"Bastard!" That's me talking to my boss. Well, he's not really my boss; just someone I work with sometimes. But he is a lot older than I am and sometimes he treats me like he is my boss.
My name in Jessie, and I'm a 26-year-old program assistant, with a newly-minted PhD in Political Science. I work at an advocacy organization, and this is my first real job out of school. I'm smart, and I'm driven to be the best. I graduated top of my class. I have very little social life, having spent the last seven years immersed in study, and no hobbies except football, which I play ferociously three times a week. Blond hair and blue eyes, I'm very fit, and considered attractive, although I must admit I haven't had a steady boyfriend since high school. Just too busy.
"Asshole!" My boss John is ancient. In his 50s at least. He's a senior manager at our organization, and is the only other person who regularly works at the office on Saturdays. Over the past three months we have developed a friendly, bantering relationship, at least on Saturdays when no one else is around. We argue and joke about everything; politics, religion, and football (he is a Newcastle United supporter). He is very politically incorrect and constantly trying to wind me up. Today we were arguing about nature versus nurture and gender roles.
"Women will never be leaders," John said, "because they are naturally subservient. It's evolutionβa survival trait. Women are very vulnerable when they are pregnant or raising small children, and need protection, and over eons those that were subservient and submissive to men were most likely to get that protection, and survive to pass on the trait. Deep down every woman wants to be submissive, and will only feel secure when she is."
"Bullshit! You are so full of shit!" I'm a strong, intelligent, independent woman, and I knew there must be a fallacy in this argument. I wasn't sure what it was, but I wasn't going to give an inch. "Men and women are the same. Some may be leaders, and some followers, but that depends on nurture rather than biology, and it could just as easily be the man that is submissive."
"Jessie," barked John, "go get me coffee!"
I was dumbfounded for a moment by the direct order. "Fuck you!" I replied, when I finally recovered.
"Ah Jessie," John said with a smirk, "I noticed your hesitation. For a moment you almost complied. Deep down you wanted to, and would have been somehow fulfilled if you had. All women feel the need to be dominated by a man. It's their nature."
I knew he was wrong, but this argument gave me a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, and an uncomfortable hollow feeling between my legs. With nothing else to say, I muttered "Asshole," and went back to work. Later at lunch we argued football, and that is where I made my mistake.
"There is no way Newcastle can beat Manchester! Never gonna happen." I said, with some heat.
"Want to put a wager on that, little bird?"
I hate it when he uses those stupid pet names. "Sure," I said, "put your money where your mouth is. I could use twenty pounds."
"Okay," he replied, "but let's make it interesting. If Manchester wins, twenty pounds. But if Newcastle win, you have to serve me coffee and lunch and take care of me on a Saturday. In other words, be submissive. If you can do that all day, and still disagree with my theory by the end of the day, I'll give you the twenty anyway, to pay for your extra work."
My initial thought was to tell him to fuck off, but there really was no way he could win. If Manchester won (very likely), I would get the twenty, and if Newcastle won (inconceivable), I might have to serve him coffee, but I would still get the twenty, and I needed some extra cash. After a momentary pause, I said, "Okay, you are on!"
"No, no, no, please god no!" I was watching the game at home, and it was crappy and scrappy, still nil-nil at 90 minutes, but Newcastle had just won a penalty, and after a pathetic performance the entire game, their friggin striker put it in the top corner. I had a sinking feeling when I realized I would have to humiliate myself with the jerk, but consoled myself with the thought that at least I would get the twenty.
The next day at work, John was insufferable. Every time I walked past his office he would yell something like "Newcastle forever!" or, "Man U suck!" Everyone in the office knew we had a bet on the game (although not the details), and started to tease me as well. Later, when I passed him in the hall, he stopped me, and leaning close said, in a low voice, "Don't forget, you will be serving me this Saturday."
"You're not really going to make me go though with that are you?" I asked, hoping for a reprieve.
"A bet is a bet," he replied, "and I want you there at 8:00, ready to serve. And wear a dress. I want you to look ladylike, for once."
"Hurmff!" The nerve of this guy, adding conditions. I was too upset by the teasing of my co-workers, and his taunts, to respond, and spent the rest of the day at my desk scowling, avoiding everyone.
During the week my mind often drifted to Saturday, and I would get that hollow feeling in my lower stomach. Butterflies, I thought. Natural, considering my situation. Still, I would make the best of it, get it over as soon as I could, and promised myself to use the twenty for a special treat, to compensate for the shame.
The week passed slowly, but Saturday came all too quickly. Normally I wear slacks and a button-down oxford to work, but that morning, after much internal debate, I did choose a dress. A frilly white summer frock. I don't know why, but told myself the ordeal would be easier if I didn't start on a bad note. Since I was dressing up, I also spent a long time going through my underwear drawer, selecting the best from my limited selection of mostly utilitarian briefs, a sexy silk set my little sister had bought me as a joke birthday present.
When I got to work John was already there, and of course, no one else was around.
"There you are," he said, "and you're late. But at least you obeyed my first order, and wore the dress. Very nice."
"Hey," I replied, "I didn't wear it for you, I just felt like it."
"Okay. Whatever. Now bring me coffee."
"Asshole," I muttered under my breath, but I went to make the coffee. When it was finished, I went back to his office. John was sitting on the sofa in his office, reading the paper. I slammed the cup down on his desk and, with bit of venom, said, "Your coffee."
"Now, now Jesse, we had a bet, and I expect you to pay up in the spirit of the bet. Pick up the cup, bring it over to me, then kneel and offer me the cup in a subservient and submissive way. That's part of the bet!"