she sat in the chair next to Alex, her ample breasts bouncing as she moved her tail to her side and crossed her legs.

"I couldn't believe you got signed on for a job! It's great to see you!" Chloe's golden eyes and gentle voice enraptured Alex, but before he had a chance to speak, Edward stepped into view. He grabbed Chloe's arm and helped her to stand up. He smirked at Alex, his arm wrapping around her waist as his hand slid down the side of Chloe's thigh. She looked at him awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable, but remained silent. She was playing the part of his work spouse, an unspoken title in most modern workplaces. Alex felt his heart being crushed as it became clear that Chloe's job responsibilities had changed a great deal.

"We're really so glad you could make it Alex," Edward said, " Us coming together like this, it makes me feel like we should have another dinner party soon. After all, the one a few months back was pretty fun, right?"

Alex felt like he was melting in his chair, the room seemed to be dissolving around him as he felt his heart begin to race. He looked at Chloe, who looked to the ground in shame. Edward's fingers pulled up Chloe's dress, before sinking into her thick ass. His eyes were a mixture of dominance and lust as he waited to see how Alex might react.

But Alex did nothing. He simply sunk into his chair as Edward slowly nudged Chloe closer to him. Edward's hands found their way to Chloe's breasts. He pulled Chloe upwards as he forcefully squeezed them. Chloe arched her back and moaned. When Edward saw Alex remained frozen in his chair, he smiled and let Chloe go.

"Wait here a minute," Edward said as he walked over to a switch on his wall and pressed it. Instantly, the hallway windows frosted over, "Don't think we need an audience, at least not today." Edward walked back behind Chloe, his hands grabbing onto her hips forcefully.

"Edward..." Chloe moaned. She gasped as Edward grabbed her breasts and began squeezing them again. Alex was frozen in place, his eyes transfixed on Chloe as she let out a moan of ecstasy while Edward played with her nipples through her dress. Chloe looked at Alex as she placed her hand over Edward's as it slowly slipped between her legs.

"I always knew you two would like this kind of thing. I don't know why you deny it... especially you Alex," Edward said. He pushed Chloe forward with some force, causing her to fall forward and rest her hands on Alex's legs. Alex could feel Chloe's warm breath on his face while Edward continued to manhandle her body. He watched Edward slowly lift Chloe's dress and slap her ass before grabbing Chloe by the base of her tail. Like a trained pet, Chloe eagerly pushed into him and began grinding against his cock. Edward relaxed for a moment, letting out a sigh of pleasure as he watched Chloe work. As Chloe jiggled her ass on Edward, he looked at Alex and smiled.