Gift Wrapped

Harmon Peterson frowned as a large black box, complete with a silver ribbon, invaded the edge of his field of vision. He glanced up from his paperwork just in time to see a delivery boy step into his office. The rather scruffy lad was grinning as if he expected the parcel to be both well anticipated and joyfully received.

“Is there something you require?” Harmon asked, coldly.

The delivery boy hesitated. “Mr. Peterson?”

Harmon issued a curt nod.

A clip board was proffered. A cursory inspection of the topmost document confirmed that Harmon was indeed the intended recipient of the parcel. Exchanging the signed delivery note for the gift wrapped box, Harman surreptitiously tested the weight of it. Whatever was inside was very light.

Analysis of the box’s exterior offered no clues regarding either the content or the sender. Harmon looked up for a moment. His office was separated from the chaos in the open-plan section of his law firm’s premises by a large one-way mirror, allowing him to observe his employees without being seen in return. Through the glass, Harmon noticed a young man hovering within a few yards of his door, as if he expected to be summoned at any moment.

Tommy.

Harmon’s lips twitched slightly, almost curving into the kind of smile that had never been seen while he was at work. The boy obviously needed a new calendar. Their anniversary wasn’t until tomorrow.

Untying the sparkling silver ribbon, Harmon let his submissive wait on a knife’s edge a little while longer, choosing to open his present alone.