InstructionbySeduction by Jessica Shin Page A

about him. He’s as much a
mystery to me as he is to you.”
    “If he’s had his you-know-what in your you-know-where you
know something about him.”
    “Well, he’s…passionate. And challenging. And sexy as hell.
And he makes me think about myself like no one else ever has.”
    “Does he have a big dick? I’m sorry, never mind. Pretend I
didn’t ask that.”
    Leah laughed. “He has magic fingers, too.”
    “Oooh. What else?”
    “He’s kind of a bad boy.”
    Kelly put down the polish brush and fanned herself.
    “Can I borrow him sometime?”
    “If I find out that he’s really a genie in a bottle I’d be
glad to share him with you.”
    Kelly laughed, but Leah wondered how farfetched the idea
really was. Instead of opening a bottle, she opened the box.
    * * * * *
    Leah moved through her Wednesday classes, thinking only of
her one o’clock shift. The first announcement of her new position. The first
day she could call herself anything other than the lowest rank-and-file
employee on staff.
    Shaking her newly brunette hair in the wind as she walked
home from class, Leah felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. She
still questioned her ability to do the job. I need Hale to give me a kick in
the pants…or something , she thought with a wicked grin. He always makes
me feel like I’ve got some power .
    Leah half considered opening the box when she got home, just
for a little pick-me-up before she showed up for her great unveiling. No ,
she chastised herself. You really can get along without him. Really you can.
    “Damn it,” Leah said to her reflection in the bathroom
mirror.
    * * * * *
    “I’m so glad you’re doing this, Leah,” Bob said to her,
ushering her into his office. “You’re going to do well and I really need a day
off!”
    Leah looked at him, as if she were seeing her boss for the
first time. She noted the heavy bags under his eyes and the etched wrinkles in
his forehead. They didn’t used to be there. The employees joked about him
living there but maybe it wasn’t such a joke. He really was there all the time.
It was because he didn’t have enough help.
    Ashamed, Leah realized she’d been just like everyone else,
only thinking of herself and her own life. If she’d opened her eyes for a
minute she would have seen that Bob needed help.
    “I’m excited about the opportunity. And I’m glad to be
giving you a hand. You look like you could use a vacation.”
    Bob laughed but it was a sour sound.
    “Not for a while,” he said. “I need to get you situated and
comfortable before I take off and leave you on your own. You know that Marie’s
been doing shift manager as well, so you and she will trade off with me so one
of us will be here at all times. I may bring on a third if we can find the
right person. So keep your eyes open.”
    Leah wondered if she could recognize potential then thought
of Hale spanking her for such a bad thought about herself.
    “I will,” she promised.
    “Now, let’s go have the shift opening meeting and make the
announcement, then we’ll come back here and work on some scheduling.”
    Bob led Leah out of the office and into the storeroom where
the meetings took place at the beginning of every shift. Everyone else was
already there when they arrived, milling around and chatting.
    “Okay, everybody!” Bob said loudly, clapping his hands.
“This is what we’ve got going on today…”
    Bob reviewed the weekly specials with everyone, making sure
the stock guys knew when and where to restock, where the displays were located
and whether or not rain checks were available. Leah tried desperately to pay
attention but half the time her heart was pounding too hard in her ears for her
to even hear what her boss was saying.
    “And finally,” Bob said. “I have an announcement to make.
Everyone here knows Leah…”
    “Hi, Leah,” a few guys said like they were at an AA meeting,
then laughed.
    “And I’m pleased to announce that Leah has accepted