220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoMaobZWmB
"No, no, no, no, no!" Elliot stabbed one merciless finger at me before turning back to the computer on his desk.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hSC7R7fVC
"Elliot!" I growled/pleaded. "You owe me!"
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIP2Mupe0z
"I do not! I did you a favor!"
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTEQFTPtPv
"Ha! A favor? Captain fart-breath has been breathing down my neck ever since you ratted me out, you jerk!" Several heads around us popped up from behind their computers to stare quizzingly.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzqxWa7gMP
Grabbing my arm, Elliot dragged me down to the chair beside his.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PfBtRkOd4
"Lower your voice!" He hissed, his shaggy blond hair whipping around his forehead as he cast several nervous stares about the many desk-clumps that surrounded his. "Listen here, little brat," he held up one warning finger. "I am technically your superior. As a part of HR I am corporate which means you have to respect me! You can't use that tone with me in front of others. These idiots don't need to know that we're all chummy, okay?"
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlZnyYv60q
"So in private, I can be a total pain in the ass, but at work I have to be respectful." I confirmed with a humorous grin.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrmtYMmbDQ
"Essentially, yes." Elliot pinched the bridge of his nose, shutting his eyes in an effort to calm his growing agitation. "Although I'd prefer if you weren't a total pain in my ass outside work."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPHxzknS7H
"I'll consider that. So will you help me?"
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA9Vyl3Ert
"No."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5AyPbtO7v
"Elliot!" I whined, desperately grasping his arm in a fierce hug. "If you don't help me, I'll be stuck with stupid Susan or… Or..." My eyes widened and a soft gasp escaped my throat. "Or Michael..."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP2YrdzQPG
Elliot’s eyes flashed at the sound of that name, and he once again warned me with one finger just inches from my nose. "No."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmLOq110lx
"If I have no one else to ask..."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3H32xpir1
"Lucia..." He growled my full name. "No."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6AV4yOUDg
I bounced up from my seat and darted out of arm's reach just as he made a wild swing for my elbow.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWtd0izJxM
"Lucy!" He hissed furiously.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpNWTxtEHc
"Hmm?" I smiled sweetly before twirling down the row of desks towards Elliot's arch nemesis.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz1wxgMqzf
A little background on Elliot and I, if you're still with me, Reader: I’ve known him since I was seventeen. We lived together briefly during college, and he-- by-habit-- took a big-brother role with me. I was in rough shape when he found me.
In the past he’s taken a stern and guiding hand with me when needed, but I’ve worked hard to grow into a strong, indepent woman, so now, he’s just my best friend.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQq0BaIB7R
Michael, I have a similar relationship with...
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpmxLOIXhB
"Lucy, don't you dare!" Elliot stood from his desk, ignoring the gossiping eyes around that soaked in every word between us.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAYI0UXa5Y
Michael is Elliot's former best-friend. They had a nasty disagreement over a girl their senior girl in college, and now they pretend the other doesn't exist. Michael adores me as much as Elliot does, an additional reason to Elliot’s bristling temper.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwpzkfOys6
"Hey, Michael?" I approached with my hands behind my back the man that has Elliot pacing back and forth like a furious badger several desks down.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1Obpo4air
"Hey, beautiful." Pleasantly surprised eyes smiled up at mine. "You never grace my corner of the office— what can do for you?"
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU2YECR15I
"Well," I leaned a hip into his desk, my fingers tapping idly. "Mr. Tom Banner wants me to get a little help in my department until I hire an assistant. I was wondering..."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMY7bnSyUj
"No can do, sweetheart. I'm understaffed today."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvZkP4i0p2
"But I thought accounting had a surplus of employees!" I couldn't fight the pout that appeared on my lips.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOgxLrHmNl
"We did until Brian's wife had a baby, and then Julie called out sick. She should be back Monday— maybe I can help then?"
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTs210UxCm
"I won't need help Monday— I needed help today." I grouched, crossing my arms over my chest.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BXszXU457
"Don't be a grump, little brat." Michael scolded gently, using the nickname Elliot had called me just minutes prior. "I take it Eli said no too?"
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI4GLqjCWY
"Mhm." I nodded, chewing on my bottom lip. "But he's just being spiteful about it. He has no real reason."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8HDFK98fN
"Want me to talk to him?" Michael grinned wickedly, and I rolled my eyes and smiled ever-so-slightly.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx48Y4FBSmk
"Sure, go ahead and enter the lion's den. I'll stand on the sidelines and cheer for you."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVm4O0hmwv
Rubbing his chin, Michael peered around me and warily studied his former friend who was still pacing, all but trembling with rage.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdJXVgqrof
"Yeah, that's a fair point. I'll stay out of it." Michael sighed and offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry, kiddo."
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AnrTtYjfd
"Meh..." I shrugged and waved off his apology.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8j6oH4lBZb
Returning to my desk required me to pass Elliot's. In passing, he gripped my arm painfully, forcing me to stop.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHIJ0h8IXE
"Are you daft!" He growled. "Why would you do that!"
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxlfuIZyBc
"I need help from somebody!" I yanked my arm away. "And you'll be pleased to know that he said no too!" I stomp away, oblivious to Mr. Tom Banners eyes following me all the way back to my desk.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03dTHZZ2Wd
When Mr. Tom Banner removed himself from his office, I prepared myself for the: "so, who have you chosen to help you" question that I wasn't prepared for. But instead of bee-lining straight down the walkway between desks, he looked somewhere towards the back corner of the office, and crooked his finger at somebody.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeU3tySNcW
Curiously, I peeked over my shoulder, and to my surprise, Michael was rising from his desk, and walking towards the front of the office. And then, to make matters even more concerning, he closed the distance between him and Elliot, patting at his shoulder until he had Elliot’s attention, gesturing for him to follow.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGxu7gEdXx
Michael stopped beside Mr. Tom Banner, and waited with him as Elliot rose from his chair, and together, the three of them enclosed themselves behind the glass walls of that impenetrable ice-castle.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDECBoZrj6b
What the hell?
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOxnZGKfIl
Okay, just because Mr. Boss Man pulled the very two individuals I had just spoken with into his office for an ominously private chat— didn't necessarily mean it was about me, right?
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf71FpJe2Ay
Right?
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyXdmitt1v
Well, I'm nothing if not a diligent over-thinker, so for the duration of that mysterious meeting between my boss, my best friend, and the man who used to be a third in that friendship; I studied vigilantly the quick words that formed on Mr. Tom Banners lips.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAi7AZdLX1
Unfortunately, Dearest Reader, reading lips is not a brilliant talent of mine. However, I am very virtuous at deciphering facial expressions, and as I studied Mr. Tom Banner's face, I gathered...
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkVlNKQvKo
Nothing.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡane8wg7L1c
I got nothing from that perfectly unreadable face with its high sculpted cheekbones and perfectly black eyes.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVvsQt3i3A
Damn him!
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7lKlkN7Ht
Whispering murderously to myself: "what are you talking about, you slimy—" I ducked my head the second those eyes behind the glass found mine.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ulHy9Gbau
So, they were talking about me! But why? Was he converting my friends to the dark side?
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlb9e9rYWT
Damn him! Damn him!
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTInoKN1YLh
Feeling terribly uneasy, I ignored Stupid Susan's judging sneer as I remained low on my desk, and stole a quick peek at my dainty blue wristwatch.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmNNbUj3XA
4:49PM
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7vwVgZwCr
Brilliant, it was about time to leave.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRgAOyxQcm
Chewing nervously on my lip, I closed out of my email, logged out of the system, and organized the messy papers strewn across my desk into neat stacks. Another quick peek to my watch verified that three minutes had passed.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JS7pEcRIo
Damn it! I wanted to leave now!
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnEeFNu2Ny
Cautiously, I raised my head just enough to see the men behind the glass walls of Mr. Tom Banners office grinning and patting each other on the backs as if they were congratulating each other in an awesome victory of manliness.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnZePkN9Ss
Those fools, I rolled my eyes. It's five minutes 'til 5PM. I'm leaving.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsvyteYn4y
I gathered my purse, threw it over my shoulder, and stood in a half-slump-half-rise, creeping out of the office like the hunchback of Notre Dame.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33WneTYilH
I cast several wary stares over my shoulder to ensure they hadn’t seen me, and then one final stare as I ducked behind the corridor that took me to the elevators.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLfVdfIUbH
They didn't see me leave. I breathed a sigh of relief.
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm28egkySz
The next time Mr. Tom Banner looked up from his desk, he wouldn’t find me sitting behind mine.
ns216.73.216.176da2
