Office Tension

I exhaled loudly and shut my laptop. I quintuple checked my work and reread Cameron's email one more time. I was sure the inventory was ready for tomorrow. I put my laptop on my nightstand and headed to the sink to brush my teeth and get ready for bed.

I relaxed in bed and thought about tomorrow. I was ready. Nervous, but ready. I settled in under my covers. As I closed my eyes, I remembered that stern tone Cameron used at the end of the meeting earlier today and the intensity in his expression as spoke. Not intimidating, but assured. It was oddly captivating. I drifted off to sleep thinking about those green eyes and slipped into a dream.

I was in the office. I checked my calendar, and I was late for my meeting with Cameron. I rushed into the meeting room. Cameron was already there, sitting at the table.

"Close the door and take a seat Elise," he said in a serious tone, gesturing to the rolling chair directly across from him. He seemed so large seated this close in front of me. His short hair was impeccably styled. He wore a well-fitted button down shirt. I could see the outline of his biceps in his shirt as he crossed his arms. I'd never noticed them before. We're they always there? He waited quietly for me to pull out my laptop before starting. "Did you finish your inventory?"

"Sure did," I happily chirped. I opened the project folder and went to where I saved the inventory, but nothing was there. I searched the other project folders, but I couldn't find the file. "One second, I know I saved it somewhere." I checked again and couldn't find it. That awful feeling of dread and adrenaline kicked up in my stomach. I start to sweat and my face reddens. But I know I did this work. I checked it over and over last night to be sure. I sighed in frustration and closed my eyes as I tried to think where it could be.

"What's wrong?" Cameron asked.

"Nothing, it's just...I know it's here but I can't find it." My voice started to quaver. Cameron sensed this and knew what it meant. Like a predator, he pounced on my moment of weakness.

"You know how important this is Elise. You gave me your word you'd have this done." His voice sounded serious, not angry. I almost wish he'd just yell.

"I know, I know, it's here. Let me look in a different folder." I was freaking out. This couldn't be happening. I started searching more frantically but I couldn't find any trace of it. "One second Cameron..."

He reached across the small meeting room table and slowly closed my laptop screen until it shut with a sickening thud. With no screen in the way I had to look up at Cameron. "Did you actually finish it Elise? I don't appreciate being lied to." Those eyes. Those emerald eyes. Instead of their usual spark of joy or flash of intensity they simmered with a stern authority. He meant business. My stomach was in knots.

"I'm not lying, I stayed up until 10 working on it for you." I was on the verge of tears. How could he not believe me? I was shaking. This wasn't fair. It wasn't right. How could he not be reasonable?

Cameron was unmoved. "I don't want excuses, I want you to do what you said you would do." I couldn't look away. He was sitting stock still in his chair, towering over me, with a look that made me want to crawl out of my skin. "Now, here's what's going to happen," Cameron said, his deep voice barely louder than a whisper. "When you leave this room you're going to go to your desk and do the work you promised me. You will do it perfectly. You will not leave today until I give you permission. Is this understood?"

"Yes, but..."

Cameron raised his hand to cut me off. "Just yes will suffice." I stopped speaking and stood up to leave. "Please sit back down, Elise. We're not quite finished here." I slunk back into my chair.

"I was planning on leaving early today, but now I have to stay late. You have directly inconvenienced me through your actions. This is unacceptable. Do you agree?" His voice was practically a low growl. The knots in my stomach were tying themselves into knots.

"Yes," I opened my mouth to say more but a glimpse at his eyes told me I've said enough.

"Good. So there's the matter of your penance. Do you agree you need to repay me?" He pulled his chair close to the meeting table and moved his hands to his waist, his eyes never leaving mine. Cameron's hands returned after about 10 seconds with his belt, which he slowly coiled up and placed in his bag. He stared silently at me for a few seconds that felt like hours.

I froze in my seat. What was he suggesting? I sat still, feeling panicked. I was glued to my seat. He raised one hand and with his pointer finger gestured down. My breath caught in my chest as I realized what he was suggesting. "But-"

"Just yes will suffice, Elise."

This couldn't be happening. I slowly rolled my chair back and slid down to my knees. I started to crawl under the table and I could see Cameron unbuttoning his pants just inches from my face. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to steady my nerves, then-

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

I jumped up, disoriented, and grabbed my phone from my dresser. I shut off the alarm and crawl back into bed, trying to remember the end of my dream. I hate that alarm.