Stray Cats Pt. 03

Margaret turned back to Amanda and smiled warmly.

"Amanda, you're one of our best and brightest analysts and we don't want to loose you or your talents. From now on you'll work directly for me. There are going to be some changes around here come Monday morning, but trust me, you being forced to leave this firm is not going to be one of them."

Margaret extended her hand. She took Amanda's and firmly shook it. A chime sounded and the elevator door opened. Alex, Rachel, and Amanda stepped into the elevator with a look of shock on their faces. As the elevator door began to close Margaret nodded and turned towards the main office.

Amanda, still a bit thunderstruck by what had just happened turned to Rachel and hugged her tightly.

"You truly are my big sister, Rachel," she smiled and hugged her again.

"I just did it because I knew that if Alex saw what he was doing he would have killed the bastard. I hate visiting people in prison," she said with an awkward grin.

Amanda leaned up and kissed Rachel on the cheek. "Thank you, sis."

Alex wrapped his arms around the both of them and kissed Rachel on the other cheek.

"Thank you love," he added, "for watching over both of us."

Rachel grinned and sighed. "Your welcome, babe."

As they walked towards Alex's car Amanda began to reflect on what had just happened in the restroom on the ninth floor.

Deep down inside she realized that she still hadn't come to grips with the attempted rape that her stepfather tried on her years ago. The trauma of watching someone, especially your father, well, stepfather, try to force themselves on you has left her scarred emotionally. When Simmons tried it she froze rather than trying to defend herself, her self-confidence dissolved.

I can't let assholes like Simmons or my stepfather rule my life, she thought with determination. I've got to find a way to defend myself!

Amanda continued to think about it as Alex drove them back to the apartment house. Along the way she noticed a recreation center with a sign out front announcing upcoming classes in Tae Kwon Do. It was as if karma turned on a light.

"I've decided that I'm going to start taking self-defense classes," Amanda announced to Rachel and Alex. "As soon as I get back from Seattle. I'm sick of being pushed around by assholes like Simmons. And you guys won't always be around to help me out. So I need to do this for myself.

"Sign me up," Rachel agreed. "I'll take them with you."

"Me too," said Alex. "Although Rachel should probably be teaching them!"

Everyone laughed at that remark and the atmosphere in Alex's car became a lot lighter.

"Besides," said Alex, "I could use the exercise, I'm getting flabby."

"Nonsense, you have such a cute tushy," said Rachel coquettishly.

They got back home just in time for Reilly to catch Alex as they walked in the back door.

"Wells!" he shouted. "Finally. I need help with that fire ring, remember?"

"Sure Tom, let me change and I'll be right down."

Amanda opened her apartment door and pulled Rachel in behind her. As she closed her door she glanced up the stairway and caught Alex's eye. He nodded and smiled then disappeared up the next flight of stairs.

Amanda's apartment was larger than Alex's small efficiency but not as large as Rachel's. It was a small three-room apartment with the central room serving as kitchen and living space. There was a bedroom off to the left and through there a small full bath adjoining it.

There was a lovely bay window seat that looked out on a side yard. The window included a lovely view of a huge old maple tree that offered ample shade to that side of the house in the summer. In the short amount of time since Amanda moved into her apartment she managed to make the place seem homey and comfortable. There were a few photographs on the dresser, mostly of her mom and her cousin in Seattle. There were several prints and a few art posters covering the walls. What little furniture she brought with her from Salt Lake City was soon discarded for a much nicer living room set she found at a second-hand store a couple of weeks after she moved in.

"I need a drink, how about you?" Amanda asked opening a bottle of wine and taking out two glasses.

"I'd love one," Rachel replied. She walked over to the couch and flopped down near the window. "What about Alex?"

"He saw us come in here. He'll be in as soon as he's finished playing with Reilly."

She poured two glasses and waked over to sit next to Rachel.

"I wish I didn't have to work tonight," Rachel lamented wrapping an arm around Amanda's shoulders.

"Me too, I really miss you guys when you both have to work late." Amanda paused a moment and smiled at Rachel sweetly. "Rachel..."

"Shush," Rachel interrupted. "We're family, we watch out for each other. That's what families do."

"I was so scared," she murmured softly.

"I know, I was too," Rachel replied softly stroking Amanda's hair.

"All I could think about was my sicko step-dad sneaking onto my bed when I was thirteen. I just froze," she said as she sat closer.

Rachel continued to stoke her hair gently as Amanda leaned against her shoulder and sighed.

"Would you hold me?" she asked meekly.

"Forever," she said setting down her glass of wine. She held out her arms for Amanda to curl into. In a matter of moments she was sound asleep.

It was nearly five o'clock before Alex was able to finish all the chores that Reilly had on his list. He dusted himself off on the back porch then walked down the hallway towards Amanda's apartment. He opened the door quietly and peeked his head in to see Rachel and Amanda asleep on the couch. As he started to back out of the apartment he saw Rachel open her eyes and motion him over to her.

"She's exhausted," she whispered. "Help me get her to bed, love."

Together they carried Amanda into her bedroom, removed her shoes and her torn dress then laid her gently in her bed. Rachel and Alex both leaned over and kissed Amanda lightly on the cheeks and she snuggled further down into her pillow with a sweet smile on her face.

They tiptoed out the door and closed her apartment door gently. Then they slowly ascended the three flights of stairs to their apartments. When they arrived on the third floor Alex turned to Rachel and hugged her tightly.

"You are one beautiful woman," he whispered into her ear and she hugged him back. "I've been very remiss in not telling you that often enough."

"Thank you," she whispered her reply, "I love you too."

As they parted to go into each apartment Alex turned and asked, "Do you have you're driver's license?"

"Sure, why?"

"Why don't you take the car tonight? You could drop me off and pick me up when you get done. We both get off about the same time don't we? Unless..."

"Oh god, that would be perfect, thank you Alex," she said interrupting. "You have no idea how much I hate the bus. What time do you need to leave?" Rachel asked.

"In an hour."

"Come over when you're dressed and I'll fix something light for dinner," she said with a huge smile.

Alex blew her a kiss and smiled as she closed her apartment door.

Ten minutes later Alex opened Rachel's door and peeked his head in.

"Hey there, can I come in?"

"Of course," Rachel replied. She was standing in the kitchen dicing vegetables for a salad. Alex wandered over and sat on a stool at the island counter.

"I like the idea of learning some self-defense," he said. "Amanda's right, we can't be with her all the time and I've heard that martial arts can build your confidence levels too."

"I know I've always wanted to learn. Everything I know is what I've learned off the street."

"It certainly was effective today," he said with a smirk.

"I hope it hurts that bastard to pee for the next six months," Rachel hissed vehemently.

"It probably will considering the way the point of you shoe connected with his balls," said Alex shaking his head. "I'm surprised you didn't make him a eunuch," he added with a chuckle.

Rachel blushed slightly and gave him a wry grin.

"I like the little crystal flowers," she said coyly. She was referring to the small earring studs that Alex added. "Where did you get them?"

"I saw them in a little shop on 9^th avenue. I just wanted to add a little accent, nothing flashy," he replied. "Baby steps, you know."

"Of course. They're cute."

"Thanks. Here's the keys to the car," he said pulling a ring of keys from his pocket and tossed them onto the counter. "I hope you're okay with a stick-shift."

"No problem, babe," Rachel replied. "My uncle owns a farm. I learned to drive a tractor when I was ten."

"The image of you on a tractor boggles the mind," he said with a devilish grin.

"I'll boggle your mind," she said swatting his head playfully with a hand towel.

"That'll have to wait till I get back," he replied swinging at her butt and missing.

"Hey, let me see your driver's license," he said with an impish grin.

"Why? Don't you trust that I have one?" she asked digging through her purse and handing him her wallet.

"Of course I do, I just want to see your picture."

"Wait a minute," she wrapped her arms around him and playfully tried to wrestle her wallet out of his hands.

"Oh wow," he said a bit amazed, "even without makeup you look sexy."

"I do not, I look hideous," she said blushing crimson.

"No, you do, especially your eyes. Hmm, your gender is listed as male," he said thoughtfully handing back her wallet.

"Yeah, I know," she said stuffing her wallet back into her purse. "In most states you have to be anatomically female to be listed as a female. It's one of the reasons why I'm extremely careful when I drive. Cops can be pigs sometimes, not all of them, but some."

"Good to know," he replied pulling her close to him and kissing her on the lips.

Rachel giggled a little then her face became more thoughtful.

"What do you think about the three of us getting a house?" she asked suddenly. She tried to act nonchalant about it but it was obvious that she had been thinking about it for quite some time.

Alex paused a moment and considered her question.

"Well, I would love it but I don't see how I could possibly contribute equally to the rent," he replied. "Every dime I have goes to pay my tuition. I guess I could look for another job."

"We don't see one another enough as it is without you getting another job, babe."

A soft knock and Amanda poked her head in. "Hi, what's cooking?"

"Burgers and salad," Rachel replied. "I thought you were asleep."

"I was but I missed you two so I came up here before you left for work to kiss you both goodbye," she said with a cute smile. She walked over to Alex and rubbed her hand across his shoulders gently.

"Join us, we were just talking about the possibility of getting a house together. Just the three of us," Rachel said turning back to her salad.

"I absolutely adore that idea!" Amanda exclaimed. "I'll start looking tomorrow."

"Wait, wait," Alex said putting up his hands. "I just told Rachel before you came in that I don't see how I could possibly share the rent equally."

"Don't worry about it, I'm not looking for a 'McMansion'," Amanda replied hugging Alex.

"Exactly, I'm not either," Rachel added.

"We'll find a place that we can all afford," Amanda continued.

"I was looking online the other day," Rachel said pulling a bottle of salad dressing from her refrigerator. "There are several neighborhoods nearby where if we look hard enough we can find a place that we can afford. If we combine what we're paying to Reilly we could easily swing the rent on a nice little bungalow."

"With a bedroom large enough for a king-sized bed?" Alex asked with a grin.

Rachel's eyes gleamed.

"You read my mind sweetheart," Amanda giggled.

That night, at nearly one in the morning, Alex stood at the back of the convenience store stocking one of the shelves when several young men dressed like 'gangster-wannabes' walked in the door. From the looks of them they were barely over sixteen but they puffed themselves up and sauntered along trying to look tough.

They wandered up and down the aisles looking more to relieve their boredom than to actually buy something. They pushed past Alex and knocked over a cookie and cracker display in the process.

"Hey, a simple 'excuse me' would be nice," grumbled Alex.

The boys turned around and smirked.

"Fuck you sissy boy," spat the tallest of the three boys. His face was scarred with acne and his lips and nose were pierced with several rings.

"Yeah faggot, shut the fuck up," said another of the boys. His lack of height was quickly compensated by his girth.

"Is there a problem back there?" shouted Inez, Alex's coworker from the front counter.

"Nothing I can't handle, Inez," Alex replied. Then he picked up the packages of cookies and crackers that spilled across the aisle and began to replace them on the display. The three boys snickered maliciously and sauntered away. They stopped at the coolers and looked at the racks of beer on display.

Alex finished cleaning up the mess on the floor. He moved down another aisle and walked into the backroom to pull out another container of product for display. When he came out of the backroom he noticed that the boys were still debating over their choices of beer. He motioned Inez over.

"Look really close at their IDs when they get up front," he whispered. "They're probably fake."

Inez nodded and returned to the register.

Alex smiled at her and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost time for his shift to end and he was happy to see it nearly finished. His feet were tired. He went to another display and began to replenish the stock with new product.

A moment later the three boys walked up to the checkout counter. They plunked down a twenty-dollar bill and a six-pack of cheap beer.

"ID please," Inez asked flatly and the boys nervously pulled out their wallets.

The glass doors opened and Rachel walked into the store with a wry smile on her face. The three boys turned slack-jawed and stared at her. Under her coat was a shimmery gown that clung to her breasts and hips provocatively. Her hair was done up in curls and standing in five-inch heels, she towered over the punks at the front counter.

The tallest of the boys looked over at Alex and scoffed.

"What are you gawking at sissy boy? She's hardly interested in a puke like you," he said with a smirk.

"Yeah faggot," said blubber boy, "what are you looking at?"

The third boy started to open his mouth but stopped suddenly. He watched, in shock, as Rachel slapped the chubby boy across the face. The sound of the slap echoed across the store and the force of it sent him flying against the other two boys. They all fell against the counter and nearly collapsed on the floor.

"These IDs are fakes," said Inez flatly. "I'll be confiscating them. If you don't leave this store immediately I'll be calling the cops right now."

The boys slowly stood up and turned to watch in shock as Rachel planted a wet kiss on Alex's lips.

"Evening love," she said with a grin. Rachel turned back to the three boys who stood gaping at her.

"You heard what she said," she snapped. "Get your little dicks out of here and never come back or I'll take a box cutter and cut them off."

The three boys scrambled over each other as they raced for the door. Alex and Rachel laughed as the door hit the third boy in the ass on his way out.

"You have got to find a better way to pay for your tuition, babe," she said with a sigh.

"Inez, this is Rachel. Rachel, Inez," Alex said with a sheepish grin. "One of these days you're going to get into trouble slapping little fat kids like that."

"What? He was trying to molest me," she said with an indignant look and brushing an errant lock of hair behind her ear.

"I saw it too," Inez chirped cheerfully. "It was definitely sexual harassment," she added nodding enthusiastically. "I know what it looks like because I watched a training video on it just last week. So I know for certain."

Alex shook his head and chuckled

"Thank you Inez," she said with a wink in her direction. "Are you about done?" Rachel asked looking at Alex as she dangled the car keys on her finger.

"I just have to clock out," he replied. "Back in a moment."

=TWO=

Monday morning came too soon for Amanda. In spite of what Margaret said at the party, she dreaded having to face Simmons and the rest of the office staff this morning. Even if she would be working for Margaret, she would still have to be in the same building with the weasel. Plus, she knew there would be gossip. In an office there is always gossip.

But dammit, she thought with her fists clenched tight. She was the victim here not that creep Simmons, and the rest of them can just go to hell for all I care.

She set her jaw and waited for the elevator to reach the ninth floor. The chime announced her arrival in the hallway vestibule and she turned to see a crowd of her co-workers standing near the reception desk. A second glance proved that most of them were women. One of them turned and started to clap. Soon the rest of them joined in and once again Amanda was dumbfounded.

As she walked into the reception area one of her co-workers, Anna, a receptionist in Acquisitions, leaned over and said, "Thank you so much for standing up to that sleaze ball, Simmons."

"Today is your day Amanda," shouted another of one of the women.

"And lunch is on us!" shouted a third girl from Accounting.

Amanda walked past them with a dazed look on her face. She walked over to her desk and saw a note from Margaret Cummings, CEO of Dresher, Cummings, and Sanford. It asked that she come to her office as soon as she checked in this morning.

Still a bit gun-shy she walked across the commons area towards Margaret's office. A chorus of 'good mornings' and bright smiles greeted her as she passed by. She was not used to this much attention and she was a bit unnerved by it all. She knocked softly on Margaret's office door.

"Come in," came the familiar voice from across the room. "Oh, good, you're here, come in, come in. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"Mrs. Cummings, this is all a bit overwhelming. No wait, I can get the coffee. You sit down, I'll bring it right in. Cream and sugar?"

"Just cream, thank you," Margaret replied returning to her seat.

Amanda glanced around outside of Margaret's office looking for Simmons. No one seemed to be around so she dashed into the copy room and poured two cups of coffee and added cream to both. Then she carried the coffee back into Margaret's office.

"If you're looking for Simmons, he's cooling his heels in the Milwaukee airport right about now. I decided that he needed a little vacation from the fast pace of Wilmington and Milwaukee is just the place for him. Besides, there are only two other employees up there and they're both men over fifty. So Simmons should feel right at home," Margaret said with a grin like the cat that just caught the canary.

"I've been looking for a good excuse to get that asshole out of this office for years. Although I'm sorry it had to happen to you, you provided me with the perfect opportunity. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Amanda replied still in shock.

"And thank you're boyfriend again for being so level headed," Margaret added.

"I will," said Amanda meekly.

"Now then," Margaret continued. "Let's get to it." She spread her arms wide across the top of her desk and grinned at Amanda.

"You should be promoted to senior analyst, which is what you deserved, but I can't, at least not yet. I can't have the rest of the staff thinking that I've grown soft. But what I can do is assign you to focus more on several of our senior accounts. And you'll be adequately compensated, of course. The commissions are rather substantial."