If you haven't read the Baseball story, this is a spinoff featuring Landon and Lani.
1. All characters are 18+
2. No characters resemble real people
3. Enjoy the fiction
----
Landon rolled his eyes. "Stop trying to be like that."
"Like what? Helpful? A good friend?" asked Lani.
Landon had dated Lani a few times. It never worked, but somehow they stayed friends. She was normally available to be his escort to charity events, especially when he was paying for her ticket or meal.
His parents were wealthy, so he could afford it, and because of their status, he was expected to attend. He just didn't like going to those events alone. An extroverted friend like Lani could help an introvert like him get through those.
But things had changed. Last month, Landon had taken Lani to a luncheon and introduced her to a friend named Wallace. Lani immediately took to him, and the feeling was mutual. The two quickly became a couple, leaving Landon to look for another date for the next high-society function.
"You don't have to," Landon told her. "I'll look for someone else."
"I can help!" Lani insisted. "Please, let me help. It's the least I can do."
Landon tried to be indifferent, but Lani was begging, her hands clasped in front of her, and smiling. "Fine. You can help."
"Yes! I'll find someone for you, don't you worry."
"But I have to meet her before the next event," Landon gave her that condition. "You know my parents will be there. I can't walk in with just anyone."
"Oh! Yes, of course," Lani promised. "I'll find someone worthy of Don and June."
----
"You have to set me up with him," demanded Tiffany.
"Why?" asked Lani. The two were gabbing over lunch in Lani's office that Monday. "You think he's boring."
"Yeah, but he's cute, and he's rich," said Tiffany. "I can overlook the rest."
Lani considered her raven-haired friend for a minute. 'I used to be more like her,' she thought. Lani had been more obsessed with finding a rich guy, but that was before her best friend Casey found love with Johnny, a minor league baseball player who was basically broke. She attributed to them her realization that love didn't require money.
After all, Landon had money, and Lani never got past friends with him. But Wallace, her new beau, had a great, outgoing personality that transcended the fact that he had some wealth. Wallace wasn't a miser or a snob, he used his money to help people, and to have fun. That (and his adorable dimpled smile) what Lani was attracted to.
"I can introduce you," Lani said, somewhat reluctantly.
"You don't sound excited about it."
"It's just, he's a good guy, and he's my friend."
"I'm your friend too," Tiffany pointed out. They'd been coworkers for over a year now, and ate lunch together most days.
"Yeah, but what I mean is... he's not a typical guy."
"He still has a penis, right?" Tiffany joked.
"I've never seen it, but yes, I'm sure he does. But he's more timid. I'm not sure if you two will, you know, click."
Tiffany stood up and ran her hands down her fit body. "As long as he has the equipment, I'm sure we'll be able to find a way to click."
Both women laughed. Just then, a quiet knock on the door interrupted them. "Sorry," said a petite girl at the door. She came in and handed Lani a report. "Mr. Mason said to bring this to you."
"Oh. Thanks. I guess lunch time is over."
"Besides, what other single women do you hang out with?" asked Tiffany. "If not me, are you going to set him up with..." She turned to gesture to the small young woman who'd delivered the report, but she was gone. "The ghost?"
Lani looked around. She'd seen that girl around the office before, but only in glimpses. She didn't know her name. And even though Lani's office featured glass walls that looked out over the rest of the office, she didn't see the girl. She had delivered the report and quickly disappeared.
----
Lani set up a Friday lunch for herself, Tiffany, and Landon. Tiffany had been right on one thing: Lani didn't know too many women who were still single. And both were her friends. Maybe they could be a match. But Lani had her reservations.
It took until Wednesday afternoon for Lani to spot the mysterious ghost again. "Hi," she said to the girl as she was getting coffee in the office's kitchenette.
"Hi," was the simple response. She didn't look up. Lani was around 5 foot 6, and this young woman was shorter, maybe around five feet tall.
"I'm Lani," she offered, hoping to be friendly.
"I know."
"I was just wondering your name," Lani awkwardly asked.
"Oh. I'm Minerva." This time, she looked up to Lani. For the first time, Lani, really noted her. Minerva had pretty green eyes, hidden behind glasses. Her red hair was naturally curly, but it looked like there had been some attempt to straighten it before it was bunched into a sloppy ponytail. She wore a white sweater and a grey skirt past her knees.
"Minerva. That's a pretty name. How long have you worked here?"
"Umm. Seven months, five days."
"Huh," said Lani. "And you're an... administrative assistant?"
"Yes. For Mr. Mason," Minerva answered. Matt Mason was one of the founders of the company, and the CEO. Based on the few times Lani had talked to him, she believed he was one of those men who was tough on the outside, and softer inside.
"That's great. I bet you like working for him."
Minerva shrugged. "He's nice. But no, not really. I'd like to be in finance. But there's no openings."
Lani nodded, understanding. The finance department was a boy's club. All of them were in their forties, and all of them were jerks. A young thing like Minerva wouldn't fit in with them.
"Well, hopefully you can get in there someday," Lani offered.
Minerva just nodded, and then turned to leave. "Bye," she said quietly, and then was gone.
----
Lunch on Friday was a disaster. First, Lani was almost late. She had to finish a report for Mr. Mason that morning. Thank goodness that Minerva showed up at her office, asking for it. It saved her the trip of delivering it herself.
But more importantly, Tiffany was way over the top. She'd worn a dress that showed too much cleavage, and she was overly flirty. Landon was intimidated. Tiffany couldn't even tell, but Lani could. Landon was as polite as he could be throughout lunch, but as they went to leave, Landon gave her a subtle shake of his head. That was a no. She was sure she'd get a call from him about this fiasco this evening.
When Lani got back to her office, the report she'd prepared was still on her desk. Lani freaked out, as it was due today. Why didn't Minerva deliver it?
Then she spotted the sticky note sticking out of the folder. She opened it to find a note on page three: 'There is an error here. You still have time to fix it before Mr. Mason sees.'
Lani gazed at the section indicated by the note. There was indeed an arithmetic error. The math didn't add up properly. Lani immediately sat at her computer, fixed the error, and reprinted that page. As soon as she had replaced that page in the folder, Minerva walked in.
"Did you leave that note?" Lani asked. The small girl just nodded. "Thank you. Mason would have been pissed with me."
"You're welcome," she answered.
"I'm surprised you saw it," Lani told her. "I stared at that for days and didn't see it until you pointed it out."
Minerva shrugged. "I like numbers. They make sense. When they don't add up, I notice."
Lani handed her the report, and again, Minerva was off, quick as a bunny. Lani watched her jet to the elevator to take the report to her boss. 'What a peculiar girl,' she thought.
