We hung up not too long after that, and a mixture of relief and gratitude washed over me because I had Angie to talk to about my upcoming date.
The next day,I arrived at work with a rare, sparkly energy that I didn’t usually have on a Monday morning. I wasn’t sure if I’d run into Colin, but I was supremely aware of my surroundings as I entered the building, waited for the elevator, and walked toward my desk. It was as if I’d sprouted super-sensitive Colin antennas.
Grant was in our little corner, and he must have heard me coming because he turned around and put a finger to his lips to keep me silent.
I pouted and was about to ask him what was going on when he stood up and pulled me back into the hallway.
“Why do we have to be quiet?” I asked as I pulled his hand off my arm.
“Maggie is back in the office. She doesn’t want us to ask questions. Just pretend she was never gone.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I said. “She couldn’t help it if there was a family emergency.”
“I get it, but that’s how she wants it. And she gave us a couple of new small clients to start a workup on for today, but shedoesn’t want to be bothered.” He’d crossed his arms and looked at me funny.
“What?” I asked, wondering if I had food stuck in my teeth.
“You look different,” he said, studying my face.
“I, um, changed my makeup.”
He didn’t need to know that I secretly hoped to run into our boss’s boss today.
“Hmmph. So how was that dinner with Colin? Did he treat you like a lady?” He gave me a smirk.
“He treated me better than you did onourdinner date,” I said, pushing past him back toward our desks.
“That was cold,” Grant said as I sat down and turned on my computer.
It wasn’t until noon that Maggie emerged, and my original fascination with her disappearance returned.
“Oh, hello, Kate,” she said. Maggie floated from her door to my desk.
“Hi, Maggie,” I said. She didn’t have a hair out of place, and her Kelly green dress fit her as well as it always had.
“How are the new accounts working out?” she asked, as if she hadn’t been missing for an entire week. As if she’d seen me only yesterday.
“All good so far. Right, Grant?” I asked.
“Yup, no problems so far, Maggie.” He was facing both of us now. “We should be done by end of day.”
He was being optimistic. Or he was sucking up to keep Maggie happy since she’d been away so long. Not that Maggie was ever unhappy with our work. She’d always been tactful whenever she’d had to correct us or give feedback.
“No need to rush it. I have a meeting in ten minutes with the new vice president, and I’ll be going upstairs now. See you later,” she said, walking toward the elevator.
Grant and I shared a look. I wondered if he thought it was as weird as I did that Maggie acted as if everything was normal. I’d just gone onherwork trip, after all, and there was zero interest from her in bringing it up.
When I turned back to my computer, I saw an email coming in. My stomach jumped when I saw who it was from. I slid over to block my screen from view and opened the email, my hand freezing on the mouse as I read it.
Good morning Kate, I hope you were able to rest after our trip. I’m about to go into a meeting and wanted to say hello. Is there a day that works best for you for dinner this week? I am free tonight and Wednesday night. – Colin
My heart was racing as I read his words. I hit reply and typed my answer before Grant might catch a glimpse of my screen.
I wasn’t expecting a response right away because he should have been going into the meeting at that time, but a reply popped up in less than a minute.
Glad you’re available tonight. I’ll send you the details later. I’m looking forward to seeing you again.
I read it twice, then a third time, smiling at my screen like an idiot. There was no flowery language, no poetic praise, or metaphors, but I was flying high. I closed my email, scared that someone else might pass by and see it, or worse—Grant.
