Marina and the Other
Marina groaned as she reclined in the worn-out blue seats of the back row. *This fucking bus is always so late. I'm going to be late,* she thought to herself. Being a public relations manager at a prestigious firm in New York City was a well-paid job, but most of the time it was migraine-inducing . Marina's job wasn't just a work at the desk gig, she had to put on a fake, vivacious, corporate personality for eight hours a day and she hated it. She hated having to smile to everyone in the office, saying good morning to all of her coworkers each day, and those fucking exclamation points after ever text made her blood boil. She hated working with stakeholders who always had a stick up their ass about her PR policy, why could they trust the damn professional? But, at least when she got home from all the ass-kissing, she had a push-over husband Stuart who liked to cook and clean whenever he got home early from being a mediocre traffic cop. And now, after that embarrassing ice-skating fall that kept her in a sling for the past week, Marina needed that help more than ever. And if Stuart was on the job, she had her brat son Ronnie home during break to do the chores around the house, she was going to get her money's worth for paying for his Ivy League education every semester.
While waiting in her seat for the bus to trek forward, Marina pulled out a mirror from her leather purse. It was second nature for her to double-check on her daily commute if her cream-colored lipstick was applied with meticulous precision and to ensure that her chestnut brown hair was perfectly combed and tied into a bun. With an approving nod at her reflection, she snapped the mirror shut and glanced down at her attire for a quick second look. She wore a tight white button-up blouse, her big tits squeezed between expensive silk fabric, tucked into it was a dark gray skirt that ended just above her knees. She opted against any stockings, especially for the summer weather, those her toned legs needed the occasional gust of wind in this heat-trap of a city. Marina took out her phone, her red painted fingernails, which were punctually manicured bi-weekly, scrolled through business emails and client texts.
The bus soon came to its next stop, the steadying halt caused her breasts to bounce ever so slightly. Marina looked up from her phone, her hazel eyes narrowing at the sight as she noticed the other undesirables enter.
"Fuck, don't sit near me," she muttered. The thought of some stinky city-dwellers infringing on her precious space elicited a shudder across her petite frame. Almost instinctively, she rifled through her purse, pulling out a luxury perfume. She quickly sprayed it around herself, as if to create a sterile, opulent bubble away from the grime and filth of 'the other'.
To her horror, a giant egg-shaped man, with a double chin that jiggled like pudding, trotted down the aisle. His jet black hair was frizzy, uncombed, and almost troll-like. The sweat-stained tight comic t-shirt that clung to his pudgy excesses seemed as if it was going to pop any minute and the blue shorts he wore only exposed more of his furry, gorilla calves. Marina's seat shook violently as the man plopped down in the seat next to her.
Marina audibly sighed in disgust, furiously returning to her phone. She angled her legs towards the window, keeping her modish body away from his feral frame.
*Now was actually a good time to call up her co-worker Patricia to fill her in on the office happenings,* she thought. That kiss-ass Patricia was always in the office earlier than she needs to be and only the boss Davis leaves after her. Marina cleared her throat, expertly revving up the fake bubbly bile into her voice.
"Good morning, Patricia. How are you today?" Marina said cheerfully, the melodic tone so artificial it could've replaced the 3 stevia in her morning coffee.
"I am doing splendid, Marina! Thank you so much for asking! How are you doing?"
*The voice replied with an equally sugary tone.*
"I am doing amazing Patricia. But I do have to let you know that the bus came a bit late today and I'm afraid I'll be late to the office." *Marina checked her designer watch, brushing the humid fog from the lenses.*
"Oh, jeez, that's a bummer! I'll let Davis know."
"Thanks a lot Patricia, I'll see you soon." Just as Marina's fingers clasped the phone away from her ear, Patricia continued, "Oh, but while I have you, I wanted to discuss some updates we can make the Morgan press strategy."
Marina's eyes nearly rolled into her forehead as she loudly groaned internally, *why did this bitch have to keep talking? Just let me get to the fucking office and then we can talk about the goddamn Morgan press strategy.*
"Of course, Patricia!" *Marina chirped with feigned eagerness.* "I'd love to hear what you're thinking."
Almost the moment Patricia began to speak, a strange sensation reverberated on her calves, almost like a bug or snake. Marina shook instinctively at the sensation, before staring down and noticing the oaf next to her was the cause; his left hand under the seat caressing her right calve slowly.
She froze, not expecting to be touched by a disgusting commuter earlier on in the day. Her eyes narrowed, glaring at his own and piercing daggers into his soul. That'll teach this creep. *She told herself confidently*
Yet instead of stopping, the man shoved his right hand down his shorts and began unabashedly rubbing his groin as he reflected her stare. She scowled at him, attempting to squirm to the side, but realized there was only so much space between her and the window. And even worse, with her left hand holding the phone and her right hand in the sling, Marina was left with nothing else to do but hold her irritation. The only reprieve she could take was that she was in the back row window seat, which meant that nobody else was witnessing this embarassment.
"So, what do you think about that? The social media posts were just one thing we were discussing about changing?' Patricia's voice was like a morning alarm to her racing mind. Marina quickly returned back to focus, but kept her steely gaze aimed at the fat pedestrian.
"I think that's a great idea. I had some thoughts about it too, I'll fill you in when I get there", Marina answered back, determined to find a way to end the conversation. She was almost looking forward to ripping this asshole a new one.
"Oh wonderful! If you don't mind, you could just mention them now, Kyle and I are both in the conference room and can get to work on it before you get here. Or is that an issue for you? I hope you don't mind me asking?"
