I had been pacing the plush carpet for three days now. Stewing! Just couldn't let it go this time.I wanted to do the typical Girl thing. Stomp my feet! Pout! But, that wouldn't get me anywhere in this group. "The Boys Club". Wait, that's unfair. Really, I had earned my way to the top. They never used my gender against me. I know I am just grabbing at straws. It isn't because I'm a girl that they keep choosing HIM over me. Shoot, once they did choose me. But once out of sixteen battles, it just had me infuriated. What made it worse was that HE did have good ideas. I just couldn't seem to get past HIM. So, here I am, pacing in my 3rd floor office, in one of the nicest buildings in the city, frustrated at losing again.
I stand at the window. My office is approximately in the center of the building. If I look down I see the fountain, with it's new age sculpture in the center. Across the way I can see the opposite building, identical to this one. Well, not exactly identical. They are the same on the outside, it is the inside that is different. In my building are the offices, getting bigger with each floor you go up. My office is on the 3rd, there are only 4 floors. I AM climbing that ladder. The other building is filled with analysts and salespeople, grouped together in cubicles. Also the conference rooms are there. Actually, directly across from my office is a conference room. As I look out the window I can see a conference in session. Not many people, maybe 9 or 10. They are close enough (maybe 40 feet away) that I can see their glasses of water. Normally this wouldn't seem strange, but I wonder because it is after 7pm, what in the world are they still discussing this late.
As I stand looking out the window, I glance at my watch. Where is he? I have a friend on his way over, yet he is about 15 minutes late. Unusual because he is rarely late. I don't know why I called him and asked him to meet me at my office so we could go out for a drink. I know he really likes me, and I have told him I am not interested like that, but he keeps on hoping. I guess it is reassuring to have someone who is there when I need to talk.
Just as I decide to call him, see where he is, have even sat in the desk chair to pick up the phone, I hear a knock at my door. Even as he walks in my door, I regret asking him over. He has obviously been drinking. He stumbles into the room. I look at him standing there, swaying a bit, and ask him "Really?" He looks at the chair and I can see he is judging the distance. I walk over to help him into it. I let go and watch him practically collapse in the chair. I walk back to the window. The conference room is dark now. The meeting must have ended. I turn and look at him sitting there.
"Man, what have you been drinking?"
He replies "Stolies"
"Why?"
"Why not?"
Okay, now I know he is feeling cranky too. Hmm, I wonder what to do with him. I asked him over for a shoulder to lean on, and now it looks like he is gonna be leaning on mine. I look back out the window. Just as I turn back to him, I think I see a flash out of the corner of my eye and look back at the conference room. Nothing, still dark. Shaking my head I turn back to look at him, I swear I saw something. I decide to ask him if I should call him a taxi.
"No" he mumbles. "I'll just sit here for a bit, then we can go out."
"I don't think we need to go out with you like this."
"LIKE WHAT?" He is getting just plain ol' ornery now.
"You've obviously already had a few."
He says something beneath his breath, I can't even hear. I come over to him and lean down to ask what he said, when he grabs my blouse and accidentally a couple buttons break loose. He is staring directly at my lacy bra. I stand up quickly and walk away from him, back to the window. I run both hands through my hair. Damn, what am I gonna do with him? I look back at him when I hear something. OMG he is snoring now. He passed out. Grrrr. I walk over to the cabinet and pour my own drink. Look down at myself. Sheese, looks like my new silk blouse is ruined. What a messed up week.
I sit on the couch in the corner of the room and wonder what to do next. He is way too big for me to haul out of here. Just then I hear a soft tap at my door. Sh*t, what now! I head over to the door and open it just a crack to peer out. Just great it's HIM.
"What do YOU want?" damn, didn't mean to sound so bitchy.
"I thought you might need some assistance."