The workplace was almost too busy, considering it was a Thursday evening. Normally, at this time, people would be busy having conversations around the cafeteria and water-coolers about their Friday plans. But, since the company had acquired a new client the last week, it seemed like all hands were on deck. Quite literally.
"Is this how the guys at NASA feel like before launching a rocket?"
Erin thought, as he furiously typed on his laptop. Being in the Marketing team, his job was relatively simple. Erin needed to overlook everything before the company launches the client's product. And create contingencies if the product isn't well-received or heaven forbid, fails in the market. Yup, simple enough.
Erin sighed as he sent what seemed like the thousandth mail of today and the clock was only inching to 5 pm. Not to get him wrong, he loved working here. Partly because he was good at it. Right from the pitching phase, to onboarding and conceptualizing campaigns, to see it executed in a planned way, was the reason Erin loved it. The other reason he loved to work here was a secret he kept even from himself.
His messenger buzzed with the words from a person named Alisha:
'Come to my cabin with all the updates on the campaign.'
Erin sighed again. Seemed like his supervisor of the project was getting on his nerves again.
"I swear, sometimes she does all this just to push my buttons! If she wasn't so ..." He stopped his thoughts midway. He collected all the files and the printouts and walked towards her cabin.
Alisha was someone you would glance at once and then take a look at again. And again. Beauty and brains are the words that would describe Alisha the best. After finishing her Master's, she chose to work at this company and quickly rose in position by tackling peers, politics and unwanted attention. Now she was a partner in this company and was taking the company to new heights. Alisha loved working here. This might not be the perfect place for her lofty ambitions, but it had its perks. Not to mention something she desired deep within but repressed the hell out of it.
A two-fingered knock made her heart jump before realizing who it might be. Erin poked his head inside and proceeded inside.
"So, what's the update on the campaign launch? Do we have contingencies in place? How much time till the D-day?"
Alisha fired questions with ice-cold authority.
"Everything's been taken care of. I do not see any need for contingencies but have kept it in place under the red ribbon in the file."
Erin answered, giving her the files with a smile. He had learned at an early age that no matter how the person retorts to you, he should smile and answer. And he loved doing it around Alisha. He caught her, albeit very rarely, her ice-cold demeanour thaw under his smile. And that would make his heart sing.
"Back to earth Erin"
Erin woke up from the haze and looked at Alisha.
"I asked, what about the rest of the campaign procedures. Are they taken care of?"
"Absolutely."
"Good, you may leave now!"
Erin turned to leave and quickly turned to ask something. He saw Alisha's eyes dart from his back to the files on the table, awkwardly shuffling the papers. Erin seemed puzzled as he left.
Alisha was annoyed with herself. She knew that Erin almost realised she was checking him out. But what annoyed her more was the self-assuring smile he had later on in the day. Talk about being self-absorbed, she thought. But deep down, she liked how he was so confident sometimes. The day he had joined in, there was something about Erin that she couldn't put on a finger. And Alisha didn't like what she couldn't figure out.
Even though she was called the 'Ice Queen' among the peers, there was no shortage of men lining up to make her a conquest. And she turned them down politely. She loved the thrill of being desired but somehow, it didn't feel right to her. So instead, she dedicated herself to work.
As the day progressed, Erin dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's before the campaign could go live. Somehow, his mind kept going back to her, thinking about the way her eyes would pierce into him, looking inside. He stifled his feelings before he started daydreaming anymore. As he put the file together, he checked the time and it read: 19:45.
"What the f..? Where did the time go?"
Erin almost said it out aloud. He checked the adjacent cubicles and most of them were empty, with a couple of screens lit up on the desk. His gaze inadvertently went to her cabin and saw the light on. Someone needs to take her out, he thought. He knew Alisha was single from the lunch with his colleagues. She might be the 'Ice Queen' on the floor, but Alisha was something different in his eyes. He knew there was an unspeakable tenacity in her, which drove her to do the best. She seemed passionate about every project which she took and gave it her all. He liked that about her. On one occasion, a friend of hers had come to the office and as he walked past her cabin, he could swear he heard her laugh out loud like a kid as he saw through the glass. She seemed completely transformed. There was a genuine warmth to her eyes as she laughed along with her friend. Erin still remembers how he stood there transfixed, looking at her in awe. Sadly, that was the only day she laughed like that at the workplace.
Erin shook the cobwebs of past before calling it a night. He knocked on her glass.
"Need any help, Alisha?"
Alisha looked and up she could swear Erin's eyes got bigger. Something danced in his eyes for a moment before it disappeared. Erin, for his part, really hoped she couldn't read his mind right now. The thoughts that zoomed past him were way too intense. There she was, her hair tied in a bun, her glasses on the bridge of her nose and her lip chewing a pencil. Damn those lips, Erin thought. There were papers and files all spread across her desk, no doubt, double-checking before it goes live tomorrow.
"Nope. All good. See you tomorrow."
Erin almost left the cabin. But something came over him. Before he could stop, slightly nervous, he turned to her to ask.
"I was thinking about a cup of coffee before leaving. Would you like to get some?"
Alisha was almost going to dismiss the thought before she caught herself. She rationalized to herself that she was tired, and she will be here for some time more. Yet, something primal lurked beneath it. Coffee from the office cafeteria downstairs hardly seems like a date, she thought to herself. She rose from the chair, straightening her navy-blue pencil skirt before replying in approval to Erin.
He held her cabin door open as she exited, catching a gentle whiff of her perfume. She smells like strawberries even at this time, Erin thought. Something inside him sang with joy. The office cafeteria was situated on the 8
th
floor, a terrace with just the shades on top. The lift is usually busy throughout the day and night and as the cafeteria is just a floor above their workplace, the employees usually take the stairs instead of taking the lift.
As they started walking upwards, Alisha again asked about the numbers and stuff.
"So, what next project do you have in your hand?"
"Not sure yet. I wanted to see what Beth was up to and maybe take up some side project."
"Yea, Beth could use some help with her campai..."
The rest of the words vanished into thin air as Alisha's stilettos gave up, leaving her in a free fall. Her panicked mind tried to grab the air in front before a strong hand slid around her hips, gripping her waist and pulling her up close. Her mind was blank, and her face felt the soft fabric of a coat as her heart drummed like crazy with all the adrenaline. As she got aware of her surroundings, she felt a hand on her ass, over the pencil skirt, holding her tight against the body. She could feel the warmth of the skin from the fingers around her waist. All Alisha wanted to do was just hold on to whoever this person was. She felt her heart flutter with excitement as those hands brought her body closer and she tilted her head without opening her eyes.
