This is partly, well almost entirely, true (However the names have been changed). l will leave you to speculate what is true or not. It is written as we would both speak the words and sentences so if the grammar or vernacular seems wrong, i assure you it is not. That's how we talk...Any feedback is always appreciated. Thank you.
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Chapter One:
Let me tell you about Emma. I first met her in 2008 when she joined as an Accounts Junior where I used to work. She was on the grand tour, you know the one that everyone gets on their first day at any job where you go around all the departments, get told everyone's names that you immediately forget and then go through all the HR stuff, that grand tour...
I was happily working away at my desk when I saw her and it was a JFK moment where years later you remember exactly what she was wearing, what she looked like, what I was doing...everything. At the time though I didn't think much of it except for the fact that there was something about her, something compelling and captivating, and the instant spark that I got when we first made eye contact was definitely there.
Well time went on, she used to come upstairs to my department regularly to go through my customers' accounts queries. At the time I didn't think anything of it, I was glad to talk to her and get to know her a little bit, and I was sure she wasn't coming up to see me as a more likely explanation would be that she fancied one of our customer service boys...when I say a more likely explanation I mean that was the explanation as she would regularly talk to me about how much she liked him and wanted to go out with him as they were a similar age. All the while I would give her my perceived sound advice but secretly wished I was seventeen years younger than my age of 39 years and that it was me who she fancied and wanted and liked...little did I know...but that's to come.
Emma was a troubled girl though and didn't help herself. She had over time gained herself a reputation for being extremely easy...some of it justified but some not...and her forthright attitude had the habit of rubbing people up the wrong way. She spoke her mind and, I think the phrase is, had no filter. She was also very flirty and know exactly how to manipulate people, males in particular, but one thing that set her apart for me was that she never tried to manipulate me, or fool me. She was always honest, maybe too honest, with me. Perhaps I was the father figure she never had or the big brother she craved for but whatever it was we grew close to the point where I was thinking about her almost constantly, giving her advice but secretly wishing something would happen between us, hoping beyond hope she would see through the flirting, joviality and protectiveness to actually notice that I was the one for her. I had fallen for her in a big way but deep down I had resigned myself to the fact that it was never going to be anything but what it was, regrettably.
Fast forward to 2011 and one Thursday in July. It was just another normal day. I was at my desk and as usual had already exchanged emails with Emma. It was a kind of ritual, like she needed to let me know she was ok and in work, and it always made me smile. I kept looking up at the door to see when she walk in to my office, as she always did, waiting for that moment where my heart jumped as the door opened only to be disappointed time and again as other staff walked in and out, Half ten came and it was sandwich van time, you know where somebody comes round in a little van selling sandwiches and snacks to all the local businesses, and I bounded downstairs knowing I would see her there. As usual she smiled when she saw me and as usual I managed to be next to her in the queue, sharing small talk and coming up with odd flirty line or two, and then all too soon, it was back up the stairs, sandwiches in hand and back to my desk. About half an hour later I had that heart jump moment as she came into my office, a wad of papers in her hand and she came over to my desk. I loved those moments, where she leaned over my partition and smiled, but she seemed quiet, not her usual self.
"Hey Ems. What's up?" I asked with that hint of concern in my voice. I knew the answer as it was nearly always the same recently, her boyfriend of about a year and the row that they had the previous night. I had told her many times she should leave him but she said she loved him, and this was the one...again.
"It's Blake, he's being a shit again. Just left me to go to the gym last night and then expected me to clean up after him while he was gone. So, we had this almighty row and, well I don't know, it was a quiet night let me put it that way." she said
I rolled my eyes. "I keep telling you he's no good for you. He treats you like a Victorian wife and I would have thought he would know better by know that that isn't you, and you know that isn't you and knowing you, you told him as much."
She laughed. "Right as always Neil. It's not always like that though, and he can be so sweet." I hmmpffed in mock disgust. "Yeah yeah." She carried on. "He's already rung me like about ten times this morning but I'm ignoring him. Let him suffer a little."
I shook my head, looking at her with a half-smile on my face, and she poked her tongue out at me.
"I told you what I'd do if you keep poking your tongue out young lady'." I said winking at her.
"Yeah, yeah." She replied. "I'm going back downstairs now." Which was code for follow me out into the hallway I need a hug and we can't do that in the middle of an open plan office.
"I'm going down too, wait a sec." I said hurriedly, gathering up the papers I needed, and I semi-hastily followed her.
The one thing about the hallway on all the floors are is that if you are in a certain place there, then no-one in the offices can see you and this was our hugging place at work. The door closed behind us and we were out of sight. She stopped and looked up at me, partly feigning sad-puppy dog eyes, but I could see she was a little upset. "Come here." I said opening my arms wide, and she moved in close and I wrapped my arms around her, and kissed the top of her head, just as I usually would do. However today, instead of just letting me hug her like this she squeezed her arms around me and tilted her head up to look at me, and that's when I saw something different in her eyes. All of sudden she closed the gap between our faces and kissed me softly, deeply and tenderly and I responded in kind. It only lasted a few seconds but it was mind-blowing.
We looked at each other kind of awkwardly, not really knowing what to say or do next. "I'm erm...erm, going downstairs now." Emma stuttered, her face reddened as she blushed. I just nodded, mumbled something about needing to go the toilet first and, eyes locked together, went in different directions.
