Catherine got to her office and powered up her computer while she put away her purse and jacket. Then, she went around and said good morning to her co-workers and went to the water cooler to fill up her water bottle. Going back to her office, she logged on, started up her email and then the chat program associated with the email system. When the list of her on-line contacts showed up, she was disappointed to not see Blake's name there. Then she chided herself.
"Silly fool, it's his last day, he won't have time to chat! Now get to work!"
Catherine started working and tried to concentrate. Her mind kept drifting and always in the same direction: Blake. Blake Jones was their unit chief and had come to their unit five years prior. He'd been a breath of fresh air to a lot of people as he truly believed that the way to shine was to have your team shine, something very few unit chiefs before had believed in. Catherine had taken a liking to him almost immediately. He was intelligent, personable, and accessible. She'd learned a lot from him and appreciated that he'd always take the time to have technical discussions with her and others.
One of her coworkers had teased her, asking "you like him? As in like him like him? He's no Daniel Craig you know!"
Catherine had shaken her head "And I'm no Angelina Jolie. Who cares? It doesn't matter what he looks like, he's a great boss and I like working with him. Nothing more. Period."
Deep down, Catherine knew that she liked Blake more than just as a boss but she wasn't about to admit that to the other women who'd just cluck like a bunch of hens. Good thing the hens didn't know that Catherine and Blake had started chatting online a few months prior. Whenever she was caught chuckling in her office by herself, Catherine would admit to chatting with a friend but would lead the others to believe it was a female friend in a unit in another city.
In the course of their chats, Catherine had joked that Blake's name reminded her of Colonel Blake from the series M*A*S*H. He had joked back that she could be Major Houlihan if he was to be Colonel Blake. It had become a habit of theirs to call each other Colonel and Major when chatting online. There had been some flirting between the two but nothing more than that as Blake, as unit chief could be fired for socializing with any employee. So they kept their chats and their light flirting totally discreet and secret.
Alas, today was Blake's last day. When he'd announced his departure, they'd joked that he should re-enact the scene where Colonel Blake had done his last inspection and had kissed Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan before getting on the chopper and leaving. Blake had told her that unfortunately, there was no way he could do that in public but that he sure wished he could.
Catherine shook her head and tried, once again, to concentrate on her work. It was already 11 am and she'd barely gotten anything done. Suddenly, a window popped up indicating that Blake wanted to chat. However, he addressed her by her given name, a sign that he wasn't alone.
"Catherine?"
"I'm here."
"I need a big favour."
"Name it."
Catherine was hoping he'd want to see her before the luncheon planned for him but she was disappointed.
"Mr. Roberts, one of our customers, is in reception and he'd really like a tour. Think you could do that for me? I know it's last minute but I don't have time and I promised to send someone. Please?"
"Sure thing."
"Thanks."
Catherine would do anything for Blake and he knew it. She went to the reception area and met with Mr. Roberts. She fully intended to make this a quick tour and make it to the luncheon on time. She took Mr. Roberts around and explained each step of the process. Mr. Roberts asked lots of questions, making the tour longer and longer, to Catherine's dismay. Blake was scheduled to leave at 12:30 sharp and with this customer asking so many questions, there was a very real risk here that she would not see Blake before he'd leave!
It was only at 12:27 that Mr. Roberts finally left. Catherine made her way to the stairs that led to the basement conference room where the luncheon was taking place, hoping against all hope that he hadn't left yet. She almost ran down the stairs and then, reaching the last step before the landing, froze in place. Right in front of her stood Blake. He'd been going up the stairs to leave.
"You're missing the new unit chief's speech."
Smiling, Catherine saluted, as if in the army and said "Sorry Colonel, I was detained with Mr. Roberts."
"I'm sure you did a great job, Major. Now, ready for your last inspection?"
"Could he mean....?" Catherine wondered to herself. She swallowed and nodded, tense. Hopeful. Nervous.
Blake stepped closer and with one hand, grabbed her by the waist while the other made its way to her cheek and neck and pulled her in for a kiss. Catherine's arms wrapped themselves around his large frame and she held on as he tipped her back, kissing her exactly like Colonel Blake had done to Major Houlihan. Catherine felt this tremendous heat flood through her, accompanied by a very strong feeling, almost like an electrical current. Suddenly, Blake straightened up and broke the kiss. He mumbled "Goodbye" and moved past her, up the stairs.
