We park in the garage. Clutching my blue notebook to my chest, I rush straight for the elevator. I need to get away from them and think.
“Liz, could you give me a sec?” Finn asks.
“Not really, I need to get to the office.”
The doors open and I jump inside. Kel, Ernesto, and Emerson have barely made it halfway to the elevators. Finn slides in as the doors close.
“I guess I’ll ride with you to your floor then. About last week, I was way out of line to insinuate you and I were dating. I explained everything to Kel after I dropped you off.”
I gawk at him. “Obviously you weren’t very clear because he still thinks there’s something between us.”
Taking a step toward me he says, “Isn’t there?”
“What kind of game are you playing with me? I don’t like it, Finn. It’s not funny.”
He takes another step forward and leans his hand on the wall behind me, inching closer to me. “Do I look like I think any of this is funny? I’m completely serious, Liz. What do you say?”
His eyes move up and down my face as he removes his hand from the wall and tugs a piece of hair from my lips.
My breath hitches. “What do I say to what?”
The doors open and Finn moves to my side, nodding his head to the two men who join us.
He leans over and whispers in my ear. His breath is hot and intoxicating. It sends chills down my spine. “I want you, Liz.”
I gasp and turn my head to look into his eyes. “You want me to what?” I ask, a bit too loudly based on how the other men turn and gawk at us.
Finn smirks and chuckles. I’m glad he finds this humorous. The doors to my floor open and I hurry out, leaving Finn in the back of the elevator, clutching his briefcase. He winks just as the doors close and I’m left standing there, hot, bothered, confused and probably a bit too hopeful.
“He said what?” Gloria asks. “And you didn’t get that?”
“Get what?” I ask, toying with my napkin. My knee is bobbing up and down nervously. I need her to confirm it.
“Liz! The man wants you. He wants to be with you. He wants to date you and probably sex you up all night long!”
Biting my lip, I laugh. “You think so too?”
“Oh phew. I’m glad you understood that. I was seriously starting to question your intelligence.”
I hear a throat clear and I turn to see Mr. Foreman in the doorway. “Liz, could I see you in my office?”
I nod my head and push up from my seat. Gloria smiles confidently. I wish I knew what this was about. He was pulling people randomly all last week and asking to speak to them. I thought I was off the hook. Maybe I did something and I’m in trouble.
I amble to his office. “Close the door,” he says, motioning. His glasses are hanging off the tip of his nose. His face is stern.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Foreman. I didn’t mean to screw up. It won’t happen again.”
“Huh?” he questions. “Liz, you didn’t do anything wrong. Please, have a seat.”
Nodding nervously, I sit in front of him and cross my ankles under my chair.
“I’m not sure if you heard the news or not. It’s been pretty hush-hush around here, but I’ve been promoted to VP of accounting.”
“You have?” I smile genuinely. He’s a great guy and I couldn’t be happier for him. “That’s wonderful news. Congratulations, although I’ll be sad to see you go. I guess we won’t be seeing each other anymore.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’ve seen a real change in you lately. There’s a spring in your step and your work reflects it. I’m not going to lie to you Liz, up until a few weeks ago, I almost forgot you even worked here. You’ve been a quiet little wallflower. Then all of a sudden I hear you laughing at your desk. You’re smiling while you do your work, and your quality of work has greatly improved. If I had to guess, I’d say you started to change right before the Christmas party.”
He stands and moves around the front of his desk, sitting on the edge, facing me.
