“Don’t run,” the bosslady said. “You wouldn’t even get the door open before
she cut you down.”
Corporate
Man had no intention of running. He knew
what Pink Slip was capable of. He also
knew that he wasn’t prepared for a physical confrontation either. He’d only faced her on his own once before
and he was still surprised that he’d survived the confrontation.
“Who are
you? What is all this?” Corporate Man
said.
“This… is
Pink Slip,” the bosslady said. “She’s
insurance.”
“And you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Who are you?
You’re not just some small time executive for Great American Business
Company. You’re something more.”
“Ah… How
refreshing. A man recognizes my worth,”
the bosslady said. She sifted some more
powder onto her hand and sniffed. “I’m
something new. There will be more like
me, you can be sure about that. Male and
female. In vast multitudes as the
conglomerates continue to grow. But I am
the first. I’m Corporate Whore.”
“Not the
most flattering of names.”
“No? The oldest profession? That’s not notable? Not respectable?”
“I
wouldn’t–”
“Of course
you wouldn’t, man-ling. How dare a mere
female enter the boy’s club of corporate finance. Women belong in the home. Let’s forget that the first business, that
oldest of all professions, was started by woman.”
“You’ve no
proof that–”
“And that
business is still thriving today!” she shouted over him. Then she paused for a moment, allowing the
silence to stand as evidence of her victory.
“Now. You will go back to your
office and spend the rest of the morning working on strategies to maximize our
bonuses. You may have the afternoon off
to struggle with your new addiction.”
Corporate
Whore raised her chin. Her head cocked
to the side almost imperceptibly. Pink
Slip’s whip cracked out, the tip popping inches in front of Corporate Man’s
face. He stood up, obediently, and walked
out of the office.
The bonus
envelope and its shady contents gripped tightly in his hands.
