Page 25 of The Operators

Thea Marie:I’d like to see you try.

I clench my fingers like I’m stopping myself from strangling someone. “Fuck!” I shout, slamming my kitchen drawer in front of me to relieve some of this tension. I don’t even know how I ended up in the kitchen. I can’t think straight. My eyes keep flashing back up to the screenshot I sent her, and it’s driving me crazy.

If I end up at her place, horny as fuck, it’s not going to end well. I need a distraction. I grasp onto the drawer handle again, trying to get a grip when something glittery catches my eye. I do a double take, knowing that isn’t something of mine. I grab the little flashy card sitting in the drawer.

The Operators

I forgot I even had this in here. I flip the card between my fingers, trying to decide what to do. I can’t text Thea back or I won’t stop all night. Maybe I can call and see if I can get a refund. That way I’ll be using my phone and won’t text her back until I’ve uh…calmed down.

I lock my bedroom door like somehow someone is going to overhear me on this phone call as the lady on the phone repeats the same thing to me again.

“I’m sorry, sir. All the gift certificates are non-refundable.”

“Can I re-gift it?” I ask like a fucking dipshit. Who am I going to regift it to? I didn’t want to get off the phone that fast though. I had to drag this conversation out.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what is the reason you are looking to get a refund?” she asks in a sweet customer service voice.

“I uh… I… It was a gift. I didn’t buy it,” I say, hoping that’s an actual reason.

Her voice sounds like she’s holding back a giggle. “You know it’s perfectly normal to be nervous. Men call me all the time asking for refunds, but most of them end up back as regular customers. There’s no need to be anxious. The calls can be suited to your tastes. With the package you’ve purchased, you’ll get a twenty minute welcome call where you can get acquainted with the process, and two full hour calls that can be used at a later time or back to back if the booking time is available.”

I fiddle with the card in my hand, trying to figure out what to do. This phone call was way too short. It can’t be over yet. “Is there anything available right now?” I ask like an idiot, not knowing how the fuck something like this works.

“Sure, let me check the next available openings. Have you downloaded our app yet? Each operator has a profile you can read, and you can schedule your calls directly there along with updating any preferences you want. If you’d like to call back after you’ve made an appointment, you can. Otherwise, I can start a call with the next available opening and you can sign up and pay with our automated system.”

I don’t care who I talk to as long as it’s not Thea. “Uh… yeah, let’s just start now.”

“Sounds good. Please hold, sir, as I transfer you. When the system asks for your payment method, select the redemption code option. Your code is on the back of your card.”

“Okay. Thanks,” I say, plopping down onto my bed and sinking into my pillow.

“Have fun,” the lady says like I’m getting in way over my head, and then the line goes to hold music for a few seconds until the automated system prompts begin.

“Press one to enter your appointment confirmation number, or press two for the next available operator,”the robot voice says after I enter all my basic information. Is it going to goright in? Now I’m suddenly nervous. What the fuck am I even doing? I slam the two down anyway.

“Press one to continue to the next available caller. Press two to select a voice mask.”

What the hell is a voice mask? I press two to find out.

“Press one to use your preferred voice mask or listen to the following options.”

The system runs through a list of five or six different sounding voices that apparently hide your real voice. Somehow that helps me relax a little. Makes it a little less uncomfortable even though I’m not sure why.

The phone suddenly starts ringing after I must’ve finished all the prompts. I sit up straight in my bed, putting myself on high alert like I can’t hang up at any moment if I wanted to. This is probably a bad idea, but what can it hurt?

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

“Hi, I’m Molly.”

Chapter 10

Mack

“Is that your real name?” I ask because it’s the first thing that pops in my head, and I’m an idiot.

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