25. Ana
CHAPTER 25
ANA
A s the days go by, I’m feeling pleased with the progress I’m making as HR manager. I’ve brought in temps for several positions, filled the accounting openings, and hired two higher-level permanent employees, with a few others in the works.
Derek and Jansen have stepped in for a couple of the interviews, and while they weren’t exactly balls of sunshine, they seemed to make an effort to dial back their bad attitudes enough to keep from scaring people off.
I’ve started to turn part of my focus to employee retention initiatives, and scheduled time today with my bosses to present my ideas. We were supposed to meet mid-afternoon, but when I arrived at their offices, they were deep in conversation and asked me to come back after five. Whatever they were talking about, they seemed to be at about a nine on a grumpy scale of 1-10, when seven seems to be their default setting lately, so I was more than willing to delay the meeting.
In addition to worrying about their moods, I’m nervous because I suspect they’re not going to like some of my proposed ideas, but I plan to shoot for the stars, and see what I can get them to agree to.
It doesn’t help that it’s Friday, which is casual day at the office. Most offices are casual every day now, but Derek and Jansen set the tone at Community Bean by wearing dress slacks and dress shirts Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, they often wear jeans, and though I love how they look when they’re dressed up, they look positively edible in jeans.
I never thought I’d be jealous of a textile, but the first time I saw them on a casual Friday, I wanted to be the denim that wrapped around their thighs and hugged their backsides. And don’t get me started on how their pecs and shoulders look in polo shirts and henleys. Sigh. But even though their casual wear nearly drives me out of my mind, one of my proposals is to loosen the dress code every day, so that people in the office will be more comfortable.
When I arrive at Jansen’s open office door at a quarter after five, Derek’s in there too, and their body language reads as considerably less tense than it did earlier. Everything about their bodies looks amazing, actually, but that’s another thing altogether. Focus, Ana!
“Is now a good time?”
“C’mon in.”
Both of them watch me as I walk toward them, and my skin heats in response to their attention, but I remind myself I need to stay on track. I hug my folder to my chest as a sort of professional armor, and when I reach them, I pull out a sheet of paper for each of them. “I compiled my ideas for improving employee satisfaction and retention. This lists the main points, along with the estimated budget associated with each idea, though you’ll see that several of them require no investment at all.”
“Have a seat, Ana. Take a breath.” It’s Derek who says this, gesturing to a chair, and cracking a rare smile at my rush of words. I make a mental note that Friday afternoon may be prime time for meetings, as both of them look more relaxed than they ever seem to be here at the office.
“Ambience?” Jansen asks, already reading my list. It’s the item at the top because it’s a simple one, and he already sounds skeptical, though at least he’s not scowling.
“Yes, the work environment plays a subtle, almost subconscious factor in people’s satisfaction about their job. Adding some artwork and a few leafy green plants is a quick and easy way to brighten people’s day.” Subtly, I cast an eye around Jansen’s office, where there are no such items, and in fact, no decorations of any kind. “Currently, the office atmosphere is fairly cold and impersonal.”
“Hybrid schedule?” Derek reads aloud, having apparently jumped to a point lower on the list.
“That’s a big one. Multiple studies have shown that employees are just as productive, and far happier, when they have the flexibility to work at home a few days a week. It reduces resignations by a substantial amount.”
As I’m explaining how much money Community Bean could save by hanging onto their employees longer, their executive assistant, Gloria, knocks on the open door. “Do either of you need anything before I head out?” she asks the men. When they tell her she’s free to go, she wishes all three of us a good weekend, and then she leaves.
“This one’s a joke, right?” Jansen asks after he returns to my list.
“Nothing on the list is a joke,” I say, wondering which item he’s referring to. Surely not the hybrid work plan, since it’s incredibly common in other companies.
“Pets at the office?” he says, looking like he just took a bite out of a lemon.
“I often hear people on the staff talking about their beloved pets. It would be a huge boost to morale to allow dogs and cats at the office, even if only for one day a week. It would also provide stress relief and improve work-life balance.”
“Sounds like a cause of stress to me,” he murmurs, still reading.
“Of all the ideas, I actually think that one would make the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time, and it wouldn’t affect the two of you. There would be rules, of course, and we could implement it on a trial basis at first, if you’re more comfortable with that approach.”
Derek has dropped his list onto the desk and is watching me as I speak. Something in his eyes has shifted. “These ideas are really important to you, aren’t they, Ana?”
I sit up straighter. “Yes, of course.”
He crosses to the door and closes it, then turns the lock with a very audible click, still looking at me the whole time. “Maybe you’d like to show us how badly you want us to agree to your plans.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
“I think you know, Ana.” He’s right. I’m play-acting. I asked because it was the thing to do, and now I need to protest for the same reason.
“You’re being ridiculous. These ideas will help the company.” I point at the list he left behind, even though it was obvious a minute ago that the business part of our meeting is over. My hormones are poking me from the inside, telling me to abandon all HR talk and get to the good stuff.
Derek comes to stand beside me, giving me a very enticing up close and personal view of the bulge in his faded jeans. “I’m just giving you an excuse to do something you know you want to do.”
He’s so cocky and self-assured … and so right. I hate that I’m transparent, but of course, this isn’t the first time during this meeting that I’ve checked out the way the front of his pants looked, and he knows it.
Without my permission, my fingers reach out to better gauge what’s going on there. He steps closer, giving me easy access to run my hand across the denim as I watch the shape there extend into a very obvious erection. The outline of the head of his cock becomes visible and it looks so good, I’m afraid my pussy’s going to leave a wet spot on Jansen’s office chair.
“Is this getting uncomfortable?” I ask as I stroke across the length of him.
His hands go to his fly, but I push them away, wanting that privilege for myself. I undo the snap, carefully pull down the zipper, then push his jeans down his hips just enough to give space for my hands to reach under the waistband of his black boxer briefs and free his thick cock.
There’s already a bead of arousal glistening at the tip, and I waste no time leaning in to taste it. It’s clear that I’m definitely even more excited about this than I was about my list of proposed office improvements.
“Oh fuck, Ana,” Derek mutters under his breath as I take as much of him in my mouth as I can. I have one hand around the base of his cock, but I keep hold of his open jeans with the other to prevent him from stepping away. I’m determined to start what I finish today.
As I suck on him, his hand goes down my blouse, slipping into my bra to cup one of my breasts. He strokes over my hardening nipple as I keep up a steady pace, bobbing on his cock like it’s my job.
From my peripheral vision, I see Jansen watching me, his eyes hooded with desire. I never knew I had a thing for being watched, but I definitely do.
After a minute or so, Derek’s hand goes to my chin. “I’m gonna come,” he mutters, sounding pained.
I suck faster and take him deeper, and soon his body goes tense, and then his cock starts to erupt in my mouth. He cups the back of my head as his hips pump toward me with the rhythm of his release.
I keep my mouth on him until he’s done and don’t let go of him until he starts to soften. When he steps back from me, he looks ever so slightly dazed, and pride swells in my chest. There’s something about making such a strong man just a little bit unsteady that gives me an added thrill .
When I look toward Jansen, he’s stretched back in his chair, opening his pants. I’m hoping to take him in my mouth, too, but as I go to him, he grabs a condom packet from a desk drawer, rolls it down his rigid length, then pulls me into his lap.