The Women's Job - Part 12 (Patreon)

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It was only a twenty-minute ride to the Hyatt but it seemed quicker to me. The valet opened my door for me, smiling pleasantly. The doorman opened the lobby doors for the two ladies on their way to a luncheon engagement. Heads rose as we walked through the lobby. A few men did more than glance our way. I was so self-conscious but I just put one foot in front of the other and didn't look anywhere but straight ahead.

Connie tried to ease my tension by talking to me as we walked across the spacious lobby. "They really have a lovely dining room and the food here is exquisite."

"I wish I could say I have an appetite."

"Once we're seated with Virginia, you'll be more comfortable."

We were joined in the elevator by two men who were also on their way up to the sky-high restaurant. I was content to be silent as we rode up with them. The younger of the two smiled pleasantly at me as he got on. I felt silly returning his smile.

"Are you ladies going all the way to the restaurant?" He asked, looking at me.

What was he, stupid? That was the only button that was lit up. If we were going anywhere else, wouldn’t we have pushed a different button? "Yes, we are," I answered, practicing the inflection in my voice that the girls tried to teach me. Connie could have answered, I wished she had. She was behind me and I couldn't see her face.

"Have you eaten here before?" He asked, trying to make conversation.

It was nerve-wracking. "No, this is the first time," I answered. He was standing not more than three feet from me, looking directly at me.

"You should order the Grouper. It's excellent here, they cook it in a sauce that gives it a faint lemon taste without losing its original flavor."

He expected a response. It would have been rude of me to ignore him, as much as I would have preferred to. "Thank you for suggesting it. I may give it a try." The smile was the hardest part.

The elevator doors finally opened. There was a small crowd waiting to be seated. I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get away from the two men but Connie led me through the crowd to the maitre d’.

"You're reservations ladies?"

"We're dining with Ms. Castle today," Connie told him. I was impressed with how elegantly Connie carried herself, her self-confidence.

Connie looked particularly attractive in her jade jacket dress. The white surplice top was really pretty with a draped couture neckline. She showed just a hint of cleavage. Despite her height, or because of it, she definitely turned men's heads.

"If you’ll follow me, ladies?" He led us to our table.

Ms. Castle was there waiting for us. As the maitre d’ led us across the dining room toward the window tables, I spotted her. She looked up when we were about ten feet away and when she saw me walking toward her, her hand went to her mouth in surprise. I wasn't sure if it was delight or shock that caused her reaction. I didn't have long to find out.

Connie didn't give her a chance to speak. "Virginia, it was such a treat for you to invite Jennifer and me to lunch."

Understanding showed in her response as we stood there in front of her. "I'm so delighted that you and Jennifer could come. Please, sit."

She didn't take her eyes off me as the Maitre d’ pulled out our chairs and seated us. I remembered my lessons.

"Jennifer, you look lovely." She was still in a sort of shock.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Castle." I couldn't wait for the man to leave us.

"May I order you, ladies, something?" He asked Connie and me.

Ms. Castle had a glass of white wine. I would have loved a double anything. Connie ordered wine for both of us. "We'd like a glass of Chablis please."

I simply sat there, looking demure with my hands folded in my lap.

The look on Ms. Castle's face was an absolute delight. The Maitre d’ left us.

"I can't believe how stunning you look 'Jennifer'. It appears my little gift fit you perfectly."

I spoke quietly, even though our table was somewhat secluded, surrounded by several large potted plants. "I really love it." She was, after all, a client and, an important one.

"I'm so pleased. I worried so."

"Jennifer just beamed when she first saw it." Connie joined the conversation.

She turned back to me. "Would you mind terribly standing for a second so I can see how it looks? You caught me a little off guard a moment ago."

I didn't particularly want to but, "I'd be happy to Ms. Castle."

"Virginia." She corrected me.

I pushed my chair back and rose carefully. I was getting better at it. Standing next to her, behind the partial screening of the plants, I made a slow turn like I had seen my friends do so often while modeling.

"Just exquisite," Virginia said gasping.

"Do you really think so?" I asked.

"Oh yes, Jennifer."

I sat again.

"And I don't mean just the dress. You are a really lovely girl."

That was it a compliment? "You're too kind Virginia."

She was still in shock. She turned to Connie and whispered. "He's a delight."

"Jennifer's very special," Connie said with pride.

The complements were getting to be too much. I was relieved when the waiter arrived with the wine and to take our orders.

I sipped the wine. Virginia hardly took her eyes off me throughout the meal.

The grouper was delicious. I ate with delicate care.

Connie tried to distract her with talk of business but she would have none of it. She kept bringing the conversation back to me. She had a hundred questions. She wanted to know all about me, where I came from, how Connie and I got together. She asked about my upbringing and my family and about Christy and our relationship.

Most of the questions I could answer in complete honesty. She was surprised and delighted that I was living with Connie.

"You take good care of our Jennifer," Virginia told Connie. "If she doesn't, you can come to me." She told me. It sounded like she meant it. It was almost comical.

"I love her like a daughter," Connie said kidding. At least I thought she was kidding. She was becoming more and more of a Mother to me. That was the truth.

It turned out to be a pleasant lunch. I was full. It was more than I'd eaten at one meal in a long time.

When the bill was settled, Virginia and Connie said they had to use the ladies’ room. They looked at me with concern. "You probably need to go too. You haven't been since this morning." Connie said, concerned for me.

There were too many people gathered in the restaurant lobby for me to object too strongly. I did have to go but I was going to try to hold it until we got back to the office. "I think I can wait," I told Connie.

"Nonsense Jennifer. Come with us." Virginia took my arm and led me to the ladies’ room.

After the initial awkwardness of the situation and a stall became available, I did relieve myself. I know I took a long time doing it but it was all so strange to me.

Virginia and Connie were putting on fresh lipstick when I finally came out of the stall. "You need to freshen up too Jennifer," Connie said.

I looked in the mirror. My lipstick was all but gone. I dug through my purse for my lipstick and, feeling silly, put on fresh. I watched them freshen their perfume and mimicked that too. It was a relief to get out of there.

We dallied downstairs in the lobby. "Jennifer and Connie, this was delightful. Connie, would you mind if I stole Jennifer away from you occasionally? I'd love to take her shopping and spend a little time with her."

That came as a surprise to me.

"No, not at all Virginia but I think you should ask Jennifer." Connie didn't want to commit me and I appreciated that. The problem is now I didn't know how to tell her no. As much as I liked the woman, I wasn't interested in shopping with her.

Virginia turned to me. "What do you think Jennifer? Nothing would please me more."

She made it almost impossible to say no. "That would be nice."

Virginia was thrilled. "Wonderful." She kissed me on the cheek. "I'll call you dear. We'll get together very soon."

It had gotten warmer and Connie had to put on the air in the car.

"Now what am I going to do?"

"I wouldn't worry too much. Virginia's just a little eccentric. She probably won't even call."

I didn't believe that. Connie was just trying to ease my apprehension.

Bobbie was anxiously waiting for us when we got back. "The Jansen Sportswear people are here. They're waiting in your office."

"They weren't scheduled till Monday." Connie was disturbed and I knew why. Theirs was a big account and we'd been after their business for months. Connie had gone through hell just getting them to talk to us.

"They called right after you left for lunch and said it had to be this afternoon because they had to go back to California tomorrow, unexpectedly." Bobbie didn't know what else to do. "I told them to come ahead, that you'd be back from your meeting around two."

Connie thought fast. "You did the right thing, Bobbie. Call Rudolph's and change our reservations to tonight. How many of them are there?"

"Three men," Bobbie said, jotting it down.

"They'll be four for dinner. Call the limo people and tell them they have to be here at five. See if you can get tickets for the Met and I need the best seating possible."

"Come on Jeffrey. I need your help."

"Connie!?" I said in a panic.

She turned to me. "What? Oh!"

"I can't."

Connie looked at me, I could tell she was weighing her options, then she made a decision. "You'll just have to pretend to be Jennifer a little longer. I need you." That was all there was to it. "Come on."

I was introduced as Connie's assistant, ’Jennifer’, to the three men who rose to greet us. The oldest of the three, Mr. Sanders, was about fifty. Mr. Niles, Robert, looked to be only twenty-five and, I supposed women might find him good-looking. The last was Mr. Park. Mike Park looked to be at least thirty. He had a beard and reminded me of the kind of guy you'd see in a western wear ad, a very outdoors type with rugged good looks.

I sat, uncomfortably, through the long session with them. I took notes and helped Connie give our presentation. I had spent a lot of hours with Connie preparing for it. Despite the short notice, things went surprisingly well.

Business went well but I was a wreck. The two younger men definitely considered themselves ladies men. I was at the center of their attention.

I knew Connie didn't like doing it but I also knew she didn't have a choice. I served the men refreshments when we took a break. Serving refreshments wasn't so bad but being the object of their attention was mortifying. I had to smile and be pleasant through it all.

As everyone got to know each other better, one of the men started telling some rather off-color jokes and I wasn't sure how to react so I laughed at them. That only served to endear me all the more to them. It backfired on me.

As it neared five and things began to wrap up I was relieved.

"I've made reservations for us and a very fine restaurant and I have tickets for the Met," Connie announced when we were finished. She had set the groundwork for a contract and they seemed very pleased with it.

The older man, Mr. Sanders, spoke for the three of them. "That's very kind of you, Connie."

"Jennifer, I look forward to having dinner with you." The youngest of them, Robert, turned to me and said smiling.

Connie jumped in, "I don't know if Jennifer can join us."

"Oh of course she can." Piped in the other man, Mike. He was the one that made me most uncomfortable. "Please join us. It wouldn't be the same without someone to laugh at my jokes."

"She'll come, won't you Jennifer?" Robert insisted.

I looked at Connie, she couldn't help me anymore. If I didn't agree it would leave a bad taste in their mouths and it could hurt prospective business. Connie would have to go with the three men alone. She had been prepared to do just that, but now . . .

"Of course." I felt sick. "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen. I need to use the bathroom." I got up to go.

Mr. Sanders also rose. "Perhaps you can show me the way to the men's room?"

"Of course. Just follow me." This presented a problem. I really did have to go again and I couldn't just follow this man into the mens’ room. I showed him the door. When he went inside, I looked over to the other door. I had no choice, I couldn't be just standing there when he came out and what if one of the others decided they had to go?

I surprised Mrs. Hubbard and Carol who were already in the ladies’ room.

"Jeffrey!?"

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know what else to do. One of the Jansen men is in the men's room." I apologized for intruding.

They both laughed at my predicament. "Oh, what the hell. It's just us girls. Go ahead."

Connie came in a moment later. "Is Jeffrey in here?" She asked Carol. Apparently, Carol pointed to my stall. "Jeffrey?"

"I'm here," I said meekly.

"Jeffrey, I'm so sorry. Everything just went wrong."

"It's not your fault, you tried to get me out of it." I pulled up my panties and pantyhose, straightening my skirt, I was finished. Connie was waiting.

"You did fine this afternoon, just be brave, we'll get through it."

"Sure," I answered, feeling very sacred.

The other ladies dallied, listening to us.

"The limo's here. Fix yourself up. Here, I brought you your purse. Don't take too long."

I brushed my hair and put on fresh lipstick. I felt uneasy with the two women watching me. I put on perfume before zipping up my purse. I turned at looked at the ladies.

They smiled, encouraging me, "You look darling." Carol said warmly.

"Lovely, just lovely." Mrs. Hubbard agreed. "Try to have a good time tonight dear."

"Just relax," Carol tried to reassure me too. "You’ll be fine."

"Thanks, but I don't know." With one more look in the mirror and a deep, calming breath, I left them.

I had to sit between Robert and Mike in the limo. At the restaurant, it was the same. They held my chair for me when I sat. Back and forth they went, viewing for my attention. It was so hard to smile and pretend that I enjoyed their interest in me.

Connie took me to the ladies' room, hoping to find some privacy there, to boost my spirits. All we found was a room full of women. We didn't have a chance to talk.

The limo took us to the Met. I was escorted in by the two men who insisted that I walk between them, my arms in theirs. It was so embarrassing being escorted between the two men, each standing about a head taller than me.

The only peace I could hope for was during the performance and that was disturbed by Robert who started putting his hand on my knee. The only way to get it off was to take his hand away but he just put it back a few minutes later. I ended up holding his hand in mine, disgusting.

Mike, who saw it all, acted jealously. He stood with his arm around my waist through the entire intermission. All I could do was sip my wine and endure it. The second half of the performance was just as bad.

The limo returned us to the office at midnight. They wanted to take Connie and me out for drinks, but Connie put the kibosh on that, saying we had a shoot early Friday, which we did.

My final and most embarrassing moment came as we all said goodnight. Robert was telling me how much he enjoyed my company and how lovely I was when all of a sudden he kissed me. Right on the mouth. I had all I could do to keep from wiping my mouth off on my sleeve.

Mike expected no less and I had to endure his affection too. He took the liberty of pulling me close, pressing me against him when he said his good night.