Page 9 of Thrill

“The smells for a new lube line,” Christine explained. “What better time to really find out what we do?”

She returned to her desk. Tyler caught Simone’s eye. “What has she got me into?”

Simone shrugged. “We’ve been to stranger things. Believe me.”

Tyler found himself in a room with twelve other people who were all chatting. He busied himself with making a coffee.

Networking had always been Tyler’s worst nightmare. Especially when everyone knew everyone else. He greatly admired people who worked a room. At parties, he generally sought out any pets. At work things, the buffet usually provided solace. Today they had laid on hot drinks only. Not a pastry in sight. He wondered how long he could stretch out pouring water.

“Hello, there. You’re a face I don’t recognise.”

He turned to be greeted by a scruffily handsome guy with dreadlocks and a slightly greying beard. He was arresting in an orange paisley shirt and blue chinos. It shouldn’t work. But it did.

“Hi,” he said. He stuck his hand out. “Tyler Jones. The new Head of Procurement.”

The man in front of him shook his hand. “Eddie Channing. Responsible for selecting the next super lube scent.”

Tyler scanned the room. Small tables held six vials of liquid and what seemed to be scorecards.

“First day and I already feel a little out of my depth. Not that I’m a prude or anything.”

Eddie clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s a learning curve for all of us. Pleasure Seekers isn’t like other places. Give yourself permission to get used to it.”

“Thank you.”

“What did you do before?”

“I worked for a chain of bookstores. Making sure they had everything they needed to operate. Lube didn’t often come into it.”

“Don’t worry,” Eddie said. “At least it’s not nipple clamps.”

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Eddie burst out laughing. “I tried that. HR shut it down. Hey, we need to know if this shit is going to sell. What else can we do? If you ever want to join one of our more niche focus groups, give me a shout.”

Tyler giggled nervously. “Duly noted.”

Something about Eddie made Tyler really warm to him. It wasn’t sexual. More that he gave off a friendly vibe which Tyler doubted could be fake. Tyler imagined him a great salesperson. Who would resist that face?

“I hear things are going well here,” Tyler replied. “Must make your job easier.”

Eddie shrugged. “Pleasure Seekers is booming. Honestly, you’re the latest in a long line of newbies coming through the doors. It’s great. But it won’t last forever. We need to keep this country shagging. For all our sakes.”

Tyler chuckled. “I can see the signs now. Keep Calm and Carry On Shagging.”

“Hey, that’s not a bad idea. Permission to steal?”

“Permission granted.”

Eddie grinned and strode off to the end of the room. Tyler had to fight the urge to laugh. If his family could see him now. They would be horrified.

Taking the opportunity to study his new colleagues, he was excited. Everyone seemed as though they were enjoying one another’s company. Tyler couldn’t wait until he was one of them properly. In his old place he’d largely kept to himself.

Things are looking up.

“Attention, everyone,” Eddie said, clapping his hands together. “Thank you for taking time out of your busy days. I won’t keep you too long. We’ve been given six samples of lube but we’re only taking one. Two at a push. All you have to do is, in pairs, smell the scents and rate them out of five. Easy as that. When you’re done, there’s a free doughnut here for you.”

“I doubt I’ll fancy a glazed ring after sniffing this lot,” a man piped up.