theladystouch
03-24-2008, 05:02 PM
I came up with a short story idea, and as I wrote it, I seem to have covered what I wanted to say in about 1500 words. So my question is this: how short is too short for a short story? Constructive opinions welcome.
Opinions on content and style are welcome, as well. :)
Georgia swore as she checked her watch for the third time. She stepped off the private elevator and swept toward her office. Entering through the discreet door, she headed straight for her desk. Buzzing her secretary, she waited impatiently for a response. When he entered, she asked immediately, “Is he here, yet?”
Roger nodded. “It’s all right. He just arrived. You’re only a minute or two late.”
“Good,” Georgia responded, taking a deep breath. “The damned board is full of old women. No one would step up to the plate and speak to the stock offering. It took me almost an hour to cajole a commitment out of George. Schedule a meeting with Legal for nine tomorrow, will you? And Roger, make sure I’m not disturbed until then. I’ll be busy, either with the applicant or having a discussion with Herr Schroeder.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Roger replied. “Shall I show him in now?”
Georgia took another deep breath, and consciously switched gears. “Give me two minutes,” she ordered.
She waited until Roger had closed the door, then stowed her briefcase and took a minute to check her hair and makeup. Satisfied that no sign of her turmoil was visible, she sat down and briefly reviewed the salient details provided on this applicant. She knew Herr Schroeder well, and he was not known for his effusive praise.
In a way, that raised her level of concern rather than allaying it. What kind of paragon could have impressed him to this degree? Or, conversely, what motive could he have for foisting this applicant off on her?
Dismissing the line of speculation as useless, she rose just as her office door opened.
“Hello, Anthony. It’s good to finally meet you,” she said as she walked forward, offering her hand.
A slender man of average height took her hand, responding, “Yes, Ma’am. It’s good to meet you, too.”
She left him standing in the middle of the oriental carpet as she moved back around the large ebony table that served as her desk, and settled into the leather chair behind it. The room was lushly decorated in blues and grays, and was exactly what you would expect a busy executive’s office to look like; save there were no chairs in front of the desk.
Parking her elbows on the table, she steepled her hands under her chin and considered her latest applicant. Far from looking like a paragon, he looked like a busy executive. Appropriate, since that was what he was.
He didn’t fidget under her careful regard, merely clasped his hands behind his back and looked out the glass wall behind her. The blazing panorama of city lights laid out below apparently held his complete attention.
“So,” she said, finally breaking the silence. “Tell me what you understand to be the requirements of this position, Anthony. Then we can get into your qualifications, and why you wish to be considered for it.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he responded promptly. “As I understand it, you are looking for a submissive male to act as a husband surrogate. You requested a business professional in his thirties, and are offering an initial one-year contract with a life option.”
“That is substantially correct. I haven’t the time or inclination to seek out a husband, but frequently need an escort to business functions. I am also looking for a limited life partner, and may eventually want children,” Georgia confirmed.
“Yes, Ma’am. I am willing to entertain those terms as long as the decision regarding children is not made during the one-year contract.”
“Of course. I have no desire to be a single parent. Children are contingent upon a life contract.”
“Thank you, Ma’am. I appreciate the clarification,” Anthony replied.
“I understand you are a corporate attorney,” Georgia said, moving on to the next point.
“Yes, I am an associate with Stewart, Little, Little, and White. I deal primarily with shareholder agreements and other corporate contracts.”
“If you are selected for this position, I would expect you to work for my company. Does that present any problems for you?”
“No, Ma’am. I understand you will want complete control of my time. I must ask, however, that my ability to continue my career be spelled out in the contract. Furthermore, I enjoy my work, and would not be satisfied with a titular or honorary position.”
“And I wouldn’t be satisfied with a man who had no ambition or outside interests. I’m sure we can reach an accord on that. Especially with you reviewing the contract,” she added with a smile.
“Now, as to your qualifications: I have reviewed the report and references sent to me by Herr Schroeder, and he was most generous in his praise. You spent a little over two years with him, is that correct?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I realize I have nothing to compare it to, but his training seemed most thorough and demanding. I found it challenging, and my successes were personally satisfying.”
“He indicates in his report that your interests include cooking, particularly Italian and French cuisine, as well as auto mechanics. Is that correct?”
“Not quite. I do enjoy cooking, and I’m interested in cars, but I prefer racing them to maintaining them. The mechanical skills are just a necessary side-effect.”
“I see. And do you find you have much time to indulge these hobbies?”
Anthony grinned. “Not as much as I would like, Ma’am. But enough to keep my skills from getting too rusty.”
Georgia leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs and looked up at her latest applicant. Her initial impressions were very favorable. She liked his forthrightness and his confident demeanor. The other two submissives she had interviewed had alternately fawned and cringed in their eagerness to please, making her skin crawl. Perhaps Herr Schroeder’s opinion was to be relied upon after all.
“So, tell me, Anthony. Why are you interested in this position? It’s very unusual for a beginner to select a life-long contract for his first service. Or are you only prepared to make a one-year commitment?”
Anthony looked at her directly for the first time. There was a gleam of challenge in his eye, but no disrespect. “Perhaps it depends on how you define a beginner, Ma’am. I have just completed my training, and it is true that this is the first professional position I have applied for, but it is by no means the first time I have engaged in a relationship with a dominant woman. And, of course, I cannot say if I would be interested in more than the one-year contract at this time, but I assure you I am hopeful that the results will be mutually satisfactory and will lead to a lifetime contract.”
“I see,” Georgia said again. “I trust you can understand my concern, under the circumstances. While there is always a period of adjustment in these situations, you have not had any practical experience in the lifestyle since you completed your training. Although,” Georgia raised a hand to forestall his reply, “Herr Schroeder seems to think you have the necessary grounding and perspective to make you a viable candidate.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I’m gratified to hear that Herr Schroeder thinks so highly of me. If I may elaborate on the situation from my perspective, Ma’am?”
Anthony waited for her nod of permission, then continued. “Being a submissive male in this culture forces you early on to examine your sexual and emotional needs and motivations. I imagine my experiences are fairly typical. Early dating experiences taught me that I didn’t find it fulfilling to always take the lead and make the decisions regarding a relationship, or even where to go to dinner. I was happiest when I knew I was pleasing a woman, but so few were able to tell me what they wanted.
“When I found a dominating female, the relationships worked for a while, but I soon discovered that selfishness and bitchiness weren’t any better than passiveness. Both behaviors left me unfulfilled and feeling I was in the wrong.
“I had actually started seeing a therapist, believing that I had issues I needed to work out before I could function successfully in a relationship. He was the one who referred me to Herr Schroeder.”
Georgia nodded at this, wondering what therapist had been observant enough, and open-minded enough to make the suggestion. Not to mention aware of the kink community in the first place.
“It was during my training that I first met truly dominant women. Women who understood power and control, and saw my need for it. It was like a dream come true, Ma’am, and I knew I had finally found what I needed. I had several experiences of varying duration with dominant women during my training. I believe those experiences, and my response to them, are the basis for Herr Schroeder’s evaluation.”
Looking her directly in the eye, Anthony finished. “As for why I am interested in a chance for a life contract, Ma’am, my time has been almost as limited as yours. I feel I have wasted years looking for the wrong thing. Now that I know what I want, what I need, I hope to find a woman I can serve for the rest of my life.”
A small smile curved her lips as Georgia looked up at him. She was beguiled in spite of herself, and intrigued by the challenge of this man. A casual observer would mistake him for an Alpha male. He was confident and direct, and her sources told her he was a competent negotiator in his work. To have such a powerful man subservient to her instantly triggered her libido.
“Well, then, Anthony, I guess we’d better see how compatible we are. Please strip.”
Opinions on content and style are welcome, as well. :)
Georgia swore as she checked her watch for the third time. She stepped off the private elevator and swept toward her office. Entering through the discreet door, she headed straight for her desk. Buzzing her secretary, she waited impatiently for a response. When he entered, she asked immediately, “Is he here, yet?”
Roger nodded. “It’s all right. He just arrived. You’re only a minute or two late.”
“Good,” Georgia responded, taking a deep breath. “The damned board is full of old women. No one would step up to the plate and speak to the stock offering. It took me almost an hour to cajole a commitment out of George. Schedule a meeting with Legal for nine tomorrow, will you? And Roger, make sure I’m not disturbed until then. I’ll be busy, either with the applicant or having a discussion with Herr Schroeder.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Roger replied. “Shall I show him in now?”
Georgia took another deep breath, and consciously switched gears. “Give me two minutes,” she ordered.
She waited until Roger had closed the door, then stowed her briefcase and took a minute to check her hair and makeup. Satisfied that no sign of her turmoil was visible, she sat down and briefly reviewed the salient details provided on this applicant. She knew Herr Schroeder well, and he was not known for his effusive praise.
In a way, that raised her level of concern rather than allaying it. What kind of paragon could have impressed him to this degree? Or, conversely, what motive could he have for foisting this applicant off on her?
Dismissing the line of speculation as useless, she rose just as her office door opened.
“Hello, Anthony. It’s good to finally meet you,” she said as she walked forward, offering her hand.
A slender man of average height took her hand, responding, “Yes, Ma’am. It’s good to meet you, too.”
She left him standing in the middle of the oriental carpet as she moved back around the large ebony table that served as her desk, and settled into the leather chair behind it. The room was lushly decorated in blues and grays, and was exactly what you would expect a busy executive’s office to look like; save there were no chairs in front of the desk.
Parking her elbows on the table, she steepled her hands under her chin and considered her latest applicant. Far from looking like a paragon, he looked like a busy executive. Appropriate, since that was what he was.
He didn’t fidget under her careful regard, merely clasped his hands behind his back and looked out the glass wall behind her. The blazing panorama of city lights laid out below apparently held his complete attention.
“So,” she said, finally breaking the silence. “Tell me what you understand to be the requirements of this position, Anthony. Then we can get into your qualifications, and why you wish to be considered for it.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he responded promptly. “As I understand it, you are looking for a submissive male to act as a husband surrogate. You requested a business professional in his thirties, and are offering an initial one-year contract with a life option.”
“That is substantially correct. I haven’t the time or inclination to seek out a husband, but frequently need an escort to business functions. I am also looking for a limited life partner, and may eventually want children,” Georgia confirmed.
“Yes, Ma’am. I am willing to entertain those terms as long as the decision regarding children is not made during the one-year contract.”
“Of course. I have no desire to be a single parent. Children are contingent upon a life contract.”
“Thank you, Ma’am. I appreciate the clarification,” Anthony replied.
“I understand you are a corporate attorney,” Georgia said, moving on to the next point.
“Yes, I am an associate with Stewart, Little, Little, and White. I deal primarily with shareholder agreements and other corporate contracts.”
“If you are selected for this position, I would expect you to work for my company. Does that present any problems for you?”
“No, Ma’am. I understand you will want complete control of my time. I must ask, however, that my ability to continue my career be spelled out in the contract. Furthermore, I enjoy my work, and would not be satisfied with a titular or honorary position.”
“And I wouldn’t be satisfied with a man who had no ambition or outside interests. I’m sure we can reach an accord on that. Especially with you reviewing the contract,” she added with a smile.
“Now, as to your qualifications: I have reviewed the report and references sent to me by Herr Schroeder, and he was most generous in his praise. You spent a little over two years with him, is that correct?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I realize I have nothing to compare it to, but his training seemed most thorough and demanding. I found it challenging, and my successes were personally satisfying.”
“He indicates in his report that your interests include cooking, particularly Italian and French cuisine, as well as auto mechanics. Is that correct?”
“Not quite. I do enjoy cooking, and I’m interested in cars, but I prefer racing them to maintaining them. The mechanical skills are just a necessary side-effect.”
“I see. And do you find you have much time to indulge these hobbies?”
Anthony grinned. “Not as much as I would like, Ma’am. But enough to keep my skills from getting too rusty.”
Georgia leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs and looked up at her latest applicant. Her initial impressions were very favorable. She liked his forthrightness and his confident demeanor. The other two submissives she had interviewed had alternately fawned and cringed in their eagerness to please, making her skin crawl. Perhaps Herr Schroeder’s opinion was to be relied upon after all.
“So, tell me, Anthony. Why are you interested in this position? It’s very unusual for a beginner to select a life-long contract for his first service. Or are you only prepared to make a one-year commitment?”
Anthony looked at her directly for the first time. There was a gleam of challenge in his eye, but no disrespect. “Perhaps it depends on how you define a beginner, Ma’am. I have just completed my training, and it is true that this is the first professional position I have applied for, but it is by no means the first time I have engaged in a relationship with a dominant woman. And, of course, I cannot say if I would be interested in more than the one-year contract at this time, but I assure you I am hopeful that the results will be mutually satisfactory and will lead to a lifetime contract.”
“I see,” Georgia said again. “I trust you can understand my concern, under the circumstances. While there is always a period of adjustment in these situations, you have not had any practical experience in the lifestyle since you completed your training. Although,” Georgia raised a hand to forestall his reply, “Herr Schroeder seems to think you have the necessary grounding and perspective to make you a viable candidate.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I’m gratified to hear that Herr Schroeder thinks so highly of me. If I may elaborate on the situation from my perspective, Ma’am?”
Anthony waited for her nod of permission, then continued. “Being a submissive male in this culture forces you early on to examine your sexual and emotional needs and motivations. I imagine my experiences are fairly typical. Early dating experiences taught me that I didn’t find it fulfilling to always take the lead and make the decisions regarding a relationship, or even where to go to dinner. I was happiest when I knew I was pleasing a woman, but so few were able to tell me what they wanted.
“When I found a dominating female, the relationships worked for a while, but I soon discovered that selfishness and bitchiness weren’t any better than passiveness. Both behaviors left me unfulfilled and feeling I was in the wrong.
“I had actually started seeing a therapist, believing that I had issues I needed to work out before I could function successfully in a relationship. He was the one who referred me to Herr Schroeder.”
Georgia nodded at this, wondering what therapist had been observant enough, and open-minded enough to make the suggestion. Not to mention aware of the kink community in the first place.
“It was during my training that I first met truly dominant women. Women who understood power and control, and saw my need for it. It was like a dream come true, Ma’am, and I knew I had finally found what I needed. I had several experiences of varying duration with dominant women during my training. I believe those experiences, and my response to them, are the basis for Herr Schroeder’s evaluation.”
Looking her directly in the eye, Anthony finished. “As for why I am interested in a chance for a life contract, Ma’am, my time has been almost as limited as yours. I feel I have wasted years looking for the wrong thing. Now that I know what I want, what I need, I hope to find a woman I can serve for the rest of my life.”
A small smile curved her lips as Georgia looked up at him. She was beguiled in spite of herself, and intrigued by the challenge of this man. A casual observer would mistake him for an Alpha male. He was confident and direct, and her sources told her he was a competent negotiator in his work. To have such a powerful man subservient to her instantly triggered her libido.
“Well, then, Anthony, I guess we’d better see how compatible we are. Please strip.”