Corpse Part 2

We continue with my story called Corpse. Comments are welcome...

Life was good for the twenty-five year old. He had a job that paid him six figures, a beautiful new condo in a great area outside the city and a gorgeous fiancé that was complete oblivious to the fact that she wasn’t the only woman who shared his affection. He truly believed that he was living the American dream and there wasn’t anyone who could stop him from taking it even further. He had worked his way to where he was and deserved every one of the accolades his position in professional and social life presented him.

Jonathon refused to accept that he was fast-tracked for success from the day he was born. His father owned a series of stamping plants in the eastern Michigan area and raised Jonathon and his brother Stephen in a palatial house in the upper-class suburb of Farmington Hills. Jonathon had been guaranteed a position in his father’s company, likely in purchasing or some mundane department but Jonathon had refused it. He had taken money for tuition (but that didn’t really count at least in Jonathon’s eyes) and went to college so he could began earning his fortune on his own.

Seeing his exit, Jonathon swerved across two lanes of traffic to get there. Ignoring the screech of brakes behind him, he turned off the highway onto the congested Detroit streets. Ten lights and fifteen minutes later he pulled into his marked parking spot in front of his building.

Stepping out of his car, he zipped up his brown leather jacket and smoothed down his pleated slacks. It had gotten chilly fast, realizing that just three weeks ago he had blown off two days in a row to play golf with at the country club with one of his associates. Jonathon hated winter, stating plainly that anything that forced him to slow down on the roads and put more clothes on “his ladies” was not for him.

The day went by pretty typically. There were plenty of meetings and phone calls. Jonathon had made a point of berating Alex, one of the project engineers, in front of the rest of the team. Alex was a guy much like Jonathon, young, smart and very ambitious. Jonathon also knew that Alex was willing to do anything to move up. So, whenever any little mistake was made, Jonathon would rip loose into Alex, making sure that everyone knew who was boss, particularly Alex. Jonathon wanted Alex on the defensive, fighting for his job at all times rather than fighting for a new, higher spot on the food chain.

Jonathon also made sure that he had someone to back him up if necessary. That’s why he had decided to start an affair with Candace while he was still a design engineer. Candace was a thirty-eight year old, average looking project engineer that worked on the team. Her husband had left her for a twenty-something looker, leaving her with nothing but bitterness. Jonathon had struck while the irons were still hot, moving in on Candace and making her feel as if he completely understood her anger (when in fact he didn’t blame the guy for dumping her and moving on to a young hottie).

When Jonathon had finally taken Candace to bed during a business trip out to New York, she had felt some kind of satisfaction that she too had found the affection of a young, good looking toy. Jonathon had quickly turned that, telling Candace that he was engaged and had made a mistake. Candace felt crushed. She needed him and promised that she wouldn’t tell anyone if he would continue to see her on occasion. He agreed, explaining to her that he would make her life hell at work if she ever told anyone. Sure, it was sexual harassment, but Jonathon knew that Candace needed him beyond the professional level, that when Jeremy had left her, Candace was broken, her ego crushed. Jonathon soothed that ego, made her feel wonderful.

Candace went through her days yearning for the day when she and Jonathon could be alone together again and he knew it. She would stay quiet and while Jonathon didn’t find her all that attractive, Candace was good in bed and she would serve him where Jonathon needed her: at work.

Jonathon knew that if it ever came down to a fight against Alex, or anyone for that matter, that Candace would back him unequivocally. Candace may not be the greatest engineer, but she had worked in the same department for fifteen years and had a good reputation for being a good worker and an honest employee. She would back Jonathon and anyone who listened to what she said would take her seriously.