Like a Stone

Jessie was ready for her first day at her new job. She had chosen a mauve business suit and black pumps. She entered Giovanni's office. He wore a lecherous smile. "Jessica, that's a lovely suit. But tomorrow, wear something... nicer. Here's your work for the day." He handed her a thick stack of papers. "I need these faxed to my office in Celadon. Then I need copies of them both filed and saved on the database. The program is easy to use. Around one is lunch. We often order Chinese. When all this is done, come see me." He turned and left.

She sat behind her desk, shuffling through pa. Sh. She shivered. It's awfully cold in here, she thought. I have to remember to bring a sweater. While she did her work, she pondered what Giovanni meant when he said to "wear something nicer". Walking back to her desk in between copying and faxing, she noticed all the female employees were wearing short skirts, high heels and low-cut, thin blouses.

Days passed. Giovanni complimented her work every day, but the way his eyes traveled up and down her body when he spoke to her made her uncomfortable. She buried her strange feelings by becoming more productive and busier. The more work she had, the less time she had to think about it. James, meanwhile, was getting worse. He missed Jessie more as time passed. He started drinking. Most times, he was drunk. Meowth left him because of.

One day, during lunch, Giovanni stopped at Jessie's desk. "A colleague of mine is holding an art auction tonight," he said, sitting on the corner of the desk. He tried to look down her blouse without being obtrusive. "It's a very fancy affair. I told him I'd have my new executive on my arm."

Jessie poked at a potsticker. "Oh? That sounds very nice, sir," she said absently.

"I mean, you," he raged, not bothering to check his anger.

"ME?" Jessie dropped her chopsticks.

"Yes, your time has come," Giovanni said. "Of course, to make it official, I have to evaluate your performance and document it."

"Oh," Jessie said. "Tonight is the auction?"

"Yes, I'll see you at eight."

Jessie sprinted home after work. She had closets full of every kind of clothing imaginable, mostly from her adventures with James. "James," she said, holding up a long ruby red gown that she wore while trying a scam to catch Pikachu. "I'll call him." She dialed his cell phone. It rang twice, then someone picked up. All she could hear was crying and yelling. Someone was shouting hysterically. "James," she said urgently. The phone hung up.

Giovanni arrived at five minutes to eight, wearing a tuxedo. He escorted Jessie into his limo. He offered her a rose. They arrived at the art hall. She mingled and mixed with all of Giovanni' cohorts. It seemed all those in the wicked community were there.

James managed to get his foot in the door. He'd come to win back Jessie. First, he wanted to get his hands on Giovanni. "He took her away from me," howleowled, downing glass after glass of champagne. He was on Giovanni's heels all night. He could overhear bits of conversation. "You get all these lovely women working for you. How do you do it?" "Giovanni has a taste for beautiful women." "He can get any woman to fall in love with him, and do whatever he wants." "Did you know he's slept with 200 women this year?"

"He's using Jessie," James exclaimed. He rushed to find her, but he swayed. He had way too much to drink. Jessie was at the bar, ordering a martini. "Jessie," James cried, falling into her arms.

"James," she asked. He looked awful. His Team Rocket uniform looked like it hadn't been washed in a while. His hair was greasy, and his breath reeked of hard liquor. "What happened to you? What are you doing here?"

"Jessie, Giovanni wants you for your body," he said, slurring his words.

"What?" She looked confused. "I can't understand a thing you're saying."

"Giovanni's an awful man," he pressed.

"James, he's the richest, most powerful man in Kanto. He just promoted me, in fact. I'm a new executive."

"No, Jessie, you have to quit!"

"You're just jealous," she said angrily. "I can't believe it James! I finally get somewhere, and all you can do is come here and make an ass out of yourself, and insult me!" She pushed past him.

James had ruined Jessie's evening. She dared not tell Giovanni about it. He'd fly into a rage about it, and possibly hurt James. She also had her evaluation to think about.