Carole Harris put the phone down calmly and started to worry. That was the umpteenth time she had tried calling Steve Hayes and the umpteenth time he didn't pick up the phone. What was wrong with him? He was ignoring her like the plague.
The intercom on her desk buzzed. "Could you please come into my office," Marsha Stewart said.
Carole flicked the intercom off. Marsha was acting funny, too. Something was up, and something told her that both Marsha and Steve were connected.
She walked into the office and saw Marsha in front of her desk with a mass of manuscripts thrown messily into piles. She had been reading material for the next issue.
"What is it now, Marsha?" Carole sounded tired. "What do you mean, 'now', baby? Have I asked too much from you lately?"
"Yes you have! What's going on with Steve Hayes? And don't give me this bullshit that you don't know what I'm talking about."
Marsha picked up a manuscript and skimmed it. "I don't. Why would I have anything to do with you and Steve Hayes?"
"That's just it. You don't. But something tells me you do."
"You're more confused about this than you think. Listen, just forget about Steven and let's concentrate on us. I just bought something I'm sure you'll like. Ben-Wa balls."
"Marsha, would you please level with me," Carole pleaded. "What's happened to Steve? Why haven't I seen him?"
Marsha eyed her carefully, then opened her desk drawer and set several papers in front of her. Carole picked them up and scanned them.
"These," she said, slowly, "these are his resignation papers. You mean, he's quit!"
Marsha nodded. "Just like that."
"I don't understand. Why would he do something like that? Not unless… Marsha, you didn't talk to him, did you?"
Marsha said nothing.
"Goddamn it, you bitch!" Carole snapped. "Why did you talk to him!"
"Because he was fooling around with you!" Marsha's voice challenged hers. "You've my private property, not his toy!"
"I don't believe this!" Carole screamed. "You told him to flake off with that reason?"
"Was there any other?" Marsha asked.
"Do you know where he's gone?" Carole asked calmly.
"As a matter of fact, I do. He's with Today's Twat. But don't think you can get him back, he won't want you now. I told him if he dares so much as touch you, I can get him blackballed from the business, he'll be finished, washed up."
"Then that'll be the two of us!" Carole said.
"What?" Marsha did not follow her.
"I quit, you fucking BITCH!" she said, and ripped out of the office, leaving Marsha with her mouth opened in surprise.
The first thing Carole did was call up Steve, now that she knew which magazine he was working for. It took a few minutes to get him on the line, but she was successful.
"Steve…" she said, then relaxed. "You should have said good-bye."
"I-I can't talk now," he said. "There's a pile of work on my desk that's gotta get done."
"Steve, I know you know about Marsha and me. She spilled it to me. I'm not gonna deny it. It's true, and it's over."
"Over?" he said.
"I'm through with her. Through with this place. And I need you."
"Carole…"
"Don't worry about getting blackballed. Marsha might try, but what's she got to gain? She doesn't have me any more. And Goddamn it, I'm horny for that big fucking dick of yours!"
"How about comin' by my place tonight so we can fix it up, eh?"
"No sooner said than CUM!" she laughed.