Carl

 

Bagels were off the lunch menu today. I felt uncharacteristically nervous as I gave the training suite a final onceover.

It had come around so quickly, the end of the telemarketing phase of the internship programme. As of Monday, my group of twenty would be fractured into smaller teams, assigned to different departments of their own choosing. Some into the account management teams, some into back office support, Ryan was heading for the field sales division, shadowing one of our Northern Territory sales managers.

Katie and Verity had both opted for the marketing team, and there would be just four of them heading in that direction.

Maybe it was their shot to find some common ground, without the background noise of a busy calling regime.

I hoped so. As much as Verity Faverley had been a self-righteous, bitchy little pain in the ass for the vast majority of the time I’d known her, I still hoped they’d find some way to forge a relationship of sorts. Verity had surprised me, and as much as Katie hated to admit it, she was surprising her, too.

I’d seen it for myself, the little olive branches Verity was holding out. Little comments in the team meetings, a genuine smile as Katie claimed the leaderboard for the day, an offer of a trailer for the Cheltenham Chase by all accounts.

I didn’t push it. Partly because fragile flowers need space to bloom, and partly because I doubted poor Rick could take another round of my brutal honesty.

I’d done more than enough of that for the time being.

David and our senior management team were due at our Cheltenham office for the Friday afternoon festivities. We had champagne and celebratory cake, and a buffet from outside caterers. Hell, we even had balloons.

I suspected we’d also have a fresh round of golden envelopes, but that wasn’t my call. I’d presented the final leaderboard figures with my recommendations, but the final decision on bonuses would be down to David and the finance team.

“It looks amazing in here,” Katie said. Her smile was bright and her eyes were happy. She took a seat at her old desk. “I can’t believe this is the last time I’ll be sitting here, it’s come to feel so comfortable, you know?”

“You can always come back and pick up the phone, for old time’s sake. It’s only over if you want it to be.”

She shrugged. “I dunno, Carl. Maybe I’ll lose my touch.” She looked up at me. “Maybe I’ll be a marketing whizz instead, have you thought of that? Maybe I’ll join Rick in his little design empire and have my own ads up on the kitchen wall.”

I put my hands on her shoulders, gave her a squeeze. “The world is your oyster, Katie. Nothing would surprise me.”

“We could give ourselves a cool funky name. Kat-rick, it’s a bit like hat trick, no? Three in a row. That could be us.” She laughed. “You’d have to join then, though.”

“Unlikely.” I smiled down at her. “Anyway, Rick would want something abstract. Indigo Trout or some crap like that. You know what he’s like. Any excuse for a hip rebrand.”

“I like Kat-rick.”

“So do I,” I said, and tipped her face up to mine.

“Smooching in the office is a no-no, Mr Brooks, very unprofessional.” Her eyes mocked, but her lips were open.

I leaned in further, until I could feel her breath, and she blushed.

“Carl, seriously. What?”

“It’s a celebration,” I said, and kissed her.

I kissed her like we weren’t at work, like it was just us, alone, like it had become so natural to do. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me close, and moaned into my mouth as I moaned into hers, and it was perfect, so perfect.

But it was a mistake.

A cough from the doorway doused us with cold water, and my eyes crashed into the stare of Evan Michaels, Finance Director.

“I apologise for the… interruption,” he said, and there was a barb in it. “I was hoping for a word, Carl, about next month’s projections.”

I nodded, gestured to our meeting room. “Of course. Be my guest.”

I flashed Katie a smile as I went, mouthed it’s ok in response to her horror.

But the clock was ticking.

It seemed my brutal honesty would likely get another outing after all.

 

It came even sooner than I expected. The buffet was in full swing when David’s hand slapped on my shoulder, and his expression was friendly but serious.

“We need to talk.”

I nodded. “Yes. We do.”

Katie’s eyes followed us as we left the training suite, and this time it was for another meeting area, far away from inquisitive ears. I closed the door behind us, and David remained standing. I did, too.

“I know I don’t need to ask you for honesty, Carl.”

“No,” I said. “You don’t.”

“I’ve heard a rumour…”

“Yes,” I said. “Katie and I are in a relationship.” I met his eyes, held firm. “I wanted to tell you. I’m sure you understand why I didn’t. The secrecy didn’t rest easy with me, I can assure you.”

He paced. Nodded his head. “How long?”

The admission was the only thing that made me uncomfortable. “Before she joined the programme. Before I knew she was your daughter.”

I could see the shock in his face. “That’s quite some time, Carl.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry this is the first you’re hearing about it. Genuinely, David. But with Katie being your daughter, with your relationship being as it was, and her participation in the internship programme complicating matters, I felt it best to let time… take its course.” I sighed. “I wasn’t hiding things with any subversive intent, David. I’m not ashamed.”

“I had my suspicions,” he said, and his eyes pierced me. “Is it serious?”

“Very.”

He nodded again. “You’re a good man, Carl. I have nothing but respect for you, and under the majority of circumstances I would wholly support your relationship with my daughter.”

Such a mix of emotions churned in my stomach, but his praise hit hardest of all. “Thank you,” I said. “That means a lot.” I paused. “What do you mean by the majority of circumstances?”

He didn’t sugarcoat the issue. “Rick,” he said. “Where is Rick in all of this?”

I didn’t sugarcoat the issue, either. “Exactly where you’d expect,” I said. “Rick is very much in all of this.”

He raised his eyebrows. “What is this? Some kind of… orgy?”

I shook my head, unable to resist a smirk. “It’s no orgy, David. We’re a polyamorous couple, Rick and I, have been for years.” I stared at him. “You know that.”

“Yes, I know that.” He sighed. “But I didn’t… she’s my daughter, Carl.”

“I’m aware of that.” I didn’t break eye contact. “I always felt you supported mine and Rick’s relationship, David. We both count you as a friend.”

“And I am a friend, of both of you.” He took a seat, and I followed his lead and took one, too. “You know I like Rick, Carl. I’ve always liked Rick. I like both of you.”

“But?”

“But I’m not sure…” he sighed again. “This isn’t what I imagined for my daughter. It makes it…”

“Different?” I raised an eyebrow. “So, you support our relationship just so long as it doesn’t involve a member of your close circle, is that what you’re saying? That it’s conditional, David? Do what you want, just so long as it’s not in my backyard?”

“No,” he held up his hands. “That’s not what I’m saying.”

But he was saying it, that’s exactly what he was saying.

“We love Katie very much,” I said. “Both of us.”

“And she feels the same?”

I smiled. “I would hope so. I certainly believe so. Feel free to ask her for yourself.”

He fixed me in a stare. “Would you not consider making a choice, Carl? If you chose to be with Katie, I’d be very happy about the situation.”

I stared right back. “I’m not even going to grace that question with an answer, David.”

“You must understand,” he said. “She’s my daughter, Carl, she’s my little girl.”

“And she’s very happy. We’re all very happy.”

He sighed. “You’d understand,” he said. “If you had a daughter.”

“With all due respect, I wouldn’t,” I said. “Love is love, David. Commitment is commitment. Integrity and consideration and communication, honesty and genuine care, compassion, support… those are the things that make a worthwhile relationship, whether that’s two people, or three people, or ten people.” I willed him to listen. To understand. “We have all of those things, so no, David, I wouldn’t understand the preference of the status quo over a situation where three people have found genuine happiness. I’m sorry if our relationship disappoints you, honestly I am, your opinion matters to me very much, but I am not ashamed of loving your daughter, and I’m not ashamed of loving Rick. I’m not ashamed, David, and I have no intention of leaving either one of them.”

He pointed a finger in my direction, smiled. “This is why you’d make such an excellent partner for my daughter, Carl. You have such integrity, such honour. I’ve always respected that in you.”

“I hope I do make an excellent partner for your daughter. Maybe you should ask her before you come to any conclusions about our situation.”

“Maybe I will,” he said.

“Please do.” I got to my feet. “We have a celebration to attend, if we’re done?”

He waited, staring up at me. “I can’t say I’m alright with this, Carl.”

“So don’t. Don’t say anything until you know what you can say.”

He rose from the table, and I looked at the man I’d come to respect to highly. He was still a strong man, still proud. His grey hair was thinner than it once was, but he was still an attractive man, still a charismatic, dynamic, driven leader. He held out a hand and I took it.

“Please don’t feel this is a reflection on my feelings towards you, Carl. I respect everything you’ve done for me, not least for building bridges between Katie and I. I know that was you, I know what you did for me.”

“I did that for both of you,” I said. “And maybe that’s where you should be putting your attention. We’re really no threat to Katie’s happiness, Rick and I. We’ll do the right thing by her, always.”

“I know,” he said. “I just need some time, to make sense of my outlook.”

“Take all the time you need, David. We’ll all be right here when you want to talk.”

He nodded, and I opened the door.

 

“Psst,” Katie said. She had a party hat on her head, a golden crown with garish glitter stars. I raised an eyebrow and she smiled. “Ryan brought them in. Mine’s the queen one, isn’t it cool?”

“Very.”

She took a breath. “What did he say? My dad, I mean. What was all that about?”

“He knows,” I said, and her eyes widened.

“And…?”

“And it’s a lot to take in. I was honest, he knows the situation.”

“Shit,” she said.

“No,” I argued. “It’s not shit. It’s a relief.”

She shrugged. “Honesty’s the best policy, right?”

“Always, Katie.” I smiled. “Always.”

“He’s still here.” She looked over at him. “That’s got to be a good sign.”

“He is indeed, and I hope so.” I pulled her close, took her hand in mine. “And a little birdie told me you may well have an envelope to match your crown. Maybe you’ll even appreciate it this time.”

“Maybe I will,” she said.

I handed her a champagne and we raised our glasses to David across the room.

He only hesitated a second before he raised his in return.

 

We stayed on late to clear up, the least I could do for the cleaners. We’d made quite a mess of the buffet, and someone had been thoughtful enough to bring party poppers, the whole room was covered in coloured strings.

Katie mucked in, and she was giggling, happy on champagne.

“When am I going to spend my vouchers?” she said, casting paper plates into the recycling bin. “I’ll be able to buy a whole winter wardrobe at this rate.”

I gave her a smile. “Whenever you want. Rick will love that.”

“And you,” she said. “Mr Suave.”

I gathered up the last of the streamers, dumped them in the bin. Finally the place looked respectable, respectable enough for a regular clean at the weekend.

“Weekend calling,” I said, and Katie downed the rest of her drink, tossed the plastic flute in the recycling.

She moved back to her old desk, dropped into her seat, and spun around and around as she laughed.

“That’s probably not the wisest move,” I said, and stopped her.

She stared up at me with a grin. “Spoil sport. I’m just saying goodbye.”

“I don’t want a sick-splattered car, thank you very much.” She poked out her tongue and I pinched it. “This isn’t the end,” I said. “You’ll be back on Monday, the marketing suite is only downstairs.”

“But it’s the end of all this.” She gestured to the room. “Of us working together.”

I shook my head. “I’ll still be involved, Katie, this is still my programme.”

“Yeah, but still,” she said. “You know what I mean.”

I did know what she meant, but I didn’t say so.

She reached up for my tie, smoothed it down. “I won’t be able to perv over you anymore.”

“You’ll have to get your fix in the mornings.”

Her eyes twinkled. “Do they have any hot studs in marketing?”

I pretended to think about it. “Maybe one or two. If you like redheads in heels.”

Her fingers wrapped around my tie, pulled me down as she smiled.

“What?” I said.

“We were interrupted. I didn’t get the rest of my kiss.”

“You can get it at home.”

But she shook her head. “It’s a celebration, I want it here, where we’re celebrating.”

I kissed her quickly, but her fingers tangled in my hair, and her breath was warm. She held me to her, and her lips opened against mine, her tongue needy and demanding.

My resolve crumbled, and I kissed her back. Between us the chair was pushed away, and she was in my arms, hitched onto the desk, her ankles hooking my legs, her fingers on my belt.

“Wait,” I said. “Rick.”

“I want you in the office,” she said. “I’ve wanted this since day one. I’ve wanted this every day from day one.”

And so had I. Fuck how I’d wanted to take her at her desk since day one.

“We shouldn’t,” I said, but her lips were still hungry for mine, her fingers already inside my boxers to wrap around my cock,

“We’ll make it up to Rick when we get home,” she said. “We can suck him off together, you and me. He’d like that.”

So would I. My dick twitched.

“It’s not right… behind his back.”

She took her hands from my cock and I groaned, but she was only reaching for my phone. She took it from my pocket, worked my cock in one hand as she scrolled through my recently dialled list.

“Call him,” she said. “Ask him if he minds.”

My breath hitched. “This is a line we haven’t crossed, Katie.”

She shrugged, worked my dick a little bit harder and it felt too fucking good. “Call him, Carl. If he minds, we’ll stop.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

She smirked. “If he doesn’t, I want you to fuck me, right here, right now. Over my desk with my knickers around my knees and my skirt hitched around my waist. Just like an office fuck should be, Carl. Just like I dreamed of.”

“Shit,” I groaned, but I was dialling. The tone was ringing.

Katie dropped to her knees as Rick answered, sucked my cock into her mouth as he said hello.

“Rick,” I said, and my voice was ragged. “I’ve got to ask you…”

“Fuck,” he said. “Fuck, Carl, are you fucking her?”

I closed my eyes, tried to still my thrusting hips. “No… yes… we can stop…”

He was quiet for a second.

“We can stop, Rick. Just say the word.”

But he didn’t.

“Don’t fucking stop!” he said. “I was just getting my fucking cock out.”

I smiled, took a fistful of Katie’s hair.

“Loudspeaker,” he said. “I want to hear everything.”

I put him on speaker and dropped it in the IN tray, and Katie let out a little squeal as I pulled her from my cock and onto her feet.

I hitched up her skirt, and pushed her back against her workstation, toppling her onto the desk as I dropped to my knees.

I pressed my mouth to her sweet cunt and she was wet. Her knickers were soaked through. I pulled them down slowly and she moaned for me, moaned for Rick.

And then I licked her, long strokes of my tongue until she was bucking. Until her clit was a hard little bullet, and she was spread wide open. I sucked her between my lips and grunted my approval, and her pussy ate up my fingers as I pushed them inside. Three, straight to the knuckle, and she squirmed and begged for more.

I could hear her sweet little murmurs, and I could hear Rick’s breath through the speaker.

My cock pulsed, and I wanted in, all the way in.

I sucked and grunted and ploughed her wet little pussy with my fingers until her drink-relaxed limbs tightened up for me, until her hands were in my hair and she was crying out, begging for more.

Until Rick was grunting, too, his breath ragged.

“Make her come,” Rick groaned. “Make her come, then fuck her, Carl. I want to hear you fuck her.”

I curled my fingers, and she grabbed my wrist. “Fuck,” she hissed. “Right there.”

She wouldn’t let go, guiding my hand as my fingers worked her from inside. She tipped her head back and arched her spine, and her cunt made such lovely wet noises.

“Come for me,” I said. “Rick wants to hear.”

“Yes…” she rasped. “Oh fuck…”

I picked up pace, and circled her clit with my tongue, and the girl was delirious, all limbs and gasping breath, her leg resting over my shoulder, her heel digging into my back.

She came like a banshee, and it was beautiful. She came loud enough that she drowned out Rick on the loudspeaker, and the world was only Katie and her gorgeous wet slit in my face.

And then I fucked her. I flipped her onto her front and I fucked her before she’d even caught her breath.

She grunted and groaned as I slammed my way inside, and I was grunting, too, and my phone was dancing around the IN tray.

“Fuck me,” she hissed, gripping on to the edge of the desk. “Fuck me hard, Carl. I want it fucking hard.”

“My fucking pleasure.”

I took her hair and twisted it in a braid, then wrapped it around my hand and pulled, enough to tip her head back.

“Tell Rick how it feels.”

She let out a little whimper.

“Tell Rick how it feels,” I repeated, and licked up her face, angled my breath to her ear.

“It feels… deep…” she said. “Oh, fuck, it feels… hard, so hard… it aches… it aches so fucking good…”

“Fuck her.” Rick’s voice was raspy.

My flesh slapped against Katie’s, her body shunting into the desk with every thrust.

“Fuck her, Carl. Fuck that sweet little cunt.”

I changed angle and she cried out, but she was wriggling, bucking her hips right back at me.

“I’m about to shoot my fucking load,” I growled, and she moaned for me.

“Fuck her, Carl,” Rick repeated, and I could hear the edge in his voice, his own ragged breath.

“Shit…” I growled. “Oh, fuck…”

I came hard, pulling Katie’s hair tighter than I should have, but she didn’t care, didn’t even let out a squeak.

I slammed balls deep and pumped my load right the way inside her, as she tightened and bucked and milked me fucking dry.

I rested my forehead on her shoulder, and she leaned back at me, kissed my temple.

“You still there?” Rick asked, “I just jizzed all over my desk.” He laughed. “Fuck, guys, that was fucking something.” He paused. “Told you that was a good idea, Carl.”

“Arrogance isn’t becoming, Rick. Nobody likes a smart arse.”

I pulled out of Katie and she moaned, giggled.

“You’d better be ready for round two,” I said. “We’re on our way home.”

“Just hurry the fuck up,” Rick said.