Running Rings

by Ruth G Juliano

  “I like sex,” Adrian shrugged.

  “Fine, be that way,” Verity said and poked out her tongue.

  Adrian laughed and smacked her bottom, “I don’t have to think like you do.”

  “I know that, and I respect that. I just think one day you’re going to want to let someone love you because they really, really want to love you, like I did with Mr Perfect. I opened up and really unpacked all the baggage I was carrying. Now I’m free to learn. I guess for you, as you become older and women become more and more superficial, they’ll want a financial incentive for sex not just the pleasure you can bring them. Some women don’t even care if a guy is lousy in bed. They just look at the dollar signs. I know this because that’s what my mother told me to look for, money. I have female friends now, and I listen to what they’re saying. It’s the same thing my mother said. I shake my head and think how stupid that is. You’ll make someone very happy, Adrian, because not only are you an extraordinary lover, you’re also one of the nicest men I’ve ever met, especially when you don’t try to hide it behind your hotness. Friendship, that’s all.”

  Adrian smiled and held her hands again, “Thank you. I’ll consider this friendship thing. I’ve never given my mobile number to a woman I’ve slept with. Not once. I don’t want to be hassled or owned. You understand, right?”

  “I understand completely. If you need to leave now, I won’t feel used, but I don’t want you to feel used either, Adrian. Maybe I did use you the first time in terms of what kind of sex I wanted to have, but it was supposed to be a one-night stand and I had no expectations. You have to know that I was aroused by you as a person that night, not by sex as a concept. I hated sex as a concept at that point. I know how to masturbate, but I never wanted to do it alone until I met you.” Verity dropped her head. “Did I just say that to you out loud?”

  Adrian laughed and tapped Verity’s hands together, “I turn you on that much? You think about me like that?”

  Verity shook her head, “No, we’ve only had sex twice now, two incredible times mind you. I actually get aroused sometimes when I think about your smile, and your laugh, and how much sense you make. I think about how well you take care of yourself, and how physically capable you are, and how you help children with their self-esteem. I think about the way you dance, and how good you look in a suit, and I really admire you. Then I think about how sexy you made me feel after all that. You’re someone that I could be friends with, and as much as you turn me on, we don’t ever have to have sex again because I do know how to masturbate. I just want to be able to see you sometimes and say ‘hi’.”

  “And you think you wouldn’t be jealous if you saw me out with another woman? I think you would be. Women are possessive and jealous when it comes to men they’ve slept with. You’d be jealous, and you’d drive me nuts about who I was with and why. Admit it.”

  “I won’t admit it because I know I wouldn’t do that because I’ve already seen it,” Verity said, letting go of his hands and climbing off the bed. She took a dressing gown from her wardrobe and put it on. “You have your choice of a whole city full of beautiful women, Adrian. You don’t need this ugly little duckling in your life, and I know that. I would never take away your opportunity to have sex with as many beautiful women as you possibly can if that’s what you really want to do. I just want to be your friend. I don’t have many and I only want to have the very best close friends, ones that I would trust to know where I live and who I would seek advice from.”

  Adrian sat up, “You’ve really seen me out with other women?”

  “Yes I have. I’ve been out at different times to different places with my friends Krystal, Nicole and Casey and a few of their friends, and I have seen you out dancing and making the moves with women. It’s a gift to be able to be so passionate with strangers and to make them feel so special when they’re obviously not. All the girls I was with have pointed you out as someone who was a bit of alright too, by the way. I wanted to say I knew you, but I don’t, so I didn’t. But I’d like to know you, and I still don’t have to say I know you in public if that suits you.”

  Adrian was looking at her but not saying anything. He looked at the bed and ran his hands over his hair, “This is so weird.”

  “What’s weird?”

  “I’ve had women have jealous spats and fight over me in public and all sorts of things, and I didn’t care. I was always very clear about what was happening and I didn’t need the drama. It used to piss me off a little because it was none of their business what I was doing.”

  Verity looked over at him, “Okay, so where’s the weird part?”

  “Knowing that you’ve seen me out with other women makes me feel bad about myself, and I don’t understand why.”

  Verity knelt at the end of the bed, “I’m so sorry, Adrian. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I think you’re amazing. I was trying to tell you that it didn’t make me jealous or upset or anything. I was really happy to see you having fun and being happy. I didn’t feel bad about it at all. I care about you and I want you to be happy. That’s how friends are, isn’t it? I was happy for the women too, and I couldn’t help but smile for them because I knew how lucky they were to get to spend any time with you at all.”

  “You were happy for me and for them?”

  “Definitely. Imagine if you knew someone was about to taste the best chocolate they had ever had and you already knew what it was like. You’re almost giddy anticipating how much joy it’s going to bring them because you know how good it is yourself. That’s how I felt.”

  “What?”

  Verity shrugged, “You’re such a pleasure to be around. Why wouldn’t I be thinking how lucky they are? I learned from the love of my life to take pleasure in really simple things. We like seeing other people happy, we like hearing people laugh, and we take pleasure in positive things. We don’t do jealousy. It’s an ugly, self-fulfilling downer. He never once got in another guy’s face for talking to me or coming near me. You can talk to whoever you want to talk to and spend time with whoever you want to spend time with doing whatever you want with them. You told me that yourself. You said it’s one hundred percent okay to enjoy yourself as long as it’s consenting adults and you’re not hurting anyone. It’s your life. Even if you share it with someone, it’s still your life. I feel really fortunate to be able to trust someone like I trust you. I barely know you, but I know enough, and I’d be proud to call you my friend.”

  Adrian nodded but didn’t say anything.

  “You look a little dazed and confused, Officer. Would you like a beer?”

  “Sure,” Adrian replied.

  “Excellent. And if it suits you better to feel used, get your jeans back on because I’d like to take a picture of your arse,” Verity said, and left the room.

  Adrian laughed and lay back on the bed.

  Chapter 18

  The elevator doors closed and Verity started to feel nervous. This was her first day in a new job and it was a lot more complicated than being a bank teller. She had successfully applied to be the Assistant Financial Officer for a large conglomerate called Royal Raven. She was excited knowing that it would be utilising more of her skills than her previous job, but didn’t know what to expect. She assumed it would involve reports, statistics, facts and figures, research, and all the things she loved doing with numbers. She arrived on the fifteenth floor and was directed to the Chief Financial Officer’s office. She looked up at the ten foot tall doors and was almost afraid to open them. She’d never been in an office building like this before. She opened the door slowly and there was a man standing right there, smiling.

  Verity looked from his feet up to his head. He had big feet in pricey shoes and was in an expensive suit that appeared to have been tailored. He was six foot four, with hazel eyes, grey-blonde hair, and a square jaw. He put his hand out to her, “I’m Jake Horton, I’m the Chief Financial Officer, so I’ll be working very closely with you.”

  “Pleased to meet you, I�
�m Verity Sharpe.”

  “All of this is technically my office, but we’re standing in your work area here. You have two screens, one is primarily for watching numbers go up and down, and the other is for communication. My office is in there, so they have to get by you before they get to me. I’ll be calling you in frequently, so if you’re going to the bathroom or having a cigarette or something, let me know first so I’m not talking to myself. Any questions?”

  “Not yet, Sir,” Verity said.

  “You can call me Jake.”

  “Thank you.” Verity sat down at her desk and watched him walk away. This was a very nice office, with very nice furniture, and the latest technology. She wondered what kind of accent Jake had and concluded it was German, but not a strong accent, just a hint of something European. She looked at the computer screens. The one with the moving numbers appeared to be the stock exchange. The other computer screen had a calendar on it. It appeared that Jake had a meeting at eleven across town. Verity furrowed her brow. She wasn’t entirely sure what her role was. She thought that she was the Assistant Financial Officer, but maybe she was actually the Chief Financial Officer’s assistant. That made sense in terms of the amount of money the job paid. This was the kind of job that women in the typing pools had whispered about. Going up to the nicer offices and keeping the Chief Officers’ lives on track and doing their shopping for them. Surely not. Surely she was able to do more than that with her skills.

  “Verity.”

  She was startled and looked around.

  “Verity, press the button on the black speaker next to you and say ‘hello’.”

  She looked around and found the speaker, “Hello.”

  “Very good, that is all.”

  Verity smiled and released the speaker button. She looked at her in-tray and there was a pile of paperwork. She moved it from the tray to the desk and sorted through it. There was some draft reports and some balance sheets. There was a letter of offer about a company and what looked like a bank statement. She walked to Jake’s door and knocked. She heard him say ‘enter’ so she did. “Sorry to bother you, but as I don’t have any instructions yet, I came to ask you what you wanted me to do with the paperwork in the in-tray on my desk.”

  Jake stood up from his desk, “I thought you didn’t have any questions. Although you did say ‘not yet’ so I should have expected some. The paperwork in the in-tray should be dealt with as follows. Draft reports you need to check we’ve received a digital version. Letters of offer come straight to me. Bank statements go in my statements tray behind your desk.”

  “What about the balance sheets?”

  “They should also be received digitally. The only reason we have the paper version is to compare what they send me with what I end up with. You probably don’t know what double entry is, so I won’t waste time to explain.”

  Verity stood up straighter, “I have a Commerce degree actually, so I do.”

  “Not anal and vaginal penetration at the same time?”

  Verity was caught off guard, “What?”

  “I beg your pardon would be better. I was just making sure you were listening. If we’re going to work closely then we need to have candour between us, Verity. Sexual jokes between men and women can be so easily misinterpreted. I don’t have time for that. For all intents and purposes, we are the same gender right now. Are you familiar with double entry as a sexual act?”

  “Yes, and I think it’s repulsive.”

  “I agree. I think the anus should be left alone to do its thing. I believe it should be for exit only, not entry. It’s not a place I would request to put myself, noting also that I’ve never been asked.”

  “Okay then. I’ll go get your offer.”

  “To enter your anus?”

  “No, for an organisational takeover,” Verity replied.

  “Thank you,” Jake said, sitting down again.

  Verity closed the door and looked at it. He was a stunning man, but he had strange syntax and it was an odd exchange they had just had. Verity obtained the letter of offer and knocked on Jake’s door before walking into his office.

  “Perhaps we will be leaving the door open today to avoid the knocking,” Jake said, “If you need to use my lavatory you can, but please put both seats down before you flush. It keeps the germs from flying about the room.”

  “Ah,” Verity replied, handing him the letter.

  He gestured to his desk, so she put it down on his desk and turned away.

  “You are aware of the dress code, are you not?”

  Verity turned around, “Yes, professional.”

  “Hmm, yes, but you must always wear a skirt of a length to your choice, and no pantyhose. The static upsets my equipment.”

  “Ah,” Verity said, and turned to walk out the door.

  “Oh, and I changed my mind about you calling me Jake. Call me Mr Horton.”

  “Certainly, Mr Horton,” Verity replied and walked towards the door.

  “Please, call me Jake,” he laughed.

  Verity furrowed her brow and went back to her desk. She smiled. He was definitely interesting.

  “Verity.”

  She pressed the button, “Yes, Mr Jake Horton.”

  “Very good choice. I would like you to accompany me to my meeting at eleven. Do you know how to pretend to write shorthand?”

  Verity made some faces, “Um, pretend to write it?”

  “That’s what I said.”

  “I can pretend to write if you wish. I can scribble illegibly on paper.”

  “Good enough.”

  Verity let the button go and shrugged to herself. She hoped she had answered the question correctly. She looked at the in-tray wondering who actually put the paperwork in there and if they would be knocking on the ten foot doors or would just appear suddenly.

  “Verity.”

  She looked at the speaker and pressed the button, “Yes?”

  “I’m standing beside you.”

  Verity squealed and put her hand to her chest, “Sorry.”

  “Can you tell me what’s wrong with this?” he asked, handing her a piece of paper.

  Verity scanned the piece of paper and handed it back. “There’s a transposition error in the accounts receivable column.”

  “Did that feel good?” he asked, “Did you like that?”

  She nodded, “Yes, very much.”

  “Excellent. Let’s go.”

  “Isn’t the meeting only across town?”

  “Do you know how to travel to an executive meeting? In future, inside your head put an hour to an hour and a half on the meeting start time. I don’t want to be late, I don’t want to arrive before the other party, I don’t want to be rushed, and I don’t want to give them a chance to cancel at the last minute.”

  Verity nodded and waved her pen in the air.

  “What are you doing?” Jake asked.

  “I’m pretending to write it down.”

  Jake smiled, “Bring a note pad and pen. Not too small, not too big, and always write in black. Blue is a joke and shouldn’t be a pen colour. Continue.”

  “Continue what?”

  “Continue mocking me with your air waving. Perhaps more questions would be better instead of your nonsense?”

  Verity nodded, “Sorry. Why do you want me to pretend to take notes? I can actually take notes if you need me to do so.”

  “That’s very good. The last person I had here could not. I digitally record my meetings without consent and I want them to think it’s from taking notes, very good notes. Take whatever notes you wish, real or imaginary, illegible or not. Let’s go.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Verity replied, putting a note pad and pen in her handbag.

  Jake looked at her with a concerned face, “What is that?”

  “My handbag,” Verity replied.

  “It’s unacceptable for my Assistant Financial Officer. Wait here.”

  Verity furrowed her brow and put her handbag on the desk. She looked at it and turned it
around. It was black, un-scuffed, soft leather. Verity wasn’t sure what the issue was with her handbag.

  “Here you are. This is your gift for being my assistant. When you are no longer my assistant you may keep it. No one wants your second-hand bag,” Jake said, holding out a box.

  Verity walked around her desk and took the box. She put it on the desk and opened it, then removed the tissue paper. She put her hand to her mouth. “Mr Horton, this is a twelve hundred dollar women’s briefcase. I can’t accept this.”

  “This is your work bag, this is your work. You can place your notepad and pen in here. Be sure to use the correct internal pockets for each item or you will disgrace the bag. You do not need a wallet, because I will cover your expenses. If you wish to put perfume in, you may, but I will have to approve the smell. You may carry breath mints, but not in a tin because they make too much noise. You may have lip balm or lipstick, but the lipstick only if it doesn’t come off on glasses and cutlery. And of course you may carry panty liners.”

  “Panty liners?”

  “You want fresh breath, why not stay fresh everywhere?”

  “They’re usually a once a day thing.”

  “Not when I’m around,” Jake said.

  Verity smiled but she wanted to laugh, “Okay, I’ll just get my pen, notepad and perfume to place in here, thank you.”

  “No lip balm?”

  “My lips aren’t dry,” Verity replied.

  “Put it in anyway, and unless you want me to pack your bag for you, please move faster. Leave your other bag in the bottom drawer, lock the drawer and put the key in the inner pocket of your new bag. Bring more than one pen.”

  Verity nodded and put the items into her soft briefcase. Jake gestured for her to open the door for him so she did and followed him out.

  “And open the door for me too. That’s your job. I am disregarding your gender, because I’m not sexist, so you should disregard the fact that I’m almost a foot taller and that I’m a man. Open the doors, press the buttons for the elevators, and use this sometimes,” he handed her a small bottle with clear liquid in it.