Chapter 1: Introduction

Eric was looking down at his best friend Jordan, all five foot six of him. His friend's piercing blue eyes stood out from his long black hair looked greasy and unwashed mostly due to him wearing eyeliner. That and his old Metallica shirt and baggy pants. They were having another argument about money, just like they seemed to be having weekly now. Eric sighed pinching his nose before talking.

"Look, I know the job market is tough right now though my patience is wearing thin, Jordan. Your band hasn't had a paying gig in years, and you have turned down every job that has come your way because you claim it is below your level or does not pay enough. Sure you have a few certifications for computers, but you don't have any education because you left school early because of some big chance to make it big, and that didn't pan out. Then you got a few computer contract jobs and sure I understand contracts are temporary, I'm betting one of them would have kept you on if you didn't keep skipping work for some music career that isn't happening. I have had it," Eric we are in our mid-twenties and you have been unemployed more than you have worked, and now even unemployment has stopped paying you. I swear if you don't take the next job that is offered to you, I'm kicking you out."

Jordan's anger was more than just present he felt like boiling over, sure Eric was taller than him being just over six feet tall and while he wasn't a muscle head he was in good shape compared to his own small frame, and had a steady job as a construction project manager didn't mean he was better than him. But then Eric said the words he himself had been dreading, the threat of being homeless. Though it wasn't just what he said, it was how he said it. Not full of anger, but sorrow. Jordan calmed his nerves, he knew Eric was a good guy and had helped him more than anyone else, though he was sure part of this was him taking some of his frustration out from his break up the other month.

"I know, I know I have fucked up, but please don't kick me out. You know I don't have anywhere to go, no family to lean on. But I have taken jobs below me, like when you got me a job doing grunt labor on your construction site. It hurt when you fired me Eric, you know that." Jordan's voice was almost pleading with his friend, if he didn't turn this around he would be sleeping on the streets.

Eric pinched the bridge of his nose again, a habit of his when he is frustrated. Waving his hand toward Jordan he continued but this time no more harshness in his voice. "Look, I didn't want to fire you from the job, but it is on you. I got you the job because you begged me, and I knew you couldn't handle the labor, but I did it anyways because you are like a brother to me. The other guys noticed that you couldn't handle your share, and put more than one complaint about it, but I covered for you. Then I started getting complaints that you were slacking off on your phone, not once, not twice. You took advantage of our relationship and that is starting to feel like a running theme. Friends help friends it is what they do, and while Becky ripped my heart out, I don't blame you."

The smaller man walked over and sat on a stool at the kitchen bar and was feeling what his friend was telling him, he really did screw up that job he got him though he really did need those extra breaks. He crossed his arms pulling them close to his chest as he rubbed his forearms remembering the fatigue and soreness from the manual labor, but then he gave Eric a confused look. "Well, I'm happy to hear you don't blame me for all that, I didn't know she was crazy when I introduced you to her, only that she was hot."

"No..that isn't, I mean she was." Eric stumbled a bit in his words and held out his hand for Jordan to stop. "Yes Becky was hot and I did appreciate you hooking me up with her once you struck out on her at your old job. I thought I was lucky she even listened to you, without a doubt she got hit on all the time dressed the way she did being a secretary at your old office." Eric's thoughts went back to thinking of his girlfriend's.. well ex-girlfriend's ass and legs as she sashayed out the door in the mornings for work."It was fun while it lasted and I tell you I thought she was the one. She was living with us but...it just didn't work out."

"You leering at her when you thought no one was looking didn't help. Becky said it was fine, she was used to it, but she didn't like how much I was helping you. She always said you were taking advantage of me, how you seemed to have money for going out and drinking with your friends, but when it came to the rent? Nothing. Again though, it wasn't your fault the two of us had other issues, you were just extra stress."

Jordan opened his mouth and ruined the moment "Yeah I'm sure I was extra stress on her when I caught her cheating on you." The snide comment did it and Jordan could see the switch being hit in his friend, but still, Eric didn't raise his voice.

"Just take the next job you get an offer to, and if you don't have something in two weeks. Then this conversation is going to happen again, and that conversation ends with you out on your ass." Eric grabbed a beer from the fridge almost slamming it shut.

He turned to go back to his room, but still, a pang of guilt hit him when he looked at Jordan. He knew acted tough, but seeing him now with his eyes downcast and still pulling his arms to his chest practically hugging himself he remembered that his friend really did have a tough childhood and him saying what he did might have brought up bad memories of his family disowning him for drug use as a teenager. With Eric's help, Jordan really did kick the habit, so he knew his friend had it in him to push towards success, he just needed a strong hand to push him. "Look, Jordan while I'm serious about this. If you need help just let me know and I will be there, so long as you aren't trying to get out of a situation of your own making, okay?"

Jordan looked up and caught the eye of his friend, "Sure, and I'm sorry... I will do better." With that, the two nodded and went to their separate rooms.

In the master bedroom, Eric sat down at his computer a little bit flustered, lonely, and a lot horny now that he couldn't get the thought of his girlfriend's body out of his mind. He opened a few files and pulled up some pictures of Becky and smiled remembering her in stockings, heels, and a corset as she got down on her knees and took him in her mouth. Eric dropped his pants and started to rub his hand on his dick, before remembering Becky had left a ton of clothes here. So he went over to one of the drawers on his dresser, remembering he still hadn't cleared anything of hers out. He pulled out a pair of her panties and sat back down in his office chair looking at the photos reliving memories as he rubbed them onto his engorged member. Eric grunted a bit as he picked up speed touching himself, remembering those red lips and the feeling of suction on his dick. She always moaned and liked it when he took control putting his hand behind her head and deciding on the tempo and how long she had to deep throat him. The release felt good it just made him feel worse now that he was alone with a ring worth more than three month's salary.

He had bought it when he went back home to visit his family at a local jewelry store. Eric knew he could get the best price back home in the small town, the only downside of a small town is he was sure his mom at the very least had heard he bought a ring. His family didn't always agree with his choices in life, like going off to the big city, but they hopped when he found the right girl he would settle down back home. When he bought the ring he still didn't want to tell them about Becky, she was a city girl, and no way would she move out of it, so he kept it quiet. He didn't feel liking cleaning up so he just tossed the pair on top of the open drawer and went to sleep.

Meanwhile, in the other room Jordan had multiple browsers opened and was applying like crazy to jobs, he needed something and something fast. He wanted to work in his industry, but with the threat hanging over his head he would take a fast-food job just to get by and would just keep looking to pick something else up that fit what he wanted. Jordan looked over his shoulder to his Moog keyboard synthesizer and frowned. If this didn't work out he might have to pawn it, but doing so would be like giving up on a dream. He had already sold his car a few months back to afford to get to a gig that his bandmates insisted would help them break out, and who needed a car in the city anyhow.

The keyboard though, he would do it if he had to and he bought it for almost nine thousand dollars. He had scrapped and saved for it for a long time when he was working on a computer project, heck a girl he was seeing at the time Janet gave him the last few hundred he needed for it for a Christmas gift. The thought of that day getting the instrument, a beautiful girl at his side, and what he thought was a good future ahead of him made him smile. The reality was much bleaker, no big break has come, Janet broke up with him saying she liked him but he was just too unreliable, no job and now no unemployment and on the verge of living on the street. Jordan let out a long sigh feeling bad for himself and making a promise that he would do whatever it takes to get back on his feet. That is when it hit him, "Janet is the answer!" Jordan shot off a text to Janet, sure they haven't talked in a while, but even with the breakup, they were still friends. He always hoped he had a chance to rekindle the relationship once he made it big or at least was in a stable career. The conversation with her went well and he didn't try to hide his motives telling her he was down on his luck and wanted to see if she had any prospects at all for a position where she worked over at Mega-corp. He remembered her telling him how the place always had a high turnover, with management often overextending employees, making them work constantly over time and some sexual harassment for the girls. The place treated the lower staff like objects, but the thought of constant overtime right now sounded just what he needed. Janet was surprisingly friendly with him, wanting to know how he got in his situation. The text conversation lead to the two having a phone conversation and they talked for hours.

Jordan hung up the phone and had his mouth open a little bit before biting his lower lip, something he did sometimes when thinking or overthinking something. The bad news was Janet was in a serious relationship, but she was really open to reconnecting as a friend. So maybe there was a chance, a small one if he could get back on his feet. She had agreed to put in a call to her friend in HR to get him in for an interview, on the condition that he pay back everything he owed to Eric. She said that if he really wanted to fresh start with everyone then he needed to pay back what he owed for a clean slate. That and he needed to clean up a bit, this was a professional environment. No more badly grown beard or greasy hair. The badly grown beard comment hurt him, he didn't think it was that bad, and he thought it made him manlier. With that Jordan filled out a few more applications, sent a copy out to Janet and another to a Staples so he can print it on nicer paper for interviews he went to take a shower, wash his hair good and then to his dismay, shave off his beard before he called it a night.

The next morning Jordan was lying in bed, he got little sleep just going over scenarios in his mind. How the interview would go, where they would place him. If he could get right back into an IT department or if he would have to start at the mailroom. The last thought had him thinking how he would work hard and go up in the company. He had no illusions that he would be a VP or anything, but maybe once he got everything together he could go back and finish school, or maybe if he made a good impression on the right higher up he could get them to hire his band for corporate events. His thoughts were interrupted by a text message from Janet, saying she talked to her friend in HR and while she couldn't help another lady in the department had an open position as an administrative assistant. Jordan wanted to balk at being a secretary, it felt worse than the mailroom even if it did pay a little better. The idea of being a secretary made him feel bad and he almost rejected it out of hand when he heard Eric in the kitchen making breakfast and he remembered the situation he was in. Jordan bit his lower lip, holding it for a second, and then nodded and typed back that he would be excited to interview for the position. Janet called him up and made a high pitch noise seeing saying she was proud of him for seeing this as an opportunity for a foot in the door, and how she knew he wouldn't like the idea she was just so happy to could see past himself for what this really was, though she corrected him that it was not a secretary job it was an admin assistant. While it was the same thing titles mattered and this was a full-time position unlike his last few real jobs and once he proves himself he could transfer elsewhere, maybe even into the IT department when something opened up. The interview was set for the following morning with a Mrs. Bridget Gunther a sweet but nonsense woman and that he better be prompt and wear something nice, she was sticking her neck out for him.

Jordan wasn't exactly on cloud nine, he was happy though still rather tired and left his bedroom just wearing his boxers into the kitchen to get some coffee. Eric filled the cup for him and letting Jordan get his own sugar and milk as he sipped his own black coffee and looked at his friend. "How do you wake up in the morning looking like you need to go to sleep instead of looking rested?"

Jordan looked over to his friend tilted his head and gave a half shrug before taking a sip of his own coffee, closing his eyes as he felt the invigorating warmth. Jordan breathed out with satisfaction and pilfered a piece of bacon from Eric's plate. "Was applying to jobs pretty late and talking with Janet."

The two were still standing in the kitchen, Eric slid his plate out of reach of his mooching friend and raised an eyebrow. "Janet? Like the one that got away Janet?"

Jordan walked around to the kitchen bar top and took a seat on a stool and sipped his coffee some more, trying to will the caffeine from the drink into his veins. "Yep, that Janet, but no we are not getting back together. At least not without a lot of work on my part. She actually got me an interview tomorrow morning!"

Eric finished off his bacon and eggs now that he didn't need to defend them from Jordan the poacher. "Yeah? Well good for you, I wish you the best of luck, though you will have to take the bus. I have to be at the job site tomorrow and you know that means leaving before the sun thinks it is a good idea to be awake. Just try your best and I'm sure you will do great." Eric said with a smile as he walked out of the kitchen and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "You feel like you got this?"

Jordan bit his lower lip again and nodded slowly. He knew he could do this job, it was below his skill set, but it was a job. But it was a job he was embarrassed to be taking so he kept quiet on the position. "Not only do I got this, but after a talk with Janet, I am going to pay you back every cent I owe you." Eric got a huge smile on his face and moved from one arm on Jordan's shoulder to giving him a bear hug from behind picking him off his seat. "That is what I like to hear!"

Jordan flailed his feet embarrassed to being hugged and lifted so easily off the ground while wearing nothing but his underwear. "Ack.. get off me you big bear!"

Eric only laughed walking his friend a few feet into the living room area of the apartment and dropping him on the couch. "I hug almost everyone, I only hug you like that because you fight. I'm not that hairy, well I guess compared to you I am." Eric laughed some stepping away and grabbing his car keys. "Alright you have a good day, hope it is your last being unemployed, and Jordan if you don't get a good sleep tonight use some of Becky's makeup to cover those dark circles under your eyes to not look so bad, but I would lose the eyeliner. Can't think of any guys that wear it in an office."

Jordan sat up on his knees on the couch to look over its back to the front door as his friend left for the day. "Hiding his bags might not be a bad idea, but he liked wearing the eyeliner. Janet is the one that started him on when he went to gigs saying it made his eyes pop and no one had any problem with it back at his old job.

The rest of the day Jordan sat around in the apartment, playing some football video games and going and watched some porn to get off and relax. Before he sat down to watch some girl-on-girl action he thought about preparing for his interview, but he figured so long as he smiled and said yes ma'am he had no chance of failing at job for a secretary position. He had seen some of the air-headed bimbos that held the job like Becky. Jordan pushed on his cheek a little with his mouth open a bit thinking, he had three IT certifications and recommendations for the position this would be easy. So he pulled off his boxers, still the only thing he was wearing, and started to rub himself watched a hot blonde and a redhead make out. As he rubbed up and down, just picturing himself right there with the girls. It was their hands on his cock trying to bring him to climax as they put on a show right before him. He was loving it, his imagination was fantastic for both good and the bad, but right now it was so good. A thought popped in his head and he stopped the video and looked up some porn with sexy secretaries or sexretaries and he was not let down at all.

Oh, how he wished some of these scenarios would play out, with him sitting at his desk with a sexy girl having her lips wrapped around his cock all while he would try to do his best to make it look business as usual, answering calls, typing up a report or even better holding a meeting with the others being none the wiser he had a sexy girl under his desk. With that last thought, his cock erupted and he missed the chance to cum into the rag he had ready. His seed shot into the air and with him on his back and it came back down onto his chest. "Oh wow.. that was good. Nothing like that could happen in real life, but a bright side to this job is I can get to know some of the other secretaries and who knows if things don't work out with Janet maybe I can spend some time with one of the office girls and get my own little bimbo.

With that Jordan used his jizz rag to wipe off his chest and then got up and tossed his rag into the "to be washed pile".

Looking at the time, being past three he figured he should actually get up and give what Eric said a try. He wasn't afraid of a little concealer, so off he went into the master bedroom and to the vanity, Eric had setup for Becky. "Man we have to get him another girl, he is way to hung up on her still." Jordan picked through the differed vials and found what he was looking for and with a little experimenting was able to cover up the dark circles under his eyes. Though the problem with using just a little in one spot is it made it more obvious so he had to spread it over more of his face and then had to use some powder to set it and even out the skin tone. It took a bit to get done, but with the help of a youtube search, it was easy. He was happy with the results and went to go get dressed. He was in such a great mood, and heck he was about to have a job, so he sent off a text to some of his band friends to meet up at a bar.

While out with his friends Jordan told them how he needed to focus on this job, though he didn't tell them what he would be doing, so that he could get his life in order. The group wasn't taking it well until he mentioned that he planned to try to get an in with the power players at the company to see about getting the band hired for social events. He told them how they did events constantly being a parent company to so many companies. Some of the events were small, some were huge. They seemed to bite and be happy about the idea, but one of them mentioned that if he got too busy they might need to bring in a backup keyboard player. A small bit of panic clung to Jordan's chest making it hard to breathe with the idea of being replaced, another chance for his dream to fall away. He was able to smooth it over at least a little, telling them how the company does a cooperate retreat every year, he remembered Janet going to Hawaii and they had a live band. Maybe if both he and they played their cards right that could be them. That hooked them and while they still wanted a backup for when he was busy with all this overtime he said many of the grunts work, they were more than just onboard they told him they would do whatever they could to help him with the job if it meant a real chance at some of those gigs.

Meanwhile back at the apartment Eric came home and saw a note on the fridge, saying "Not home for dinner, went to go hang and celebrate." Eric crumpled the note and touched the bridge of his nose before tossing it in the trash and then grabbed a beer. "Spending money you don't really have and celebrating an interview, not a first paycheck or even that you got the job. He better not fuck this up or he is out." Taking another swig of his beer Eric walked over to the couch when he heard water running from Jordan's room. "Odd." Walking over he knocked on the door once thinking maybe he came back and forgot to take down the note. "Jordan you in there?" Eric said as he opened the door and just at a glance he knew what the problem was. The entire carpeted floor was soaked, so was Jordan's mattress since the slob just had it laying on the ground. He walked into the room hearing the squish from his shoes on the wet floor, he could see Jordan's different piles of clothes on the floor and not hung up. "Welp so much for a clean pile and a dirty pile," Eric grumbled.

There in the bathroom, Eric saw the water raining down from the ceiling, it looked like a water pipe broke. "Just great!" Pulling out his phone Eric called the apartment complex, but got no answer from the late hour, so he called the emergency line and got a gruff answer from one of the apartment's maintenance men. "High hill sweets after-hours line, what ya need?"

Eric let them know and soon an older man that never did bother to give his name came and took a look. "Welp, that is bad. I will get it shut off now, but this much water can cause mold. No one can sleep in this room or use this bathroom for I um... I dunno maybe three weeks. It all depends on parts and time, go ahead and talk to the main office tomorrow. I'm sure they can give you a discount for only having one room. The older man looks at all the clothes then back to Eric. "I wouldn't mention someone else is living in the guest bedroom, from what I saw you only have you on the lease. No one cares on most days, but when something goes wrong management wants to pin the blame on someone. If it was just a guest, it would be fine but.. " he waved his hands at all the personal belongings "No one will believe someone isn't living here, but I will keep it under wraps. I wouldn't want a good friend to be kicked out and charged for the repairs."

It was now Eric's turn to be confused, he wasn't friends with this man. He didn't even know his name, but it all came clear when he saw the man's outstretched hand palm up. "This friend," Eric said nodding towards the open hand "Does he have a name?" The older man in overalls just smiled an old toothy yellowish grin. "Benjamin I think he goes by, though it could be a few fellows by the name Jackson."

Eric nodded and frowned as he pulled out and opened his wallet. This was his own fault, not the water pipe, but the lease. He knew Jordan's credit would not have been good enough to get on the lease, but the man needed help so he did what he always did, and now this. "Sure here you go I have a few bills I can give you, but it isn't a hundred." The older man's hand closed around the bills and put them in his pocket. "Oh don't you worry yourself about it, I will be around over the next few weeks, and we can talk more then." Fucking blackmail, he helped out Jordan and got blackmailed for it, he was so happy this morning for him and then he goes out drinking and now this. Eric touched his hand to his face as he paced, he needed to de-stress and figured he knew what to do. Back in his room, he opened the drawer that held Becky's panties and again pulled up some photos thinking of his girl sitting on his lap moving up and down on his dick. Eric slow at first rubbed the silky panties, feeling the cool smoothness on him and his thoughts brought him rigid in seconds. Soon he was grunting and moving his hand with alacrity finishing into the panties before tossing them back in the drawer. "I need to give all this stuff to charity, but " he trailed off as he looked at the one drawer that was hers full of panties. "Not sure the one I came into before, better make sure they all get washed this weekend."

Feeling much better Eric pulled out his phone and called Jordan to tell him what happened, but got no answer any of the three times he called, so he sent him a text and again no response. "Well fuck it, good luck with all that mess, I have an early day tomorrow." Eric turned the lights off and went off to sleep.

When Jordan came home he staggered into the apartment doing his best to not make a lot of noise, though in his drunken stupor he wasn't so sure how he was doing on that front. When he got to his door he saw caution tape over and a padlock holding it closed. "Th… a Fuck iss this." Jordan rattled the some and it came clear to even him that he wasn't getting in at least tonight. "Deal wi.. you later." He slurred and stumbled over to the couch passing out almost the second he was horizontal.

In the morning Jordan's world spun, the sound of a bird chirping outside was like a jackhammer. He clutched his head and sat, slowly. "Oh man, I drank too much, why am I on the couch?" He asked nobody. Slowly ever so slowly he got up and shuffled over to his door seeing the caution tape and lock. "Oh.. yeah that is why." What he missed last night in the dark was a red notice on the door saying "No entry, water leak, and possible mold contamination." His eyes widened as realized what was going on and how he couldn't get into his room at all with the lock. "Oh, oh oh fuck."

Jordan pulled out his phone and called Eric, but he didn't pick up. So he tried again, and thankfully he answered. "Eric! Eric something is wrong. My room is locked cause of mold or something.. and and."

Eric cut Jordan off "Yeah that happened last night while you were out drinking. I called you multiple times and texted. You needed to come home to get your stuff out, but now you will have to wait for one of the repairmen to be there, they locked it to keep the most exposure out the door is sealed with plastic in addition to the lock."

Jordan slid down the wall holding his head, it hurt so bad he spoke too loud, Eric spoke to loud, everything was just going so bad so suddenly. So when he responded to Eric it was in a whisper "My things are in there, I need them for the interview this morning, what is the phone number to get the guys here to open the door?"

Back on the job site sitting in his truck Jack was mad, but he still wanted his friend to get the job. "Look Jordan, you can't. You aren't on the lease, you shouldn't be living here, but you do. I had to bribe the repair guy to pretend he didn't see your things. Just go and buy some slacks and a collared shirt from the store, if they comment on how your dressed tell them about the water pipe bursting, they will understand."

Jordan bit his lower lip as he thought. "Umm Eric I don't have any money, I only had a few dollars and I spent some last night. The rest I will need for uber to make sure I'm on time for the interview, could you call them for me?"

Eric's hand tightened on the steering wheel "Jordan, you spending what little you had on alcohol is your own fault, I can't call them, and even if I could they are slow as hell to come out so no telling if you would make your interview. Not all of this is your fault, but if you were responsible you wouldn't be in this mess. Just call the interviewer and let them know about the problem and how you need to reschedule, emergencies happen. Do that, then wait for the repair people and get your stuff then. I will see you tonight I don't have any more time to talk." Eric hung up and put his phone on the charger and climbed out of his truck to get some more work done.

Looking down at his phone Jordan let out a whimper he was not a wimp he told himself, he wasn't going to cry, but he sure felt like it. Standing up he walked over to the kitchen and drank down some water and aspirin. He couldn't even get to his computer.. god he hoped it was ruined. He thumbed through his contacts and called Janet to tell her about what happened. Jordan of course left out the parts that were his own fault, and Janet felt bad for him, but already knew he was not to be counted on. "Bad things happen to everyone Jordan, they just seem to keep happening to you and somehow either it isn't your fault or you believe it isn't. If you don't show up to this interview it will reflect poorly on me when I go up for my review for a raise but doesn't sound like you have a choice. You should absolutely not show up in your bar clothes smelling of god knows what. Just go buy something real quick and if you can't then you have to give Mrs. Bridget Gunther a call yourself, I'm not sticking my neck out more for you. Now I'm at work I have to go and for what it is worth. Good luck, you sure could use some. With Jordan speaking in a whisper and saying he went to the bar, she knew he was hungover. She knew this would reflect badly on her, she should never have trusted him again.