‘Yes sir!’ June replied and then shot Suzie a look which said; yes, I completely understand your shock here. She pulled out the chair of Suzie’s desk and held it for her. ‘Well why don’t you try it out,’ she offered.
Suzie sat down and as soon as her butt touched the seat the telephone on the desk rang. She glanced up at June in shock.
‘Well pick it up,’ the other woman said.
Tentatively, Suzie lifted the receiver to her ear. ‘Hello?’ she said, ‘Mr. Sugar. What can I do for you?’
There was a pause at the other end of the line and then a deep, husky masculine voice spoke. ‘Who is this?’ it said.
‘Suzie glanced up at June again. June nodded to her. ‘It’s Suzie Armstrong sir.
Your new secretary.’
There was another pause before he spoke again. ‘Oh, well then welcome to Harlan Fisher.’ There was something about his voice, so deep and sexy, that reverberated through Suzie’s body as he spoke. Whatever man was attached to that voice, he was obviously nothing like the other men she’d met that day. ‘Hold on,’ he said, ‘I’m coming out.’
The line went dead. Suzie held it in her hand for a second and then put it down on the receiver. ‘He’s coming out,’ she said.
‘Well get up then,’ June told her, ‘and get ready to introduce yourself.’
Suzie stood up briskly and tried to straighten out her long tweed skirt as the door to Mr. Sugar’s office swung open and the man himself emerged.
He was big and handsome, with a rigid posture which seemed to radiate power and inner-confidence. He had a strong, stern jawline and stony intelligent blue eyes around which there was a certain tightness that seemed to suggest some sadness or hardship from the distant past. Or maybe it was just a hangover. He smiled professionally and put out his hand.
‘Jon Sugar,’ he said, ‘welcome to the company.’
Suzie grinned girlishly and shook his hand. ‘Thank you Mr. Sugar,’ she said, ‘it’s an honor to work here. I’ve heard so much about you all.’
‘Yes well we’ll see about that,’ Jon smiled, glancing slyly at June as if to share some private joke. ‘June,’ he said, ‘how
are
you this morning?’
‘Wonderful Mr. Sugar,’ June replied batting her eyelids salaciously, ‘thank you for asking.’
‘Ok,’ Jon said and turned his powerful frame back towards the rest of the room. With his eyes closed to slits, he surveyed the workspace with the cold gaze of a general. He turned back to June again. ‘What time are the
Poppie’s
Nuts people due in?’
‘Half an hour,’ June said, ‘but they’re usually late.’
‘And the conference room is all set up?’
‘Yes. It’s the prawn cocktail today.’
‘Good. Ok, I’m going down to Tommy’s office. Make sure no one goes into mine while I’m away.’ Jon Sugar began striding purposefully across the floor.
‘Mr. Sugar!’ June called urgently, ‘Mr. Harlan is lying down. He asked not to be disturbed.’
‘I didn’t hear that,’ Jon called back as he disappeared across the room.
June looked at Suzie and shook her head wearily. ‘Sometimes I wonder why I even bother,’ she said. She smiled again. ‘Ok, well I think you have everything you need for the meantime. If anybody calls asking for Jon tell them he’s in a meeting and take down the message on your notepad. Oh yeah, he wants you to make reservations for three at De
Niro’s
for two pm. He’s taking Bob Haggard and Chalky Chambers of General Motors out to lunch.’
‘Got it,’ Suzie said, sitting back down at her desk.
‘Good,’ June replied, ‘ok, well if you need me for anything, you know where to find me. Good luck.’
For the next two hours not much else happened. There were a few phone calls for Jon, but nothing that sounded too important. She watched as the representatives from
Poppie’s
Nuts filed into the conference room, led by two of the executives she’d seen in the elevator earlier. They jostled and coddled around the
Poppie’s
Nuts guys as if they were trying to make them feel as pampered and important as possible while they made their way to the meeting.
Suzie made the reservations for Jon’s lunch meeting and then settled down, waiting for something else of interest to happen. After another hour, the
Poppie’s
Nuts guys stepped out of the conference room with Jon Sugar and Tommy Harlan – all of them laughing like old friends – and shook hands as they parted.
Jon gave her a slight, humorless smile as he stepped back into his office. He paused in the doorway and turned around.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, ‘what was your name again?’
‘Suzie Armstrong, Mr. Sugar sir,’ Suzie replied, smiling professionally.
‘Of course,’ Jon said, ‘Suzie. I must
apologize,
I had a bit of a late night last night. Suzie did you make reservations for De
Niro’s
?’
‘Yes, two pm.’
‘Good,’ Jon answered. He pushed open the door again. ‘Don’t let anybody disturb me,’ he said and went back inside.
‘Yes sir,’ Suzie nodded and got back to trying to look professional at her desk.
Thirty minutes later, the three young executives appeared at Jon’s door, plus the one she’d seen feeling up the pool girl too – George, she seemed to recall his name was.
‘Well aren’t you just pretty as a picture,’ he smiled as they came up to her desk.
Suzie smiled shyly.
‘Is Jon in?’ William asked.
‘Yes, but he asked not to be disturbed.’
The men laughed and exchanged mischievous glances. ‘Oh don’t worry, we’re not going to disturb him,’ Teddy smiled, ‘we just want to talk to him is all.’
James pushed opened the door and made to go in.
‘Gentlemen please
!
’ Suzie called, but they ignored her and filed into his office.
Ten minutes later they were out again, smoking cigarettes and
horseplaying
like schoolboys. Jon Sugar appeared at the door.
‘Dammit Suzie, I told you not to let anybody disturb me.’
‘I tried
– ’
Suzie began.
‘Whatever,’ Jon dismissed, ‘I’m going out to lunch. When I get back there’s some stuff I want to go over with you so don’t leave without me. I may be a little late.’
‘Yes
sir
Mr. Sugar,’ Suzie said, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t stop them.’
‘It’s ok,’ Jon muttered and then took his trench coat and hat from the rack.
As he walked away towards the elevators Suzie thought that he looked as handsome as Cary Grant and as hip a Humphrey Bogart in his sophisticated get-up. There was something about the man that put her in awe of him. He seemed to stand so distant and apart from the rest of his colleagues.
As the evening wore on, there was no sign of Jon Sugar back at the office. He hadn’t called or sent word at all, one way or another, about why he hadn’t returned. As closing time drew near, Suzie began to get worried. Perhaps he’d had some kind of accident.
She asked one of the other girls to watch her desk for a moment while she went to find June.
‘Does De
Niro’s
have a bar?’ June asked when Suzie told her of her predicament.
‘I think so,’ Suzie said.
‘Well then that’s where Jon Sugar is.’ June smiled kindly, with a playful glint in her eye. ‘Sorry Suzie,’ she said, ‘you’ll just have to wait for him.
Like I said earlier: you’ll get used to it.’
Suzie walked back to her desk and waited. Hours passed.
Most everybody had left by now and it was starting to get dark outside. She glanced at her watch nervously. If she didn’t get home soon her mom would start to worry. Besides, would it be safe for her to make her way to the train station by herself in the city at night?
As she mulled over these matters, she heard the elevator suddenly start to rumble as it ascended up to the deserted office space. The light beeped and the doors opened. There was Jon Sugar, in his long trench coat and trilby hat perched down low over his forehead. He stepped off onto the floor and starting walking towards her.
‘Mr. Sugar, is everything alright?’ Suzie asked.
Jon smiled at her and she saw that his eyes were quite bloodshot and barely open. Not only that, but he smelt strongly of liquor.
‘Everything’s fine,’ he said, ‘what are you still doing here, don’t you have a home to go to?’
Suzie bristled. ‘You told me to wait for you,’ she said.
Jon looked confused for a second. ‘I did?’ he asked, ‘oh yeah, of course.’ He glanced down at her desk. ‘Say, do you have a bottle in there? My last girl always made sure to keep a bottle. I liked her.’
‘Yes,’ Suzie nodded, ‘Scotch. Would you like some?’
‘Go to the kitchen and get some ice,’ Jon said, ‘then
take
it back to my office. I’m all out.’
‘Yes sir,’ Suzie answered and immediately went to do as he said.
When she arrived back the office door was closed. She knocked on it gently.
‘Come in.’
She pushed open the door and looked around her. The office was lovely, even in the darkness of the evening. The décor was elegant and classy, with a great view of the city and rich leather sofas. Jon’s trench coat was draped over one of these, along with his sharkskin suit jacket. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up around his strong wrists and he’d taken off his tie. In his hand he held two tumbler glasses.
‘Good, there you are,’ he said as she stepped into the room.
‘Here’s the ice,’ Suzie said, ‘shall I fill your glass?’
‘Sure. And pour one for yourself while you’re at it.’
Suzie did as she was told. For a moment the gurgling of the rich scotch as it poured from the bottle was the only sound in the dark, quiet office. She handed Jon his glass and then prepared one for herself as he drank.
‘So how did the meeting go?’ she asked.
‘What meeting?’
‘With the men from General Motors?’
‘Oh,’ Jon said, ‘fine.’ He sipped his drink again and sighed satisfactorily. ‘You know, this is my favorite time of the day,’ he said, ‘the one time when I get some peace and quiet. The one time I can just… be myself.’
‘It is a very hectic workplace,’ Suzie said.
Jon looked at her suddenly, as though only now seeing her for the first time. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking behind those beautiful silver-blue eyes.
‘It is,’ he nodded and then suddenly laughed. ‘Oh man,’ he said, ‘hmmm.’ He tipped up his glass again and finished his drink.
Suzie looked at him coyly. ‘Mr. Sugar, are you drunk?’ she asked, her tone one of playful disapproval.
‘No,’ Jon said, shaking his head. ‘Yes.’ He began to laugh again. Suzie joined in with him. As he stopped, his eyes rested on her once more. He stood up. ‘You know, you’re a very beautiful young woman Suzie,’ he said as he came towards her.
Suzie shivered as she looked up at him. He was strong and powerful, so firm and always in control. She felt herself start to heat up between the legs and moisten in a way that would have usually caused her to reproach herself. But now – now she wanted to follow it wherever it might take her.
Jon stood above her. He reached out and placed his hand against her cheek, gently brushing her chin with his thumb. ‘Yeah,’ he repeated, ‘I can tell there’s something special about you. You’re one of the good ones.’ He leaned forward and kissed her suddenly.
Stars exploded before her vision, her whole body reverberated with energy as the power and force of the man passed through his lips and into her. He tasted like whisky and tobacco smoke but somehow it was delicious, the most palatable flavor in the world. He reached down and placed his hand on her hip, squeezing her gently as he pulled her towards him. He smacked at her lips with his tongue and lifted his head away again, smiling down on her in that strange secret way.
‘Mr. Sugar,’ Suzie said, ‘I hope you don’t think I’m that kind of girl.’
Putting him off now was the last thing she wanted to do but somehow she felt it was her duty to say
something
nonetheless.
‘Not at all,’ Jon Sugar smiled and then swept her up into his kiss once again.
Suzie clamped her legs together and she held her hands tight around his strong abdomen, as down below, her lips started to swell and moisten. She couldn’t believe this was happening. All day she’d told herself she would never become debauched and debased like everybody else seemed to be at the Agency but now here she was, wrapped in the arms of Jon Sugar himself, while his tongue hungrily feasted on her inexperienced mouth.
‘You’re so sexy Suzie,’ Jon whispered, his voice deep and husky in her ear, ‘you know that?’
Suzie threw her head back and sighed with pleasure as Jon began to unbutton her cardigan, his knuckles brushing against her tender sensitive nipples as he did so. Another wave of pleasure rocked through her as he opened her shirt and slipped his warm, firm hands in underneath.
He rubbed her breasts, drawing circles around her rigid buds, teasing the tingly flesh. Suzie gasped with pleasure as he reached behind her back and unclasped her brassiere. The man was obviously used to it anyway. He removed it from her back even faster and more fluidly than she could have done herself.