Donna's Ultra-High Heels Bk. 01

"Oh Kevin, I want to be the first to tell Karen of the new office heel height requirement if you don't mind," Donna excitedly exclaimed'

"That's find with me, but first have Karen call Jeff Douglas and see if can come over right away and we'll tell him about the new assignment after you have announced the new office dress code to both of them," he suggested.

"Oh that would be fabulous. I can't wait to see the expression on their faces. I know Jeff will probably drool after he sees me in these stilettos," she gleefully answered.

Donna then changed back into her 4 inch heels, walked back through her office after putting the 5-1/4 inch heeled pumps under her desk, and then went on to the outer reception area of Kevin's law office. Karen Stephens was seated behind her desk. She had just been hired last week as the receptionist and appointment scheduler. Donna had recommended Karen for the job over a few other candidates not only because of her résumé, but she had also known her personally since they had attended the same high school a few years earlier. It was a coincidental reunion as Karen had seen the receptionist job advertised in the paper and came in person to the office in order to apply. Donna had remembered her from the ballet and other classes that they both had attended. Kevin quickly hired her but it was clear that Karen was to be trained by, and report to, Donna.

"Karen. Would you call Jeff Douglas and see if he can get over here as quickly as possible. Kevin has an assignment for him.

Donna stood at Karen's desk while she made the call. Jeff was at his office and indicated to Karen that he would come right over.

Jeff Douglas was a private detective that Kevin used quite often to do investigative work and he was enamored with Donna. They hadn't been on any formal dates, but had spent some time together recently because Kevin had Donna assist Jeff in a couple of investigations involving two separate clients. He had hired Jeff's detective agency for the last few years, but since Donna hired on to the firm as a legal assistant, she began assisting Jeff on Kevin's behalf. Jeff reduced his fee to Kevin when Donna worked with him on an assignment. He probably would not have charged Kevin at all if he could just be with her. Donna, on the other hand, was only mildly attracted to Jeff, who was about four years her senior, but was not wanting to get too serious with anyone right now as she just finished graduate school this past May. She wanted to get more established in the law profession before committing to a formal relationship. Therefore, she teased and played Jeff for all it was worth, to Kevin's delight.

When Jeff arrived in about fifteen minutes, Kevin, Jeff, Donna, and Karen all assembled in Donna office where Donna had put collection of shoe boxes on the floor behind the conference table. She had also put the shoes she was going to model under the desk near her office chair so they could not be seen. Donna quickly went behind the desk and set down in her chair and reached down and slipped off her black suede four inch heels and quickly slipped on those 5-1/4 inch stiletto heeled pumps. They were the same ones she first tried on earlier and had needle-pointed toes and extremely low V-cut throats that exposed the tops of her delicate toes! The thin tapering stiletto heels added to the slightly curved lines of the pumps.

Donna then rose out of the chair and stepped around to the front of her desk and proudly showed off those ultra-high heeled stilettos as both Karen, and especially Jeff, gasped in awe. She then confidently paraded around the room now that she had gained her confidence in them only about a half hour or so earlier. She still had to concentrate on balancing in them while ignoring some minor strain at the front of her ankles. Donna then announced that Kevin was implementing a new high heel policy in the office and the pair that she was wearing was one of several that Kevin had just received involving Jeff and herself on their next assignment. She continued strutting around back and forth before the group and stated she would wearing these 5-1/4 inch heels in the office to present a more fashion conscious environment! Also, since Karen had the same 6-1/2 shoe size as her, she could wear some of the same ultra-high heeled stilettos that Kevin received. Kevin then interjected that he would buy any additional ultra-high heels they needed for business purposes.

Jeff was about to have a coronary with Donna's announcement and was practically drooling over her 5-1/4 inch Stilettos that she continued to flaunt in front of him! Karen was also excited by Donna's announcement and was jumping for joy, on her tip toes in her four inch stiletto heels. She had earlier in the spring bought a few pair of 4 inch heels, so she started wearing them to work right away and easily met the office dress code. Karen had even worn them for her interview which didn't hurt her chances for getting the job.

"Karen and Jeff, can you help me take the tops off these shoe boxes and fit them underneath each one so we can put them on the table. I'll temporarily store them later in my closet until I can get a proper storage case for them," Donna announced.

Karen and Jeff jumped that the chance of helping her with the shoes and within five minutes all 16 pair were neatly lined up in two rows on the large conference table, still in their boxes with the lids underneath so that they could be inventoried. Donna selected a pair of tan suede opera pumps with stiletto heels and needle pointed toes and handed them to Karen.

"I think these will match you tan business suit, so put them on and see if you can stand or walk in them," Donna suggested.

"Oh I'm sure I can. Unlike you, I've worn high heels since junior high school and remember I took ballet training with you in high school," Karen responded as she stepped out of her 4 inch heels and put both of the 5-1/4 inch stiletto heeled pumps on the floor so that she could step into them.

"I think you had better set down to put them on. I'm sure you have never worn heels that high before," Donna suggested.

"No, but I have some 5 inch heels at home for special occasions. My boyfriend likes me to wear them all the time when we are together," Karen giggled as she pointed her right foot and stepped into the pump on the floor.

She did brace herself with her left hand on the back of one of the conference room chairs as she stood up and put her full weight on that shoe while stepping into the left shoe. Karen then stood up straight with her knees lock and got the feel of the new heel height by shifting her weight from sole to the heel and back in order to find the proper balance while standing in them. She did notice that this heel height did take more concentration to find the proper balance as compared to her five inch heels. Karen reasoned that some of the extra effort required was because she had simply been wearing those 4 inch heels all day today, and these were a full 1-1/4 inches higher! She didn't have to go through the same initial steps that Donna did to walk in those heels since she had already knew how to wear 5 inch heels. Karen then took about a half dozen steps towards the door, stopped and turned around and walked back very gracefully. It took more concentration to walk and balance properly in these pumps than with her 5 inch heels, but she did make the trip look so easy. Karen acted as if she had worn this height forever. Donna could tell that it wasn't as easy as Karen pretended since she noticed how her calf muscles flared with each step, but she didn't mention that fact with anyone in the room.

"Wow, you do make it look so easy," Donna complemented Karen.

Kevin then announced the new proclamation in an authoritarian tone of voice, "The new high heel policy of 5-1/4 inches, minimum, will begin to be enforced while you are in this office, a week from today. The heels must stay on the entire time except for one, ten second shoe dangle for each customer, client, or other male visitor in the office. If any female employee violates this rule they will be punished accordingly. For the next five business days, there will be a break-in period where spike or stiletto heels no lower than 4 inches can be worn no more than half of the time in one hour increments. If, during the break-in period, these rules are violated, the same punishment will apply."

Both women and Jeff applauded the announcement. However, both Donna and Karen realized that according to the new rules, they could wear even higher heels since Kevin used the word 5-1/4 inches 'minimum' in his proclamation. Also, they wondered what the punishment would consist of even if they were caught with their heels off except for the dangling exception, or if they didn't comply with the break-in rules. Depending on what it may be; it might be worth purposely violating the rules!

Karen went back to the reception area while Donna and Jeff followed Kevin into his office to plan the details of the upcoming investigation with both of them.

"Before we begin, I want to ask Donna to make a note to pick out a large cabinet, to keep in her office, in order to store most of the heels that he just received from the Salveno's. I'm sure there eventually will be more of them coming in the future," Kevin announced as Donna crossed her right leg over the left in order to take notes on her shorthand pad.

Donna then deliberately slipped off her right shoe and let it dangle for less than ten seconds before reaching down and slipping it back on. Jeff's tongue almost hit the ground as he ogled Donna's legs and pointed stocking foot the whole time!

"I see you remembered the rules precisely and Jeff, it's a good thing that I wasn't talking to you because I'm sure you didn't hear a word I said. Now let's get on with the details of the investigation I have in mind for you two," Kevin announced as Donna finished teasing Jeff with her dangling shoe.

Kevin went on to explain that he had received a phone call from an old client, Mr. and Mrs. Salveno, that he had helped them with their business papers several years ago. They started planning their retirement about three months ago and Kevin had helped them with the paperwork when they sold their business to an out of town investor. The new owner wanted to expand all facets of their ongoing business which included women's custom made high heel dress shoes, women's lingerie, other specialty clothes, plus ballet supplies. This made the Salveno's very happy as they wanted their old customers to continue to be satisfied with the new owner. The couple had stayed on another month after the sale to help train the new mangers of the business that the owner had sent to take over. Of the two mangers, the woman was to take over the women's specialty clothes line, lingerie, and ballet supply side of the business and the man was going to manage the high heel shoe portion. That was pretty much how Mr. and Mrs. Salveno ran the operation for years. The two new managers seemed to learn their respective sides of the business very well and the couple felt good after they formally left for retirement. The Salveno's then took and extended vacation and traveled extensively including a trip to Italy to visit some relation there as both their parents had emigrated from there when they were small children.

It wasn't until they returned to St. Louis about a week ago that they had received word from a former customer of theirs that she suspected that something might be a fowl with the new owner and/or managers. The Salveno's tried to specifically find out from her what the problem was, but she only said that the last time she was in the store buying her usual high spike heels, two men in suits came in the shop and identified themselves as being from the FBI and escorted the woman manager into the back room while the male store manager was fitting her with some new pumps. The only reason she tried them on was to make sure they fit as it was the first time she had been in the store since the sale to the new owner. The women said it sounded as if the women manger was answering some questions by the two men, but she couldn't hear exactly what they were talking about as the man fitting her shoes kept talking and tried to distract her from what was happening in the back room. He hurried up the sale and said that he was glad that she was prior customer and was welcome back anytime. The women indicated that she was not trying to be busybody; but thought they should know what she heard and saw because she didn't want anything legally happening to the Salveno's because of the sale of their business to some possibly unsavory people. Kevin had assured them there was probably nothing to the incident, but because of their concern, he said he would look into the matter.

"Jeff, I want you to interview the Salveno's and the troubled customer as well as investigate the company that bought the store along with the two managers," Kevin ordered.

"Donna, I want you to go to the store and wear your 5-1/4 inch heels and say that you heard about their business from a friend, who was a prior customer, and was looking to buy some ultra-high stiletto heels locally. Since you seem so sure of yourself in those 5-1/4 inch heels, do you think you could wear them and go there around five this evening for your first visit?" Kevin questioned.

"Oh I definitely can and will," she replied.

"As I said, they also carry some Fifties vintage lingerie along with the ultra-high heel stilettos. The Salveno's told me they had an extensive line of various styles of bras, belts, corsets and other specialty items, so show some interest in that line of clothing as well in order to help establish that you are going to be a long time customer. It may take multiple visits to the shop to fine out any useful information. Try to get their business cards with their names so we can go at their identities another way. Also, mention that you're interested in re-starting your ballet training and find out what she would need in order to get back into her ballet training," Kevin reiterated.

"Do you have in mind any particular type of 'Fifties vintage' lingerie for me show some interest in and to ask about?" Donna smugly asked.

"I'll leave that up to you. I'm sure you'll use your imagination," Kevin replied.

"Maybe I'll get fitted for a cone or bullet bra and wear it with a tight sweater so that when I take off suit jacket, it could help all the men that may be in the office, to take their eyes off my heels!" Donna shot back.

"By the way, I'm going to see what this company has in the way of heels higher that 5-1/4 inches since it could also give me a legitimate excuse to shop there now that I'm getting into ultra-high heels in general," Donna gleefully announced.

"I'm really glad to see that you are taking this new assignment and office dress code seriously. By the way, if Jeff were to be in the office when you wear that outfit you just described, I'd bet he would be turning up the thermostat to 95 degrees to make sure that you would take off your jacket," Kevin joked and they all laughed.

They all agreed to meet back at the office tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 o'clock to report their findings. With their inputs, Kevin would then decide how to go forward with any further investigation.

Chapter 2

Jeff left the office right away and Donna took off at 5 o'clock to make her first trip to the store that had been re-named by the new owner from Salveno's to 'Stilettos and Beyond'. She arrived there at about 5:15 since the store was located in the near-west side of St. Louis city, east of Washington University and not all that far from Kevin's office in downtown St. Louis. The Salveno's had bought the small business after World War Two from a couple who were also retiring. At that time it was pretty much was ballet supply store catering to colleges and other ballet institutions around the city. After the Salveno's bought the business, they expanded it to include women's fashion footwear, lingerie, and other specialty clothing items. In the first five or six years, they concentrated on the higher heels as well as ballet training shoes on the footwear side of the business. In the last couple of years, they also offered custom made or custom fitted vintage bras as well as some waist cinchers, corsets, and other exotic specialty items. The store was located in an area of the city where there were two story businesses. It was in a group of buildings where there were two buildings located together, side by side, with two small parking lots on the opposite other sides of both buildings.

Donna cautiously walked up to the door trying her best to maintain her balance in her those 5-1/4 inch heels while ignoring the mild strain at the front of her ankles caused by them being pitched so far forward. She saw that the two buildings were connected, but the entrance was through the building on the left, as the signs indicated. She entered the shop and walked carefully, but semi-confidently, up to the counter where a tall dark headed man stood. He was very good looking and appeared to be about thirty and was wearing a dark business suit and red tie. Donna was immediately attracted to him, and he appeared to be physically trim as well. She guessed that he must be at least been six foot two inches tall and had deep blue eyes.

He asked," How can I help you?"

Impressed with his deep and sexy voice, Donna answered, "I'm interested in looking at your line of ultra-high heels," she replied.

"How high are you talking about?" the man questioned.

"Oh, at least as high as these 5-1/4 inch stiletto heels like I'm now wearing," Donna responded as she flirtingly displayed her black suede pumps to him, acting as if she had worn them all her life.

"I see, but I'm curious. How did you know that we carry ultra-high heels since I haven't started advertising them and I'm just starting to display some of them in the shop?

"Oh, a friend of mine said she had bought what she called ultra-high heels here." Donna blurted out not thinking that she was going to need a reference in order to buy ultra-high heels at this establishment.

"What's her name? I know most of my customer's," he pleasantly questioned.

Donna panicked and again blurted out the only name she could think of on the spur of the moment, "Karen Stephens."

"Oh yes, I think I remember that name. I think she may have come in after we took over the store," he responded.

Donna was so relieved that she had accidently come up with Karen's name as a customer of this establishment. After all, Karen had said that she wore five inch heels for her boyfriend and Karen had heard nothing of the discussion about investigating this place, so it all seemed to make sense.

The man continued and said, "I'm in the process of transferring some ultra-high heels from our other two out of town stores, but I have a long way to go before being fully stocked. I also have some ultra-high heels, from the stock we took over from the previous owners, but it is also somewhat limited as well. We also carry some specialty lingerie as well ballet supplies, so we've been pretty busy while trying to keep all the previous owner's old customers happy. As you can see, many of our stilettos here are in the extra high heel range of 4-3/8 to 4-3/4 inches, depending on the size. Those are mostly what you see displayed in the window and on the tables although there are some styles with higher heels that I just set up in the last couple of days."

"What size are you," he asked.

She said, "Six and a half."

"Good, that's the size of all the display shoes, so you can try them on if you find a style you like. For your size, the extra high heel height is 4-1/2 inches. The stiletto heeled pump in black suede over there is displayed in both medium and narrow widths so why don't you try them on first and see which is the proper width for you. Slip off your shoes and I'll measure them on the machine in the back," the man explained.