The Tasks of Harry Kelly Ch. 02

Chapter Two

IT hadn't proved an enjoyable day for Harry. He'd spent most of it focused on weather updates, despite there being nothing to report. "Give me gales and blizzards", shouted Pete, the news editor. "Not fucking unsettled."

In truth, Harry hadn't enjoyed many days since arriving at the Beacon. He was out of his depth, he worried, and every passing minute only added to this concern. He'd been born and brought up in a tiny village in Herefordshire, and started out as a local reporter at the nearest town. He'd stayed there for six happy years. He had friends in the news room, he could stay with his dad and, for a while, at least, he had hoped to move things on with Callie, who had started the same day he had. Give it time, he had told himself. Things will develop. But they hadn't. And then, two years previously, she had moved to London. He still wished he'd had the courage to ask her out. He had always been planning to but the right moment had never arrived. Then she was gone.

Now here he was, in London, too. He told himself otherwise but Callie was the only reason he had finally made the leap. He had hated every second of it.

He scanned the room. Next to Pete was Julie, deputy on the desk. She was one of the few who was nice to him. She seemed to be nice to everyone, a foil to Pete's anger, albeit one with a steel core. He'd seen her when she took on the editor directly. He'd been impressed; he couldn't dream of doing that. She caught his eye and she smiled. He blushed and he tried not to stare at her breasts, which were the topic of much discussion amongst his male colleagues.

On the desks opposite, although you couldn't see them because of the size of the screens, were the senior reporters. These were the best known faces at the title and none of them spoke to him. There was Simone Harrison, on the royals; she was often on the TV and he was always slightly starstruck around her. She was plumper in real life, he thought, but also more naturally beautiful away from the studio lights. Beside her was Alice Tanner in politics. Funny, tough and gorgeous. The go to when the paper needed a talking head outside Parliament, often referred to as a beauty with brains. Phil Arnold on defence and Dave Russell, crime, were laughing together. Neither looked his way.

Those were old hands in their 40s or 50s, even. His peers were to his left, joking away. They were younger, louder and more playful. Why don't they just get on with their work, he wondered, and he suddenly realised that they were - the difference was they enjoyed it. He thought of Callie, at the art gallery in Pimlico. She had a boyfriend now, he had discovered, shortly after taking out a six month lease in a chaotic flat share in Archway. He wondered how often they had sex. He often wondered about Callie's private life.

"Hiya Harry." It was Katie, arriving at the desk next to his. He'd always liked Katie and she would always find time for him, making sure he knew about the office drinks and introducing him to people as they came by. She was bright and fun, sometimes one of the lads, others a girl's girl. Once, in a planning meeting,, she had brought up a potential story about the best anal sex lubricants, without stammering, blushing or missing a beat. He could never have managed that. He often imagined sidling up to her and making suggestive comments - "need any help with the research?"

"Hi Katie", he managed, instead. As she sat he got a glimpse of her cleavage and hoped she hadn't seen. They both knew he had. He quickly checked his watch. It was coming up to 3pm, the change of shift time. Harry had hoped to get off early but, as he made to shut down, Pete yelled over. "Not yet, I need the 3.30 predictions."

"Bummer," said Katie.

"Bummer," said Pete, pleased they had both used the word. He still remembered the lubricant story. Katie frowned and gestured at the entrance."What does she want?"

Alice, the assistant to the CEO, was pacing towards them, hand raised. Pete looked over and Katie stood but Alice shook her head. She was heading straight for Harry.

"Hello Harry", she said. He had gone bright red. She made him nervous. She had sent him a filthy email once which she claimed had been meant for her boyfriend. He still wasn't sure if it wasn't some kind of joke at his expense. It usually was.

"The CEO wants a one to one with you in her office." This loudly enough to draw stunned looks around the desk. "New thing she's bringing in," said Alice. She laughed and shrugged to the room. "Yeah, I know. Another one."

"You'd better go," whispered Katie, as Harry made no obvious sign of movement. Pete stared over. "Fucking go, then", he said. Harry stood. He walked side by side with Alice, who was humming to herself. "You're not in any trouble", she assured him, as she turned the special key needed to get the lift to the executive floor. "And it's nothing to do with that email, by the way. That's our secret."

He often thought of that email. It had given him the perfect ammunition under the covers in his tiny room. He thought about her pussy. He realised he was staring at her bottom as she led him into the boardroom and only noticed Emily Cole, the top dog, a second after stepping in. He froze. And next to her stood... it couldn't be.

"Sorry to disrupt your working day, Harry," said Emily. "We've not been properly introduced but of course, I've heard about the excellent work you've been doing."

Now he really was confused.

"This, of course, is our owner, Carlton Hughes."

Carlton clicked his heels together and gave a salute. Harry stood open mouthed.

"You know how important he is, both to our organisation and the information eco-system at large," said Emily. Carlton interrupted, "don't worry, the boys not going to start calling me names". He fixed him with a stare. "Are you?"

Harry froze and managed the slightest shake of his head.

"Good," said Carlton. He clapped his hands again. "Let's stay standing for now, we'll have a seat in a moment. No, Alice, you stay too, please. Close the door."

Emily stood next to Carlton at one end of the table, Harry and Alice the other.

"I'm working on a project that's very close to my heart and I'd love for you to be involved," said Carlton. "But I need to ask you one question first." He stroked his chin. "Maybe two," he conceded. "Are you willing to answer?"

Harry suddenly took in the view over London, the floor to ceiling windows, the fine art on the wall. This really was it. This really was the CEO and, yes, this really was American owner Carlton Hughes. Fuck, he thought. Wait till I tell Callie about this.

"Of course", he said, with a stutter he hoped no one caught..

"Good," said Carlton. He turned to Emily. "You know Mrs Cole, of course? Not intimately, I mean." Forced laughter. "But who she is. The first CEO under me. Your boss."

"Yes," said Harry. He had only seen her twice before, in the days after the Queen's death.

"So my question is this. Yes or no answer."

Harry waited. Emily waited. Alice held her breath.

"Does Ms Cole, in your opinion, shave her crotch?"

"Carlton!" Said Emily, slapping his arm. Harry was bright red. He looked to Alice for support. She winked at him and he went redder still.

"Really, Emily, it's a simple enough question for the boy."

Harry stayed silent.

"Yes, shaved, or no, hairy. Take a guess. Think what you know about her."

Harry wanted to fall through the floor, fifteen storeys down.

"Five seconds, Harry. I'm the boss, not her. Four. Three. Two.. "

"No," mumbled Harry.

"Excellent!" said Carlton, beaming. He turned to Emily. "Now do we have a winner? He said.

Emily whispered in her ear.

"So shy," said Carlton. He looked at Harry. "But I'm afraid you're wrong, my boy."

"Oh." Said Harry. "Sorry", vaguely directed at Emily. Emily raised her eyebrow, just the hint of a smile. No one moved.

"Now, Emily, please", said Carlton. "Let's see for ourselves. Remember what's at stake."

Emily stared at Harry as though there were no one else in the building. "You tell anyone about this and you're out," she said. "I'm serious."

He nodded, trying not to face her.

She sighed and pulled down her knickers below her dress. Then she lifted it up above her waist. Carlton peered round for a better look. It was totally hairless, although she had a small tattoo of a Chinese symbol on her public mound. Her slit was glistening, She dropped the dress.

"My husband likes it that way', said. He'd certainly enjoyed it when he she had shaved it bare - it was the same night she had pretended that his cock was Carlton's.

"And who wouldn't?" Said Carlton. "What do you think, Harry?"

Harry paused. He mumbled "It looks nice."

Carlton turned to Emily and winked. He faced Harry.

"Do you think you'd enjoy licking it?"

Alice put her hand on his shoulder. "Most girls do", she whispered in his ear.

"If she wanted me, to, sir, yes, but I don't think she does."

"Do you Emily?"

"No."

"Well there we have it. Perhaps another time. Now actually, before we move on, I should say that Ms Cole just made £500,000 out of that game. Harry, if you'd guessed right, you'd have got the same. But you were wrong."

By now Harry had no idea what was real and what wasn't. The money seemed unreal, just like the sight of Emily Cole's pussy - she was the CEO of the company, for Christ sake - seemed wrong, even if his dick didn't agree. He crossed his arms in front of his trousers..

"Alice?"

"Yes, Mr Hughes."

"What do you earn?"

"£55,00 a year, Mr Hughes."

"That's a handsome sum. Would you like to make nearly ten times that?"

Harry felt her hand shaking on his shoulder. He put his right hand up and squeezed it, holding his left in place. "Please don't talk to Harry, Alice, especially if he's asking you about your pubic region."

"I'm not," said Harry. "I never would..."

"It doesn't matter, Harry," she said. To Carlton: "Yes, Mr Hughes, I would."

Carlton clapped his hands.

"Excellent!" He turned to Emily. "Told you it talked, didn't I?"

Now to Harry: "Simple question, £250 grand if you're right. Oh, I should ask. You and Alice appear to know each other."

"Only a bit," said Harry.

"Have you ever seen her naked?"

"Of course not", blushed Harry.

"Good. Well, I want you to look at Emily and either say "I think you shave your pussy" or "I don't think you shave your pussy". You have to ask. She will either say correct or incorrect. If you're right, Harry, you get the £250,,000. If you're wrong, Emily will receive it."

Harry's heart raced. He had heard one of the alpha guys in the office, around his age, boasting about a one night stand with her after giving her a couple of lines of coke at the Christmas party. If she'd do that, she'd be shaved down there - dirty girls all shaved down there, everyone knew that.

He turned to face her square on. She had blue eyes and dark streaks in her blonde hair. "Emily," he said. "I think you shave your pussy."

Emily didn't miss a beat.

"You're wrong."

Hughes clapped and howled with laughter. He hugged Emily. "He's got them both wrong, that really is great. Unless, of course, Emily, you're lying."

"I'm not."

"So for the extra £250,000, prove it."

Emily was wearing a trouser suit so she turned away from them and unbuckled the belt. She pulled the trousers and knickers down together, her arse even larger when nude, yet perfectly rounded and firm. Judging from the marks running diagonally across her buttocks she had been recently punished in some way. She turned around, the top of her trousers at her knees. She lifted her tails of her blouse.

Sure enough, she had a definite bush. She ran her hand through it, nearly fingering herself, and she shrugged. "I prefer it this way. A guy wants me, this is what he gets." She glanced at Emily. "No offence meant, you have a stunning vagina," she said. "Shame you're not bi." She winked. Emily winked back without thinking. "Yeah," she stuttered. She was definitely damp now.

Fucking Carlton, he always found a way of turning your world upside down. Calm down, woman, it's him playing his games, making you question yourself.

But she'd just made half a million for showing your fanny - her fanny! That is what it's worth, she realised, and she'd remind her husband of that tonight. She'd demand they fuck, again, and she'd think of Carlton, again. And wait... did her PA just come onto her? She shook her head, trying to blame it on the hormones, exorcise those horniness. Dear God. If every woman CEO behaved like this then... but no. It wasn't her fault. It was Carlton's.

"Okay, I think we've had enough fun for now," said Carlton. "If anyone wants to see my cock, aroused or otherwise, just ask anytime." This was met with silence.

He turned back to Harry. "I have a challenge for you, my boy, and I think you're going to enjoy it. It starts well because it starts with putting £10m in your bank account, I've also arranged for more suitable accommodation to be found for you in town.

"Over the course of this challenge you will receive six specific tasks. As you complete one, you move to the next. Everything must be filmed - I will provide you with button hole cameras and lens that you can stick to anything. Practically invisible. Incredibly, really." He stopped for moment to ponder this ingenuity. "Now, if you win, you get to keep what's left the £10m and I'll throw in £5m more. If you lose or back out you get nothing,"

"I'm not sure, Mr...."

"Of course you are," beamed Carlton, slapping him on the shoulder. "And remember, if, for whatever reason you turn down a challenge, no problem. You just walk away without a blemish to your name, You have my word."

Harry nodded uneasily. He knew he couldn't say no,

"Good man, good man!" Said Carlton. "Oh, one last thing. You won't be alone."

"Oh."

"Yes, we've got a rather unfortunate thing coming in later today. She'll be racing through the same tasks as you. It's just a question of who gets there first. Winner takes all.

"You first assignment will be emailed to you this evening. Thank you, Harry, and good luck"

Harry turned and near sprinted from the room.

"You can go too, thank you Alice, although we made need you back for Samantha. I hope you didn't find the experience too awkward."

Alice gave a cherubic smile. She returned to her desk and the door closed behind her. She could hear quietly raised voices and then laughter.

She shuddered as she remembered what she'd said to Emily about her vagina. But the atmosphere had seemed so - heightened. And she'd been telling the truth. She had often thought of licking Emily's pussy. She thought of it again. Her knickers were indecently damp.

They'll be a while in there, she calculated. She went onto her favourite porn site and searched for the video she loved. She loved it because she had uploaded it herself. It was surprisingly good quality and she watched, just as 89,000 other people had watched, the news editor Pete lick her out as she sucked his balls in a classic 69 position. She undid her trousers and slipped her hand into her knickers, gasping as it touched against her swollen clit.