Supply Closet [Part 4]

Tight Spaces

I was curled on my couch scrolling through my phone when it buzzed with a text message. Unusual at this time of night, and even more unusual for it to be one of my colleagues.

Hey Sarah, it’s Clair from marketing. I got your number from Simon. How are you?

I narrowed my eyes, instantly suspicious that someone from work was trying to contact me.

Fine, thanks. Just watching a movie, what’s up?

I waited a moment for the response.

Well it’s kind of a random question but I keep seeing you and Tom slip into that supply closet. Is everything okay?

My heart dropped into my stomach. I’d been so careful! Checking both ways before entering, going at different times during the day. There was no way she could have noticed. Or so I thought.

There was nothing else to do except deny it.

My fingers trembled as I typed back.

Yeah, I’ve just been helping him find some supplies! Just boring work stuff for a project we’ve been working on together.

I waited for her response again, my heart thumping. Was she going to report us to HR? Try to get me fired? Clair had kind of a…hot-girl vibe…but she always seemed nice when I spoke to her. Would she really do something like that? I felt my cheeks flush hot. My phone buzzed again.

Oh boo! That’s disappointing lol

I felt my eyebrows lower. Disappointing? What did she mean by that? I tried to play it as casually as I could muster.

Why disappointing? What were you expecting exactly? lol

The reply was almost instant.

Nothing! I guess I thought there was something kinda hot going on in there haha 🫠

I crossed my legs and leaned back on the couch.

Kinda hot? Like what?

Again, the reply came instantly. It was obvious Clair was waiting on my responses as much as I was waiting on hers, and our conversion started to flow a little more quickly.

I guess I thought you might be helping him get over his breakup…

Oh, you heard about that?

Yeah. They were together for a while right? Tom seems like such a good guy, too.

Yeah, he really is. Such a shame!

Poor guy. We’ve all been there I guess.

True. It’s been a few weeks now though so I think he’s feeling better.

Because you helped him?? 🤨😆

I have no idea what you’re talking about lol

Haha yeah right.

Honestly I think its like…hot

Think WHAT is hot?

That you’re doing stuff. At work. In the supply closet.

We aren’t!

Be real. I’ve seen the way you look when you come out of that room lol

I know that look anywhere!

But if you don’t want to admit it then that’s fine 🤷‍♀️

I’ll keep your secret 🤐

Just a shame because I was wondering if you needed any help lol

For a few seconds I just stared at the screen, reading the last message over and over again. Did I understand what she was saying? Clair from marketing. Clair with the glossy hair and the tight skirts. Clair, who had half the office watching her every time she walked to the printer.

Clair wanted to help?

My thumb hovered over the keypad while my stomach dropped and fluttered at the same time.

I started to type.

***

When Tom saw her, stood at the back of the supply closet with her blouse already half undone, her skirt rolled up enough to show the frilly lace of her stockings, and her hair up in a secretarial messy-bun that exposed the soft curve of her neck, his eyes almost popped out of his head.