"Oh fuck, seriously? You're getting transferred to their team? Aren't you still single, Jen? Good luck!" My co-worker cackles as she attacks the miserable yoghurt on her desk. Always a drama queen, but I can't help but bite.

Bracing myself for a battery of bullshit, I wear my fakest smile and turn. I scratch my head and let out nervous laughter, wincing at the yoghurt's plight. Yasmin doesn't just eat, she devours. No sense of office manners, at least she's on break at the same time as me for once. Though I suppose I'll be upstairs soon. "Do enlighten me on what any of that means haha... what does my relationship status have to do with a promotion?"

Yasmin grins and I feel the dam of gossip beginning to break, lips curled at the ready. "Oh well it's just that everyone on Lex's floor is married, it's actually kinda fucking creepy cause you won't find a single single person up there. All women too, guess they must just chat about their hubbies all day... not fair, is it? Even the girl who used to do your job, who I thought was a friend, revealed she was actually hitched the entire time I knew her and didn't say anything a couple of days after going upstairs. Wonder if she's lying to fit in haha. So yeah, you're going to be quite an oddity up there... or maybe the only fucking normal person working under Lex."

"Wow, I mean it's just a coincidence right?" Almost getting swept up in the silly mill of rumour, I laugh it off and finish clearing my desk ready for tomorrow. Lex is only ever talked about in high esteem, a nearly perfect record from their team, if true this little piece of gossip sure is interesting but ultimately meaningless. I mean, what would the conspiracy theory even be here? It can't be suggesting that Lex only poaches married women since I've been picked out now. 

"No such thing!" Shouts my chatty co-worker as she catches me trying to escape on the sly, we give our goodbyes but were never close enough for hugs. Just as well, she's covered in yoghurt. 

The sun shines on a cheery, unassuming day, a morning which marks new beginnings in its secretive shimmer. As always I rise too early and fumble through dreary morning, finishing two cups of strong coffee before I'm even out of my pyjamas. Outside of passing by in corridors and sharing elevators, I've barely spoken to my new boss outside of that interview last week. Guess I was chosen based on my performance, which really doesn't bode well for my old co-workers given how I pass through the day in a haze due to the constant late nights and early waking. Croissant in hand, I step out into summer and enjoy the fifteen minute commute I have before me to try and tackle these nerves with flaking pastry. 

A ride up the elevator that takes me one floor higher than usual, it would have been a good final respite from responsibility if my new manager were not sharing it with me. Just the two of us, how fortunate. "Jennifer, you look a little tense. Nervous about your first day? Don't worry, we'll get you settled in well enough, not expecting you to pick everything up on the first day." Lex leans into the corner of the elevator, looking the complete opposite of me with those well ironed trousers and tucked in shirt. Slicked back blonde hair and more piercings than I knew an ear could handle, rolled up sleeves with smooth arms and short black nails that tap against the metal railing habitually. They're unorthodox for sure, but only because the rest of the floor managers are either grumpy balding men or catty women well past retirement age who cling to the company in spite. If I'm being entirely honest, I find myself staring, hoping the attraction is not so noticeable as to cause a HR conflict on my first day. If I go back downstairs Jaz won't let me hear the end of it. 

"Ah... n-no, I'm not too nervous!" Convincing response I'm sure, I brush hair behind my ear and make sure I don't have any pastry flakes on my nice new blouse or pencil skirt. All good, so far I haven't made a complete disaster of myself at least. "Maybe a little, hehe. I've heard enough about this department to know I'm in safe hands, I'm looking forward to working here... uh..." 

Lex smiles earnestly, noticing my struggle and understanding in a heartbeat. I've always been made to address my manager as Sir or Ma'am, I think the old farts got off on hearing a young thing with aspirations speaking to them with gritted respect. "You can just call me Lex, or boss if you're so inclined. I'm not really bothered in any case, actually I'm far more concerned with what you've heard about my department!" Lex leans forwards and rests their hand against the mirror beside my head, smiling down at me. "I hope no untoward rumours have reached your ears about us, hm? Gossip spreads like wildfire downstairs."

Even if I know it's completely an invasion of my space, I can't help but blush as my new boss leans over me and wraps me up in fresh cologne. Suddenly I'm all too timid, staring up meekly and trying to find the words to respond while nails clack beside my ears. "I... ahaha, I just heard that everyone in your department is married. It's a strange coincidence if true, right?"

My boss seems pleased with the response, which sets me at ease some. "Oh, it's true. I don't spy a ring on your finger, though." Lex picks up my limp hand and inspects it gleefully. "Would you like one?" 

"I-I... wha?" I'm so flustered that I beg for this long elevator ride to end, while secretly hoping it lasts forever. I begin to wonder if I'm still asleep in bed, having indecent dreams about my new boss out of nerves.

Lex pulls away and laughs, running a hand though that slick hair before placing both in their pockets. "I meant to say, are you waiting on somebody to pop the question or not? Of course you're not obligated to share that sort of thing, I have to be careful with this... I'm a very forward person, thankfully my girls love that though. Everything okay? You're sweating."

Praying for an angel to come and rapture me away from such crippling embarrassment, I shift nervously as mind plays through those words again. Lex's girls? Do they mean the floor of the office, or are they in some kind of polyamorous situation? I've heard about those, I could see Lex being involved in something like that given how alternative they are. Unfortunately I'm as strait-laced as they come, though without the judgement or superiority, so my secret work crush will have to remain just that. Buried and forgotten. 

"Jen, correct me if I'm wrong... but you're into me aren't you? As in, attracted." Just as Lex's exhuming words pass through confident lips, the elevator doors slide open and we find ourselves on the right floor. Usually there are interruptions on the way, but not this time. I stand in a flustered state clutching the notepad I bought for training, Lex eyeing me curiously. "You're holding people up, come." An arm snakes around my back and guides me firmly onto the floor, all of Lex's married underlings seeming to perk up and fawn around us excessively as I'm led to my desk. 

"Uhm... thanks. Wh-what... in the uh... I mean, ahaha, I'm just going to get logged in?" Swallowing drily, I cool my nerves and decide to pry my eyes away from the others hovering behind me. 

"Isn't she so cute?" One of the women asks to a jeering crowd, Lex hushing them quickly as black nails dance over my shoulder. God, I feel sick, turned on just by their touch like this. I'm not wrong to think this is inappropriate contact, but I crave it so badly I don't question the why. Another set of fingers from the other hand curl around my neck and force my head to tilt up slightly to allow purchase, breath tickling my ear. 

"Don't worry, my girls won't bite. You never answered my question, dear, though I suppose we're already past the need. It's how I choose them, I'm very perceptive when it comes to the glances people give me. Everyone in this team has had a crush on me, be it major or minor, before I decided to call them up." Husky whispering into my ear that makes me so unwell, thighs a tight clamp and fingers messing up my login four times before I give up and lean back in the chair. My head tilts back and I stare up in confusion, thinking that I really must be oversleeping again. 

"Y-your girls? What... what do you mean? They're all married, aren't they?" Lex brushes my hair with attentive fingers and I sink into the comfort too easily, knowing that I should be offended. There's an unnatural allure that makes me simply content with anything my boss does to me, or says with that deep voice that undoes me so sweetly. 

"That they are, everyone on this floor wears one of my rings. It's wonderful for workplace productivity, but also a blast out of hours. I have one for you if you'd wear it, even after so many of them I'm no good at proposals." Two of Lex's wives hang off of them with simple, adoring smiles while the rest of the office crowds around the new acquisition with eager looks. Wait, what? What's going on? "To be honest, we were going to let you get settled in on your own terms before we broke you in on ours, but love, you're too easy. An elevator ride was all it took, you were already mine. When I asked you if you wanted a ring, your eyes were hopelessly honest." I'm spun around in my chair but it hardly matters when I was already so dizzy, staring at all the blushing faces around me as they flaunt their rings happily. 

"I'm... you want me to be..."

Lex lifts up my hand once again, slipping a loop of silver onto my finger without asking and making my confusion slowly recede. Oh, that's right... everyone on this floor is married, that means I need to correct my own failing... getting engaged to my boss is a requirement for the role, right? As the ring sits snug on my finger, matching those of the other ladies with whom I now share spouse, my flustered look turns to one of ditzy grin. 

"Yes..." I beg into the air, not really needing to give an answer now that it's decided for me. "Yes... I'm yours... o-okay? I'm..." A knee falls between mine as Lex pushes onto my chair and claims my lips with theirs, cologne turning me into something mindless and malleable. 

"My wife." Lex declares, pulling away from my pleading lips and smirking in a way that melts my heart. 

Entering work with a happy hum, I pass by Yasmin and give the girl a jolly wave. Gosh, this new position has been great so far, I really love this new boss. Sometimes we have random inspections, which feel so good... sometimes the well behaved girls are allowed to remove their blouses. Sometimes... we're called into the boss's office and instructed to kneel, after that I... well I'm not sure actually, we're not always allowed to remember. The ring makes us so obedient, I never take it off! 

"Girl! C'mere, tell me how it's going!" Yaz skips over before noticing something different in my wave, her eyes widening. "Oh you can not be serious. What the hell is that?"

I notice the ring and giggle, realising why she looks so pissed off at me. "Sorry, Yaz, I'm a married woman now." 

It's true, we consummated it as all newlyweds should, on an office desk surrounded by your other wives.