Outwardly, I projected the very image of a diligent, collected employee. Inside, however, I was in full panic mode. I'd gone over every probability and run the numbers and there was no way she'd take this well. The safest course of action was to place the special order underneath the rest and escape the immediate fallout.
“Sassy, darling, have you organized the new batch of orders yet?” My employer, Miss Generosity herself, called to me. I pulled a sheaf of papers together with a wave of my horn and carried them to her workbench in the glow of my yellow magic.
Rarity took hold of the orders and started scanning through them. I tried to shuffle away quickly, only to feel a yank on my tail. “Rarity, not the tail!” I cried in surprise. She held firm and walked around with one order in her magical glow.
“What. Is. This?” She asked icily, practically shoving the order in my face.
“I-I-I...” I replied eloquently. I’d probably been too obvious about putting one order at the bottom of the pile, but I was sure she hadn’t noticed. Apparently, I was wrong.
She read my thoughts. “Yes, I've been checking the bottom of the order pile for the more frustrating orders you seem to take pleasure in okaying.”
Weakly, I protested. “Now, just see here, my dear, I—“
“I thought I made it perfectly clear that I would not, under any circumstances, EVER make that dress again.” She said, growing more shrill as she went.
“I thought we could make an exception?” I offered uncertainly. “This client is—“
“I don’t care if it’s your mother, Sassy, I—“
“It's nopony I know. Well, personally, I mean.”
“Well, they can go dig in a rubbish bin or some secondhoof store, for all I care! I won’t put my hooves to work on that pattern for all the bits in Baltimare!” Her tone was vehement, I cringed inside, knowing I had to convince her some way.
I swallowed drily and pressed on. “It’s a very important pony.”
The owner of Canterlot Carousel walked toward me in unnerving silence. She got right in my face; in spite of my size I was greatly intimidated. “Who would you stick your elegantly long neck out for, dearie?” She asked, running a hoof from my shoulder to my chin. I shivered. This tone of voice was new, from a distinctly not-business-related side of our relationship. It ran chills down my spine.
“P-princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” I answered, trying to will my heartbeat down to a quieter level.
“And why should I care about what Twilight’s sister-in-law wants?” She asked, leaning forward to nuzzle my neck.
“It will look good for the boutique! She didn’t just order that one. Her Highness also ordered one of the Celestia and Luna dresses.” I didn’t want her to stop, but talking was growing exponentially difficult with her increased attention. My knees were getting wobbly.
Her lips brushed over the most sensitive part of my neck. I held in the gasp, but my whole body twitched. “I suppose I could do you a favor, since this is all your fault.”
“Th-thank you, Rarity.” I answered, wiping my brow quickly. It was very warm in the boutique today.
“Of course, one good turn deserves another.” She said seductively, turning to walk upstairs. I thanked the sisters I had the foresight to close up the shop earlier.
“Anything, Rarity.” I called after her fervently.
She reached the top of the stairs and looked at me over her shoulder. Nopony could mistake the concentrated attraction of the gaze she threw upon me. “Well then you better come up here and see what you can do to make this worth my while.”
I joined her upstairs and she led me into the storage attic. Curiously, I followed. There was a bedroom above the shop, but perhaps Rarity was feeling adventurous. My mind ran one scenario after the other until they all blurred into one semi-coherent, steamy daydream.
“Strip, but put it away nicely on that box over there. No sense in sullying a perfectly good ensemble.”
I tried to do so quickly. In my haste, I used magic and hooves at the same time. Unfortunately, I got myself tangled in a set of straps and buttons. It seemed to be getting worse the more I struggled. Eventually, Rarity sighed and stomped a hoof.
“Hold still, silly.” I saw a tinge of blue around the edges of my vision as her magic engulfed me. The feeling of her magic was as if I’d plunged into a warm bubbly bath. As the clothes unraveled and folded themselves, the touch of her magic tickled deliciously. As her magic left me, I whimpered in frustration.
Her laugh was musical; the song one of promises uttered into a lover’s ear in the dark. “Now grab me the box on top over here.”
I opened my eyes, puzzled on many levels. “Whu-uh?”
Rarity suppressed her mirth with a hoof. “I placed the materials for that dress in a unicorn-proof box on the top of that out of reach alcove up there. It is quite beyond my reach. You’re taller. Please retrieve it.”
I stood precariously on my hind legs, my mouth reached out as far as I could go. Tantalizingly, the box remained just beyond my reach. I turned my head around to face her. Before I could say anything, her hooves were on my hind end. She pushed me up higher, my hooves scrabbling to keep balance. I tried in vain to ignore the hooves so inelegantly placed upon me and grabbed the box. “Got it.”
She let me down easily. I choked off another whimper as her hooves slipped up my rear and along my sides. Turning around, I set the box down between us. With a grin, she sat on the box and opened her hind legs shamelessly.
“I believe you still owe me a favor.” She said cheerily. Who was I to argue? Perhaps I’d get a few favors of my own.