Note: Be sure to read Chapter 1 first to get the full essence of this story
With no assistant and a presentation due Monday, Kirk wasn't traveling to the East Coast to see his fiancΓ© or the Midwest to see his children. He was reconciled to a weekend in the office catching up and pulling together his presentation.
He arrived at his office early Saturday, coffee in hand and wearing a sleeveless T-shirt over tight jeans. Being alone, casual dress was OK. At around eleven, he was surprised by his phone ringing. He'd spoken to his kids and fiancΓ© earlier. He glanced at the unfamiliar number on my Caller ID.
"Hullo!"
"Hi this is Carmina."
"Oh, good morning."
"I thought you might be in the office and I wonder if you'd do me a big favor"
"I'll try."
"Because yesterday was my last day of my temp assignment, I was supposed to remove my personal stuff from my desk. I planned to do it after our meeting but we ran a little long."
"Oh, I'm sorry! I apologize!"
"That's OK. But my access card has been deactivated so I can't get in."
"Call me when you arrive, I'm here all day."
"I'm outside. My husband and I just finished our morning run and dropped by to get my stuff. That's how I learned my access card no longer works!"
"I'll be right down!"
He spotted them in their running gear as he neared the door. Carmina's eye pleasing legs were clad in black spandex topped by an oversized sweat shirt that stopped just below her ass cheeks. Her slightly taller husband, with a full head of salt n pepper hair was also wearing spandex tights under a matching jacket. He was holding a small box to carry her belongings as Kirk opened the door.
"Good morning Carmina. Again I have to apologize."
"No problem. This is my husband Gio."
His handshake wasn't unfriendly but certainly not warm. Kirk mused "She probably forgot to tell him that I was black!"
"Follow me. I'll need to use my access card to get you into your old area."
Upon arriving at her desk, she set about gathering her belongings including a smiling picture of the two of them. She efficiently filled the box that she'd perched on a chair. "All set!" she said. Her husband picked up the box, ready to depart.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Carmina exclaimed. We need to move the desk back to where it was when I got here! Maintenance was supposed to do it yesterday but I didn't get back in time." Her husband stepped forward, grabbed the lip of the desktop and said "Tell me where you want it!" Carmina gestured where he should move it. He tried lifting it but grunted "Boy that's heavy!" He tried a second time but barely moved the heavy furniture from the track its weight had embedded in the carpeting.
"Let me give it a try" Kirk said stepping forward to grasp the lip of the desk. He swung it up easily and pivoted it into the depression in the carpet where it had formerly rested. He smiled inwardly noticing their incredulous expressions. Without a word, her husband picked up her box of belongings.
"You're welcome!" Kirk replied in response to Carmina's thanks, told her hubby that it was a pleasure to meet him and bade them a good day.
He made good progress and about caught up on work unattended due to the lack of an assistant. Rather than plunge into his presentation and some odd correspondence, he decided to call it a day.
Because he'd missed his workouts the past two days due to a crazy schedule, he decided to ride his bike to the office instead of driving the next day. He threw on a white armless singlet, stretched into some "2nd skin" cycling shorts, laced up his shoes, threw a backpack over his shoulder and set off. He quickly covered the ten mile distance and managed to work up a good sweat by the time he coasted into the parking lot. He unlocked the door, wheeled the bike in and rested it on the wall outside his office.
By around 3:00 he'd crudely sketched out the slides for Monday. Now for the drudgery β he had to convert the sketches into a professional presentation. He cursed himself under his breath for not having an assistant. "Now of all times! I should be back east getting laid but I'm stuck here in this sweltering office!!"
Just as he started loading updated PowerPoint software on his computer, the phone rang. Kirk recognized the number as Carmina's from the previous day. After an exchange of greetings, she said "I know that I won't be your selection but did want to make an offer. You're probably working on your presentation and I'll be glad to help with your slides." She was right that he'd about settled on another candidate so he indicated that it would be unfair for him to take up her day.
"That's not a problem. I just dropped my husband off at the airport. He's traveling for a few days and I have nothing planned. I can be there in twenty minutes if you need a hand."
With some hesitancy, but considering his rusty PowerPoint skills, he accepted her offer.
She called again signaling her arrival. He strode down to let her in. Instead of the "Hello" he expected, she instead said "Now I see what my husband was talking about!" as she admired his biceps.