When Vivian’s boss decides he wants her, he doesn’t try to go around her husband. Thanks to some helpful employee training tapes, he brings her husband in on it too. [Warning: this 11400-word short story contains graphic depictions of brainwashing and sex. A woman and her husband are programmed to enjoy every moment of their new lives.]
Excerpt: For a moment, I froze. I didn’t have any better idea of what to say to Stanley, and the whole thing had me feeling shy. I had no idea how to tell him I’d go down on him if only he’d watch some corporate training videos. He opened his mouth to ask what was up, but before he could speak, I heard myself say, “Actually, yeah. A friend at work gave me something, said I should check it out. She said it was, and I quote, ‘saucy.’†I felt lightheaded and strange. Somehow, Mr. Blackwell had made me say that, made me lie, and I didn’t even care. It felt good. A little like being a puppet. Stanley paused with the pizza halfway to his mouth, tilted his head and asked, “You came home early to watch a dirty movie with me?†I wondered what sort of ‘engaging’ material Mr. Blackwell had hooked me up with. Inside, I was frantic. Outwardly, I remained cool and collected, not even blushing. I just nodded and heard myself say, “That was the plan. Unless you object, dear?†My husband shook his head and said, “No, I don’t think I’ll be doing that.†He nodded at the remote and said, “Go ahead and get us queued up. I don’t think I can contain my curiosity.†I picked up the remote and tabbed over to the new menu option, intensely curious too. A disclaimer appeared on the screen from ‘Cute Trainer Productions,’ noting that all performers were over the age of 18. “Well,†Stanley took a swig of beer and said, “That’s a good start.†“Yeah,†I tried not to sound puzzled. This wasn’t at all what I remembered from my own corporate training, of course. The film opened up on a pair of girls on a bed in their underwear, a blond and a redhead. Both looked to be in their early 20s at the latest and, without preamble, they began to make out. “Who do you know at work who’d give you porn, sweetie?†Stanley sounded confused. “Sheila,†I lied smoothly and without thinking again, “Short girl, brought a bottle of rum to the Christmas party?†I reached over and rubbed him through his sweatpants.