"I think we can use you, Miss Dixon," the manager said.
She went to work at the candy counter that afternoon. It was hard work. The store was hot and the people were always in a hurry. She ran her legs off until four o'clock when the manager called her back into his office.
"You do good work," he said.
"Thank you," she said.
"I think we can find something better for you," he said.
The fat manager stood up and walked around his desk. He put one puffy hand on her knee. He fondled her knee intimately and a leering smile came across his face.
"Now what kind of position do you think you're suited for, Miss Dixon?" he asked.
"Not what you have in mind," she said.
She slapped his hand off her knee and walked out in a huffy storm. She didn't bother to pick up her one day's pay check. It wouldn't have amounted to enough to take home.
She was tired and angry but she tried to put on a good face. She was supposed to stop by and see Maggie before she went back to the apartment. She had hoped to give Maggie good news about her new job. Now all she could give were a few weak excuses.
Maggie was in her office when Tracy arrived. Maggie's official title was private secretary to Henry Parker. Henry Parker was out of town and Maggie had very little to do. She was bent over some papers another secretary had typed when Tracy entered.
"Sit down, Tracy," Maggie said. "How'd you do?"
"Not so good," Tracy shrugged.
Maggie frowned.
"I told, you. Listen, if you want a good job in this city you have to be nice to the right people." Tracy thought about what her sister said. Maggie had an office of her own. She looked healthy and in good spirits. Her words had some wisdom. Tracy would be an old lady before she got a job in this town.
"I can get you a few minutes with Gary," Maggie said. "One more try."
"What would I have to do?" Tracy asked.
"Anything he wants."
"God," Tracy said. "I don't know if I can go through with something like that. It's so cold-blooded."
"You get used to it," Maggie said. "Should I pick up the phone?"
Tracy looked down at the floor. She could feel herself blushing red under her sister's direct gaze. She wondered what her sister would say if Maggie knew she was a virgin. A virgin. The sound of the word seemed odd in this day and time. She tried to look at things realistically. A girl couldn't keep it forever, could she?
"Yes," Tracy said in a whisper.
"Good girl," Maggie said. "But don't mess it up again or I'll never get you another interview."
Tracy waited about fifteen minutes while Maggie got through to Gary Hudson. It took another fifteen minutes for Maggie to convince Gary to see Tracy again. Tracy was amazed at the sound of Maggie's voice changing when she talked to Gary. Her voice had been businesslike but now it was sweet, low and sexy, promising things in the tone. Maggie finally hung up the phone.
"He'll see you," Maggie said. "Please don't mess it up this time."
"I'll try not to," Tracy said.
"Just do any damn thing he wants," Maggie said. "No matter how far out."
"I'll try," Tracy said again.
"Just do it," Maggie said.
Tracy felt as if she were walking through the room naked as she walked to Gary's office. She could feel a hundred eyes on her. She knew how a lamb felt being led to the slaughter.
She knocked and his voice said come in.
It was exactly as it was yesterday. He waved her to a seat while he finished some papers. Then he looked up. This time he didn't smile at her.
"So you came back," he said.
"Yes," she said.
"Back to me and my filthy job," he said. "You know you made me angry yesterday."
"I'm sorry," she said.
"You should be," he said. "There are hundreds of better-looking girls begging me for jobs. I only met with you because of Maggie. I'm only meeting with you today because of Maggie."
"I appreciate it," she said.
She met his eyes and looked away. She felt a nervous shiver of apprehension go up her spine. His eyes were lustful. He was looking at her the way the boys on the street corner back home had often looked at her.
"I've got no time for games," he said. "Strip down. Let's see what you look like."
She closed her eyes tightly. She kept telling herself that it was all a bad dream. This couldn't be happening to her. She wasn't really in a man's office getting ready to take off her clothes to allow him the use of her body.
But she was. She still felt his hard eyes on her.
"Hurry up, damn it," he said. "I haven't got all day."
She stood up. With nervous fingers she unbuttoned the front of her blouse. She had chosen to wear a frilly black bra that morning and now she was sorry she had, for the bra uplifted her tits and showed off plenty of pink flesh above her bra top.
"Goddamn," Gary whispered softly. "With titties like those you're going to go far in this town."
It was just too disgusting. She couldn't stand it any longer. She grabbed her blouse and started buttoning it back up as she started for the door.
Tears stung her eyes and dimmed her vision.
"Where are you going this time?" Gary asked angrily.
He was such a vulgar man. His eyes were vulgar, his speech was vulgar, even the expensive-looking suits he wore had a vulgar air. She wouldn't stay and be insulted by this man. She wouldn't allow him to do anything to her.