Richard took off his reading glasses and set them in front of him on the desk. He rubbed his eyes and exhaled as he leaned back. It was just after two in the afternoon but he had spent all day so far pouring over reports and fund details. The noise of traffic bustled outside his office providing a soothing background drone that helped dampen the silence. Spinning around in his chair Richard looked through the glass wall out into the city. The view always made him smirk. The idea of Wall St. and the real Wall St. never seemed to quite line up. After walking it everyday and having an office overlook the icon it just starts to look like any other road in DC. A sudden rap of knuckles against wood behind him snapped him out of his reverie.
"Come in," he called out without turning to greet the door or the individual thereafter. The nostalgic view was beguiling. The desired to linger in the moment was almost too much, but he took a deep breath and steeled himself.
"Hello Richard." It was a females voice punctuated by the click of heel studs against the floor.
"Ms. Penny," the familiar voice could belong to none other.
She stepped up beside him at the window taking a moment herself to gaze upon the view. "I didn't know that being a fund manager was such a leisurely lifestyle."
"Almost too leisurely. People have grown bored of looking out of their own windows." Richard turned his swiveling desk chair to face her. "So Ms. Penny what brings you here?"
She towered over him in her heels. Her demeanor strong and determined she shot him a look through the rectangular rims of her glasses. "What makes you think I came all this way to talk to you? Look at this view? I am rather partial to it. Now if you would kindly stop ruining the moment."
Richard chuckled, "It is a rather nice view." He rolled back to his desk and continued, "Have a seat."
"I would rather stand. You'd mar the view from straight on." She had turned away from him staring out the window.
"Rather petulant, alright then I'll meet you halfway. Ms. Penny what is it that I can do for you today?" He turned his chair to face her yet again.
"I thought you would never ask Richard, and since you have been so kind as to allow free reign of your office, I'll ask nicely." A smile alighted her face as she walked to the edge of his desk. Leaning forward she set down a thick manilla folder on his desk, "What does this mean to you?"
Richard reached out for the folder and his reading glasses. The folder had some heft to it for paper. Adjusting the glasses on the bridge of his nose the words came into sharp focus. He recognized it immediately. It was the Vasco Fund quarterly earnings report. He had read it this morning before the report had be published internally. Rather than let on he flipped through some of the more relevant pages of the report. He might be busy, but he was enjoying himself.
She was growing impatient next to Richard, as if even she was getting tired of the charades, while staring out the window. Leaning back against the desk, she finally interjected a tad petulant, "So?"
"It looks like this quarters Vasco Fund report. What of it?" he waited.
"Just the Vasco Fund? I know Roberts talked with you and confirmed the fund distribution numbers." she quipped back at him. She apparently came well informed. Richard pretended to not to notice her comment as he glanced back at the report. "Don't play coy with me my dear Dick."
"Penny!" he said a little more excitedly than he desired rising instantly to his feet. He stood over her the report forgotten on the desk. "I don't know what your aim is here, but I will not stand here and..."
"Finally," she cut him off. "I was beginning to run out of patience."
"What?" Richard's ire stalled by the arbitrary statement.
"You addressed me by my name versus 'Ms.' Penny." she smirked at him. "If you can't address me how I've asked then why should I?"
With his fault laid bare before him, his anger began to fizzle out. He suddenly realized how close to Penny he was standing. Her perfume was intoxicating, and her eyes piercing as they looked up at him. He began to shift his weight to create space when he felt his tie pulling taut stopping him.
"I do believe you owe me an apology," Penny had his tie in hand pulling him towards her. Her lips press against his, and within moments the initial shock and hesitation faded from his mind. Supple yet firm her lips did not waiver in passion which, he realized, he returned with zeal. After a short eternity she pulled away and whispered. "I begrudgingly accepted your apology."
Thoughts whirled around his head as he stood stunned in silence. Before he could muster a response she began to laugh quietly, and flashed him a dazzling smile. "Richard you really are a true gentleman. I think that is what I might like the most about you. It's what makes you so much fun."
"You are incorrigible aren't you?" Richard whispered.
"Says the pot calling the kettle black," her hands wandered across his back. "Being so professional and distant. 'Ms. Penny' you are the only one who refuses to call me by my given name. Besides what's the rush? Your numbers aren't going anywhere."
"It seems my sins are grievous," Richard's eyes gazed into hers, his hands resting on her hips. "I'll have to see my lawyer though, as my loose tongue has been rather self incriminating as of late."
"I'll give you a plea deal since you are so desperate. The plaintiff is gracious, and would drop all charges if you henceforth address her by her given name 'Penny'. Secondly I motion to mix business and pleasure." her eyebrows raised she looked at Richard expectantly.
"Hmmm," he postured as if in deep contemplation then he pulled her close. " Motion granted. Consider me at your disposal Penny."
