Jason extended a hand to help Claire to her feet. He then took the cord from her hand and plugged it into the computer. He led her gently to a chair and said in an amused tone, “Let’s keep you away from all sharp objects and for God's sake, please don’t go near the scissors.” She laughed and marveled at how relaxed she felt around Jason for the first time since she’d started working for him. He seemed to be a different person away from the office and unfortunately, despite her best efforts, Claire found 'this' Jason far too attractive for her own good. She tried not to dwell on that disturbing fact as she powered her computer.
Claire took a quick glance at her watch and saw that it was now almost two thirty. She would need to be on the road by five to allow time to travel to the bachelor party this evening. She said a quick prayer that they were finished with work in time for her to get ready.
“Claire I’ll need you to start making the changes that I’ve listed on the notebook on the desk; the first change will go in paragraph one.” Jason leant over her shoulder and started pointing out the area to make the change and Claire caught the fragrance of his cologne. Distracted by just how good the musky fragrance smelled on Jason, Claire really hoped that she didn’t look like a complete idiot when Jason started asking her for suggestions on the wording of the phrase he wished to insert. What’s wrong with me today? I’ve worked for the man for three years, and I’m now suddenly a constantly drooling idiot like the other women at work! Maybe Suzy is right; I do need to get a life!
“Claire, did you hear me?” Giving a guilty start, Claire asked Jason to repeat his question in hopes that he would not think she was a complete incompetent. Claire went to work on the first draft while Jason took a chair on the other side of the desk and started booting up his computer. She couldn’t help but notice the way the sunlight made Jason’s hair shine, and she also saw red highlights that she’d never noticed before. Claire quickly looked away before Jason caught her staring at him. She lost herself in the revision and was startled when Jason looked up and said, “We should probably call it a day; it’s close to five, and I need to get ready; and I believe you also have plans for the evening?”
She looked at her watch surprised to see that so much time had already passed. “I’ve most of the revisions complete if you’d like to look over them before I close the program.” said Claire.
“No, that’s ok; we will go over everything in the morning so go ahead and close up for the evening.”
Claire gathered her papers in a neat stack and noticed how stiff her back was when standing. Without thinking she took a long leisurely stretch, and she looked up to find Jason watching her intently. With her face flushing she looked away from his gaze and said, “If you don’t need anything else, I’m going to change and get going.”
Jason cleared his throat and said, “Um no problem, have a good evening.”
Claire quickly walked through the adjoining door, quietly clicking the lock into place behind her. She would rather have Jason find her unconscious than walk in unannounced after another mishap. In the bathroom, Claire looked longingly at the bathtub but knew that it was a luxury she didn’t have time for. She settled instead for the shower, letting it warm up as she undressed. Claire gave a murmur of bliss as the hot water cascaded over her tired shoulders, wincing when the water hit the new bump on her head. She gently worked some shampoo through her hair and enjoyed the feel of the water soothing away the fatigue of the day. Loath to cut the shower short, she finished up quickly knowing that she was pressed for time.
She quickly wrapped a towel around her hair and shrugged on her old, pink, ratty bathrobe she’d thought to bring along. She plugged in her small dryer and started the task of drying her hair. She knew she should really get it cut in a shorter style to reduce some of the drying time, but Claire considered this her one item of vanity even though it was worn up more than down.
When Claire first started working the bachelor parties for Pam, she’d arrived for her training and Pam immediately removed the clip from her hair and told her that men loved seeing long hair. This statement really gave Claire a pause as she’d understood from Pam that the clients for these parties were strictly upper class and instead of expecting a stripper performance at a bachelor party, they were content with a pretty girl in a corset and garter belt; no articles of clothing removed.
Claire had originally turned Pam down flat when she explained the wardrobe for the show; she’d never worn less than a one-piece swimsuit in public so she certainly didn’t intend to lose her inhibitions in front of a room full of strange men. The following day, she received the news that her mother’s furnace would need to be replaced. There was no way she could afford the new furnace and her mother’s medicine thus she ended up with a second job that she would have never imagined in a lifetime.