Great Expectations: In The Hot Seat

We were seated back on the comfortable chairs in Mr. Candle’s office. With so much settled I was more receptive to a drink this time and requested a cola. He raised an eyebrow when I emphatically indicated that diet was not acceptable, but otherwise said nothing. He returned with a load of paperwork and immediately turned to business.

“First, we’ll need to make this provisional security clearance permanent. It won’t be a problem just a few forms to fill out and sign.” Mr. Candle began.

He handed me a small stack of forms with yellow signature tags sticking out of the pages. I thumbed through them quickly verifying they were all related to the security clearance.

“Can I take any of this home with me or do I need to go through it all here?” I asked.

“As a rule nothing leaves this building unless you’ve been given specific authorization to take it from here. These forms are confidential and therefore not permitted outside the building. If you want to have a personal lawyer review them before you sign anything, it can be arranged here and I would completely understand.”

“That won’t be necessary. I don’t have a lawyer on retainer or anything.” I said.

He simply nodded. I dug a pen out of my purse and spaced out the documents on the coffee table so I could quickly sign in the indicated spaces. Mr. Candle collected them together when I was done. I settled back in the chair and trying not to wince as I noticed my bottom was still a little tender.

“I think it is important for you to know being part of the Q5 team comes with risks. What we do isn’t treasure seeking, but we often encounter such types in our searches and there can be other complications as well.”

I shifted carefully trying to find a comfortable way to sit.

“Are you saying the job is dangerous?”

“It can be. Most days it is challenging and invigorating, but there are days it can be dangerous.”

Doing my best to avoid grimacing, I sat more forward in the chair. My backside was really starting to sting which seemed odd considering the plush chair.

“How dangerous?”

“Deadly.”

He paused to let the weight of the statement settle in the air between us. What surprised me the most is I wasn’t scared. I knew he was serious by the look on his face, but whether he knew it or not he inspired such confidence in me that because I knew he believed in me, I believed in myself. Now if only my backside wasn’t making me feel like a little girl.

“I guess I better take out a larger life insurance policy.” I said.

Mr. Candle chuckled for a moment before becoming serious again. I adjusted my sitting position, hoping I wasn’t being too obvious, especially if he had heard as much as I suspect he had on the phone the previous evening.

“The company will provide you with a 100 million dollar policy as part of your compensation. Should anything unfortunate happen, your beneficiaries will be well cared for. Of course I don’t expect such an eventuality, but I can’t promise you anything more.”

“I understand. That’s a generous amount.”

“More to the point, because the job is dangerous it is best if you keep your actual duties here a secret from everyone. To that end I have created the illusion that you will be hired as a high level executive assistant. In appearance you will be working on a top floor for one of the top executives. You will be entitled to an appropriate level of respect from the other employees but it will appear a much more benign position.”

“You expect me to lie to my family and friends?”

Maybe it was the thought of breaking a cardinal rule of my father’s, but I swear my butt was starting to burn like I’d just been paddled for the lies I was considering telling.

“No, I expect you to withhold the truth from them. There is a difference.”

“A very slim one and I don’t think my parents will understand it that way.”

In fact, I know they won’t see it that way. If my parents ever learn about me pulling that kind of deception on them, I wouldn’t be able to conceal my discomfort while sitting, standing or breathing for that matter. As it is, I can hardly sit still from what was a relatively minor spanking last night.

“I won’t force you to handle it in a manner inconsistent with your values but you should realize that if they are aware of what you are doing it could place them in danger if the wrong person finds out.”

“I have to say this talk of danger especially as it could effect my family is making me uncomfortable. What you are proposing here sounds very interesting and exciting but whatever rewards it might have they aren’t worth the lives of those I care about.”

“Of course not. If you could see your way to keeping a few things to yourself, you will minimize the risks to them and yourself. Think of it as a white lie, told to protect rather than mislead.”

“I’m not comfortable with this.”

Talk about an understatement with double meaning. I shifted in the chair again, my backside literally feeling hotter by the minute. There was a soft click in the room and I looked around for the source but couldn’t find it.

“I won’t twist your arm Miss Beaumont. Only you can decide what is right for you.” Mr. Candle said.

“I’m going to trust you, but the first sign my trust is misplaced, I’m gone.”

“Fair enough.”

“What about compensation?”

“I’m offering a starting annual salary of $250,000. Of course if I paid this directly the cover of administrative assistant would be ludicrous so you’ll receive a monthly pay in keeping with a $38,000 a year salary. The remainder of the money will be placed in a special holding account. You won’t be able to access the funds until you leave Quondam Innovations, but think of it as a nice retirement nest egg.”

I blinked momentarily forgetting about my sore bottom and thinking about my wounded pride if I ever end up telling anyone how little my take home pay is. Then I heard that click again and I looked around still puzzled. Mr. Candle seemed oblivious to it.

“That’s not much take home and what about my taxes?” I said.

“The amount is well above minimum wage and there are plenty of people who make a living with far less. I think you’ll manage. As for your taxes, you’ll pay taxes on your take home pay, the remainder of the money will remain untaxed until you take possession of it.”

“This is all a lot more complicated than I was expecting.”

“I apologize for that, but I think you will find the precautions are well worth it.”

“I guess we’ll find out. I might be crazy, but where do I sign to make it all happen?”

Mr. Candle nodded his head. He read me right and he knew it. Damn him. He should have been a car salesman because he has definitely sold me on the flash I probably can’t afford and for some strange reason I don’t even care. Now if only we could take a walk because I swear my butt can’t take much more of this sitting around.

“There is a handbook on company policies and you may take it home to review, but I’ll need you to sign an agreement to the policies contained in it this afternoon. If you would like I’ll give you a rundown on the ones you might consider proprietary to Quondam Innovations.” He said.

“Yes, please.” I replied.

“We have a graduated formality chain. I find it’s best to ensure everyone knows their place in the company. It keeps everyone happier and makes the chain of command more clear. Those you work with on a daily basis and are not your direct supervisor can be addressed in an informal manner such as on a first name basis. However, when addressing an individual of higher position they should be addressed with respect by their surnames and or titles when appropriate.”

I heard the click again and pushed myself forward on the chair. My bottom was starting to feel about like it did right after Dad finished paddling me and that was definitely not right. My hand slipped back behind me and I noticed the seat of the chair itself was warm to the touch. How embarrassing to have a butt so hot it heats the chair itself. Thankfully between the two of us I was the only one who knew that fact.

“It makes sense but how do you know if someone in the company holds a higher position than you if you don’t work with them?”

“Within the building it is simple. A person’s hierarchy in the company is reflected by what floor they work on. So a 3rd floor employee is above a 2nd floor but below a 4th floor and so on.”

“Okay. Wait, you said I’ll be working in the Q5 office on the 32nd floor that’s two floors above you. How does that work?”

Mr. Candle didn’t even try to hide his amusement at my question. When I moved in the seat again trying to find some way to get comfortable I noticed he was watching me and the look on his face was definitely akin to amusement. I felt myself blushing but tried to conceal it with a fake fit of coughing. Surprisingly, he let me get away with it.

“You will find I also work in the Q5 offices a good portion of the time but I will also always maintain a formal relationship with the Q5 team. I consider every member of the team to be my superior in some regard and while the ultimate responsibilities rest in my hands, I will always be respectful of the Q5 personnel.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

I adjusted my position for what seemed like the hundredth time and heard the click again. Then it dawned on me where I had heard that noise before. My butt was literally burning up and the reason was suddenly very clear.

“Does this chair have a seat warmer?” I asked

“Actually it does. Are you cold? Should I turn it on?” Mr. Candle asked.

“No, no. Quite the opposite actually. I think it is on and I’m getting rather warm.”

He looked down at a series of switches on the floor next to the coffee table and then flicked the one with an orange light on to the off position.

“You’re right. It was on.”

“Glad it wasn’t my imagination. I was starting to feel like I was in the hot seat here.”

Mr. Candle chuckled.

“Well now that we’ve solved that problem, where were we?” He asked.

“You were explaining the company hierarchy system as it applies to you and Q5 and I was saying I didn’t think I understood it.”

“Ah, yes. Let’s just say I will always address you as Miss Beaumont, but there could come a time when you will call me Joe.”

“Alright. It just seems a bit odd at the moment is all.”

My butt still felt like it was on fire and I couldn’t help but consider if he had turned the switch on purposely to make me squirm a little. If he did that could only mean he was very much aware of the state of my bottom or at least suspected it was so. The more I tried not to think about it, the more it dominated my thoughts. Of course, Mr. Candle was doing a good job of looking innocent.

“I’m sure you’ll come to understand it all once you’ve had a chance to settle into your position.” He said.

“If you say so.”

“I do. I think the one you will find the most unusual is our discipline policy. I think you will agree that discipline must be maintained in the work place in order to promote excellence and productivity.”

“Yes.”

“To that end I have instituted a policy of corporal punishment for most minor and even some not so minor infractions of policy. It is carried out primarily by a person’s immediate supervisors although it can be handled through the HR department entirely if there is concern about a conflict of interest. It is always handled in private with only an HR witness to insure that nothing inappropriate occurs and everything is executed in accordance with policy. This can be a disconcerting event for new employees but please let me assure you it is only done when necessary and most find in retrospect it is a far better way to handle things than a formal hearing and possible dismissal for an honest mistake. From my point of view, it gives me the ability to minimize mistakes because I have an effective means of discouraging them without dealing with a high turnover rate.”

“I can’t say I am comfortable with the prospect. In fact it was the reason I walked out last time I was here. I thought maybe it was some kind of a mistake or bad joke, but now your telling me this is policy?”

“Yes, well I think we might have brought it up a little better during your previous visit but I must require you submit to a spanking from Mrs. Anderson before we can finalize your employment. If you do your job and follow policy you won’t have to go through it again, but if something happens and you make a mistake I think you’ll be happy to have it as an option, even if your not happy to receive it.”

“I’m really not comfortable with this.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to be, but surely you aren’t suggesting you’ve never been spanked before?”

I blushed thinking of the previous night for the second time since meeting Mr. Candle.

“Of course not, it just seems a little out of the purview of work.”

“I’m afraid I’m a stickler on this point. If it’s a deal breaker for you, then it’s a deal breaker.”