Relaxation Therapy | office bondage story

Chapter One - Stressed out…

"Sit down, Miss Carmichael."

Emily gulped. Her normally affable boss only used the formal honorific when he was extremely displeased with her. Like now…. She looked nervously around his plush office. It had a commanding view of the nearby Dandenong Ranges. However, a cold grey drizzle obscured the normally beautiful view. Dark tendrils of cloud covered the nearby peaks. The unseasonably bad conditions were tipped to last several more days. Real raincoat weather, Emily thought. She could not help thinking how even the weather seemed to match the mood she was in. Her advertising firm had eschewed the high rentals, traffic and smog of the City for the peace and serenity of the hills. They had only recently completed the move here. Once, such a move away from the City might have been unthinkable but the advent and increasingly widespread usage of modern information technology or IT for short, had made it possible. The idea was that being surrounded by verdant bushland would improve employee productivity, morale and more to the point, the quality of the marketing and advertising campaigns that they produced. Some of their advertising accounts were worth millions - everyone was anxious to retain their often fickle clients. The resultant increase in both as well as profitability had thoroughly vindicated the shift within a year. Certainly the appearance of the friendly ringtail possums and small grey kangaroos that often showed up around dusk to mooch handouts from employees had nothing to do with this! "Yes sir."

Suddenly, the phone rang. "Yes?" he barked. Emily swallowed again. He really did sound rather pissed off. And well he might. She surreptitiously gazed at the man leaning back in the high leather covered swivel chair opposite her. She had only a more formal straight-backed chair to sit on. Emily knew that the whole point of this silly little exercise was to emphasise the absolute authority and importance of its occupant. Omnipotent even. Yes… It was supposed to remind all and sundry of his status and power. The usual corporate games.

Normally they got along well together. Despite his power and wealth, Mr Turner had lost none of his natural charm that had enabled him to win so many clients over. Large and bluff with a wonderfully groomed silver beard, he looked more like a distinguished academic rather than the multi-millionaire advertising wunderkind he was. Emily knew that Mr Turner had taken NetDynamics from virtually nothing to the rapidly expanding multi-national Asia-Pacific corporation it was today. They had offices in each major Australian city as well as the Asian capitals of Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila in the Philippines and recently, Ho Chi Minh City which is better known as Saigon in Vietnam. She thoroughly liked his easygoing nature. Michael Turner rarely if ever, raised his voice or appeared to get flustered although he could get occasionally impatient at times. He was not a man who suffered fools gladly.

Emily hoped that this meeting with Mr Turner would not spell the end of her career. She had joined NetDynamics as a fresh eighteen year old, straight from university where she had graduated with straight Distinctions. Emily had worked her way up from being the general office dogsbody (everybody began in the mailroom regardless of their academic qualifications) to her present position of Internet Marketing Manager. That rise up the ladder had taken eight years of hard work but the results were more than worth the sacrifices she'd made to get there. With the recent and explosive spread of the Internet and online shopping, her role was a particularly interesting and exciting one. Although NetDynamics's core business continued to focus on the more traditional advertising mediums such as TV, radio and various print media, Internet advertising and marketing was becoming increasingly important to the extent that it accounted for 25% of all revenues for the 99/00 financial year. It was expected to reach 40% of sales by mid 2002. The potential was practically unlimited and Emily was one of the pioneers on the very forefront of that new electronic frontier which mankind had created and even now, was still learning and exploring. Despite the recent dot.bomb crash, the industry still had untold potential. It was only a matter of time as well as the application of sound business and marketing principles, which would attract the punters. The newest gold rush did not centre on the fabled Klondike or even the Australian or Californian goldfields; it was out in the frontiers of electronic commerce. It was another reason Emily hoped that she would not be shown the door. The money. Last year, her salary had reached the half million mark. Before bonuses…. She was well on the way to millionaire status. Multi-millionaire status. And she was still only twenty-six. Not even thirty. The stakes were high.

"Ok, I'll talk to you later. Call me again tomorrow," said Mr Turner. Emily gazed miserably outside. The tall mountain ash and ghost gums swayed gently like ethereal ballet dancers in the light drizzle. Water dripped from the dark green leaves and puddled on the ground below. Emily wondered how the cute and cuddly koala bears which lived in such trees, would be enjoying the day.

'Click.' Emily swallowed again before sitting up straighter and patting her skirt down. Michael looked anything but happy.

Mr Turner stared hard at Emily before clearing his throat. It sounded like a Panzer fusillade in the silence of his office. "Well!" he harrumphed. "I hear that there has been some trouble today. However I'd like to hear what happened from you, your version if you like."

Emily sighed softly. Neatly phrased. It was nothing more than a polite way of asking, 'Please explain.' She had a lot of explaining to do. Emily took a deep breath before beginning. Best to get it over with, she thought. There was little point in attempting to cover up the facts. Several other people had also seen her actions. By now the whole building would know… It was impossible to keep something secret. It was amazing how quickly something like that got around… Offices had ever been thus… Some things never changed.

"Firstly, I'd like to apologise for my behaviour," Emily quietly said.

Mr Turner nodded but remained silent.

"I'm not going to make excuses. I know that what I did was wrong and I promise that it will not happen again." Emily's voice lowered to a whisper as she continued. Her shoulders shook with emotion and tension as she struggled to find the right words to say. Mr Turner could see that she was clearly under a great deal of stress and he felt momentarily guilty. It was true; she had been working far too hard lately. The burgeoning Internet division had placed everyone under extraordinary workloads and pressure. Many Asian firms were scrambling to obtain a slice of the cyberspace pie and Emily had been traipsing around much of South East Asia promoting NetDynamics and wooing new clients during the last few months. He should have guessed that something like this might happen.

"What did you do that for?" Emily complained. "I asked you to do it like that, not this!!" she growled. She was aware that her voice was rising but this was the last straw. Jane made far too many sloppy mistakes as it was.

"I'm sorry!" Jane moaned. She never seemed to be able to please Emily these days despite the quality of her output. She always seemed to find fault with her more often than not. It was just not fair, she thought. It had not always been like this, she knew. When Jane had joined NetDynamics a year ago, Emily had been far more than her boss; she had also become her mentor and confidant. She knew that her own rise up the corporate ladder had been due in no small part to Emily's support and encouragement. They had become fast friends although to see Emily castigating Jane, one could be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

"Well, you better be!" Emily spitefully said. "Do I really have to check up on you every five minutes?"

Jane bit her lip and said nothing. It was so unfair. It had been Emily who had encouraged her to use her initiative when it came to producing Web pages that actually worked for the customer and associated Web advertising and promotions. Ultimately both the client firm and customers benefited from easy to navigate, user-friendly pages that promoted/retailed their products in a coherent manner. All she had done was alter the material slightly because the old version just did not seem quite right and here was Emily telling her that she had stuffed up. Suddenly she could not help feeling rebellious. I do not have to put up with this, she thought. "But you told me that I should use my initiative and discretion instead of coming to you all the time!" she complained.

"Did I now?"

"Yes, you did," Jane replied.

"Well, fine and good!" Emily snarled. "In future, you ask me!"

Suddenly something snapped inside Jane. Normally calm and unflappable, she had had enough. "Why are you picking on me like this?" she loudly complained. The room was very still. Emily was dimly conscious that everything had gone quiet. Jane's voice rose an octave as she went on, "You know perfectly well that I have done nothing wrong. I don't know what your problem is but don't take it out on me, ok?" Her eyes sparked defiance as she gazed full in Emily's disbelieving face.

"Don't speak to me like that!" Emily growled. She could feel her temper rising rapidly but she felt powerless and out of control.

Jane shot back, "I can say what I like!"

Before Emily really knew what she was doing, she raised her right hand and slapped Jane hard across one cheek. A livid weal suddenly appeared where Emily's palm had come into contact against Jane's soft cheek. Too shocked to speak or cry, Jane abruptly recoiled. Her eyes welled with bright tears while Emily slowly lowered her hand.

Emily Carmichael could not believe that she had actually struck her friend and subordinate. "Oh!" she gasped before fleeing for the sanctuary of her office.

"And that's what happened," Emily sadly concluded. "I wish I had not done it but I did." Emily could not help chiding herself for having lost her temper like that. But then, she had always been short tempered, even as a girl. It must be her red hair. Normally, Emily was proud of her flaming red hair, which hung down in soft curling waves around her expressive, freckled oval face. But not this time… Redheads were supposed to be hot-tempered by nature but Emily did wish that she had not flown off the handle quite like that.

Mr Turner sighed heavily before carefully shifting position. "I see. Thank you for being so frank with me." He paused, obviously unsure what to say next. "I've spoken to Jane. Although she is still very upset, you might be surprised to know that she does not hold it against you."

Emily could not conceal her surprise. She could feel her cheeks colouring. Jane was a nice person. She hoped that she would get the chance to apologise to her later. Emily did not know what to say so she waited for Mr Turner to continue. He smiled thinly before continuing; "Jane says that you have been under a good deal of stress lately. She said that when you first began working together, she was surprised how calm and relaxed you seemed to be even under tight deadlines."

Emily felt tears forming in one eye. She could not believe how understanding Jane had been. It was true; she had been under a great deal of stress lately what with juggling the demands of her job and her aching loneliness. Sometimes, Emily could not help feeling how nice it would be to have a man in her life. Some one who would understand how she felt as well as her special interests.

Emily smiled briefly. She would have to take Jane out for dinner. Somewhere nice. Maybe The Flower Drum… It was the best (and most expensive) Chinese restaurant in the city.

Mr Turner sighed again. "In a way, I feel as though I am partly to blame myself. I should never have allowed the situation to deteriorate like this. I do think that I underestimated the increasing amount and importance of Internet commerce." Sympathetically, "You have been overseas rather a lot lately, haven't you?"

Emily nodded. She had had enough of airport lounges. After a while, one lounge and airport looked much like another. Even the Singapore Airlines exclusive Silver Kris lounge had long since lost its allure.

"Well," Mr Turner sighed before taking a deep breath. Suddenly his voice hardened. Although I can understand why you have been feeling stressed, I still cannot condone your actions." Emily swallowed. The last time she had received a talking to like this was at school. Such a long time ago, she thought. "Jane has asked me that I do not take any further action and I agree. However." Mr Turner's eyes bored into Emily's. "If it happens again, you will be out the door, no matter how many excuses you have. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

"Yes, Mr Turner," Emily sheepishly replied.

Mr Turner's eyes softened. He liked Emily. It would have been a great pity to have to let her go. Apart from the fact that she was the best Internet marketer going around, she was also a bloody nice person. Everyone liked her. Warm, caring, understanding… The list went on. He particularly appreciated the way that she took the time to show new recruits the ropes, so to speak. Yes… They would be in a real bind without her. It had simply been the result of months of accumulated stress. Emily had been tied up at work for far too long. At least she had been honest and upfront about this and he admired her for that. Many people would have fidgeted, lied or made excuses. Nevertheless… Mr Turner sat up straighter. Yes. An excellent idea…

"Emily, I think you need a rest."

"Uh, are you sure?" Emily asked. She hoped that it was not some kind of roundabout way of saying that she was to be eased out.

"Absolutely." Mr Turner smiled. "I want you to take a week off. Go to some health clinic or something like that. A holiday! Whatever." His eyes twinkled. Emily knew that he had already accurately divined her thoughts. "That is a direct order from me." He added, "By the way, that is all expenses paid by us."

Slightly nonplussed, Emily replied, "Uh, OK." She thought for a moment before asking "When?" Although she carefully kept her expression neutral, Emily could not help feel a thrill course through her. It had been so long since she had had a break. Any kind of a break. Yep, her batteries really did need re-charging.

"As soon as possible," Mr Turner replied. "Why don't you go home now, have a think about it and let me know on Monday."

Emily smiled. "I will certainly do that." She was already looking forwards to getting away from the office very much. Although Emily did enjoy her work, a break would be damn bloody nice!

Recharge those old batteries.

"Thank you," he smiled. "Emily, I do think we will be able to manage without you for a week or so."

"I suppose so," Emily carefully replied.

"Not suppose. Definitely." Michael grinned. It was a surprisingly warm smile that left Emily feeling slightly weak. She could well understand why women liked him so much. It was more than looks or power. He had charisma. You either had it or not. But he had it by the bucket load. "Well, I will expect to hear some kind of decision by Monday morning." He leant down and studied the papers before him as though he was addressing a golf ball.