Prompt: Your character tells a lie to protect themselves when backed into a corner
Tommy Johnson was coming up in the world. Ever since graduating from business school, he was on his way to becoming someone’s CEO. He had practically paved his own way through and thus was highly anticipating his success.
Though he wasn’t your average businessman.
Tommy was an honest man. He took after his hard working parents who dedicated their entire lives to one job. Over the majority of the portion of their forty year marriage, his dad dedicated himself to the oil rig while his mom worked at a local diner. Between grants, federal loans, and working a couple of part time jobs, Tommy had earned his degree without his parents’ assistance.
At twenty-five, he had managed to get himself a degree, a well paying job, and a clean slate. No kids, no wife, no baggage. Just him and his Great Dane.
And then there was his current boss, Mr. Banks.
He had emerged on a bit of a different path, with much more shade, funding, and self-created turbulence.
He had inherited his job after his father promoted him upon his retirement. He then had his hand in the picking of all of his secretaries and immediate circle, ensuring that each skirt was easily accessible to his right hand.
While he admired the work ethic of Tommy, he wasn’t sure that he had the tenacity to survive at the top. He wanted Tommy to secure himself in his manhood and start taking what (or who) he wanted. After all, that’s what they were there for, in Mr. Banks’ opinion.
One day, the board of directors were headed out for a few drinks after work. Mr. Banks’ approached Tommy and asked him if he would like to join them. Tommy figured this would be a great in to the inner circle and possibly a way up the ladder.
“So!” Banks said as he sat down his third Crown Apple. “You say you’ve got no kids, no girl, nothing. Just a dog!”
“What kinda man ain’t got no woman to go home to?” Mark asked. He was the VP on the board.
“Unless he’s getting it at work?” Josh, another board member, suggested.
“Or he’s gay?” suggested Don, the only member close enough in age to Tommy. By the way Don looked over at Tommy, one would question if Don weren’t asking for himself.
“Nah!” Tommy quickly replied to not leave any room for false interpretations.
“Yeah, but you’ve got that hot blonde secretary, what’s her name, Cindy, right?” Mr. Banks asked.
“Oh yeah, I saw her on my way out today. I would definetly bang her if she sat in front of my office all day!”
“Now Mark, that’s what fucked up your last two marriages!” Josh reminded him.
“That’s because he doesn’t know how not to get caught!” Banks nodded while toasting his fourth drink.
The group laughed. Tommy was quickly taking in his drinks to avoid eye contact with everyone and hopefully avoid the inevitable. But surely as he thought he had dodged it, Mark bust out and asked:
“So you doin her?”
Tommy didn’t know what to say. He clearly saw that his manhood was in question here. While it may be okay for Don to be the token gay guy, a six foot two, two hundred pounds, muscular built, deep voiced, blue-black black man couldn’t pull that one off and maintain his spot at the table.
But then, on the other hand, Cindy was so kind to him. She was the only one who sent him a card and his favorite candy on his birthday. She would remember the details who would share with her in passing every morning and evening. She cared enough to follow the progression of his mother’s surgery to his sister’s kids’ drama. She had become a good friend who seemed to have a good heart. He did not want to smear her through the mud.
“So are ya? Tell me you’ve screwed her at least twenty times by now, boss!” Josh nudged. “I know I did my first secretary. Damn near daily!”
All eyes were piercing into Tommy’s soul. Sweat was forming at the edges of his hair. With a sip of his cocktail, he swallowed hard and answered:
“Yeah!”