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Holly
Today is going to be a good day. There’s a spring in my step that proves to me that miracles do happen and if you work hard in life, you get everything you ever wanted.
“Morning, Holly.”
I smile at Pearl, the cleaner who usually passes me on my way into the office. I always get here impossibly early because I’m desperate to succeed. To haul myself to the top of my profession and run my own publication. I am ambitious and I don’t care who knows it.
It’s a shame I’m just a nobody, though. A junior reporter on a gossip-led publication that ends up lining animal cages but everyone has to start somewhere and my sight is set on a greater prize than this. I want the serious news-sheet. The one they all want. The jewel in the crown and I intend on wearing it because serious hard-hitting news is in my future and I will do whatever I can to make it mine.
I waste no time and fire up the computer and check my list of things to do for today.
It must be two hours later that the office starts filling up and as the alarm buzzes on my phone, I sigh and push the serious work away because he will be in soon and require his usual coffee. They all will, and so I drag myself from my chair and head toward the kitchen to fetch it for them.
Yes, I’m not there yet because I’m on the first rung of the ladder and everyone knows to get to the top, you must start at the bottom first.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
I nod curtly at a man who makes my flesh creep. Wayne Dawson. The seriously creepy hack who has made it his mission to add my name to the notches on his bedpost. I’m surprised there’s any room left to be honest because he is a serious fuck boy and grew up into an even more vociferous player. It helps that he’s good looking in a frat boy kind of way. Long floppy hair that some find endearing. Bright blue eyes that smolder when they fix on you and a boyish charm that has women shedding their panties and spreading their legs if he even looks at them in a certain way.
Not me. Maybe that’s why he tries so hard, because he can’t comprehend that one female in existence can’t stand the sight of him.
“Wayne.”
I grit my teeth as he leans against the doorjamb and runs those eyes the length of me, making me wish I’d chosen to wear a longer skirt and a looser fitting top.
He actually licks his lips as he says huskily, “Fancy grabbing a drink after work.”
“I’m busy.”
I keep my answer short and sweet hoping he’ll get the message but he never does and as he inches closer, the small space suddenly loses all its air in a matter of seconds as he stands too close for comfort and whispers, “Then cancel.”
“Can’t.” The kettle adds to the steam in the room and as I pour the scalding water into the various mugs waiting, I resist the urge to throw some in his general direction.
I swear I can feel his erection pressing against my ass, and I grit my teeth and move slightly away to create distance. Counting to ten in my mind, I carry on with my job because I’m not indispensable yet, not like him and if I make a scene, it will be my head on the chopping block.
His overpowering aftershave assaults my senses and he presses in closer and whispers, “Then lunch. I could request your assistance on the interview I have set up in town. We could take five and get to know one another. What do you say?”
“I’m busy.”
Once again, I keep my answer short and bitter and he growls, “You know, I could make your job a lot easier if you only let me. Keep turning me down and you’ll be making coffee for the next ten years. Be a little friendlier and it will get you what you want faster, if you know what I mean.”
Taking a deep breath, I say tightly, “No, what do you mean, Wayne? I’d love you to spell it out.”
His breath wafts across my ear and I shiver inside as he drawls, “You make it good for me and I return the favor. We could have a lot of fun, and the only thing standing in our way is you.”
Grabbing the tray, I turn, making him step back as it hits him in the chest and I smile brightly. “Thanks for the offer, Wayne, but as I said before, I’m busy. I’m shadowing Alyson today. We have a story to follow up at the mayor’s office so maybe next time.”
He nods and stands aside and as I pass, he leans down and whispers, “I’ll have a word with Ray. Arrange it so you shadow me tomorrow. Dress to impress and it could be the start of something mutually beneficial.”
His gaze lingers on my chest and his meaning is clear. I feel so dirty and violated as he undresses me with his eyes and, for the millionth time, wish nature hadn’t been so generous when she handed out curves. My breasts have their own postal address and appear to be the stuff of every man’s dreams, and I have spent most of my adult life with their eyes firmly fixed on them rather than me. It makes me sick and determined to prove I’m more than just a body and as I head off, I hate the fact I was born this way. How I wish I blended into the background wearing high neck sweaters covering a flat chest. Being short means I must wear ridiculously high heels to look my peers in the eye and, paired with my impossibly large breasts, it’s a recipe for every creep out there to hit on me.
I try desperately to play it down by pulling my long, dark hair into a tight bun and wearing clothes to disguise my shape. The trouble is, they make me look like a sumo wrestler, so I gave in and dressed in a way they would expect. Sharp crisp shirt teamed with a fitted skirt and jacket. The uniform of success and yet it appears the only things they are interested in are my enlarged assets.
Well, after today perhaps they’ll start taking me more seriously because the story I submitted is liquid gold and I can’t wait to see it hit the wires.
