CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
My fingers hammer across the keyboard as I answer Melvin’s most recent email. It’s his third of the day and like all the others, he's marked it as high priority. This time he’s concerned with the light above his desk. It’s too bright. I no longer question why it’s been so hard for Finn and Trey to fill this position. Melvin. Between the utter boredom of having less than nothing to do all day and Melvin’s many needs, they’ve all gone insane. Finn suggested I bring a book, but at the time a part of me felt it would be wrong. Those feelings ended today.
“Melvin again?”
I pop my head up from my computer screen at Trey’s question.
“Yes, how did you know?” I narrow my eyes at him. I’d be concerned he’s tracked my email with all his techy knowledge, but he’s the one who sent me a racy email with pictures of what he plans to do with me tonight. I don’t think it’s a concern.
“I’ve noticed the volume of your typing is directly proportional to how scrunched up and distraught your face is. Only Melvin creates those responses in most people.”
I let out a small sound between a laugh and a snuff and shake my head at him. “So you knew about his particular behaviors before you hired me?”
Trey grins. “Of course I did. Why do you think all the other receptionists quit?” I open my mouth to retort, but he keeps going. “I knew you of all people could handle him. I mean you talked about all those rich assholes you used to deal with. What’s one little Melvin?”
One of his eyebrows goes up with his question daring me to argue his compliment. The old Simone might have, but the new Simone knows he’d talk me around in circles until I forgot what we were arguing about anyway. I’ll make it easy on him…… this time.
New Simone shakes her head at him and lets it go. Sadly, Trey appears to assume he’s won some large victory from the increase of his smile. His dark green button down shirt is in his normal afternoon state of undress — the top two buttons undone with the sleeves rolled up. What's unusual is that it’s tucked into his Khaki pants. I lean over the desk space and check out the brown dress shoes on his feet rather than his normal brown hiking boots.
“Did you need something, boss?” I emphasize the boss part to remind him why I won’t be visiting his office for “fun times” as his most recent email suggested.
His forehead tightens. “Don’t make me fire you, Sim.”
I frown at the use of his nickname for me and go back to my email. “Some of us are trying to work over here. Melvin waits for no one.” I wave my hand at him in a shoo fashion, but he only laughs.
“Fine, but you’re coming home with me tonight.” He taps my desk with a knuckle twice.
“Okay.”
“I didn’t ask.” He pushes away from the desk and walks to the office door. I roll my eyes to the ceiling in his direction once his back is turned.
“I saw that,” he calls back to me before the metal door separating the two rooms closes.
There’s no way he saw. Is there? My eyes catch on the large lobby clock and I swear into the emptiness at my lack of time before the work day ends and I’m faced with Trey and his plans for tonight.
**
“Right here.”
We stop at a little side entrance with a black sign above a simple glass door. It isn’t a place most tourists would look for, but as Trey pulls me through, he promises I’ll be impressed.
I step on the elevator and Trey leans over to hit the button for the nineteenth floor. I can’t decide if the silence between us is awkward or settled. Like when two people are comfortable enough to share a space together and not need to fill it with mindless chatter. Our relationship, or whatever is happening between Trey and me, has been pretty good since Saturday night. Besides brunch with the girls, we’ve been together every night after work. Somehow we became a couple. The real live couple I wished so hard for when we first met. It almost seems too good to be true.
Okay, so I might be putting the cart before the horse. It’s Wednesday after all, but I’ve spent four days in Trey bliss and I’m not planning to let go any time soon. I swipe a hand down my black pants to reduce any wrinkles from sitting on them all day as a way to busy myself.
“Stop. You look fine.” He reaches over and fluffs the shoulder of my light blue sweater. I hope I look dressed up enough for wherever we’re going. Trey, of course hasn't given me many details, but I at least match his level of dressiness.
The elevator dings and as the doors open, Trey reaches for my hand and we walk off together. My breath stalls at the sight once my eyes adjust and take in the area in front of us. The room is a large square and like most restaurants, there are smaller four-person tables placed throughout the space. Beyond that the exterior wall isn’t a wall at all, but rather large windows all spaced next to one another to maximize the open viewing area.
It’s a room of glass looking out high above the city, lit up for the evening. A hostess leads us to a table in front of the window to our right, but I don’t notice anything about her or those around us. The display’s spectacular and I can’t take my eyes away from the large skyscrapers and pointy pyramid-shaped Transamerica building outside our window. Trey pulls out my chair and I sit but don’t look in his direction until I turn my head to see what he laughs at.
Me apparently.
“It’s so beautiful all lit up.”
My nose finally picks up the smell of meat. I check out the food at the table next to us for a quick moment and then turn back to the view and a partial angle of Trey’s face. He takes the menu I didn’t realize I still had and sets them on the table.
“I had a feeling you’d like it.”
