Abby awoke groggy from her fitful night of dreamed memories. It was obvious what she had witnessed was still weighing on her mind. As she prepared for work she made up her mind that she was going to confront Katherine and Sandy. If she did not do it today, before the holiday, she may not have another good chance.
The morning was slow and uneventful. Abby was beginning to believe she imagined what she saw yesterday. Lunch passed with no change, her window was rapidly closing. Around 1:30, Katherine called Abby to her office. Closing the door behind them, Katherine motioned for Abby to sit on the couch. Katherine began after sitting down next to her, "Do you like this couch?"
Abby was surprised by the aloof question, "It's nice, yes."
"Do you notice anything odd about it?" Abby looked at her with a furrowed brow, Katherine continued. "Feel the cushions." Abby placed a hand down and slid it across the floral seat, nothing seemed strange. "How about around the edge of the cushion or there on the arm?" Abby felt the two suggested locales and her expression changed to one of deeper confusion.
"It feels like another layer is under here, I can't really notice except at the edges."
"You are correct; the second layer is made of thin clear plastic."
"Why would you cov...," Abby stopped mid sentence when she realized the purpose of a plastic layer.
"Sandy and I saw you yesterday. We want to offer you a bargain." Abby went white, her heart raced, she got light-headed... she knew her face betrayed her fear. Katherine continued placing a hand on Abby's shoulder, "It's ok. We expected to get caught at some point."
"Then why would you even try?"
"It was the thrill more than anything. We have been doing this for awhile and there are some others too."
Katherine went on to explain the situation. Sandy and her had gone to college at the same university and became very good friends. They both pledged the same sorority house, Theta, Lambda, Mu. Abby's eyes grew huge as she listened. They had cheated to get the answers for the quiz that year by indulging one of the Theta, Lambda House Mothers. "She had a particular fetish; I'm guessing you might know what that was..." Abby only nodded.
Katherine continued to describe in detail all that occurred. Abby was getting flushed from embarrassment as well as arousal. "So do you understand now?"
"Are you two a couple or...?" Abby inquired.
"We won't admit to ourselves, I honestly believe that we still think we are heterosexual. At the very least we are Bi." Abby sat dumbfounded just staring at the wall. “I realize it is a lot to take in... I would like to explain our proposal." Abby slowly adjusted her gaze to look at Katherine; she could feel her face getting hotter with the deepening blush. "We are prepared to give you an option. The first of which is a buy-off. Sandy is taking a vacation soon, this means that you will be in charge of the floor the entire time she is gone. It will be a period of ten day. It was going to be a test of your mettle to see if you can handle more responsibility. If you accept our buy-off, it won't matter how well you do... do you understand?" Abby continued to look on intently. "It very well could be the lynch pin for another promotion this year."
Abby perked up and came partially back to reality after those words. The idea burned in her mind, another promotion... another rung; climbing ever closer to her goal. It seemed perfect, but something was wrong. "Wait, what do you mean by option?" She quickly queried.
Katherine smiled and stood up. "Since you did not run directly to HR to file a claim, can I assume you were intrigued or simply scared?" She paused only for a moment, "If you are not opposed, you have the choice of joining us."
The blood drained from Abby's brain, she went white again and felt very close to fainting. Her head started to tilt to one side before she snapped it upright. "What if I refuse both?"
Katherine's reply was, "In that unfortunate scenario... I am afraid it would be our word against yours. Chances are that it would end in disciplinary action. We both know that it won't look good in your file after that."
Abby's head started to tilt to the side again and her breathing got shallow. Her vision blurred, she was going under. Her mind went void, and then the world went black........
"What happened?"
"I'm afraid you fainted." It was Katherine speaking.
"How long have I been out?" Abby was still on the same couch, she tried to sit but her head still swam.
"Here, drink. I had Sandy retrieve it from your desk." Katherine handed Abby her favorite water bottle. She gulped at it and began to regain her composure. Abby looked at her watch, it was only 2:03PM; she had not been out long thankfully.
Katherine started with some ambition, "Now that you are back with us, I would like you to consider in earnest about what we have discussed. I am prepared to allow you leave early today to mull it over, I won't dock your time and get it cleared with HR if you like." Abby sat staring at the same wall again, clutching her water bottle. Once the words registered in her mind she answered, "Yes, I would like that. Thank you very much."
"Very well, go collect your stuff and head home. I will put a meeting on your calendar for the Monday after break; I will expect your answer at that time." Katherine explained as an answer. Abby shuffled out of the office and down to her car. Driving home was like autopilot, there was a permanent fog in her head.
The next day...