The Office [A Flash Fiction Love Story]

   "Miss Steele, may I have a word with you please?"

   "Certainly, Mr. Walden."

   Victoria follows her boss into his private office door beside her desk.

   She stands just inside the closed door awaiting instructions. Greg Walden turns to look at her, giving her an approving once-over, seeing a beautiful trim figure, as usual wearing classy conservative business attire with the scent of gardenias. She unwittingly returns the once-over glance and quickly regains her professional aloofness. 

   Greg turns toward the window, her reflection clear before him with the blackness of night outside. Noticing her looking him over again, he grins. Turning toward her again, he says, "Miss Steele, how long have you worked for me? Ten years?"

   "Yes, it was ten in August, sir."

   "Well, I think it is time for a change now."

   "What do you mean, Mr. Walden? What kind of change?"

   "This formality is a barrier between us. I'd like it dropped."

   "Oh, no, Mr. Walden. That would not be wise."

   "Wise?"

   "No, sir. It is a protection for both of us, and it shows everyone of our respect for each other. In these times, there is too much to risk by being less formal."

   "I understand your perspective, although I see it differently."

   "You do?" He watches her eyes drift toward his mouth and then jerk back to his eyes.

   "I do."

   "Honestly, Mr. Walden, it would not be wise to change it. Please don't ask."

   "I'm not asking."

   "Thank you, Mr. Walden."

   "My first name, Victoria?"

   She looks perplexed.

   "What is my name, Victoria?"

   "Gregory."

   "Greg will do."

    "No, sir. That's too familiar."

   "What's really the problem here, Victoria?"

   "You are my boss. I cannot be familiar with you, not like that."

   "For the last five years we have worked together for eighty hours a week, working seven days a week. Why is that?"

   "A heavy workload."

   "Not hardly. I've spent a great deal of time just trying to come up with things to have you do. Why do you think that is?"

   She unwittingly looks him over as she thinks, "I don't know."

   "Excuses to be with you."

   "Oh, Mr. Walden! No, no, we can't cross that line. I. . . ."

   "You what?"

   "I must resign, sir."

   "I see. Where will you go? What will you do?"

   "I don't know. I have savings set aside for a rainy day."

   "This is a flood, Victoria. Positions of this stature don't have openings very often. Even if you moved somewhere else, to a bigger city like New York, you would be lucky to find work. Do you want to flip burgers?"

   "No, sir."

   "Then don't act hastily."

   "But, I can't do what you are asking."

   "I'm asking you to call me Greg."

   "But that implies more. Others will assume that we are more. . .familiar."

   "I would like to become more familiar." He refrains from grinning.

   Softly, but emphatically, she says, "No, sir, no."

   "Why?"

   "I don't want to lower my standards, Mr. Walden."

   "All right. Sit. Let's talk."

   "About?" she asks as she takes the seat nearest her, a love seat of all things. She sighs in exasperation.

   "You. You went to college and earned a degree in business management, an MBA, correct?"

   "Yes, sir."

   "Did you pursue management positions afterwards?"

   "Yes."

   "And?"

   "This was the only position available, one that would hire me fresh out of college."

   "Did you have a high GPA?"

   "Yes, sir."

   "So, you didn't party in college. You studied instead?"

   "Yes."

   "Did you date?"

   "No."

   "Why not?"

   "The only ones who asked me out were trying to score."

   "Ah. Was it the same in high school?"

   "Yes."

   "How did you know that was their intentions?"

   "In high school, Troy, the boy who lived next door, overheard the guys talking about me in the gym.  Whenever one of them asked me out, I declined."

   "What happended to Troy? He obviously had a crush on you."

   "I suppose he did. Until right before graduation, he was slight in stature and ignored by girls. Then he suddenly looked older. He had a growth spurt and filled out some, started running and working with weights. For grad night, he grew a mustache and had his hair professionally styled. Girls were falling all over him."

   "He changed? Did he ask you out then?"

   "No, he never did. He went on to college, and girls chased him there."

   "Did he ever get married, or is he still pining away for you?"

   "Pining away for me? Don't be silly. I was just his friend."

   Greg shakes his head. "I doubt that."

   "He married a great gal, and they have four wonderful children. He's very happy."

   "I'm glad to hear that. So, Troy protected you from the guys in high school. What about college?"

   "I focused on studies. I decided that I'd only hang out with friends. I didn't date."

   "So you are a virgin, both physically and emotionally?"

   She takes a breath, closes her eyes, and then speaks calmly, "Mr. Walden, that is a totally inappropriate question."

   "I got my answer anyway. So, at what, about thirty-three, you have not married or become engaged, most likely because you are a workaholic?"

   "Oh," she groans as she frowns, looking at her feet, "so I'm easy prey?"

   He chuckles. "No, Victoria, you are anything but easy prey."

   "Excuse me?"

   "You have turned me down every time I've tried to get near you to break through your cool detachment."

   "What advances have you made, before now?"

   "Little things. You won't go to dinner with me when we work late; you always run out and bring it back to me. You won't sit near me, always across the desk instead. When I get close, you move away."

   "Oh, isn't that what I should do?"

   "Probably, but it is not what I want."

   She looks at his mouth again, and then looks at him directly as she asks, "What is it that you want?"

   "What is it that you want, Victoria?" He walks over to her chair. "Stand."

   "No, I shouldn't."

   "Hmm. It seems you've become rather defiant tonight. Perhaps it's from working over ten hours already."

   "Defiant?" Still, she remains seated.

   "Yes, I could fire you for insubordination, but then you'd never find work, would you?"

   "Are you deliberately trying to compromise me, sir?"

   "Compromise you? No." He pauses. "Tell me, Victoria, why do you think we worked all those long hours? I gave you a hint earlier."

   "You said to be near me. I assume to seduce me? But you were never aggressive, sir."

   "No, Victoria. I fell in love with you, but you won't let me near."

   "Love? Men use that to get women. . .uh, you know what I mean."

   "I do. That isn't what I'm after."

   "What are you after then?"

   "Marriage, a family with you."

   "Right. Sure." With her professional aloofness intact, "I'll get my things cleared out now. So tell me, do you need my resignation in writing?"

   "What are you doing, Victoria? Accepting or rejecting me?"

   "Leaving. I'm not going to fall for that marriage line."

   "Ah, I have a solution to that."

   "What do you mean?"

   "Take my hand."

   "Why?"

   "My, you are being contrary. Take my hand, please."

   She offers her hand, which he grasps pulling her to standing. "Don't say anything, just kiss me."

   He gives her no time to reply. "There now. We've broken down that barrier. Victoria, will you marry me and be my wife for the rest of our lives?"

   She has a quizzical look. "Have you been married before? Someone told me that you had. Did it last till she died?" Doubt was in her voice.

   Yes, I was married, and no, it didn't last."

   "Tell me about it."

   He smiles at her challenge. "I married in college to a perky freshman. I was a year older. She was adorable. I liked her and I lusted for her, and I thought I would grow to love her. Then after two years, she had an affair with a law student. She told me that she wanted him instead of me. She moved in with him and got pregnant before our divorce was final."

   "What happened to her? Is she happy?"

   "You met her a couple of years ago. She came by the office to see me. Three hundred pounds, bleached blonde hair, and no appointment. Remember her?"

   "Yes."

   "She wanted me to take her back. He dumped her right before the baby was born and told her not to put his name on the birth certificate. She defied him and did anyway. He was irate and beat her, so she was afraid of him then. He moved on to other college students and has never settled down into marriage or family life of any kind. Kellye, my ex, has gone from one man's bed to the next. She set the example for that way of life, so her daughter's promiscuous behavior is no surprise. Desperate, she knew I had the means to provide for her as owner of this company and hoped I would take care of her."

   "Are you sure the girl's not your daughter?"

   "Absolutely. We hadn't been together for months when she got pregnant. It isn't possible. She filed a paternity suit against the real father, and the DNA proved her to be his."

   "I'm sorry. You were lucky that she left you."

   "When she left me, my heart wasn't involved, but it hurt my ego. I buried myself in my work. When you came along, I was grateful for your aloofness. But, over the years, you broke down my barriers. I fell in love with you. Now, I want to trample your aloofness. I can wait until you decide how you feel about me. I want, I need, a marriage established on love. I will marry you tonight if you love me. Do you?"

   "I haven't allowed myself to think about it. I confess that I dream about you. In my dreams, we are very happy together, and very loving."

   "Loving? As in-bed loving?"

   "That, too."

   "Hmm. Is that what you want, what you have in your dreams?"

   "Of course."

   "Kiss me again."

   "Why?"

   "So suspicious! Kiss me. I love you, Victoria. Please kiss me."

   She initiates the kiss as her reply.

   After several more kisses, he tells her, "Better than I'd hoped for. Please, Victoria, say you'll marry me."

   "Yes."

   He smiles. "When? Do your parents expect a big celebration, or can we slip away to Vegas?"

   "Las Vegas."

   "Now?"

   "I don't think I could get a flight on such short notice."

   "We'll charter a plane."

   "What about my resignation?"

   "Denied."

   "I guess you have the final say on that, since you own the company. How did you keep that tidbit from me and why?"

   "I made sure it was kept secret from all but the board. I didn't want you or the others to know. I like what I do here. I especially didn't want you to treat me differently."

   "You are my boss either way."

   "A lesser boss that way."

   "Not any more."

   "What do you mean?"

   "I know now. Regardless, I can't work for you as your wife. What will people think?"

   He laughs. "Who cares what people think. You just keep that professional aloofness at your desk and nobody will think anything. But when we're alone, drop it. All right?"

   "Yes, Mr. Walden. So what name should I use at work? Mrs. Walden or Victoria?" She grins. "Look. We can be seen right now, see?" She points to another couple in a nearby office.

   Greg waves at them. "They're married. She became his secretary after they married."

   "Really? I didn't know."

   "See? It's no big deal."

   "Greg, I do love you. Really."

   "Thank you, Victoria." He gave her a very passionate kiss.

   "They saw that, Greg."

   "Maybe we should go tell them we just broke through the ice and are going to get married."

   "When we get back the whole building will know."

   He grins. "So, then we won't have to make an announcement."