Rumors

“Okay, but how would you be able to measure the efficiency of the proposed solution before it’s actually been implemented?”

“Well, I guess you wouldn’t You would just have to rely on the data.”

“Then that’s not a customer-focused solution, that’s—”

“Oh! We could create a probability model! One that predicts success based on the input of previous scenarios.”

“Yeah, but then—nevermind.”

“Okay, folks. This is a great conversation, but let’s, um, let’s table it for now and pick it up again at tomorrow’s session, huh? Alright, we’ve got a fifteen-minute break, and then we’ve got fireside stargazing around the bonfire. Can someone go grab more firewood?”

Why do you do this to me?

It’s like, some days we get along totally fine. I actually enjoy having you on my team. Other times, like today, I can’t stand to be in the same room with you.

You are, technically, my employee. Or, rather, I’m your manager. Sort of.

I think that’s probably what gets me so frustrated when we’re working together.

I know it’s hip right now to downplay hierarchy in the workplace, but honestly I kind of wish our roles were a little better defined. I mean, I’ve been here longer and I know the ins and outs of our whole system, but sometimes you get benefits that I’ve never been offered.

It’s like you and I are just constantly stepping on each other’s toes. It was kind of endearing at first, but now it’s really annoying.

And now this weird corporate retreat in the middle of the San Bernardino mountains… like, how is dropping us all in a giant forest actually supposed to help us be a better team?

Whatever, just two more days and we’ll be back in the city.

“Hey. Wait up. Hey. You good? I feel like you, uh, weren’t really in the mood for team-building back there.”

“Yeah, well, I guess I can think of better ways to spend my weekend than campfire problem-solving with my co-workers. Plus, you were kind of being an ass.”

“An ass? Me?”

“You know you kinda have a bad habit of talking over people.”

“Oh. Yeah, I’m sorry, I’m working on it. I just get so excited, get the gears turning, and—”

“You get excited about team-building?”

“This is vacation, you know. You’re allowed to relax.”

“Uh, no, this is not a vacation. This is work. If you hadn’t noticed, our boss is here. Our boss’s boss is here.”

“So?”

“So, that means I have to be ‘on’ for three days. You get to be one of the guys, but I’m still Greta from R&D. Doesn’t matter if we’re doing team-building workshops out in the woods, it’s still work for me.”

“Huh. Guess I don’t see it that way.”

“Gee, I wonder why.”

I can feel your eyes on my back as I brush past you. Checking out my ass, maybe…? Wouldn’t be the first time.

I’ve definitely thought about it. I know you have, too.

There’s just something… between us. I don’t know what it is. One day we’re texting constantly in a meeting we should both be paying attention to. And the next I can’t stand to look at you.

Two of our colleagues have asked me if we were hooking up since you joined the team last month.

The rumor mill is alive and well at Green Hope, Incorporated.

“Hey, hey, wait a second.”

You lay your hand on my arm. Heat rises where your fingers meet my skin, but I don’t pull away.

“Can we talk? Uh, alone?”

The orange flow of the campfire behind me reflects off of your glasses. Everyone else is already getting settled in their camp chairs, cracking open beers.

They’re distracted, they won’t notice that the two of us aren’t there… hopefully.

“Sure.”

“Let’s, uh, go over here?”

You guide us into a dark clearing a little ways off of the path. It’s actually really pretty out here, especially at night.

“What’s up?”

“I just, look, I know you’re technically my boss and—”

“Yeah, that’s right, I am.”

“And, I just want you to know that I… respect you. I really do. I’ll try to do better.”

I almost roll my eyes at you, but… I hold back. You’re being genuine, I can tell. And, honestly, that’s kind of rare with you. It’s rare with me, too. So, I’ll take what I can get.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“I can get a little… pushy, sometimes.”

“Yeah, you can.”

“And I’m not great at doing what I’m told.”

“Noticed that, too.”

You take a step forward. And then another. The space between us is closing.

When did we get so close?

“But you’re not so perfect yourself.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You can get a little intense, too. At work, when you’re really concentrating on something, you completely tune out everything around you.”

“Did you bring me over here to make me aware of all my faults?”

“You play with your earring when you’re thinking about something really hard and you get this look on your face. I’ll ask you something, like, a hundred times, and you won’t respond.”

“So, what, you just sit around at work watching me? Studying my facial expressions?”

“Maybe.”

I shouldn’t be surprised. Fuck.

This was bound to happen. And I wouldn’t have let it if I didn’t really want it to.

I don’t know where this is coming from… whether it’s out of frustration or all of the tension that’s built up between us. I pull you to me, hard, and push my fingers into the hard muscles of your shoulders.

“We can’t, we can’t…”

“Why not?”

“Do you think anyone can see…?”

“Um… no. No, we’re good. You’re worried someone’s going to find out?”

“I just… it would cause problems, you know, if someone were to see us. People would gossip and then we’d probably get moved to different teams, and it’d be this whole thing…”

“Yeah, I get it. But… that’s a lot of steps ahead. So, how about we focus on the now. Focus on me… kissing you…”

“You want this as bad as I do?”

“Depends. Show me how bad you want me.”

Your hands tighten around my waist as you walk me backward, up against a tree. The rough bark presses into my shoulder blades as I steady myself against it. We’re completely hidden in the dark.

A gust of cold wind sends goosebumps up my arms.

You push your body up against mine and your fingers disappear under my shirt. Exploring me… inching up towards my breasts.

“I think about this all the fucking time.”

“About fucking your boss?”

Your hand curls gently around my jaw while your fingers trace over my nipple through my bra.

“You think about it, too. Don’t you?”

“Maybe.”

“You don’t have to be gentle.”

“Good to know.”

You suddenly reach for my wrists and press them against the tree on either side of my hips. Your lips are soft as you drag your teeth across my neck.

“I’m going to be so pissed if I have a hickey tomorrow…”

“Spread your legs.”

“I bet you’ve been dying to order me around, huh?”

“Only because I see how bad you want it.”

You push your knee between my legs and spread them for me, wider. Your body is hard and heavy against me. Your stubble scratches against my cheek and the pain feels good.

“You feel me?”

I can feel your dick throbbing up against my leg through our clothes. It’s becoming unbearable, how badly I want this.

“God, it’s so easy for you, huh? To get me worked up?”

“Mmm, it’s not hard. Are you actually going to touch me or just tease me all night?”

“Oh, that’s how it is, huh?”

“Well, I am your boss after all.”

“Not tonight.”

I wriggle my wrist out of your hold and grab your hand in mine. I guide it down my jeans, all the way to my underwear.

“Oh, fuck, you’re so wet already. And I haven’t even gotten started…”

You rub me through my panties, pushing down against my clit and spreading around my wetness.

“Oh, fuck, yeah… oh, you like that, don’t you?”

“Shit… oh, yeah… yeah, give me more…”

“Mm, not yet.”

Something about having to hide… having to hold back and deny all of these feelings… fuck, it’s been driving me crazy.

I want to be consumed, devoured.

You grind your hips into me and your dick rubs up against my thigh. God, you’re so hard.

“Pants… off… now.”

“You first.”

You push your fingers beneath my underwear and slide them between my folds.

“Stay quiet…”

I reach into your pants and wrap my hand around your dick.

“Shhh!”

I pull your dick out of your boxers and stroke it… rub my thumb along the tip…

“Fuck me.”

“You sure you can handle it? You see how worked up I am.”

“Stop talking and fuck me.”

You circle the tip around my entrance, coating yourself in my wetness.

You grab my hips, hard, and your fingernails dig into my skin. You slide in me fast and easy. Like it’s nothing.

Oh my… fuck, you slide all the way inside me. All the way. Your dick completely fills me and my walls clench tight around you.

I push my face into your neck and bite down to keep myself quiet.

“Yeah, yeah, fuck, yeah—”

I fuck you back, hard. Our bodies are completely flush, your dick buried so deep inside of me. You’re thrusting so hard I can feel it in my stomach.

“I’m close, I can feel it—”

I grind my clit down onto you, bouncing, my whole body thrumming. The urge to scream is so strong because I know I can’t do it.

“Oh, that’s so fucking good. Don’t stop, don’t stop…”

“Oh, squeeze me tight. Can you feel how tight you are around me? Fucking squeezing me—”

“You… um… we should probably get back out there.”

“Yeah…”

“Do I look alright? Tell me if I have just-got-fucked hair.”

“Um, here, let me… there. All good.”

“Um… listen, I… I feel like… this is probably going to happen again, right?”

“I really hope so.”

“Me, too. But for now… if anyone asks about it, it’s just a rumor, as far as I’m concerned. That okay?”

“Yeah. Just a rumor. You go first. I’ll come out in a few, so there’s no, uh, suspicions.”

“Come here.”

I don’t know what I just got myself into, but it feels like the beginning of something big… and maybe a little dangerous.