Ooof. That wasn’t the greatest idea.

It’s almost night time, and I’m still full from that massive breakfast-lunch thing I had a few hours ago. It wasn’t uncomfortable enough to make a particularly explosive trip to the bathroom, but it was still not a great feeling. Ms. Harshwhinny seems as fine as ever. I mean, she did leave her office for fifteen minutes to parts unknown, and came back slightly refreshed. I guess she had the explosive bathroom trip, and not me.

Ah well, enough of that, the contract is done. After picking up Ms. Harshwhinny's bracelet from the jewelers, the second we got back to the office, I went right into writing the new and improved contract, which was made easier, thanks to the transcript I wrote during the meeting. Everything has been proofread three times and error free. I give it to Harshwhinny for the last once over. She approves! Yes! When it came to the time management, it wasn’t easy; I was fully planning on making the contract, sleep, wake up, look over the contract again, and then deliver it. That’s how we always did it, but now we are due to deliver it in a couple hours to Fast Pass’ house.

Truthfully, I’m nervous about going there. It’s not that I don’t want to go with Ms. Harshwhinny, I’d go anywhere with her, but Fast Pass doesn’t seem to like me, and she is looking for some Harshwhinny action, if her behavior this afternoon was any indication. Still, if Ms. Harshwhinny wants me to go, then I'll go.

We go down to the garage, where Ms. Harshwhinny’s car is. Normally, she takes a cab, but today she decided to drive. It’s a nice looking vehicle. Reminds me of a Volkswagon back home. Funnily enough, the car brand is Coltswagon. It’s almost as if Equestria is packed with alternate universe products, only they put horse synonyms in there.

Wait a second. Wonder Mare. Supermare. Captain Equestria. Transformares. Why did it take me four years to figure this out? Maybe because Equestria reminds me so much of home, anthropomorphic ponies notwithstanding, that it barely registered with me until now. Now that films and TV shows here have human actors too, it might as well be home.

The drive over is fairly lengthy; about an hour’s away from Manehattan, and out in the countryside. The nice green hills are a pleasant sight, compared to the hustle and bustle I see every single day. Reminds me to take another trip out in the future. I wonder if Ms. Harshwhinny would like to come along.

Ms. Harshwhinny and I listen to the radio on the way over. At first, we took a listen to the political station, but all they were doing was trash Princess Celestia for eating two slices of cake at last week’s Grand Galloping Gala. What? Is royalty not allowed to indulge in sweets? I’ve seen her on TV, and she looks great. Must be jealous ponies or people who aren’t able to eat a bunch of sweets, and still look damn good.

After minute five of listening to the rabble rousing, we change it to the rock and roll station. I got to say, Equestria has some great music. Very catchy. Even Ms. Harshwhinny has a bit of a head bob going on. It’s extremely cute. There are even a couple of songs that I know the lyrics to by heart, and I am very much tempted to start singing. I don’t know how Ms. Harshwhinny is going to react. After all, I’m not a great singer.

Instead, I start humming the song. It’s mostly silent, and less disrupting. Best of all, I’m a much better hummer than a singer.

Halfway through the song, I hear a humming different from mine. Is it…? I look over, and see Ms. Harshwhinny humming the same song. She knows this one too? Ms. Harshwhinny turns her head with a smile and a wink. Sweet Celestia, I’m falling for this woman more and more.

We finally arrive at Fast Pass house, Actually, it’s less of a house, and more like a mansion. It probably has more rooms than the average hotel. That may be an over-exaggeration, as I haven’t even seen the inside of the thing, but I’m probably right. Ms. Harshwhinny stops the car at the front of the steps. We step out, and I half expect a valet to come out to park the car, but no one comes.

Gradually, we walk up the steps, holding the new contract in a swanky folder. I think Ms. Harshwhinny is as intimidated by this place as I am, though her face is making a damn fine effort of hiding it. We make it too the door, but Ms. Harshwhinny isn’t knocking on it, nor is she pressing the big button that is likely the doorbell.

“Everything okay?” I ask her.

“Are you sure you're okay with coming here with me?”

“I’m always okay with going places with you.”

“No, I mean…HERE. After what happened this afternoon. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

“I’m a big guy. I can take a few snipes.” I smile with a confident nod. She doesn’t seem too sure, but there’s really no need to worry.

“Okay.” she says. She rings the door bell. “Oh, by the way…” Suddenly, she licks her palm and brushes it on the top of my head. “You had a few hairs sticking up.”

“Oh…thanks.” I blush. I liked that probably more than she thinks.

Just then, the door opens up, revealing Done Deal, wearing slightly more casual attire. He still looks like he’s about to perform a business meeting, but at a Hawaiian resort, rather than a high rise office building. He smiles at Ms. Harshwhinny and I, then shakes our hands.

“Nice to see you two again.”

“Yeah.” I respond, not expecting him to be here. “You’re looking festive.”

“This? No deals to be made for now, might as well let loose, right?”

“Right.” I chuckle. Kind of wish I arrived in a T-Shirt and Jeans, but it’s good that I’m still in my office attire. Ms. Harshwhinny is still in hers so why should I change?

“Come in. Fast Pass is in the living room. Hope you two are hungry.” he smiles, beckoning us in with an inviting hand.

The inside of this place is truly enormous. The mortgage is probably insane. A highly paid athlete such as Fast Pass would have no problem affording this house, but I feel that I would have to pay a year’s salary just to live in here for the day. No thank you. I’ll gladly take my one bedroom apartment over this. Actually, maybe I should invest in a bigger apartment, especially considering the possibility of bringing Ms. Harshwhinny over at some point.

We get to the living room, where Fast Pass is watching a hoofball game on a 108 inch television. Oh sweet lord, really? This is ridiculous! Done Deal goes to Fast Pass and taps her on the shoulder.

“Ms. Harshwhinny is here.” he says.

Fast Pass nearly jumps up from her giant leather couch, straightening her t-shirt and brushing her hair back. She turns around with a smile…which quickly dissipates when she notices that I am right next to the object of her affection. Fast Pass attempts to play it cool, bringing at least a smallish grin back, and clearing her throat as she approaches us.

“Nice of you to come, Ms. Harshwhinny.” Fast Pass extends a hand out. Ms. Harshwhinny shakes it. She puts her hand back to her side. “May we head to the dining room?”

“Sure…when you give my assistant a handshake, too.”

Oh shit, Ms. Harshwhinny. Right out of the gate with that. Fast Pass freezes midstep in the direction of the dining room, turning around to look back at us. Her eyes look over at solely me, and she once again clears her throat. She walks up to me, putting her hand out. I shake it with a polite smile. Her grip is nonexistent, almost as if she doesn’t want to give my skin any extra contact. Whatever, I still got that handshake I didn’t get this afternoon.

“Okay…” Fast Pass takes her hand back. “Let’s head over to the dining room.”

Fuck me, this dining room is enormous. I know I keep repeating myself, but Sweet Tap Dancing Celestia, is she the Mare-Do-Well or something? The table is wide enough to seat about twenty people. Ms. Harshwhinny and I sit on one side, while Fast Pass and Done Deal sit across from us. Ms. Harshwhinny gestures for me to give her the folder. I do so, and Ms. Harshwhinny slides the contract over.

“This is the new contact. I hope its to your liking.”

Fast Pass looks over the document. She scans each page, with a nod of her head every time she gets to the end of it. She reaches a hand out, and Done Deal gives her a pen. Quickly, she slides it back over, and Ms. Harshwhinny gives it back to me. I put the contract on the seat next to me.

“I’m happy you were able to get it done so quickly.”

“It wasn’t I who wrote it.” Ms. Harshwhinny says, looking over at me.

“Right. Well, we have some delicious food for tonight. My personal chef, Elizabeth, is an amazing cook. I believe salads are up first.”

Elizabeth? That's an odd name for a pony. Right on cue, the doors to where I assume to be the kitchen open up, revealing….oh…oh no.

Elizabeth is a human.

Yeah, human chefs are not surprising. But…Fast Pass…who hates humans, or at least me, has a human as her personal chef. This feels weird. She has a smile on her face, though. Maybe Fast Pass treats her okay. I hope she does.

As for her appearance, she’s quite beautiful. Brunette, dark brown eyes, good figure, not that I’m paying much attention to it; merely making an observation. Done Deal seems happy to see her. I wonder if they’re good friends.

Elizabeth puts a salad down for Fast Pass first, then for Done Deal, then for Ms. Harshwhinny.

Oh, I guess I’m not getting one, since there’s only three plates. I think the three dining sets should have been the big giveaway that I wasn't expected.

“Huh?” Elizabeth is surprised to see me sitting next to Harshwhinny. “So sorry, I was told we were only having one other guest.”

“It’s okay.” I smile with a nod. “I’ll wait for the main course.” Truthfully, I’m still working on the gigantic lunch I had.

“Are you sure?” Ms. Harshwhinny asks.

“You heard him, he’s fine.” Fast Pass cuts in. “Can you bring some wine, Elizabeth?”

“Yes Ma’am. Would you like dandelion or sunflower?”

“Dandelion.”

“Right away. I’ll bring an extra glass for the gentleman.” she walks away.

The three get to eating their salads, while I sit and watch them. After a few moments, Elizabeth comes back with a bottle of wine, and an extra glass for me. She pours my glass first, then moves on to the others. Her movements are swift and efficient. More than likely, she’s done this for quite some time to be this good at it. But, if she’s just the cook, why is she also doing maid work, too?

Elizabeth heads back without saying a word.

“How do you like the salad, Ms. Harshwhinny?” Fast Pass asks.

“It’s delicious.” she nods.

Fast Pass takes a sip of the wine. She makes an audible pleased hum at the taste. Her eyes look over at me looking at her, and she clears her throat yet again.

“So, how long have you been working for Ms. Harshwhinny?” she actually addresses me. Is this some kind of miracle?

“I started working at her firm about four years ago, but have been her assistant for a little over one year. I started shortly before the first Equestria Games, so this will be my second time attending.”

“How are you liking it?”

“It’s great. The work is good, and I love to travel to places I haven’t been to before.”

“You must have seen all of Equestria by now.”

“Not all. A good portion of it, though.”

“So, tell me, why did you come to Equestria?”

“Hmmm…” I think about it. The way she said it sounded like it was supposed to be a loaded question. I hate to disappoint her, but the answer is resoundingly uncomplicated. “The thought of traveling to a new world excited me. Once it was reported what was on the other side, I had to come here even more. It felt like I was in a science fiction movie.”

“I see. So, you think of us as aliens?” she kind of sounds offended at that.

“At first, yeah. But, I wasn’t put off or anything. Certainly surprising to see Equestrians in person. But, once I got to get to know everyone I met, it was like I never left home. Everyone’s been really nice.”

“Sounds like an exaggeration, to me.” Fast Pass chuckles condescendingly, “Not everypony could have been nice to you.”

“Okay, that’s true…” I chuckle myself, “I did get my share of dirty looks…” and denied handshakes, but I’m not going to tell her that. “…though nowhere near as much as when I first came here. I’m thankful that Ms. Harshwhinny took a chance on me and us humans from the start, and I’m grateful for this position.”

“Well, I’m glad to know that Ms. Harshwhinny is so charitable.” she responds. Something about her comment rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it’s her tone. Yeah, definitely the tone.

Elizabeth comes out with the main course, this time rolling out four plates instead of three. She places down the food, and I see what she has cooked up. Spaghetti squash sauted in cream of mushroom sauce. Very unorthodox, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

“Thank you, Elizabeth. This looks delicious.” Done Deal smiles, digging in like someone who didn’t eat this afternoon. “This IS delcious.”

“Thank you, Done Deal.” she returns his smile, then looks to Ms. Harshwhinny and I, “Enjoy the meal as well.” She then takes her leave again.

I take a bite of the squash, unsure on how a combination like this would work, but somehow, it does. The reaction to the pleasant taste seemed to be audible, with Ms. Harshwhinny looking my way with a bit of a smile on her face. She starts eating her serving, and nods in approval. The meal between all of us is relatively quiet. I suppose Fast Pass doesn’t have any more questions for me, which is fine; I’m sure she was only doing it out of respect for Ms. Harshwhinny.

I finish my meal first, wiping and residue sauce with a napkin, and placing it in the picked clean bowl when I’m done.

“That was great.” I say. “My compliments to the chef.”

“Well, if you would like to compliment the chef, she’s in the kitchen.” Fast Pass points to the door where Elizabeth has come out of. “Why don’t you go and chat with her?”

“I think I will.” I nod, taking my bowl with me. “I’ll see you all in a bit.” Before I leave, I notice Ms. Harshwhinny is done. “May I take your bowl as well, Miss?”

“No thank you, I’m fine.” she shakes her head. I look down to see that her hand, unseen by Fast Pass or Done Deal, gesturing for me to leave. I look back at her face, and she’s staring at me like she’s worried about something. I wonder what it could be. I have to act fast, before it seems like I’m standing around for too long.

“Okay, Ma’am.” I turn and walk into the kitchen, away from the party.

I go into the kitchen, to see Elizabeth sitting at a table, reading a magazine. She puts it down quickly, staring at me, wondering what I’m doing here.

“Hello.” she says in a friendly tone. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Everything’s fine. I just wanted to say thank you for the excellent meal.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.” she smirks, “You didn’t have to come all the way here to tell me that. The empty plate is enough for me.”

“True, but Fast Pass seemed pretty adamant at the idea of me coming here.”

“She did, did she?” her voice relinquishes the friendly tone, into a bit of snark.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a bother.”

“Huh? Oh, no. You’re not bothering me at all. In fact, it’s nice to see another human here. Not that a couple of pony guests aren’t welcome company. It’s just that we don’t normally have human guests, apart from myself.”

“I take it you’re aware of the rumors about Fast Pass.”

Elizabeth pauses for a moment. She stands from her chair, and goes to the door to make sure it’s closed all the way. It is. She nods with a relieved sigh, then turns back to me.

“There are no rumors around here. It’s entirely true.”

“Really? She hates humans?”

“Yeah. Can’t stand them.”

“Then, why…”

“Am I here? I guess I am a pretty big enigma. I used to be the head chef at The Trotting Greek Restaurant back in Applewood. Fast Pass came in and ordered one of the signature meals, which was a cinch for me. She was so impressed that she asked to see the chef, and when she saw it was me, she hired me on the spot to work at her place.”

“So, you live here?”

“Yep. Got my own room in this mansion.”

“So, how do you know if she hates humans?”

“Well, being that you’re the only human I’ve seen here in ages tells me this. That, and Fast Pass would criticize other celebrities who come here with human guests at her parties.”

“In front of them?”

“No, never in front of them. Mostly in her study, or in the dining room when no one is around.”

“Does she do this in front of you?”

Elizabeth looks around the room, as if scheming something. She gets close to me, and her voice changes into a whisper.

“If I show you this, you promise not to tell her?”

“I wouldn’t tell Fast Pass anything. Not that she would believe me.”

“Good.” she gestures for me to come to the table she was sitting at. She reaches underneath and pulls out a pair of ear bud headphones.

“What is that?” I ask.

“I was made aware of Fast Pass’ hatred for humans fairly early on. While she was gone for last year’s Equestria Games, I planted a couple of microphones. One in her study, and the other in the dining room.”

“Where?”

“The flower vase in the center of the table.”

“Oh. That makes sense. How’s the clarity on that thing?”

“Crystal clear.”

“Aren’t you worried about getting caught?”

“A little bit. But, I record all of her conversations about the topic. She also tells me to water the plants constantly, so I know she won’t touch that vase if her life depended on it.”

“If you’re recording her conversations, and are aware that she hates humans, why do you work for her?”

“The pay is good. And…um…” a blush crosses her cheeks, before it promptly disappears. “Never mind. You want to listen in?” she changes the subject, holding up one of the ear buds. I shrug and sit down next to her.

I place the headphone in my ear, and instantly, I hear Fast Pass talking like I’m right next to her. The clarity on this thing is amazing.

“Elizabeth really knows how to make a good meal.” Fast Pass says, “Certainly one of the more talented humans I’ve come across in Equestria.”

“Yes, she certainly is something else.” Ms. Harshwhinny responds. “Are there other staff in your place?”

“I have a maid that comes around every so often. A nice little unicorn that can get to hard to reach places. Otherwise, Elizabeth lives here to help with any chores that need to get done, such as water the plants, or do the laundry.”

“So, she’s the cook, and the house maid?”

“Of course. I mean, she was just a cook when I met her, but she has her other uses. Can’t just let her lounge around all day. A human has to pull their weight around. What about your assistant? What does he do for you? Certainly not just write contracts and memos.”

“No. He also picks up my dry cleaning, gets my morning coffee, does any errands I…” her voice trails off. It feels like she’s bothered by what she’s saying. Her tone says it all for me. “…he does a lot.”

“So we’re not all that different. Humans may not be nearly as talented as us ponies, but they are good for something.”

“What about the humans joining the Equestria Games?”

“Bah, don’t remind me.” Fast Pass scoffs, “Nothing but a side attraction made by the higher ups to appease those hairless creatures. Not one human placed in last years games, so why bother trying again?”

“I suppose they feel that they could improve.”

“Improve my hoof. There were a couple of humans in a couple of the hoofball teams I played against. Wiped the floor with them in no time. Sure, they tried, but trying doesn’t get you anywhere in life. As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one place humans are good at, and that’s the help. Doctors, lawyers, business owners, rulers, that’s no place for them.”

“I see…” Ms. Harshwhinny says quietly. Strangely, I haven’t heard anything from Done Deal.

“Since you have a human as your assistant, surely you agree with me.” Fast Pass says with a smug attitude. I bet she’s grinning, too.

“I…” Ms. Harshwhinny pauses, “…I think humans have their uses. They’re certainly nowhere near as talented as us. My assistant is good at his job, but anything more than that, and he’s absolutely useless. I’m sure they’ll find some other use in the future, but it’s not today.”

I know Ms. Harshwhinny doesn’t mean that, but it still makes my heart drop listening to her say it. Elizabeth looks at me with sympathetic eyes, which is understandable, since she doesn’t know the truth.

“See? I knew you’d agree. Elizabeth should be coming out with dessert soon. It’s apple pie; my favorite.”

“Can’t wait.” Ms. Harshwhinny says with a calm demeanor.

“That’s my cue.” Elizabeth stands up, going to the nearby apple pie and slicing into it. “You want some?”

“No thanks. I’m not hungry.”

“Sure thing.” she places the pie slices onto the plates, and puts them on the cart to bring out. “Hey…um…sorry.” she says before wheeling the cart outside, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

I really should be shocked about all this. Fast Pass. The most popular hoofball player in Equestria. A racist. However, I’m not all that surprised. What Ms. Harshwhinny said to me in the afternoon, followed by the awkward first meeting, I had it in my head that what she said was true. This is just a solidification of that truth.

What surprises me more are Ms. Harshwhinny’s words. She doesn’t mean it. Of course she doesn’t. But why does it feel like she means it? I can’t think about it like that. She’s only trying to stay on Fast Pass’ good side. I told her at lunch that she shouldn’t waste such a deal on me. Why would she? I’m just her assistant in the eyes of everyone. No one should know that I am more than that.

Still, it hurts pretty bad.

Ms. Harshwhinny finishes her apple pie, and Elizabeth comes to pick up her plate. Fast Pass and Done Deal soon follow. I emerge from the kitchen, thanking Elizabeth once again for the meal.

“You were in there quite a while.” Ms. Harshwhinny says with a cold voice.

“Elizabeth was showing me around the kitchen.” I respond with a lie. Ms. Harshwhinny knows I’m lying. Fast Pass doesn’t. Maybe she doesn’t care.

“Thank you for everything, Fast Pass.” Ms. Harshwhinny looks away from me. “We shall take our leave before we intrude any further.”

“Please. You’re not intruding.” Fast Pass chuckles. “It’s getting late. Why don’t you stay for the night?”

Ms. Harshwhinny pauses. I see her hand shake just a little bit at Fast Pass’ question. I’ve seen that shake in her hand before. It’s a gesture of anger and frustration. It’s something she does when she knows she cant show it on her face.

“I’m afraid we can’t. We don’t have the essentials.”

“We have plenty of pajamas. There’s also guest rooms that you can sleep in. You drove so far out to see us, that it would take hours before you get back home. Please, you’re my guest. Allow me to treat you as the royalty you are.”

I leave the decision making to Ms. Harshwhinny. I desperately want to leave. I know what’s going on in Fast Pass’ mind all too well. That look on her face. The gleam in her eyes. That’s the look of someone who wants something, and it isn’t just to give Ms. Harshwhinny a place to crash for the night. I think Ms. Harshwhinny can see it, too.

“Very well.” Ms. Harshwhinny turns to me, “I guess we are staying for the night. Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” I say, hiding the hesitance in my voice.

“Since we are in an agreement, may you show me to my room?”

“Sure.” Fast Pass says happily.

We walk through the halls of the mansion. The walls are decorated with medals that Fast Pass won, and blown up pictures of her magazine covers. The drapes are of dark red silk, and the window behind the curtains show the backyard. It’s a beautiful rose garden, complete with a fountain, which consists of a figure of Fast Pass spewing water from her mouth. I could gag.

Finally, we stop at a velvet door. Fast Pass opens it up, revealing the room that Ms. Harshwhinny is staying in. It’s as big as Ms. Harshwhinny’s living room back in Manehattan, and that’s pretty damn big.

“Elizabeth will be arriving shortly with a fresh tooth brush and pajamas. Inside is a personal bathroom, should you desire to take a shower.” Fast Pass is really laying it on thick. “Would there be anything else?”

“No thank you, that will be all.” Ms. Harshwhinny nods. “Thank you.” She then steps inside.

“I’ll be back to make sure you’re comfortable.” I’m sure you will, Fast Pass. Fast Pass closes the door. She looks over at me, scanning me up and down with her eyes. “Follow me.” she walks past me, in the direction in which we came. I follow her to the living room, where we stop at her couch. “You will sleep here for tonight. Elizabeth will bring you a blanket and a pillow. Your bathroom is down the hall and to your right. Any questions?”

What I want to say is “Yeah, can you go fuck yourself?” but I really can’t. Instead, I settle on "No, thank you."

“Good.” she scoffs and walks away.

I sit down on the couch. Admittedly, it is pretty comfortable. I’m betting that a week’s salary would be able to afford this thing. I’m happy with the couch I have at my apartment. It’s not the most showy thing ever, but it works where it counts. With a few minutes, Elizabeth arrives with a blanket and pillows. She also hands me a toothbrush. That’s nice. She nods and takes her leave. Might as well see what this bathroom looks like.

Huh, it’s quite nice. That’s good. I was thinking that it was going to be a dingy bathroom with cockroaches running around, so color me surprised that it looks as nice as the rest of her mansion. I brush my teeth and wash my face. No pajamas for me, I guess. I could freak her out and sleep in the nude, but I’d rather not.

Yikes, this couch may be comfortable to sit on, but sleeping is a whole other story. It’s way too soft, and makes my back uncomfortable. I can’t take much more of this. The hours are passing by, and the moon shines through the window. Maybe Ms. Harshwhinny is still awake.

I go back into the hall, and I see at the far end Fast Pass at Ms. Harshwhinny’s door. She’s talking with her, but I can’t hear what’s being said, nor can I see Ms. Harshwhinny. I make myself scarce, and I can only see what is going on on Fast Pass’ end. Fast Pass keeps inching closer to being in Ms. Harshwhinny’s room, but she takes a step back every time. I’m betting that Fast Pass is asking if she can come in, but Ms. Harshwhinny is standing her ground. After minutes of unheard conversation, Ms. Harshwhinny’s door close, leaving Fast Pass alone in the hallway.

I see Fast Pass’ fist clench, and give a frustrated shrug of defeat. She walks away deeper into the hallway and goes around a corner, likely to her room. I go to the violet door, raise my hand to knock…

“Ahem…”

Oh shit.

I turn around and see Done Deal, wearing dark brown silk pajamas, staring at me while holding a pillow. We look at one another, both of us unsure about how to proceed.

Another door down the hall opens up, and Elizabeth, wearing a white night gown, comes peaking out. She gasps when she sees me standing next to Done Deal. The two of us look to her, and then back at each other. My eyes widen in shock. That’s why he was so quiet during the dinner. That’s why he never chimed in. He…Elizabeth…holy sh-

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” Done Deal says quietly.

“Tell what?” I reply. “I didn’t see anything.”

Done Deal stares me down, before that serious expression turns into a smile. He gives me a light slap on the arm, and walks in Elizabeth’s direction. He goes into her room, and she gives me an appreciative smile before closing the door.

Well, that was a thing that happened.

I better go back to what I was doing before any further interruptions. I knock on Ms. Harshwhinny’s door. Moments pass, and the door opens, revealing a frustrated Ms. Harshwhinny wearing a robe. Her eyes soften when she sees that it’s me behind the door.

“Oh, it’s you. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. May I come inside?”

“Of course you can.” she steps to the side, allowing me to enter her room. Man, this place is spacious. She closes the door and locks it. “Fast Pass sure spared no expense when it came to this house.”

“No she did not.” I chortle.

“With the tone she had been giving you, I’m sure you received a less than stellar guest room.”

“That would have been something…if I got a room at all.”

“You didn’t get a room?”

“She gave me the living room couch.”

In that instant, I see a look on her face that I had never seen before. Sure, I see her annoyed, even a bit peeved on some days, but the look on her face is the face of someone in rage. Her fists are clenched, her face is red, and her eyes are shut tight, with her mouth trying not to scream. It’s scaring me, honestly.

“That’s it…” she seethes, “…the deal’s off. I’m going to cancel everything. I’m making the call, right now.” she goes to her folded pants, digging through the pockets for her phone.

“No, wait!” I rush to her, placing a palm on her searching hands. “Don’t…”

“Nopony and nobody has any right to treat you like this! You're not only just a human who has done no wrong, but you are also my assistant, and my…” she looks away, her voice trailing off. “I can’t tolerate this any longer. I can’t stand by and let somepony as vile as her be the face of the Equestria Games.”

“Ms. Harshwhinny, please. I’m not worth it.”

“Why? Why aren’t you worth it? Have you done something bad during your time here, or when you lived on Earth?”

“No. I mean, unless you count jaywalking a couple times.”

“This is no time to make jokes. This is serious!”

“I know. I’m sorry. Look, we have only a few more weeks before the Equestria Games. You already have so much on your plate. If we back out on this deal, then we’ll be back to square one in finding a face for these games. You said it yourself, there’s nopony else that is more popular than her.”

“And you believed me? There’s plenty of popular athletes in Equestria! I hate to admit it, but Rainbow Dash is quite a popular Wonderbolt. That, and she saved the world a couple times with her friends. She also knows the Princesses, and has quite a big following.”

“Then, why didn’t you call her?”

“Because she’s cocky, full of herself, with no regards for…” she catches my look. I’m giving her a face that suggests that we already know someone like that. “…oh…” she blushes in embarrassment, “…right. That was a bit stupid of me.”

“No, I'd never say that. Fast Pass is huge in the hoofball scene; it’s only natural that you would want her.”

“I suppose what I’m feeling right now is buyer’s remorse, among other things.” Ms. Harshwhinny calms, but I see that she is still angry. “You’re right. I may not like it…I may even hate it…but we do have other things to do. The final weeks are critical, and we have almost no time in the schedule to look for a replacement. After tonight, we don’t have to interact with her until the games.” She turns her gaze to me. “You think me too emotional, don’t you?”

“No. I’d say this is a perfectly rational reaction.”

“You must think me a coward, though.”

“Why is that?”

“You must have heard Fast Pass say those awful things about your species.”

“I did.” I respond, not telling her about the hidden microphone in the dining room.

“Then you probably think I have no backbone in defending you.”

“Neither did Done Deal.”

“But he’s not having relations with a human.”

“Actually, he is.”

“Wait…what?”

“I just saw him in the halls. He and Elizabeth are an item. Don’t tell Fast Pass I told you.”

“Why in Equestria would I tell her that? Both of them would be fired! Well, maybe Elizabeth more than Done Deal.” Ms. Harshwhinny’s mind races at the thought. “I had no idea. They hid it quite well. Hold on, does that mean they saw you?”

“They did, but they know not to tell anypony, especially not Fast Pass.”

“Good. The last thing we need right now is our relationship being made public to the wrong people…and ponies.” Ms. Harshwhinny sighs, running a hand through her mane. “This whole day has made me frazzled.”

“I think I might have a solution for that.” I smile, reaching for the sash on her robe. Ms. Harshwhinny looks to see my hand grab the sash, and smiles, not stopping me. I remove the sash, allowing the robe to open up, revealing her near naked figure underneath. All that’s there is a black bra and panties, looking very much like a lingerie model about to walk the runway.

Ms. Harshwhinny removes the robe, letting it drop to the floor. Her body is illuminated by the moonlight, and I can barely help myself. I embrace her, and kiss her neck, followed by her cheek, and then her soft lips. Her hands travel my back, and dig into my shirt. Her breathing becomes heavy, as I turn her around, and press her back against my chest. I grip her waist and kiss her shoulder. As my hand grabs onto her bra strap, she stops me.

“Wait…we probably shouldn’t do this.” she whispers, attempting to compose herself after the flurry of kisses.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes. As satisfying it would be to make a mess of Fast Pass’ room with our…ahem…activities…I don’t want her to suspect anything.”

“Oh, right. I didn’t think about that.”

“Sorry, but you know how I get by now.” she lets out a small chuckle. “You don’t mind…cuddling, do you?”

“I don’t mind at all.”

“That’s good. Well, first off, you’re not getting into bed wearing your work clothes, so…” Ms. Harshwhinny unbuttons my shirt, while I unbuckle my pants. By the time she reaches the last button, my pants are already on the floor, while one of my shoes has been removed. I take the rest of my clothes off, aside from my underwear. Once I’m done, Ms. Harshwhinny looks me up and down, smiling. She takes my hand, and we go to the large bed.

We lay down, and I notice that the bed is very soft, but unlike the couch, where it was too soft, this one was comfortably soft. Ms. Harshwhinny presses herself against me, and rests her forehead on mine. I kiss her muzzle, eliciting a giggle from her, followed by a scrunch of her nose.

“It’ll probably be a while before I’m fully comfortable with this.” she sighs.

“With what?”

“This. Me and you. I enjoy sleeping with you, and the current position we are in, but…”

“I know. It’s been a while.”

“What about you? When was your last relationship?”

“A few years ago. Had a girlfriend on Earth, back when I was living with a roommate in an apartment complex. We broke up a couple days before I was transferred here.”

“What happened?”

“She was sleeping with my roommate.”

“That harlot!” she replies, shocked. “I can’t believe she would be unfaithful to a man like you.”

“It’s okay. Because then I met you.”

“Oh, now you’re just being silly. You couldn’t have possibly been attracted to me the minute you saw me.”

“True, but you did intrigue me. The attraction came when you hired me to be your assistant.”

“The last year must have been painful for you, then. Being in my presence and unable to tell me how you feel.” she says with a playfully smug tone. I can’t help but chuckle at this side of her. It’s very unlike how she usually is with me, which is sweet, but with that air of professionalism. I think she’s getting comfortable in opening herself up to me.

“I’ll admit, it did have some difficulties. It especially didn’t help when I saved you from falling into that puddle at the last Equestria Games. Your hands were so soft when you lessened your grip. Not to mention you were extremely close to me, and…”

“And I heard your labored breathing and beating heart.” Ms. Harshwhinny places a palm on my chest “It was loud and rapid. That should have been my first clue that you felt something for me. Truth be told, I was rather…excited when you saved me.”

“Really?”

“Of course. A human, such as yourself, saving a mare like me. It was like one of those silly romance novels, but real. It was the first time you left me speechless.”

“You know, all this talk isn’t doing well to stop me from wanting to make a mess of this bed.” I admit to her.

“My apologies.” she replies softly, caressing my back with her hands. “Once we are out of this place, we’ll go back to our normal schedule. Which reminds me; first thing in the morning, we leave. I can’t stand to be in this house any longer.”

“You and me both.” I nod, kissing her on the cheek. “Let’s just get some rest, and deal with the issue of leaving in the morning.”

“Yes, let’s.” she smirks.

We look into each other’s eyes, caressing one another in different areas. I touch her cheek and shoulders, while she feels my back and chest. It’s all very sensual, but it’s making us very sleepy. Ms. Harshwhinny’s eyes are getting heavy, and so are mine, but the smiles on our faces remain.

Within a few minutes, we are fast asleep.

Seven o’clock rolls around, and we are already up. We finish getting dressed, and I make the bed; straightening the blankets, and making sure it looks like one body was sleeping in it, rather than two.

We head over to the living room, where we see Elizabeth folding up the blanket from the couch I was meant to sleep in. She looks to us, surprised we are up so soon. Quickly, she finishes up the folding, and walks over to me.

“You’re up early.” she says quietly.

“We wanted to leave early. Have things to do.” I respond back. “Did you sleep okay?”

“I slept well, thank you for asking." she responds with a blush "And yourself?”

“We slept good.”

“That’s good to hear. Do you need me to do any…cleaning in the bedroom?”

“No, thank you. We kept it strictly…” I look over to Ms. Harshwhinny, who is giving me a slight smirk, “…professional.”

“I see. Well, before you go, you should have this.” Elizabeth hands me the folder which holds the contract. “You left it on the seat in the dining room.”

“Thank you. Tell Fast Pass it was…a pleasure meeting here.” it takes my all not to sound snippy when saying that.

“I’ll do just that.” she nods, noticing my struggle. Elizabeth looks to Ms. Harshwhinny. “You have a good day, Ms. Harshwhinny.”

“Same to you.”

Ms. Harshwhinny and I leave the mansion with a quick step, going down the stairs, and into the car. As if she was in some kind of action movie, Ms. Harshwhinny hurriedly shoves the keys into the ignition, changes the gear to drive, and speeds back onto the road.

“Now we are out of there, can you tell me the schedule for today?” Ms. Harshwhinny asks politely, back to her business tone.

“Right…” I pull out my smartphone, looking over the schedule. “You usually like to have your schedules mostly clear on Fridays, but there’s a couple things. You have a phone call from a potential merchandise vendor at twelve o’clock, and there’s a spa appointment at two. I assume you also have a yoga and spin class later on.”

“Yes, but that’s after office hours. If traffic is good, that’ll give us time for breakfast. Would you like to go out to breakfast with me?”

“You know that I would.”

“Good. Also, if you would like, I can get you into the spa for your own appointment. Take it from me, it’s very relaxing.”

“I don’t know. Not really a spa kind of guy.”

“The steam rooms are unisex.”

“Okay, sign me up.”