(This is a short standalone story that I wrote for the
On The Job Challenge 2025
. It was a lot of fun to dream up and write. I hope you enjoy the whimsy, I have to admit I giggled as I wrote it. I did not spend a lot of time on it, so the writing is a bit rough. Enjoy!)
Another day, another problem. I walk to my paper strewn kitchen table and boot up my laptop. I begin to type and am again irritated at the silicone covered keys. My entire laptop is in a waterproof case, a necessary precaution in my chosen career.
I scroll through emails from designers, coordinators and builders. I toss some spam into the trash folder. 'Hi, I'm so and so and I saw your profile and you're so hot!'.
I spend the next hour working through correspondence about the Leviathan project. It is the biggest project I've ever led and when complete will be the largest ever built. Stress is mounting as it's only a few days away from testing.
A new email pops into my unread folder and I'm about to delete it as it looks like another porn scam.
The subject line reads, 'I'm excited to meet you, I'm Brittney!'
But the word Leviathan is in the first sentence of the email so I pause and read.
'Hello,
I am honoured to be a tester for your Leviathan project! I have experience testing similar but much smaller structures, some even designed by you!
You create the most unique and exciting experiences and this one promises to be the best yet. I have booked my flight across the country and am waiting expectantly for the testing day. I hope it is not delayed, my agency says they do not know.
I'm so excited to meet the man behind the machine!
-Miss Brittney Laroux'
I type out a response and read it a few times before hitting send.
'Hello, Miss Laroux.
I am flattered by your kind words! I am glad that you have enjoyed my previous work and look forward to your assessment of Leviathan. It is has been a delightful challenge and I hope it exceeds your expectations.
You say you are travelling across the country, I am surprised your agency would send you so far. I hope the destination is not disappointing.
So far the project is on schedule. With only a few days left I expect there to be no issues. If there is a delay, I will send an email so you can adjust your travel accordingly.
See you on first water day!'
I search through our personnel database and find her information. She has been an alpha and beta tester for a few years, her clearance photo shows a beautiful young woman in her early 30's. Short red hair with heavy freckling on her nose and cheeks. Her cheeky smile indicates a vivacious personality. I smile as I think about meeting her.
Two days later I receive an urgent call from the foreman. A water main has ruptured and it will take three days to fix. I growl about the delay and demand to know how it happened.
Apparently a small section of the line was cracked and went unnoticed until the system was fully pressurized.
I call a few people on my team letting them know of the delay, I send off a form message informing all the PR leads and media of the delay.
Eventually I get the repairs in motion and am about to close my laptop when I remember Brittney. I quickly send her a note saying it has been delayed three days.
The next morning I wake to dozens of messages and groan. One stands out to me and I read it first.
The subject line reads, 'Well shit, know any good places to eat around here?'
I can't help but smile as I read Brittney's email. Her informal message indicates she has already flown here and wonders if I can offer advice on how to spend the time. On a whim I offer to take her to dinner tonight. I press send before I can reconsider. I tell myself it's a business dinner, spending time building relationships with staff and clients is important after all.
She is unmistakable as she walks through the casually elegant entrance of the restaurant. Her red hair is longer than in her photo, it hangs just below her shoulders. She is wearing a pale green sundress that sways at her hips. Her bright green eyes immediately spot me. She waves, smiles brightly and practically bounces over to me.
Her expression and energy are infectious and I find myself feeling giddy as we sit at the table. She speaks excitedly about Leviathan and asks about my other projects; she also seems to breathe only when she stops speaking. She listens so intently that I feel as though she inhales my words.
As dinner progresses I find myself enamoured with her. She is passionate, intelligent and graceful. Her engaging conversation and intense eye contact make me feel as though I am the only person who exists to her.
As we are enjoying a light dessert she asks if we can meet tomorrow at the project site. I tell her that I'd love to show her some details she wouldn't normally see.
The next day at the job site I am distractedly thinking about how she would look moving along the massive structure. Would her expressions match what I hope to cause?