The Mistress' Revenge

"Why do we even stock these?" I asked, lifting the lightest box of lingerie.

"Because girls love it." My boss says. He is thirty and runs the sexiest lingerie shop in the whole of Fashion Mart on Seventh Street. He has two daughters, a divorced wife, and a girlfriend. It's safe to say that he knows about women. Or, maybe tried to.

"But you cannot possibly sell these for like Thirty dollars? There's no fabric. And it looks uncomfortable," I said, lifting a piece from the carton. It was supposed to be a bra-and-thong set. It was supposed to be cut into a huge heart that supports the pelvis, and two small ones for the nipples.

"Ridiculous. You have been working here for six months. And you haven't learnt anything," he looks at me disappointed.

"Really, Mark? In this economy? Thirty dollars for this? It barely does anything," I put the box on the shelf.

"It's not supposed to be on the body for long. Jane, tell me you have never been with a guy without telling me," he shakes his head.

"You make me feel so bad. I hardly knew what it is like to be this innocent. You should try to date. At least when you are still young," he tells me.

So much for finding a father figure at the workplace! I didn't want anyone to tell me that I have been living a pathetic life for so long. Half of which I cannot seem to remember.

"I am not that big of a loser. Believe me or not, I got kicked out because I got super drunk once," I tell him and his eyes grew wide.

"I have to tell you. You have the lamest parents. Who kicks their kid out for being high? I got high all the time. Now, I am making money off selling panties! Would you believe that?" He says, and I nod.

Well, to begin with I don't even remember much about my mom or my dad. All I knew was that there were four of us. Mom, dad, Camille and I. Then Camille moved out. Then dad moved out for work. Then there was mom and me. And then mom wasn't around much. So, I pretty much ended up alone. All by myself. Until of course, that night when mom did show up and I was at my worst. But where did that even get me? Kicked out.

"Jane, can you walk through the next customer to our range of products? I have to go to my daughter's recital," Mark tells me, and I realised I couldn't say no. I owed him big time for letting me take a day off work week while writing the report.

"Sure thing," I said, and he turned back to his reception desk. He was doing most of the billing and filing work. Lovegerie seemed so tacky, but was a well known lingerie shop at the mall. We had all sorts of sexy wear and of course Mark took customized lingerie ideas. Even the weird ones.

Ding.

The doorbell chimed. In walked Corin...and some guy. "Surprise!" The guy tells Corin, pulling her closer in his arms. Dread resurfaced. I can't let her know I work here!

"Mark. Psst," I hoped he would hear me from behind the shelves, but he doesn't. They are both at the cash register with him. Mark's already busy greeting them.

"Welcome to Lovegerie! My employee, Jane would soon greet you and help you with whatever you are looking for. I would have loved to do so myself, Master Rafael but...family duties," Mark explained. "Jane! Jane," he yelled, and I took a quick glance at Corin's hesitant face.

"Yeah..." Reluctantly I walked to the reception desk. My eyes met Corin's and I waited for her to act weirdly surprised or judge me, or maybe both. But she doesn't. I gulp the lump in my throat.

"Hi, I am Jane. I will help you through all your lingerie needs," I chimed, trying to mellow down the cringe I was feeling. God. I am a shitty person.

"What can I show you today?" I asked, and the guy's eyes met mine. Something about him seemed familiar. Wait. Isn't he just the guy I saw yesterday? This is going to be so embarrassing.

"Can you please show the young lady something elegant?" He says, and I blanch on the inside. Something elegant at Lovegerie? He's got to be kidding me.

"Ma'am, if you'd please," I said, not meeting Corin's eye. She walked forward and I followed, knowing well that this was so fucking awkward. Perhaps I should tell Dr. Phil about it.

"Would you like to have it in lace, or satin? We also have a wide range of colours. But of course, it would be great if you'd like to-"

"Jane, drop the act!" Corin dragged me by my arm to a corner. "I get it! It's awkward, but girls like us do have dates. He has a credit card and he wants to spend. You get it?" She says, her eyes visibly scared.

"Alright. What do you want to buy today, Corin?" I asked her, trying to ignore everything else.

"I want you to show me the most comfortable set you own here. I don't want to get those useless, flimsy ones," she says. "I already have a rash," adding subtly.

"I know just the thing for you!" I said. "A minute please," I walked into the store room. Of course, Mark had tried to return the whole stock but the supplier had declined. This was the only "fine" lingerie that I knew about in the whole of Lovegerie. The rest of it was sequined, lacy, and made up of fabrics that could catch rash.

I reached for the prettiest set of colours, and turned around. No sooner than I had walked a few steps, I found someone at the door.

"Found what you needed?" It was the guy who came with Corin.

"Sir, this area is restricted to customers. I would suggest you-"

"Shh. I thought you and I could catch a quick word. I know who you are. You are the one Professor Hank kissed the other day, didn't he?" His eyes flashed with something intimidating. I had no idea what he was talking about.