It's All a Matter of Choice Page 11

  Well, he did keep one tie. The one with pictures of the Beatles “Yellow Submarine” on it. He liked that tie.

  June frowned.

  “Where are your old clothes?” she asked.

  Emmet pointed to the foyer. June had been so taken aback by Emmet’s new look she hadn’t noticed the boxes neatly stacked on top of each other.

  “I was going to throw them away, but then I thought that would be a waste, so I boxed them all up. I’m going to take them to Goodwill. Maybe some school will be putting on a play about the seventies or “Revenge of the Nerds” and need vintage clothing,” he quipped, smiling.

  A small dimple appeared in his cheek. June let out a disparaging noise then hissed, “Anita. I knew she’d be bad news. Making you waste money that way. Your old clothes were fine. You looked…distinctive. You made a statement.”

  ”Yes I did. NERD,” Emmet replied, scowling slightly, “Mom, I just told you Mr. Allen wanted me to change my look to be more presentable.”

  June’s eyes washed over his jeans and sneakers.

  “Well, what you’re wearing isn’t ‘presentable’ for a closing. You look like you’re getting ready to go out on a casual date or something,” she said darkly.

  Emmet looked down at himself.

  “Do I?” he asked her curiously. Hm. This was good to know.

  June didn’t answer him. She didn’t like the look on his face.

  “Anyway, I won’t be wearing this when I go,” Emmet said.

  “What will you be wearing then? Shorts?” she snapped at him bad-temperedly.

  Emmet gave her an exasperated look, then stood up.

  “I’ll show you,” he said, walking toward his bedroom. June watched him. Damn, he really looked nice.

  Several minutes passed before Emmet returned. He walked into the living room and June let out a gasp. He was wearing a black tailored suit, crisp white shirt and a tie. He wore a thin black belt and black dress shoes so highly polished, they gleamed. He wasn’t wearing his glasses either.

  “Where are your glasses?” she asked as his brown eyes met hers.

  “Contacts,” he replied, “I’m not used to them yet but I can see fine with them, though my face feels funny without the weight of my glasses.”

  ”Contacts? They could chip and cut your eyes,” June said.

  Emmet rolled his endangered eyes.

  “Really, mom. They are flexible too. They don’t chip. I can leave them in a full day if I wanted to,” he replied. “So, what do you think of the suit?”

  June studied it.

  “It looks terribly expensive,” she said.

  Emmet nodded.

  “A good suit costs good money,” he replied.

  “How much did you pay for it?” she asked him.

  “About six hundred dollars,” he answered.

  “What!” June spluttered, “Six hundred dollars for a damn suit! That’s outrageous, Emmet. You could get five suits for that.”

  ”Five cheap suits, maybe. It’s better to have one good suit than five bad ones, mom. It was worth it. It’s an investment in my future. If I get this contract, I will be going out more and making more money, since I won’t have to share my bonuses. So the suit will pay for itself,” he said reasonably.

  “You have all the answers, don’t you?” June snapped.

  Emmet looked at his mother.

  “Mom, why are you so angry?” he asked her.

  “I’m angry because after all I’ve done for you, you are on your way to abandoning me. First it’s the clothes, then the success, then the women. Next thing I know you’ll be staying out all night, then moving out,” June said, making her voice sound as broken as possible.

  Emmet studied her, then said, “But mom…that’s what I’m supposed to do. I’m not a child any more. I shouldn’t even be living with you. I should be out on my own. This situation isn’t normal.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with our situation. What makes you think it isn’t normal?” she asked him. “We look after each other. That’s what families do.”

  ”Mom, I’m supposed to start my own family,” Emmet said, “I’m supposed to have my own home and meet women, get married and have a family. Just like Dad did. You’re going to have to do like his mother did when he grew up, mom. You’re going to have to accept it and live your own life.”

  June looked at Emmet and forced water into her eyes.

  “But Emmet, if you leave…how will I survive without the additional income?” she asked him, hoping to make him feel guilty.

  “Mom, actually Dad’s pension is more than enough to live on. He worked for the Federal government after all. Besides, I’d send you money. Whatever you needed. You’d just have to tell me what you need. I’d never turn my back on you mom. You’re the only mother I have,” he said to her.

  “What about my Reuben sandwiches?” she asked him.

  “Mom, there are other foods besides Reubens. Anyway, you can drive. Get a car and you can go pick up your own sandwiches. In fact, I’ll buy you a good car,” Emmet said. “Next weekend I’m going to pick one up for myself. You can come with me and pick one out.”

  “Emmet, you talk like you’re a millionaire or something. Just ‘pick out a car.’ It is expensive,” she replied.

  Emmet looked at her.

  “Mom, I’ve worked at B, B & B’s since I was twenty years old. I’m twenty-six now, and the most I’ve ever spent of the money I’ve earned was to buy these clothes I’m wearing. I’ve also invested in mutual funds and a few other things that are doing quite well. I’m not a millionaire, but I have plenty of money. I could buy a fleet of cars if I wanted to. But THAT would be frivolous. Buying myself and you a car isn’t,” Emmet said. “Plus, you’d be more independent. You wouldn’t have to count on me and Agnes to drive you around. It’s a good idea, mom. It really is.”

  June not having a car was just another level of her manipulation of Emmet, so he would feel more responsible towards her. She could also complain about being stuck in the house and his neglectfulness.

  June sighed. It seemed it was all over now. Nature, however long it had been delayed, was finally taking its course. Emmet was a man and ready to live like one and not a perpetual child.

  June looked at her son.

  At least he was a good man. She might have been selfish, but she didn’t do a bad job with him at all. Emmet was respectful and responsible. He had a good work ethic and a good heart. But she really was concerned about him as far as women went. Her son knew nothing about the ‘fairer’ sex.

  June knew firsthand there was nothing fair about women at all, particularly if they wanted something badly enough. Emmet could be used quite easily by a predator.

  June’s mind shifted to this stranger, Anita. Was she a predator grooming her son for the kill? She seemed to have quite an influence on him. Probably some big-breasted blonde-haired floozy with an eye for an easy ride. When it came right down to it, most men could be led around by their cocks, and June figured Emmet was a perfect candidate to have his pecker trussed and harnessed with a short lead.

  June suspected her son was still a virgin.

  But the way he looked now, she doubted he would remain one for long.

  Her son Emmet, handsome, well-dressed, well-off and well-mannered, had become almost overnight…quite the catch.

  Her eyes welled up again, but this time…the tears were real.

  “Emmet…Emmet I want you to be careful. You’ve been…been terribly sheltered and don’t really know how badly people can hurt you when you put yourself out there. No one noticed you before, or if they did…they left you alone. But now, you are going to be noticed…everything you say, everything you do…watched closely. People are competitive, jealous, and out to get all they can. This goes for everyone…not just women. Some are going to try to latch on to you, ride the coattails of your success. Others will tempt you to involve yourself in things you shouldn’t. It’s a hard world out here son. You have to make sure you
remain true to yourself and your values. You’re a good boy, Emmet. I want you to stay one,” she said softly.

  Emmet knew for once his mother was speaking to him from her heart. There was no pretense or manipulation this time. He kissed her on her cheek.

  “Don’t worry mom, I’ve seen how cruel and callous people can be firsthand. I’ve been used for years. I know the difference between a user and a friend, believe me. Being a nerd was good for something. It let me see people’s true character. It doesn’t take me long to see it either,” he reassured her. “The people might change around me…but I’m not going to change. There’s no reason to. I’m going to be all right…ok?”

  June nodded. She hadn’t realized Emmet knew so much about people. She realized he had probably seen through all her manipulations and just let her think he didn’t know, too respectful to call her on her treatment of him. To her credit, June felt a bit ashamed about this. It was time for her to grow up as well.

  “Let me go and take off this suit, then we can watch some television. There are some good movies on tonight. They are giving an encore presentation of a great movie. Have you ever seen ‘Scarface?’”

  Chapter 13 ~ Emmet Steps Out

  Anita Bowen arrived at work half an hour early on Monday morning. She wanted to be sure she beat Emmet to work. She couldn’t wait to see what he wore and everyone’s reaction to him.

  When they went shopping, she was pleasantly surprised at just how much Emmet absorbed from their little talk. He knew exactly what he was looking for, and even did some additional shopping and expressed interest in getting a good suit. She didn’t get a chance to see him in any of the clothes, but was there when the hair stylist brought his hair into the new millennium, and she helped pick out his glasses and the contacts. She wondered if he’d wear the contacts to work. He didn’t seem comfortable with them and had hell putting them in the first time. Well, he’d get better at it.

  She did a quick run through of the cubicles to see if there was any paperwork from the day before, collected a few and distributed a couple on the other girls’ desks, before sitting down at her own and taking a sip of her coffee. She was very excited.

  Emmet, despite the way he was dressed Saturday, looked very handsome in his new glasses and with his new hair style. He was going to be noticed by the other girls now. Anita’s eyes narrowed a little bit because of this. She believed she had a claim to Emmet, since he attracted her from the beginning. She sighed.

  He was so painfully shy. But then again, after what she witnessed in her hotel room when measuring his inseam…he was certainly all male. His erection was becoming quite large when he pulled her to her feet and bolted for the bathroom. She noticed something else about Emmet. When she wrapped the measuring tape around his neck and pulled it tight, his eyes went half lidded. He had liked that.

  She wondered if Emmet would like being collared. He was a momma’s boy, cute as he was, so used to listening to a woman ordering him about.

  A wicked look crossed Anita’s face. She could be a bit kinky when she wanted to be. She hadn’t yet gone into sex mode, though she found Emmet very appealing, particularly his mannerisms. He was a true gentleman and she probably couldn’t find a nicer guy to fuck when she was ready. But the question was would Emmet be ready?

  She doubted it.

  Anita believed Emmet was a virgin just by his reactions to her. He might be ready for sex overall, but most likely he wouldn’t be ready to act on it if she just flat out approached him…not without a bit of preparation. Emmet turned red as a beet when she kissed him on the cheek, and they had an accident when she kissed him on the mouth. What would happen if she touched him intimately or asked him to touch her in such a manner? God only knew.

  What a turn on though.

  Anita had only known Emmet for about a week…and even though she’d had one night stands before, she felt dealing with Emmet would be different. A small part of her wasn’t even sure she should deal with him…because of her father. She thought Emmet might truly be hurt if they did get involved and she suddenly disappeared. He didn’t seem like the type of guy who could have sex with a woman then act as if it never happened. She didn’t see that in him at all. Sex would mean something to Emmet, particularly if Anita wound up the first woman he engaged.

  Anita sighed. If anything were to happen between them, she would have to explain her situation beforehand, and let Emmet know she might have to leave suddenly, and it would have nothing to do with him. Could he accept that possibility?

  She didn’t know. She would handle that situation if and when it arose. It could be Emmet wasn’t interested in being anything more than friends with her.

  Anita took another sip of her coffee and watched as her fellow employees drifted in. Herman passed by and waved at her, walking briskly, his bald head shining. He must oil it or something.

  Susan entered, cleavage first of course. The busty blonde walked up to her desk and scowled at the paperwork on it. She looked at Anita sharply, who smiled and said, “Just spreading the love.”

  Susan muttered something under her breath as she pulled out her chair and sat down, digging into her purse and removing her compact to check her makeup. Mr. Allen walked in.

  “Good morning, Mr. Allen,” Susan sang.

  Mr. Allen drank in the low cut blouse she was wearing and said, “Good morning, Susan. I want to speak to you during your lunch break, if you don’t mind.”

  ”Yes sir. I don’t mind at all,” she replied, smiling.

  Mr. Allen nodded and entered his office.

  Anita rolled her eyes. If Mr. Allen did speak to Susan, more than likely he’d be talking with his hands.

  The office filled up, and still Emmet hadn’t showed. It seemed he was going to make a grand entrance, though Anita doubted that was his intention. He probably was held up in traffic.

  Actually, Emmet was pulling his rental into the parking garage. He cut off the car and sat there, gripping the wheel. He looked at himself in the rearview mirror. He had put the hair product the stylist gave him in his hair after he showered and ran his fingers through it, so it was spiked. It looked as good as it did when the stylist trimmed it.

  There were only a couple of associates hurrying into work, walking quickly to the elevator. Emmet took a deep breath and got out of his car. He had opted to wear khakis the first day rather than the dress pants. He felt more comfortable in the khakis, which were a rather dark brown. He wore a beige button up shirt, a brown and beige tie and a brown sports jacket that matched his khakis. His briefcase matched his brown loafers and wide brown belt. He brushed himself off a bit self-consciously, took a deep breath and walked to the elevator, which closed just before he got there, the few people inside staring at him as he approached.

  Well, at least he’d be spared the gaping for a bit longer. He waited by the elevator until it returned, then got on alone.

  The moment the elevator opened, Melissa rushed over to her desk, her eyes wide.

  “Oh my God. I just saw Emmet,” she breathed to the other girls.

  “And that’s exciting why?” Susan asked, looking bored as she buffed her nails. Anita looked up from her work.

  “Because…because he didn’t look like Emmet. I mean, he’s obviously Emmet but…but he looks different. Normal. Well…better than normal. You just have to see,” she said, looking toward the elevator hallway.

  Suddenly Emmet walked around the corner, everyone stopping to look at him as he passed. All the office workers froze as Anita smirked, proud of him. He looked casual, but professional.

  Emmet walked by the girls, giving them his normal little good morning wave that they always ignored. The stunned girls waved back at him, their eyes all but bulging out as he disappeared into his cubicle.

  “Oh my goodness. He’s…he’s…” one of the girls said.

  “Cute,” Jennifer responded, looking around at Anita who went back to her work quite quickly, not meeting her eyes.

  “He’s still a
nerd,” Susan said stubbornly, “Once a nerd, always a nerd.”

  ”But a good-looking nerd,” another girl said. “Did you see his hair? It’s all spikey.”

  ”Nice shoes,” another woman said, “and glasses. The others looked like they weighed twenty pounds, the frames were so thick.”

  “And he actually matches. Not a bit of polyester anywhere,” Melissa observed, “It’s as if the fashion fairy paid him a visit.”

  Jennifer continued to look at Anita.

  “A brown-haired fashion fairy I bet,” she said, her eyes resting on the office worker.

  Anita smirked a bit but didn’t look up.

  Emmet was a hit.

  *

  Just before lunch, Mr. Allen called Emmet and told him to come to his office. Anita and the rest of the staff watched Emmet walk up to the door, knock and enter.

  ”I think Mr. Allen is going to be impressed,” Anita said.

  Susan harrumphed.

  Anita looked at her, brown eyes slightly narrowed.

  ”By what I know of him…he seems very easily impressed,” she added.

  Meow.

  The other girls tittered slightly as Susan glared at Anita, who pretended to go back to work…but every fiber of her being was focused on what was going on behind Mr. Allen’s closed door.

  This was it.

  Mr. Allen got up from his desk, walked over to Emmet, looked him up and down, then motioned for the associate to turn around. Emmet obliged him, feeling a bit like he was modeling his clothing. In essence, he was. His boss let out a low whistle as Emmet turned back to face him. Mr. Allen was clearly impressed.

  “I wouldn’t have believed you could clean up so good, Emmet. You look like a real representative of our company. I’d feel comfortable sending you anywhere dressed like that,” Mr. Allen said. “But the thing is…now that you are walking the walk, can you talk the talk? Speaking to someone over the phone and impressing them is much different than meeting them face to face.”

  “Yes sir, but I have some advantage since Mr. Grimes already likes me,” Emmet said, “All I have to do is be myself.”