Dayne
The office pantry is nothing like the fancy cafe across the street but it is everything an employee would want for coffee breaks and meal times.
It is comfortably spacious with six tables spread across the room which can seat four persons each. A hot and cold water dispenser stands in the corner next to a coffee maker. Instant coffee and tea of a wide variety are likewise available for those in a hurry and prefer having them over brewed coffee.
Overhead cabinets are likewise installed over floor-mounted ones with granite counter-tops where food supplies are kept and provided for free by the firm for all employees, partners and clients.
I for one would love my coffee brewed but I don't have the luxury of time given my very demanding boss, so it's usually "instant coffee is better than nothing" for me. Damn, the woman is a first-class top-notch slave driver. She needs to get a life! Seriously!
"What's with the frown?" A deep soothing voice broke me from my thoughts. "Double "S" giving you a hard time again?" He continued asking.
Brian Jake Madrazo. The firm's youngest and newest associate counsel at the age of 26. Tall, smart, handsome, kind, and down to earth but way-out-of-my-league-so-keep-dreaming-girl type of guy.
I was so deep in thought that I did not hear him walk in until he spoke.
"Hello, Sir Brian! Sorry, I did not notice you come in. Can I get you anything, Sir?" I said while looking into his beautiful light brown orbs. This I believe is the first time that I got this close to him. I always thought he looked good but no, he is actually stunning with those tantalizing, soul-searching eyes, his straight nose, pink moist lips and his strong jaw. So gorgeous!
"Well, you're quite good at not noticing, Dayne," he whispered almost to himself but I can't help but hear it.
"What?" I asked. Not sure what he meant by what he said.
He appears to have snapped out from some sort of a trance and with a small smile said, "Nothing, I'm good. Just came here for some water. Thanks for asking though." Was all he said before moving over to the water dispenser to fill his jug with cold water. He seemed a little pissed about something, so I offered, "No problem, Sir. If you need anything please feel free to ask me." I said giving him a smile. Yeah right, like I have time for him with my boss not running out of things to slave me over with.
He looked a bit surprised with my offer, which was actually more like an effort to just make small talk, but it was quickly replaced by something else I can't put my finger on. Then he flashed me his sweet and sincere smile and I almost forgot to breathe. "Thanks, Dayne!", he muttered amidst his smile before turning to the door. "I just might take you up on that. See you around!", he said turning to face me and then he was gone.
"Oh.My.Gosh!" I whispered as I expelled the breath that I was thoughtlessly holding and lifted my hand to my chest feeling my labored breathing and my pounding heart. That smile could just give me a heart attack! It was dazzlingly beautiful. What is wrong with me? Am I crushing on one of the bosses? Or am I that overworked and stressed out for lack of any social life because of my bo.....
Then, as if on cue, I remembered... my boss' coffee!!! Shit! shit! shit!
I hurriedly made her a cup and headed back to her office, pushing all thoughts of Brian aside.
No distractions, Dayne. Work is life and life is work. Your family needs you. I keep repeating this in my head while walking the short distance to my boss' office.
I knocked on her door and opened it upon hearing her say "Come in!"
After delivering her coffee, I went back to my desk and worked on the tasks she assigned by order of priority.
At around 4:45 PM, the case for filing on Monday was neatly placed on her table. And by the time I finished all the other bits of work she gave me, it was already 8:30 in the evening. I placed all the other files on her desk, and bid her goodnight.
Double "S" just nodded without taking her eyes off her laptop. She seemed totally into whatever it is she was typing. This woman is the embodiment of my mantra - "Work is life, and life is work." But where for me work is just a means to a better life, hers is a different version altogether. She seems to live, breathe and eat work. And she's making me... No! ... forcing me into becoming her protege, her mini-me. Man, I don't want to eat "work," I'm sure I won't be able to swallow it. Too bitter for my taste. Nuh-uh. I shook my head at the morbid thought.
I took my bag, turned off the lights in my office and headed out. I was in the middle of arguing with myself on whether to eat pizza or just cup noodles at the apartment I share with my best friend Deena when I heard hurried steps behind me.
I turned to see Brian almost running far behind me. "Dayne, wait!" He called out. I was quite surprised to see him still in the office at this hour since I'm used to being the second to the last to head out, my boss being always the last one to leave the office.
"Hi, Sir Brian! Had to finish some urgent work, too?" I asked trying not to sound as nervous as I felt. What's with this day and the gorgeous Brian? I wondered.
"Yeah." He answered almost breathlessly, having ran quite a distance. "Need to catch up on the workload. Lots of cases coming in." I nodded in agreement. That I am very much aware of.
Our firm is one of the finest, if not the finest there is in the country. Not surprising therefore that more and more companies and ultra rich families seek our firm's legal services. Which means more extended working hours for me and my boss. And even for gorgeous Brian here.
We walked in awkward silence for a while. Him probably still catching his breath and me nervously not knowing what to say. For one, it's not like we talk on a daily basis. And, two, he's too disarmingly handsome to be around. Just remembering the smile he flashed me earlier is enough to make my knees wobble.
"I'm starving. You want to grab dinner before heading home?" He finally blurted out of nowhere.
"What?" I stupidly asked back as I was still trying to process what he just said. I was staring at him blankly. Did I hear him right? Get a hold of yourself, Dayne!
He patiently replied while hiding his amusement at my moronic state, "I said you wanna grab some dinner before going home? I'm really hungry. Please, Dayne?" He was almost pleading. "No fun eating alone on this fine night, right? And besides, you said I can ask you if I'd ever need anything," he added for good measure. "And right now, I need you to eat dinner with me. Please."
Whoa, that was not what I had in mind when I made the offer earlier. Good job making unnecessary small talk, Dayne. But can I say no to one of the lawyers of the firm?
Well, why not? This is a free country.
But I answered, "O-okay, Sir," anyway. Because I actually wanted to. Wait. Am I daydreaming now or am I really having dinner with gorgeous Brian?
"Yes! Thank you, Dayne!" He said smiling sincerely, with his hands clasped in front of him as he spoke. "So, what would you like for dinner?" He asked excitedly, like a child on christmas eve. Huh?
Oh my goodness! Not daydreaming this dinner thing.
"Uhm, a-anything is fine with me, Sir. I.. I'm not a picky eater." I stuttered nervously. Way to go, Dayne. You're just eating dinner. It's not even a date. Don't think too much of it.
"Okay, then. It's a dinner date at the pizzeria for tonight." He excitedly said while winking at me, with a happy smile on his face.
A dinner date with gorgeous Brian? For real?
Maybe I need to pinch myself to be sure this is not a daydream scene. "Owww!"
"You okay, Dayne?"
OMG!!! Aaaahhhhh!!!! I almost did the happy dance and had to mentally shake myself to stay cool and calm. "I'm great, Sir. Just great." He smiled in reply and we both walked in the direction of his car.