Behind The Curtain"( FF )[1/4]


	“You wanted to see me, Shelby?”  Annette
Delany asked as she knocked on the opened door
of the office and stuck her head inside. “Sally’s
not at her desk and .....”
	“Come on in and have a seat, Annette.” 
he replied with a quick wave of his hand as he
continued his phone conversation.  “I’ll be with
you in a few minutes.”
	The 22 year old brunette stepped into the
large office and sat down in one of the two chairs
in front of Shelby’s large oak desk. Carefully she
adjusted the conservative blue and white business
suit she wore. She really would’ve preferred to
have waited in the outer office while her boss
finished up his business call but with his secretary
at lunch she had no choice but to announce
herself.  
	Shelby Thomas was 44 and quite a good
looking man.  He had brown hair and beard which
coupled with the glasses he wore always made
Annette think of one of her college professors. 
Still trim unlike most men his age, he was just
beginning to fall victim to the effects of a lack of
exercise.  It was the price of success -- too many
hours spent behind the desk. 
	The young woman really didn’t know him
too well.  Aside from her original interview and
office gatherings, she had few personal dealings
with him other than staff meetings in her short
time at the firm. 
	Not wanting to stare, Annette instead
looked out the window, fixing her gaze on a ferry
boat in the distant harbor.  The view from
Shelby’s office was certainly much better than
hers, not that she ever thought of her cubicle as an
office.  One of the perks of success she reminded
herself.  After all, this was her first job since
graduating college and she really hadn’t expected
to start at the top.  At least not in the first ten
months at Moore and Stanley she reminded
herself.

	“...and I look forward to seeing you next
week.”  she heard Shelby say to his associate on
the phone as he brought his conversation to a
close. 
	Shelby took a few moments after he hung
up the phone to jot down a few notes on a pad
before looking up and giving Annette his full
attention.

	“I guess you’re wondering what was so
important that it couldn’t wait until after lunch.” 
he said as he dropped his pen back into the holder
on the edge of his desk.
	Truthfully, Annette had a really bad feeling
when Sally had called her an hour ago and said
that Shelby wanted to see her at noon. One of her
best friends had just been fired from her job a
month before and her boss had done it during the
lunch hour as to have as few people around while
she cleaned out her desk as possible.  She didn’t
think Shelby was that kind of boss but didn’t many
of these middle management types go to the same
schools. 
	She’d wracked her brain to come up with
any major error she had made and came up empty. 
In fact, she thought she was doing a really great
job, a lot better than her predecessor had -- and
his performance had earned him a promotion.   

	“I’ve been going over your handling of the
Peterson Foods account.”  Shelby said without
any preamble as he removed a large folder from
his file cabinet.  “In fact, Gustav Czerny, the
general manager of Peterson called me this
morning to comment on it as well.”
	“Oh shit.”  thought Annette,  “They’re not
happy with the changes I made.  I knew I
should’ve played it safe and just follow Carson’s
previous recommendations.”
	“Needless to say, Mr. Czerny was quite
surprised at what he considered such a radical
change in the way we handle his account.”
	“I’m going to be fired!”  the brunette said
to herself she squeezed her hands together below
Shelby’s line of sight.
	“He also remarked that if he’d ever come
across such malfeasance in his own organization,
he’d have been inclined to immediately fire the
individual responsible.  After taking a more
detailed look at these accounts, I had to tell him
that I agreed.” 
	“Malfeasance?”  Annette mentally
repeated to herself, how could they even accuse
her of such a thing.  “All she did was correct what
she had thought were sloppy errors and poor
practices.” 
	“Needless to say, Jim Carson no longer
works for this company.”  she heard Shelby say.
	“What?..”  Annette said, confused.”
	“And if it wasn’t for the bad publicity that
would come out of it and the fact that I think it
was more incompetence than malfeasance since he
doesn’t seemed to have profited from the errors, I
might’ve even considered criminal charges against
him.”
	“You fired Carson?” Annette repeated.
	“I had to.”  he replied. “This company
can’t afford to lose clients because of shoddy
work.  The only reason we haven’t lost the
Peterson account is that Czerny is willing to
overlook Carson’s poor management if we
guarantee a better handling of their affairs in the
future.  That plus a certain financial adjustment
that I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time to read up
on later. ”
	Shelby paused a few moments while he
dropped the file back into his cabinet.  Then with
a much wider smile on his face he stated again.
	“I know you haven’t been with us very
long, Annette.”  he began. “but if you continue to
deliver work like this I see a real future for you
with our company.  The most immediate aspect of
my appreciation for your work will be seen in
your check next week.  It’s a small increase but
one which I’m sure will be repeated on a much
larger scale before long.”
	“Thank you.”  Annette said both in relief
and appreciation.
	“I wish it could’ve been more.” he said. 
“But as it is all I really did was move up the raise
you would’ve been getting by a few months.  At
you’re level there are limits to what I can do in
regards to salary.”  
	“It’s more than enough.”  Annette said. 
“It’s enough to know that someone notices the
work you put in.”
	“But as far as other areas, I do have a bit
more leeway.”  Shelby noted.  “I want you to take
the rest of the day off.”
	“You really don’t have to...”  Annette
started to say.
	“....In fact.”  Shelby cut her off.  “I don’t
expect to see you in this office again until Monday
morning.”
	“But it’s only Wednesday...”  Annette
noted.
	“I’m well aware of that.”  he responded. 
“And Monday is Monday, ... I’m well aware that
you’ve acquired the habit of coming in on
weekends to catch up on some work.  That’s
commendable but not this weekend. ”
	Annette didn’t know what to say, except
thank you one again.
	“Now get out of here.”  Shelby said in a
mock gruff voice.  “Some of us have work to do!”
	Annette rose to her feet and started for the
door.  She was half way there when Shelby said in
a  much quieter tone.
	“Enjoy the weekend.”  he said as he
looked up from his desk and admired the feminine
form that even her austere attire couldn’t conceal.
	“If I was only twenty years younger and
not her boss.”  he thought before he caught
himself. --  “Hell, forget the twenty years.”  he
concluded as he decided to allow himself this
small indulgence.  “If only I wasn’t her boss.”

	Back at her cubicle, Annette took a half
hour to finish up what she had been working on. 
It wasn’t that important, but it would’ve been on
her mind all weekend if she hadn’t. By the time
she shut down the computer on her desk, most of
the other associates were returning from lunch.
	Annette looked up from her desk to see a
tall olive skinned blonde standing over her. 
Yvonne’s hair color was a recent change, prior to
that she’d been a brunette just like Annette.  She
had to give her friend credit -- she wouldn’t have
had the nerve. 
	Yvonne was two years older than Annette
and had been at the firm that much longer.  She
also had been hired right out of college.  That was
were the comparison had ended.  Whereas
Annette was always trying to blend in and let her
work speak for her, her friend was always trying
to be a center of attention.  Like right now, she
wore a blue skirt which most people would’ve
considered too short for an office.  It was topped
by a pristine white blouse which strained against
an impressive bosom.  

	“So what did old man Shelby want.” 
Yvonne asked.
	“You really shouldn’t call him that.” 
Annette said.  “He’s really not that old.”
	“If he’s over 30, he’s old!”  Yvonne
replied.  “So what happened?”
	Annette quickly told the story.

	“So they fired Jim Carson, huh.”  the
blonde noted.  “Couldn’t have happened to a nicer
prick.”
	“That’s not very nice.”  Annette said,
trying to show some sympathy for the man. 	
	“But true.”  she said.  “I went out with him
for drinks one Friday night after work with some
of the other associates.  We wound up being the
last two at the bar and he started giving me all that
crap about how his wife didn’t understand him. 
All the while he was staring down my blouse to
get a good look at my tits.  Not that they don’t
deserve a good look.  Then he got all pissed off
when I wouldn’t give him a blow job to help ease
all his pain.”
	“I guess he was a prick then.” Annette
agreed.
	“I think if it wasn’t for the fact that he was
afraid of your boyfriend here,”  Yvonne said as
she rested her hand on the small photograph on
Annette’s desk.  “he’d have been trying to get into
your panties too.”
	“There was very little chance of that.” 
Annette smiled.  “In fact none at all.”
	“Oh I know that.”  Yvonne laughed.  “I
know you have better taste than that.”
	Annette smiled a grin which held a secret
that Yvonne never would’ve guessed.
	“Speaking of good taste.”  Yvonne went
on as she picked up the photograph. “I don’t
know how you do it?”
	“Do what?”  Annette said as she picked up
the last of her stuff to leave.
	“Stay celibate while lover-boy here is off
playing soldier.” she replied.
	The first picture in the double frame was
indeed a soldier -- specifically a U.S. Marine. 
Close-cropped black hair framed a ruggedly
handsome and deeply tanned face.  The dress
uniform he wore concealed an equally rugged and
handsome body.  The other photo had been taken
a few months ago at the office Christmas party
when he had been home on leave and came to the
celebration with Annette -- much to the envy of
half the offices female population.
	“Well, I do keep busy.”  Annette quipped.
“And Danny does write every week.”
	“Girl, a letter isn’t going to keep you
warm at night.”  Yvonne said as she replaced the
photos.  “I would think you were at least burning
out the batteries when you read them.”
	“That, I’m not going to comment on.” 
Annette laughed.
	“I know if he was my guy, I’d have taken
him to bed and fucked him till he couldn’t walk. 
That’d be the end of that soldier crap.”
	“He’s a Marine, not a soldier.”  Annette
corrected.  “They’re a little particular about that
point.”
	“Whatever...”  Yvonne said.  “The point is
that he’s half way around the world in Korea. 
You don’t really think that he’s suffering from a
terminal case of blue balls do you.  Or that he’s
faithfully jerking off every night into a tissue while
thinking of you.  My brother was in Korea while
in the Air Force, there are plenty of “mama-sans”
to take care of a lonely soldier ..  OK Marine..  far
way from home.”    
	“We have an understanding.  I told you
that.”  Annette concluded as she noticed that more
people were back at their desks and she no longer
wanted to continue this conversation.
	“If you’d take my advice.”  Yvonne said,
having to get in the last word.  “You’d go out and
have some fun over your days off. Go find
yourself someone nice and more importantly ...
available.  It wouldn’t hurt you to get laid more
than once or twice a year.”
	
	As she watched Yvonne head back to her
own desk, her ass swaying much to the delight of
her male co-workers, Annette’s face again filled
with that ‘I’ve got a secret smile.’
	“I wonder what you would think?”  she
thought as her eyes followed Yvonne down the
aisle.  “If you knew that if I woke up with a warm
body next to me tomorrow morning, I rather it be
yours than Danny’s.” 
	Annette let the thought of Yvonne’s naked
body pressed next to hers rest in her mind for a
few more moments, enjoying the imagery.  She
knew that the tall blonde was somewhat of a
sexual adventurer -- if all of the stories she had
shared where to be believed.  Maybe someday the
younger woman would have to nerve to see how
much of an adventurer she really was. 

	With that she grabbed her purse and was
gone as well.



	An hour later after a not so quick subway
ride , Annette was home at the Soho apartment
she shared with a roommate.  It was only three in
the afternoon and Michelle wouldn’t be home
until six.  Then she would be gone by seven, off to
her part time night job.  If nothing else, Annette
would have the apartment to herself tonight.  But
to do what?
	One of the reasons Annette had been
spending so many hours at work lately was that
she had broken up with her last steady lover four
months ago.  Not that it had been much of a
relationship, but still it had been something.  In
fact, the relationship had set a new record for
longevity -- three months. 
	  In the end it had come down to one big
incompatibility.  Vanessa was out of the closet,
living her life openly as a lesbian.  Annette, on the
other hand, still lived a life of secrets -- hiding
behind a false identity as it were.  She had told
Vanessa that it was because of her job that she
couldn’t come out.  
	It was one thing, she repeatedly had said,
to be an open lesbian when you worked in the
entertainment industry as Vanessa did.  It was
another when you worked for an old-fashion,
establishment banking firm; and you had only been
there less than a year.  Maybe when she was more
established things would change.  She didn’t want
to have to start looking for a new job in a small
tight knit community carrying the label that she
was ‘that dyke bitch that Moore and Stanley
fired’.  Oh they couldn’t fire her for that of
course, not in this age of political awareness.  But
they could make you miserable enough that you
eventually gave them a reason to fire you. 
	To all of this line of reasoning, Vanessa
had simply replied that it was so much bullshit. 
All Annette lacked was the guts to stand up and
be counted for what she was.  Deep down,
Annette had to admit to herself that Vanessa had
been at least partly right. 
	
	So for what ever reasons she used to
justify it, Annette had created a false identity to
carry around like so much excess baggage.  Right
down to a conveniently absent boyfriend which
took care of any questions as to why she didn’t
date any of the guys she met.
	Technically, Danny Ryan was both a boy
and a friend -- one of the best friends she’d ever
had.  He just wasn’t the boyfriend most people
took him for.  Their friendship went back to
grammar school and was based on a lot firmer
foundation than sex.  Not that sex didn’t enter
into in, at least on one occasion.  
	Like thousands of other girls, Annette had
lost her virginity on prom night.  Like so many of
her contemporaries, she had found it a somewhat
disappointing experience.  Taking the adage that
you can’t make a judgment based on only one
taste, she’d gone to bed with another young man
with equally discouraging results. 
	 Finally, she concluded that perhaps it was
the emotional aspect that was missing.  With that
in mind she’d taken her best friend in all the world
to her bed.  It had, she was quite willing to admit,
clearly been the most physically satisfying of the
three encounters, resulting in her first orgasm
during sex.  Yet as physically fun as it had been, it
had also been as hollow as all the previous
attempts.

	Six months later, after a few beers in her
for courage, Annette had given in to a yearning
that she had kept secret since she’d first became
aware of it shortly after her 16th birthday.  The
next morning when she’d woken up in the bed of
another woman, she’d found what she’d been
searching for.  Strangely enough, the song on the
clock radio that woke her up that morning had
been ‘Looking for love in all the wrong places’. 
Quite appropriate she later thought.    
		
	Despite a few affairs she had during her
remaining years in college, Annette never found
the courage to ‘stand up and be counted’ as
Vanessa always called it.  In fact, except for the
other women involved, the only person she told
was Danny.  It was a testament to their friendship
that he’d told her that no matter what, he’d
always be her friend. The idea that she could use
him as an absentee boyfriend had been his. 	    


	So here she was, a four day weekend in
front of her and absolutely nothing to do. Perhaps
she should take Yvonne’s advice and go out and
find someone.  Maybe not the someone that
Yvonne intended but someone nevertheless.  The
more she thought about it, the more it seemed a
good idea.  
	“Maybe I do just need to get laid.”  she
said out loud, laughing that she was starting to
sound like Yvonne.  



	Annette spent a few hours running errands
in the neighborhood before again returning to the
apartment to make dinner for Michelle and herself. 
Sure enough, just as the clock was striking six,
Michelle came prancing through the door.
	“Honey, I’m home!”  she announced as
she dropped her knapsack onto the couch.
	Her announcement was a little joke that
both she and Annette shared.  Though both were
lesbians, they didn’t have a sexual relationships.  It
just worked out better for both of them to have a
roommate that they didn’t have any secrets from. 
Annette had a ‘straight’ roommate back in
college, one of her best friends as a matter of fact
and it caused all sort of problems.  She’d lost
track of all the times Karen Robinson had tried to
fix her up.  It had also precluded her bringing
home any of her dates.  One thing both she and
Michelle had in common was that they both were
at a point in their lives that they weren’t looking
for a long term relationship anyway. Both were
too young to settle down and it was a big world
out there.  They once discussed sharing each
others bed for a night, just to see what it might be
like.  But after a little heavy petting on the couch,
they decided that each of them would rather have
the other as a friend.  If they were lovers it would
only complicate their extracurricular activities.
	“Welcome home, Dear.”  Annette said as
she walked out of the small kitchen, dinner in
hand.  “And how was your day?”
	“Oh, just about the same.”  Michelle said
as she took a sniff of the pleasing aroma of the
dishes Annette was carrying.  “Hmm, that smells
wonderful.  Some special occasion?”
	Annette quickly gave an abbreviated 
version of her own day as they sat down at the
table in the common room.  Michelle said she was
happy for her friend.
	“So what are you planning to do with your
sudden vacation?”  Michelle asked as she finished
off the last of her meal.
	“Well the idea of hopping on a plane and
shooting off to Los Angeles suggested itself.  But
then reality set in and put a kibosh on that idea. I
guess maybe I’ll just go out tonight.” Annette said
as she sipped at her drink.  “See what happens.”
	“Great.”  Michelle beamed.  “Where are
you planning to go?”
	“I thought maybe I’d go up to Scarlett’s
Rose.”  Annette answered. 
 	“It’s too bad I have to work.  I haven’t
been there in weeks.  I’d love to go with you.” 
Michelle said as she pulled off her blouse to put
on the uniform she wore at the local restaurant
where she worked nights. 
	“You could always call in sick.”  Annette
suggested as she look a longing look at Michelle’s
bra-enclosed mounds.  There were times she
regretted their decision not to be lovers. 
	“I’d love to, but if you want to see my half
of next month’s rent, I really need this job.”  the
long haired blond said as she buttoned her blouse.
	“Maybe next time then.”  Annette said as
she carried the now empty and dirty dishes into
the small kitchen.
	“Well I’d better run.”  Michelle said as she
picked up her knapsack. 
	“You be careful.”  Annette said as she
came back into the room.  “May sure you take a
cab home, no more walking home in the middle of
the night.  If you need it, I’ll pay for it.”
	“Yes mother.”  Michelle chuckled.  “I’ve
saved up my allowance and I will be careful.”
	Annette just gave her a disapproving look.
Despite being almost a year younger than
Michelle, Annette did sometimes feel like her
mother.
	“Now give me a kiss and I’ll be on my
way.”  Michelle said as she pressed her lips
against Annette’s.
	The kiss was brief, almost platonic, just as
Annette had expected.  The second kiss wasn’t
and took her by surprise.  Her eyes opened wide
as she felt Michelle’s tongue side between her lips.
	“That’s just to warm you up.”  Michelle
said as she disappeared out the door.  “Now go
out and have some fun.  And if you bring anyone
home, be sure to leave the table lamp in the hall
on so I don’t walk in on the two of you.  It’s been
so long you probably forgot about that.”
	“I haven’t forgotten.”  Annette said quietly
as she closed the door behind Michelle and locked
it.  


	Cleaning up after dinner only took a few
minutes and Annette decided to take a shower
before going out.  Feeling the need for something
special to wear when she was done, she began
going through her lingerie draw. 	      
	She quickly found what she was looking
for -- a pair of sheer black lace panties and a
matching bra.  They were still in the original
wrappings. She had bought them to wear for
Vanessa but never got the chance. 
	Underneath the plastic package was
another plastic bag containing a bright red
kerchief.  Annette took out the scarf and lifted it
to her face.  Sealed in the zip lock bag, it still held
a trace of perfume.
	“Vanessa.”  she said out loud as the
fragrant aroma filled her nostrils.

	Visions of the last time Vanessa and her
had made love filled her head.  It was as clear as if
it had been last night.

	“Come on baby,”  Vanessa said as she
rubbed her bare, dark breasts against the back of
the light skinned girl beneath her.  “When are you
going to take me home to meet your Mom and
Dad?”
	“We’ve been through this all before.”  the
scantily clad Annette replied.  “It’s not that
simple.”
	“Oh don’t tell me that.”  Vanessa argued.
“You just take me home and say, “Hi Mom and
Dad, I’d like you to meet my lover.”
	“After which I’d be calling 911 for the
heart attack my mother would then be having.” 
Annette said as she rolled out and from under the
larger girl.  
	“Maybe you’re just underestimating their
tolerance?”  Vanessa said as she sat up and ran
her hand through her long shoulder length black
hair.  “Besides, since I’m a Nurse, I can always
administer CPR.”
	“I don’t think so.”  the brunette said as she
reached for the lamp on the night table. 
	In truth, she wasn’t sure which would be
the greater shock to her parents.  That her current
lover was a woman ... or that she was as black as
the night.
	“Leave the light on.”  Vanessa said as her
hand closed on Annette’s.  “I want to watch you
make love.”
	“All right.”  the younger girl replied. “If it
makes you happy.”       
	
	Annette leaned forward and kissed
Vanessa, anxious to put the subject of her ‘coming
out’ behind them.  She cared more for her lover
than she liked to admit.  She knew she wasn’t
ready for a monogamous relationship and Vanessa
hadn’t asked for one.  But she knew she would
miss her if she left.
	A sudden rush of excitement filled Annette
as she cupped both of Vanessa’s large breasts. 
The young woman knew that in the eyes of some
of her more feminist and politically correct friends,
her passion for women who had large breasts was
somewhat improper.  Her attitude to them was
‘screw them’, it wasn’t any of their business who
she took to bed.  It was a pity she didn’t have that
strength of will when dealing with her parents and
her straight friends.
	Her finger played with Vanessa’s erect
nipples, enjoying their hardness. One at a time she
lifted the heavy orbs to her mouth and sucked on
them.
	“Oh I love it so much when you do that.” 
Vanessa purred, replacing Annette’s hands with
her own.
	Vanessa’s nipples, like her breasts as a
whole, were nearly twice the size of Annette’s. 
The brunette so loved the feel of them in her
mouth.  Her tongue swirled around the stubs,
covering them with her wetness.  Then she would
slide them into her mouth once more. Each time
was like the first, exciting and intoxicating.
	"You are magical, Vanessa,"  Annette said
in a sweet, sexy voice as she squeezed the dark
breast.
	"Magical?"
	"Yes, magical.  I've never wanted to make
love to someone as much as I want to you right
now."
	Vanessa lifted Annette’s face away from
her breasts and once more kissed her softy on the
lips.  Then the kiss became  harder and more
passionate.  Annette put her arms tight around
Vanessa's body as the two opened their mouths
and let their tongues run from mouth to mouth.
Back and forth in feverish and anxious lesbian
desire.	
	Annette felt Vanessa's magic move into
her body.  She gave up her body to her lover,
offering  it as a sacrifice to lust.  She wanted only
to please Vanessa and in turn to be pleased by her.
She hoped that if she could only make this
moment last forever, all of their differences would
disappear.
	Vanessa took her lips from the younger
woman’s mouth and kissed her soft skin, licking
her face with her tongue.
	"Oh, Vanessa," Annette moaned.
	Annette was wearing a light nightgown
that hung from her body by a pair of shoulder
straps made of light, flimsy material.  Vanessa
brushed those straps from her shoulders and let
the nightgown move down Annette's soft, young
skin.  Her firm, rounded breasts with the pink
nipples were soon exposed to the black girl's
passionate eyes.
	Annette's mounds were small but just as 
full and sweet as Vanessa’s.  Vanessa ran her lips
down them slowly, letting her love wait a bit
before she got to the little pink nipples that were
already beginning to turn bumpy and hard with
excitement.
	Finally, Vanessa kissed one of those
nipples. Annette sighed and lifted it up with her
hands so that the black woman could more easily
suck on the pinkness that was there, waiting for
her lips.
	 Vanessa stuck out her tongue and ran it
around the pinkness of the nipple.  Then she put
her lips on that pink circle and closed them tightly
around the good spot and began to suck with
ecstasy and excitement.
	Vanessa had made love to many women
before, but had never made love to a girl who
seemed to want it as badly as Annette did. 
Vanessa sensed as she sucked the nipple that
Annette was trying to turn this little late evening 
love feast into something special -- something that
she could forever cherish. If so, Vanessa was
more than happy to help.
	Gently, Annette pushed Vanessa back and
the black woman let the nipple escape from her
lips as she moved back.  Annette put her hands on
Vanessa's shoulders and brought the sexy, black
woman forward for one more kiss.
	This kiss wasn't soft.  It was hard and
filled with passion -- passion that came from both
mouths, from both souls. As they kissed, Vanessa
cupped Annette's bare breasts in her hands and felt
them as they heaved with her lust.
	Now it was Annette's turn to return to
those black fountains of delight.  Before becoming
Vanessa’s lover, Annette had never really been
attracted to black women.  Now she found the
deep darkness of her skin an aphrodisiac.
	Annette took her time and waited for a
few seconds before she finally kissed one of the
ebony nipples that stood there, beckoning her like
a searchlight in the fog. Now she ran her tongue
around the nipple and closed her lips around it,
kissing it and sucking on it with pleasure and
desire.