The elevator is moving at a snail’s pace. I’m texting him and he’s not responding. I’ve never been on his floor, but I just have to see him. Gloria wasn’t at her desk, and if I don’t tell someone soon, I think I’ll burst.
As soon as I step out onto his floor, I instantly regret it. What am I thinking? Things are really weird between us. I don’t know what to say to him about earlier. What if all he wants is early gas money?
I spin on my heel and press the down button.
“Hi, can I help you?” A young female approaches me from behind. She looks like she’s still in high school.
“No, I was just leaving.”
“Umm, you just got off the elevator. I saw you.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes you did.”
“No, I didn’t… listen,” I sigh. “I was coming up here to talk to a friend and I remembered he’s in a meeting, so I’ll just come back later.”
I press down again.
“Who’s your friend?” she asks.
“Umm... Kel Williams.” Ugh. Why did I use his name?
“Kelly Williams isn’t on this floor. Nice try.”
“No, not Kelly Williams. Kel Williams. He’s a he.”
She rolls her eyes. “Kelly Williams is a guy. He works in receiving. Now who are you really looking for?” she asks, crossing her arms and tapping her foot.
Kelly? Kel is short for Kelly? Oh my God! I just hit the jackpot. I smile to myself as little miss impatient continues to huff and puff her frustration. Oh, the power of truth. Kel just became my bitch.
“Liz?” a familiar voice breaks me out of my blackmail dreams of grandeur.
“Hi, Mr. Walsh,” the youngin’ says all dreamily. I roll my eyes. “I was trying to help her. Can I help you? With anything? Anything at all?”
Finn straightens his tie and switches some files from one hand to the other. “No thank you, Christine. I’ve got her now.”
She smiles brightly and turns the corner into her cubicle, peeking around the edge to stare. I don’t blame her. He seems to have that effect on everyone he meets.
“Hey, what brings you up to my neck of the woods?” he asks.
“I umm… well I wanted to tell you something, but it can wait. It’s not really that important and I shouldn’t have come up here. I’m not sure why I did, but now that I’m here, I think I should go because things are weird and I feel weird and you make me nervous and I shouldn’t be nervous but I am, so... Bye.” I wave and press down again.
He huffs in amusement. “Ms. Foley, would you please step into my office for a moment?” He motions toward the back of the room.
“I really need to get back downstairs,” I stammer.
“It’ll only take a minute.” He strengthens his insistent stance and I can’t refuse, mostly because I have nowhere to run. As we trudge to his office, I glance back longingly as the elevator doors finally open.
“Please come in.” Damn. He has a nice office.
I take a step inside. My eyes fixate on the shelves behind his desk. He has a lot of books. He draws the shades on the windows and I turn nervously as he locks his door.
“Why’d you do that?” I question.
“Lock the door?” he asks, stepping toward me.
I nod.
