Succubus Boss

>grew up on the bad side of town
>Dad was a lineman, used to send his cheques home at least
>he wasn't around much, but when he was he was fucked on skreetch
>Mom did her honest best, drag me to school everyday before heading to work
>always told that using your brain was the only way out
>by some miracle made it into college
>worked Irvings at night to make rent and eat
>managed to land a job at a plant planning maintenance
>never fit in with the millwrights, but didn't wear a suit either
>learned to keep my mouth shut in the management meetings
>left alone for the most part, even the monsters forgot I existed

>plant manager was a succubus, always followed around by a little gaggle of sycophants
>as long as keep my head down I'm not a threat to them
>technically she's my supervisor
>don't really talk

>crews come and go
>little emperors come and go
>years pass like this
>only constant is the succubus and I
>we nod at each other every once in a while
>starting to get some white in the beard
>paid off a small house on a shorefront lot looking over the ocean

>made it to 42 years old today
>one year longer than the old man
>don't drink much, but tonight's an exception
>walk into the local pub, grab beer and a menu, head to a table
>almost missed my boss sitting in the corner booth staring at a girly drink
>figure she's probably waiting for someone
>woman like her probably has three incubi waiting on her at home
>evening starts getting longer
>pub starts filling up
>succubus is still sitting alone
>tray worth of glasses cover my table before I get enough courage to say hello
>best be leaving my table for another customer anyway

>she's half a dozen drinks in and poking at her ice
>slide in opposite her before she notices
>her surprise causes her to jump, nearly tipping her drink before she catches it
>anger flashes before recognition dawns across her face
>explain that it's my birthday and since we're both alone I should buy us a round
>she already knows it's my birthday since it's the one time a year I go drinking
>ask her a few semi-personal questions and get polite but evasive answers
>few more rounds and she's tipping over
>time to make sure she gets home
>settle tab and got her arm over my shoulder
>ask her where home is as we stumble to a cab
>get a bitter reply that she doesn't have a home only a place to live
>pay buddy to get her home safe after we stop at the end of my driveway
>the walk is sobering, but the house doesn't feel as warm as it usually does

>next morning
>sitting in another meeting called by yet another sycophant trying to curry favour with the boss
>notice that the boss is a touch lighter blue today
>she looks as tired as you feel
>our eyes meet for split second before going back to our respective notes
>came back from lunch to find the boss and Personal Assistant "A" waiting my office
>drug and alcohol spot check
>pass every year
>unfazed until I saw the half bottle of whiskey on the desk
>I've seen this trick before when the little emperor's off each other
>stash a bottle or bag of something in your office and call a drug inspection
>curious that the boss herself is here for this though
>a slight curl on the assistant's lips betrays the culprit
>the succubus asks whether I got anything to say for myself
>there's nothing to say
>she asks the assistant to leave the room
>close the door behind her

>boss knows that I have a perfect record
>she asks why
>tell her that I've never once drank on the job
>I know this is how people are "let go"
>if she simply asked, I'd have quit
>my actions at the bar were innocent, but I was sorry if they offended
>silence falls over us as she stares that the floor
>we both know that she has to let me go
>she asks if I'll be ok
>I'll live, didn't get this far being too stupid

>she calls the assistant in
>the smug bitch can hardly keep a straight face
>get told that my employment is terminated for violating company policy
>she turns to her assistant
>asks the assistant to explain why she felt compelled to frame "her best and most loyal employee"
>boss' red eyes are starting to glow a bit, wings are starting to spread, the odd fang peaks through
>girl done fucked up and she's starting to realise it
>I gently squeeze the succubus' shoulder and the anger breaks instantly
>turn to the assistant and explain that my job was to keep my guys safe
>my last act was to keep her alive
>the girl flees from the office in terror
>boss watches me load the box with my personal things and escorts me to the gate for the last time
>as we both faced the rows of cars she asked me if I was going to be ok
>that's a question for me, but seems like she's asking herself
>as I step away I tell her that we'll be fine

>one particular Saturday morning dawns to the blubber of the percolator and a knock on the door
>an opened door finds my (former) boss bundled against the cold
>she's pretty happy to wrap those slender fingers around a cup of joe
>give her the penny tour
>get some compliments about the home and view
>it's "cozy" as she puts it
>laugh and tell her that it lacks a woman's touch, but I do my best

>her last day was yesterday, decided to quit and leave all the bullshit behind
>all her 'friends' wouldn't even talk to her when she announced it
>jokes on them apparently, head office is sending a danuki to be the acting PM
>she gets suddenly serious
>she asks if it's too late for an old succubus like her to pick up where she left off
>don't know much about succubi to be honest
>after peeling myself out of the seat to refill our coffees, I add a drop of irish cream to each
>handing her cup back, I tell her as much
>also tell her it's a shame that the old house hasn't had a woman's touch
>from the smile behind her cup I got a feeling that I'll be taking orders from the new boss in no time