Jane's Encounters: Jane and complications in the office
It is best to read these stories in order as there is a continuous narrative, albeit a different episode each time.
Jane spent the weekend after the somewhat disastrous evening at the bar trying to forget that it ever happened. She forced herself not to think about Rosario and what she might be doing. She even actively prevented herself from thinking about anything sexual, meaning Sarah, Christine, Sophie, Natasha, Lilian, Cathy, Donna, and the others. My god, am I really such a slut, all those women within the last 18 months? Incredible, she thought. Doesn't include poor Jonathan either. Part of her was impressed with herself. Confirmation of her attractiveness. She shut down that thinking too. Thinking about herself as being sexy didn't help at all. Then there was Diane, who she found was surprisingly hard to stop thinking about. This was particularly strange as she had only met her once. It was difficult to cast all these people from her mind, but she dressed like a slob, did the shopping, cleaned her apartment, and diverted her mind by running a 5K, and watching TV. "Busy work" stops one thinking about other things. She was relieved to get no texts from Diane. On Sunday evening she sent Christine a text, trying to smooth over their rocky parting. "It was great to see you again (and the rest!!!) etc. etc." She felt little sexually for Chris, so alluding to her unexpected pouncing on her, did not bring up particularly arousing memories - all to the good. If she let herself, she would have sent a plea to Roz, or contacted Sarah, but she knew it would do her no good emotionally, so she let sleeping dogs lie.
On Monday she went to work. She was appallingly nervous about Roz, and how she would react seeing her again. What would she say if, and when, she saw her? Perhaps Roz would make it up with her and apologize for all that nonsense on Friday night.
Roz, however, was not in the office. She, apparently, was taking personal time off. It made Jane ridiculously jealous, and she almost went to see the "dudes" to check if John was out too. If he were, it would suggest that he and Roz were together. She resisted checking up on him because she knew that if he was out, she might be physically sick. She'd rather not know. She wondered whether she should go and see Diane. Fuck, no, she said to herself, I don't need her trying to help me out. Jane had a good idea what Diane wanted.
The rest of the day passed quietly enough; in fact, she had a lot of work to do. In the afternoon she had a meeting with Jim, reviewing the monthly sales figures. Jody was also at the meeting, and Jane admitted to herself that she looked fetching with her long blonde hair, blue eyes, and slim figure. Big boobs too. Jody smiled at Jane, and Jane smiled back, feeling rather self conscious. I hope she hasn't been gossiping about me, Roz, and Diane, she thought. She cringed at the whole idea. She was dreading Diane appearing at the meeting; she might well come as she was in customer service, and Jim was her boss too. But she did not appear. Thank God. Judy put in an appearance to talk about some sales reps who had just been hired. Suddenly, Jane remembered that Roz had said that both J's: Jody and Judy had expressed kinky interest in Jane, but looking at them, Jane thought it was just Roz trying to work her up. They looked as straight and hetero as it was possible to be. Still, Roz's dirty talk had worked. Jane remembered their first night together. So many orgasms. Her stomach contracted at the thought, and a wave of sadness passed through her. Fuck her, she thought, I don't need that bitch.
She went home at 5:00 and called her friend Jenny. Jenny knew Jane was a lesbian, and Jenny felt embarrassed at succumbing to Jane's charms herself only about a year ago, and was trying to forget the whole thing, so Jane talking about "my Latina girlfriend", who she did not know, brought forth only a rather stilted and polite exchange about the unfairness of life, the difficulties of relationships and so on. Jenny envied most things about Jane, so it was galling to hear about her love issues, which Jenny considered were "first-world problems." Jenny assumed these to be largely Jane's own fault. If only she'd stop sleeping around, was all she could think of while Jane chattered on, her enticing, well-modulated voice, alluring even through the phone. "Sometimes good looks can be a curse," Jenny offered up in sympathy.
"Roz's or mine?" Jane asked, sounding slightly annoyed, as she guessed Jenny was not sufficiently concentrating on her woes.
Jenny paused in her reply, not knowing how to answer without upsetting her friend. "Yours, of course, Janie. Anyway, I've no idea what Roz looks like, but knowing you, I doubt she's hideous."
"Hmm, OK." Jane sounded satisfied, but she could tell that she was boring Jenny. "Sorry, I'm so screwed up. I love you. Thanks for hearing me out. Me, your rather pathetic friend, the lezzie tart."
They both laughed. Jenny loved the sound of Jane laughing, it was like a stream running over a rocky riverbed, somehow wonderfully natural, cleansing, and able to release tension in both Jane and whoever was listening to her. They said their goodbyes and hung up. Jane went to bed and slept better than the previous night.
The next day was worse. Roz was there, and Jane had to see her beautiful ass in her tight, so tight, denim as she walked past her office, her hair swooshing up and down. She was reverting to her tight curls, rather than her straight `do. Jane tried not to look, but it proved impossible. Jane wanted her so badly, it hurt. Jane smiled at her when she walked back. "Hello, you," she said.
Roz's face showed little expression. "Hello, Jane," was all she said in reply, but she stopped in front of the entrance to Jane's office and checked out Jane, looking her up and down.
"Roz...you and me, can we, you know..." Jane stammered.
"What? Bored with Diane already, are you?"
Jane was caught by surprise. "Diane? What are you talking about?"
Roz's eyes flashed in anger. "Not so great in bed is she, so you want me back? Is that it?" Her voice was a whisper, but Jane heard every word as if it were a punch in the face.
"What the fuck are you talking about...." Jane couldn't believe this.
"I saw you in the bar, kissing her, fucking flirting with her, sticking your ass out like that. She's a fucking puta, and so are you!" Her anger was intense.
Jane flushed. She had been drunk, it was true, but she was surely only slightly coyly flirtatious, if anything.
"But, but, nothing happened, you idiot!"
"So you say. And you think I'm an idiota. I can see with these eyes. You left and that bitch left to join you, wanting your pussy, after she came over and told me to butt out." Roz was quivering, her obvious jealousy burning her up.
"But, Roz, nothing happened, I couldn't give a fuck about her. And don't give me a tough time. What about you and that dick, John? He was kissing you for god's sake. Did he fuck you too?" Both women were whispering, but they were getting louder. Jane knew it was getting out of hand. Suddenly, Jane teared up, and she turned away. "Go away, I can't believe you think I'd do that, and anyway, you're a fucking hypocrite."
Jane retreated into her office, she was so upset and angry she could speak no more. Roz looked a little surprised but shrugged her shoulders and stamped off. Her combat boots that Jane always thought looked so sexy on her, squeaked on the floor.
The rest of the day passed miserably for Jane. Jesus, she thought, that was really awful. I don't understand, she is as jealous as I am, but she's got nothing to be jealous about. She never answered about whether she and John...
That evening she decided to see Diane tomorrow. She needed someone to talk to. The pain of Roz being only a few doors down, but no longer available, was profoundly upsetting. Only when her mind was racing in bed did it occur to her that if Roz ever found out about Sarah and Christine, she'd probably kill her. Jane was much more of a hypocrite than Roz. Roz was clearly incandescent about her supposed infidelity with Diane, which was based on virtually nothing. Well, OK, she did hold my hand and fondle my leg, and I did kiss her, but it was only a peck. And yes, I did wiggle my ass when kissing her and then wiggled it at her before I left, but it meant nothing. Jane repeated all this to herself, but she also knew that her flirting with Diane, although it was partly to annoy Roz, had also been because she liked the attention she got from her, and, yes, Diane was definitely sexy. But I'm not going to give Roz the satisfaction of being right about me and Diane. "Diane and I. Ridiculous!" she said aloud before eventually, finally, she slept.
Despite her resolution, she did not see Diane for the next few days, she toughed it out in her office, trying to be quiet and inconspicuous, head down, working. It was easier than she feared. She didn't need all this unprofessional behavior. Roz and her, Roz and John, Diane and her, what kind of an unprofessional company was this? She felt put upon, her life under fire and too complicated. If only she could be with Sarah. Now there's a life companion, she thought. No histrionics, gorgeous, easy. At night though it finally occurred to her that, she was the central feature of these problems. She had made the first move with Roz, and she had responded to Diane, or at least not made it clear she was not interested. She had hit on Sarah. Christine had been unable to resist her assets, and she could simply have said no. She also had to admit that although she pined for Sarah, she really knew almost nothing about her. The girl was an escort, a job guaranteed to cause her intense heartache if they were together.
Fundamentally, as the reader will realize, Jane was caught in a dilemma of being too attractive, with too many hormones, making her a poor choice to be a "life companion." Unless she started to say "no," she would be doomed to constant emotional turmoil. Jane is a nice person, but she is not lacking in sexual drive, and seems to be incapable of doing the sensible thing when it comes to her love life.
During those other days in the week, Roz tormented Jane by walking past her office as usual. It was not intentional, but Jane, in her paranoid state, could not help but think it was. Her solution, if she saw a flash of tight denim, was to instantly look away to minimize her sexual and emotional frustration. On Thursday, however, Roz wore a tight, stretchy miniskirt and, even more unusual for her at work, black pumps. They must have had 4- or 5-inch heels. Jane tried not to look, but, oh god, those tanned legs, that ass. "Why is she doing this to me?" she thought, although she guessed the reason. To show her what she was missing. Later she saw her talking and laughing with John, Pete, and Phil. Their intense attraction to her was so obvious, it irritated and hurt Jane. She remembered too that she had a child, so had been at least once with a man in a serious relationship, unless it had been a one-night stand. But Roz did not seem the sort of girl to not take precautions. She really might swing both ways.
On Friday, Jane plucked up the courage to see Diane. She had to talk to a real live person. She did like her, of course, and after her falling out with Roz, made her the only current female friend who wasn't miles away with whom she could share her, largely self-generated, troubles. She descended a floor and found her office. She was on the phone, but she beckoned Jane to come in. Jane sat down and waited for her to finish. She looked very nice, as usual. Diane was as classy today as she had been when they had originally met. A white blouse, narrow dark gray skirt, black hose, and black heeled pumps. That hair. Jane watched her feet shifting under the desk, the ankle-straps of her shoes around her black stockinged, sexy ankles. Jane now wished she hadn't come. Diane was altogether too sexy, something she already knew, but thought she had exaggerated it in her memory. Now she found herself looking at her legs and knees under the table way too intently. She had to stop admiring the view under the desk and drag her gaze up to her face, still animatedly talking, but occasionally smiling and looking at Jane, her green eyes strikingly beautiful. Jane registered that Diane had very large breasts. The blouse showed the start of what looked liked impressive cleavage. If she looked carefully, Jane could make out the edge of her white, lacy bra as she moved, holding the phone.
"Hullo, Diane," she said, as Diane put down the phone.
"Well, hello to you too, I thought you didn't want anything to do with me." She smiled, her voice warm and welcoming. Her hair looked as great as it did on Friday. Jane felt she had done the wrong thing seeing her again. I'll resist her charms. I must.
"Yeah, well, you know. Sorry for saying that. It was, um, nice talking with you then."
"How're getting on? This week, I mean..." Diane looked concerned. She liked Jane and wanted to help her. "Have you made it up with..."
"No, she's been awful. She thinks you and I..."
"I can have a word with her about that, she shouldn't spread salacious lies."
Jane felt bad about her own hypocrisy, pretending she was really the injured party. She had wronged Roz twice over a period of two days and she had no idea. Three times, if her secret thoughts about Diane counted.
"I know, it's not like we ever..."
"Shush, I know. Do you want to go to lunch? It is lunchtime," Diane paused, "we can go out the back way if you're worried."
"Yeah, OK, but there's no reason to skulk out the back, is there? I mean there is nothing to Roz's BS, is there?" Jane smiled. She tried not to be flirtatious, but it was so hard when talking to Diane.
"Perish the thought. Of course not," she said, smiling. Diane followed Jane out. They went to a nearby café and Diane ordered a tuna sandwich. Jane took a yogurt and banana.
"That's not much to eat. You for one don't need to watch your weight," Diane commented as they sat down. "You're looking a bit out of sorts, you know. You shouldn't let her get to you." What Diane really meant was that Jane had drastically tamped down her appearance compared to her usual style. She was wearing a long skirt, and scruffy sneakers, her long sleeved t-shirt looked a size too big for her, and her usually very glamorous hair was tied untidily with a hair band. "Where's the woman-about- town, we all love?"
"She's taking a break, that's all. Anyway, how do you know what my usual style is?"
"Well, I don't, but others talk, and mention how stylish you are usually." Diane had to tread carefully here. She had overheard the dudes talk about Jane, so she knew how much they appreciated her when she was "on form" as they called it. She could well imagine, having seen her last week.
"I see. I thought salacious gossip was not your line?" Jane was now teasing Diane.
"It wasn't salacious. Perfectly innocent in fact." Diane lied. The boys had not held back in their admiration. "Come on, let's not argue." Jane agreed and they started chatting as if they had been friends for ever. Both were amazed how well they got on; the age difference seemed unimportant.
Jane told her about her interaction with Roz. Diane was outraged. "That little bitch, I should fire her."
"Can you do that?" Jane asked innocently.
"Probably not...without her telling her version of you and me, which might give me, and you for that matter, a real problem too."
"I guessed as much, I'm glad though, she's a wonderful person really, just jealous and fucking paranoid." They both laughed, enjoying the moment.
"Well, I'd be fucking paranoid if I was her and you were my, um, special friend." Diane just had to say it. She wanted to touch Jane, but she didn't. Jane smiled knowingly at her. "Oh Diane, you don't give up do you?" All Jane was thinking about was those large breasts. She could imagine them lying under the blouse. The open neck was showing the initial curves of them. Diane had an expensive looking necklace and the pendent was long, its lower tip falling in between the start of her cleavage. Jane wanted to follow it with her tongue. Down, down to those lovely globes.
"Not usually, no." Diane laughed, and Jane smiled, accepting the compliment. Jane could not say what was on her mind. No, she was not interested in Diane, she wanted Roz back. That was her plan and Diane was distraction. A really sexy one, but no. Enough infidelity.
After more talk about nothing much, Jane casually asked where Diane lived. "You have a house or an apartment?"
"Not a house, I have a mansion." Diane said it matter-of-factly.
"Ah, stop it Diane, don't tease!"
"No, I really do, my husband was very rich, and now I've got it."
Jane didn't know whether Diane was still teasing. "Aha, I knew there was a reason I liked you. You thought it was for your body, but no, it's really for your mansion."
"Why don't you visit? You can come tonight. You can stay the night." Jane made a face.
"No, no, nothing like that. I have ten bedrooms. You can sleep in the one furthest from mine, I won't be offended."
"Fuck, Diane, that's really nice of you. If I do spend the night, I won't sleep in the furthest room, but I won't be sleeping with you. Don't take it the wrong way. It's sweet of you to ask me. I'd love to see your mansion. Can I get a tour of the Crown Jewels, while I'm there?"
"Of course, you can. And I promise I won't make any moves on you," she paused, "even if I want to, which of course I don't."
Jane kissed her on the cheek. Diane smiled, held her hand and kissed her back. "Thanks, Jane."
"No, thank you. You're a really nice person."
"Not too old to be your friend?"
"Fuck no, you're..." she was going to say hot, but she changed it to "lovely."
Back at work, Jane tried to concentrate on her work with varying degrees of success. Roz flitted to the printer a few times. No sexy mini and heels today, Jane noticed. She wanted so much to tell her how much she had liked that outfit, but obviously she couldn't. She looked out as Roz walked back, and she smiled at her. She looked so good in her tight, low slung, hipster jeans. Her colorful, loose, v-necked top snaked down her shoulders revealing a lot of enticing brown skin and her elegant neck. Roz gave her a stunningly blank look back. She's so beautiful, Jane thought. "Roz, have a great weekend!" Roz stopped for a second and looked back at Jane, surprised by her warm wishes. Afterwards Jane thought she had started to smile, but at the time, all she saw was her lips opening slightly and closing, as if she were about to say something, only to change her mind. Oh well, at least I tried, she thought.
Jane was about to leave early when Phil knocked on her open door. "Can I come in?" He asked somewhat timidly.
"Of course. Hi Phil, what can I do for you?"
"I, or rather we, are wondering if you'd like to come for a drink with us after work? We, um, missed you last week."
"Who are "we"?
"Well Pete and I. Jody too, and Pete says his girlfriend's going to come. He says you'll like her. Apparently, everyone does." He paused, smiling, "if you'll come, I promise to vacuum your office and wash your mug everyday. You made a serious error not coming to eat with us last Friday." He pointed at her unwashed coffee mug. "Just imagine the pleasure you'd get from seeing you mug sparkling clean, without you having to lift a finger!" He said it so triumphantly and straight faced, Jane giggled hopelessly, and he smiled back at her.
"You're funny," she said still laughing. She didn't want to tell him she couldn't make it. "What about Roz, have you asked her?"
Phil looked sheepish. "We haven't asked her."
"Why not? I bet she'd like to come." Jane was surprised and suspicious.
Slightly embarrassed he said, "Well, the thing is, Pete reckons Roz and his friend, well, he thinks they may not get on."
Jane looked surprised, her soft brown eyes narrowed, "huh, come on, you can tell Janie, she won't gossip."
"Well, I think it's because he came on to her last week, and he doesn't want Roz to tell his girlfriend what he said to her. Anyway, that's my guess, he hasn't explained. He is rather keen on Roz."
Join the fucking club, she thought. "What about you asking me to dinner, what will your girlfriend think of that?" Phil looked at her directly. Jane knew he liked her, it stood out a mile. She couldn't resist a touch of flirtation. It was so easy.
"But I only asked you to join us all, not just me. Anyway, I don't have anyone right now." He paused. He did, indeed, really like Jane.
She tut-tutted sexily. "Oh, but Phil, that's so not true. You asked me, and I asked you to ask the others." He looked flustered. She enjoyed it. "But I guess, from what you just said, you wouldn't have asked just me out. Well," she feigned great indignation, "now I know where I stand." She enjoyed watching him squirm. Why am I such a tease? She thought for the millionth time.
"Jane, I'm so sorry, it came out wrong, do you want to come...oh fuck, I've blown it haven't I?" Jane smiled and nodded. Phil felt bad, Jane was so stunning, he could kick himself. She touched him on the arm. "It's Ok, I like you, but I can't come today anyway. I have another date." Phil tried to look as though he didn't care. "Yes, of course you do, I was a fool for asking." She's the kind of woman whose either married, or permanently on a date with someone else, he thought.
Jane gave him her best smile and touched his hand. "Phil don't beat yourself up. I'm teasing you. But I really am meeting someone else tonight. Sorry." Phil said he too was sorry, and he, slightly pathetically, sauntered off, avoiding Roz's office. She sympathized with him, although being refused was not something she was used to. "Ask me again sometime," she called as he went out. He smiled back at her. She smiled to herself, it does no harm to show Roz, I'm still in demand. She was bound to have heard her call to Phil.
She left afterwards and returned home to get ready to see Diane and her house. Diane had suggested she leave with her after work, but her comment at lunch about her lack of style, meant she wanted to spruce herself up before spending an evening with her. Diane was very elegant, and Jane had felt outclassed next to her. It was a little galling to effectively be told by her she was not dressed well. She had to make amends. She could do that.
(to be continued)