Sophie was more
helpful than I was expecting. I tried to not be obvious that I was
fishing for information, but like she says, she really is very
perceptive. She figured me out straight away. Which makes me think
that her comments about the way that Emma looks at me may also be true?
Could she be interested in me?
But then Sophie did
say to tread carefully, I wonder how serious and ‘long-term’ Emma’s
relationship was. Since I started working here I thought of Emma as
rather stand-offish with me, until today at least. But maybe she was
really hurt by the guy she was with. Maybe she isn’t interested in dating
anyone right now. I grab my cup and head back to my office.
After stewing on the
information for a few hours, I decide that considering what I have been told it
probably isn’t a good time to ask Emma out. Not a good idea if she’s
nursing a broken heart. I don’t want to be a rebound guy. So I try
to put her out of my head.
As the day drags on I
find that I am actually able to focus on my work, at least part of the
time. But I keep coming back to the same question: should I ask her out
anyway? I mean what’s the worst that could happen? She may say
no. She probably will say no, but I think it is worth a chance.
Sophie did say that it had been a few months since Emma’s relationship ended,
if she’s over it then she wouldn’t be on the rebound, would she? I am
such a chicken-shit! I have to stop being afraid of the
consequences. Time to man-up!
I glance at the
time. Nearly home time, I will catch her as I leave so that I don’t seem
too desperate by making a special trip to her desk. That way when I get a
rejection I’ll just be able to go home.
I get busy working on
the last item for the day. Some formulas in a spread sheet for Julia, she
was having trouble with. It’s a little tedious but at least it passes the
time.
The work for Julia
passes the time a little too well, I realise as I am waiting for it to finish
printing and I look at the clock. Shit! How did that happen?
I better rush if I want to see Emma before she leaves the office. I have
no idea what I am going to say to her, all I know is I need to see her. I
pack up my desk and collect my things. I pick up the printout of the
spread sheet for Julia as I leave my office.
When I get to
reception Emma isn’t there but I notice that her bag still is. Maybe she
is in the bathroom or something. So I head to Julia’s office and hand her
the paperwork.
By the time I get
back out of Julia’s office Emma’s bag is not at her desk anymore.
Shit! I missed her! Then as I head toward the elevator I see that
she’s there. I hasten my walk but I don’t make it in time. She
mouths ‘sorry’ as the doors close.
I quickly press the
button again and again, willing the doors to re-open, but they don’t. Is
it weird that I’m suddenly so desperate to see her?
“Don’t you hate
that?” Sophie asks as she steps up beside me. When she notices my
bewildered expression she says, “When the elevator leaves just as you
arrive?” She holds up her index finger and thumb, “Missed it by that
much!” She says impersonating Maxwell Smart. It’s kind of funny so
I chuckle with her.
When the elevator
finally arrives we both get on and I press the button for the basement.
As Sophie prattles on about how badly she needs a holiday I tune out. It
seems like the elevator is going slower than usual. When we get off we
both head over to the allocated G & C Printing car spaces, but I don’t see
Emma anywhere. I look inside the remaining parked cars as we pass, but
they’re all empty.
“Looking for
someone?” Sophie asks when she notices what I am doing. I turn to her but
am unable to speak. I didn’t know I was so obvious. “Emma catches
the train,” she adds with an all-knowing smile and a wink as she waves goodbye
and she opens her car
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