Last Day by IronicallyTall

Jaime walked out to the bullpen, where the other interns were hard at work. Alex was in her office, the soles of her boots were visible on her desk through the glass window. On Alex’s desk, a small person was bent over the leather. One of the tiny employees, her personal boot attendant. He was dressed in simple white clothes which were smudged black. Barely an inch tall, he worked with a rag to polish Alex’s boots while she chewed gum and played on her phone. Jaime sighed and began walking to her cubicle. She needed to put in some good work today, or that might be her next job.

“Are you doing alright, honey?”

A soft voice caught her attention. It was Lyra, another software engineer. Her other boss, and the only full-time employee on this floor besides Alex. Jaime spun around.

“Yes. Um, Yeah, Fine. Thank you.”

“You don’t look it, sweety. Why don’t you come to my office?” Lyra was kinder than Alex but no less demanding. Her words were sweet but carried the same weight. Being called alone to the office was never a good thing. Alex prepared herself for a condescending lecture.

“Okay.” Jaime smiled the best she could.

Jaime walked behind Lyra, watching her golden curls bounce against the silky fabric of her blouse. Her eyes followed downwards, past Lyra’s mature hips and nylon legs. She was wearing the standard office black nylon but with a thin black stripe down the back. A sexy backseam accent. Something scandalous if anyone else here was being judged. Lyra was very high-fashioned and certainly spent much of her generous salary on clothing. Her pencil skirt hugged her curves in all the right places, likely custom-made. Jaime was envious of her looks but was most envious of her flats. Lyra walked with ease in simple designer flats, patent black leather. Jaime could just make out a flashy red designer sole underneath as Lyra walked with casual grace.

They stopped for a moment in the bullpen for Lyra to remind another of the interns that a report was overdue. Her cutesy voice betrayed the gravity of the request. Another short walk and they were in her office. The view was unimaginable, the city spread out before her like a map. The tiny cars and their traffic jams seemed to be the squabbles of ants.

“Why don’t you close the door behind you, dear?”

Jaime was shaking, but complied. This was it. They were letting people go and she was the first. Her mind raced, wondering which pieces of furniture she could sell in the next few weeks. Could she stay afloat or should she just go to the shrinking office and get it over with? Lyra took a seat, a fancy leather chair swiveling behind a delicate metal and glass desk.

“Sit. Relax, won’t you?”

Jaime sat but was visibly stricken. Her eyes wandered the desk, finding one of the tiny employees who never left Lyra’s office. The small woman was standing in much the same uniform Jaime was wearing, next to the keyboard. She was barely an inch tall and merely waiting motionless. Jaime knew the small woman to be a coffee stirrer for Lyra, one of the few positions suited for small work. A platform with attached stairs allowed her to swirl Lyra’s beverages when necessary. The times Jaime had brought coffee here served as a reminder of the type of work she’d need to stoop to if she failed. Jaime shuddered, dwelling on the new lows she’d sink to. Boot shiner. Coffee Stirrer. Alarm Clock. It made her skin crawl.

“Honey take it easy, you’re giving me a stomach ache. We’re just chatting, selection isn’t until later this afternoon.”

“Oh.” Jaime breathed a sigh of relief. 

“To tell you the truth we don’t know yet who the brass will pick. They listen to our recommendations.. but who knows?” Lyra said wistfully as she stared out across the city.

“I hope- I mean I have what it takes. I want to be selected.”

“Of course you do, honey.” Lyra cooed, “Why don’t you come around here?” She motioned to the side of her desk. She always asked questions instead of giving orders but the implication was all the same.

Jamie stood and walked around to where Lyra had motioned. She stood awkwardly, not knowing what to expect.

“This view could be yours someday, you know?” Lyra gestured out the window, “I started just like you, and I had to fight my way to the top. I had to step on some people along the way.” Lyra trailed off, smiling. 

Jamie merely nodded. She looked at the city’s shrinkee containment building. A comparatively small structure next to the skyscrapers but large enough to house millions. She wondered how it might look on the inside, and if it would be better than here. Perhaps an actual matchbox for an apartment was better than what she had…

“You’ll have to do some things to survive here. Things I don’t think you’re ready for.”

“I’m ready. I can do whatever you need me to.” Jamie was sweating.

“I know you think that, sweetheart. Why don’t you prove it?” Lyra’s deceptively sweet words hung in the air like a guillotine.

“I- Well.” Jaime stammered, not knowing what was expected of her.

“Why don’t you take a seat?” Lyra was making uncomfortable eye contact, her kind face discordant with the air in the room. Her presence was commanding and heavy.

Jamie turned to go back to the guest chair but froze in her tracks.

“No. Right here.” Lyra motioned to where Jamie was standing, right next to her and her desk.

Jaime was hesitant for a moment, looking towards the bullpen through the window.

“Don’t look at them, look at me. Sit.” Her tone had shifted to a command. Her face lost a bit of cheer, and her eyes felt like spotlights.

Jaime tried to lower herself, finding it difficult in heels. She reached down to take them off to make her descent easier.

“Why don’t you leave your uniform on? Company policy.”

“Yes.” It was all Jaime could think to say. She steadied herself against the desk, crossing her legs and lowering herself down until her butt touched the cold floor.

“That’s better, dear.” Lyra reached out with both hands and caressed Jaime’s face, “I could tell you just needed a little reassurance. But you need to be stronger than this to survive here.” Lyra leaned in, her curls gently brushing against Jaime’s face.

Lyra gave Jaime a gentle stroke along the back of her neck, which felt nice but only gave Jaime a strange sense of dread. Was this some kind of additional test? Was she legitimately trying to soothe her worries? The worry melted away slightly as Lyra massaged her shoulders. The woman had long red nails, perfectly manicured and gently scratching her skin. The tingles caused her muscles to relax a little, despite her face turning red.

“There. Isn’t that better?” Lyra sighed and leaned back in her leather highback chair.

Jaime tried to smile, very uncomfortable being so close to Lyra’s nylon legs. Her boss’s short pencil skirt was just barely hiding the space between her ample thighs.

“While you’re down there, why don’t you make yourself useful? I have some calls to make.”

Lyra leaned back and crossed her legs, planting one foot on the floor next to Jamie’s thigh. Her other foot hung in the air in front of Jaime. Jaime looked up at her boss, staring across the nylon threads and designer clothes. The red sole of the flat in her face dipped down, and Lyra’s heel slipped out with a soft ‘fwip’. Jaime’s eyes followed the shoe as Lyra pointed her toes, and the shoe began to slide off. Lyra picked up the phone and began to dial as her shoe easily slid downwards, dropping from her toe and into Jaime’s lap.

Jaime was dumbfounded, staring into the dark musty sole of her boss. Her toes wiggled expectantly, and Lyra looked down while holding the office phone. She raised an eyebrow and nodded, which was all Jaime needed. She understood.

Her hands raised up, and she shifted her weight to lean against the desk. She moved her legs out from under her and stretched them out, positioning herself under her boss’s foot. She grasped the delicate and warm sole and began to massage. She tried not to look up, worried that her embarrassment and rage would show through her facade. Her own feet desperately ached, and this woman was still testing her. She was supposed to come here for a little reassurance but she’d been reduced to this. An office foot bitch.

Lyra took a few calls. They were mostly routine appointments and a few technical issues that needed to be resolved. She called to the intern who was just outside her office, looking out the window at the city as she did. Jamie saw through into the bullpen as the intern picked up. Lyra was merely calling to remind her about the overdue report. Again. Lyra was quick and efficient, while still managing to be charming.

Jamie worked her boss’s toes and heel, sliding her hands up and down to ensure a good massage. The scents of sweat and leather were all over her hands now, it was all she could smell. Jaime lamented that even this woman’s sweat was sweet. 

Lyra put the phone down and began to type away at her machine, which Jaime assumed to be work-related. Then her boss suddenly shifted, her leg dropped and her foot pushed past her hands to fall into her lap. Lyra didn’t even look down, her other foot casually lifted and with a few quick motions, the leather flat was dangling. Jamie wasted no time, removing the flat from her boss and getting to work. She felt the muscles in Lyra’s legs relax as her boss allowed the full weight of her lower body to drop into Jamie’s lap.

Lyra’s free foot flexed and her toes spread against Jamie’s thigh. The nylon textures slid easily together, leaving a little moisture behind on Jaime. Lyra fidgeted against Jaime, toes scrunching and flexing while her other foot was given the executive treatment.

Jaime told herself over and over that this was just part of the test. That nobody else was asked to do this, so she was probably at the top of the list for selection. This was her moment. It’s not exactly how she wanted it but it would have to do. She focused on giving a massage worthy of promotion. She even smiled, feeling a special secret had given her the edge over the others.

The phone on Lyra’s desk rang, and Lyra placed it on speaker as she continued to clatter away at her keyboard.

“Hey there sweety, what can I do for you?” Lyra answered.

“Good afternoon. Just wanted to confirm your recommendations for the interns.” A man’s voice that Jamie didn’t recognize.

“Oh yes. Everything is in the report. I’m sorry there’s just not much potential.”

“Quite alright. We’re finalizing the paperwork now. Could you send the girls upstairs?”

“Certainly, dear.”

Lyra clicked the line and continued to type. Jamie was in shock, massaging her boss’s feet for a promotion which was already determined. She had already sent the recommendation. Lyra turned in her chair, shifting her legs.

“Oh! I forgot you were still here. I’m sorry, honey.” Lyra apologized, “Will you put my shoes back on?” Lyra smiled and pointed her feet at Jaime while she checked her phone.

Jaimie stifled her anger and picked up the shoes. Her hands were a little sore from the intense massage but she placed the expensive shoes back on the feet of the woman who already passed judgment on her. Once slipped on, Lyra put her feet under her desk. A delicate hand reached down to gently pat Jaime on the head.

“You did alright, honey. Now why don’t you run along? You’re wanted upstairs. Leave all your things, will you?”

Jaime carefully got up without help from a busy Lyra who had returned to her computer. Lyra was busy typing away into a spreadsheet, a large document for checking which reports had been completed. Jaime looked at the tiny woman on her desk on her way out. The small woman’s eyes met hers and conveyed a deep sorrow if only for a moment. Jaime felt like she understood a fraction of what that woman must go through, and for that reason couldn’t afford to fail. She avoided looking at the poor woman too long and left Lyra’s office.