"Oh my God ... Oh my God ... Oh my God!" Trevor burst through the office door without knocking, as he usually did, bouncing from one foot to the other so rapidly he seemed to be running in place. His hands fluttered about his shoulders. "Tell me it isn't true!"
"What isn't true?" Lynne replied calmly. She was the occupant of the office, and though she'd worked at this company only a few months, she was long since used to Trevor's drama.
"That you just scheduled a meeting with 'The Mountie'?"
"Who's The Mountie?"
"Only the biggest dyke in the company!"
Lynne exhaled slowly and, for a moment, considered objecting to Trevor's choice of words. She was sure he didn't mean it maliciously. After all, he constantly referred to himself as an "old fag". At 32, he was a year younger than her.
Instead, she said, "Not real helpful."
"Meechele Richman."
That was helpful, and as it turned out, it was true. She's accepted the meeting invitation through Outlook not 10 minutes earlier.
"How did you know?"
"Doris told me," Lynne's secretary. Trevor continued, "You have no idea what you are getting yourself into."
"I don't see how it's any of your business ..."
"She's going to try to get you into bed ..."
"Then you don't have anything to worry about because I don't ..."
"That's what they all say!"
"Who?"
"All the others she's slept with."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Trevor leered. For someone supposedly horrified, he seemed to be enjoying himself, "She likes straight girls ... hot straight girls and she's very persuasive. They all end up doing her, eventually."
"Yeahhhhh ... I'm calling shenanigans," Lynne snorted. "If she was so awful she would have been fired for harassment, or something."
"I'm sure she would have, "Trevor continued, "if she wasn't already fucking the Director of HR."
"Again, bullshit. Andrea's married."
Trevor laughed in her face, "Please ... it isn't like I haven't slept with married men!"
"Well, good on you," Lynne grumbled, "but don't worry. I can take care of myself."
"We'll see," Trevor was obviously skeptical, and made to leave.
"One sec," Lynne called after him. "Why do you call her The Mountie?"
Trevor leered again, "Because she always gets her girl."
* * *
Based on her conversation with Trevor, Meechele Richman was not at all what Lynne expected. A little on the short side, with a fit, athletic build, Meechele had wide shoulders, rounded hips and graceful legs. Her short brown hair was stylishly tousled. Olive skinned to the point of perma-tanned, it was impossible to determine her ethnicity ... she could pass for black, white, Hispanic, Arab ... Lynne guessed there was probably a little bit of everything in there. Meechele wore a white blouse (an extra button undone to accent the globes of her cleavage) and black pants, both elegantly tailored to show off her curves. Lynne had assumed Meechele would be a lot more butchy.
Another thing about Meechele Lynne hadn't expected ... she was completely professional. After introductions and some polite small talk, Meechele had gone straight to the point ... ways for their respective departments to work together more efficiently. Meechele's insights were thoughtful and insightful, and she was refreshingly open to Lynne's ideas as well. All in all, it was the most productive 30 minutes Lynne had spent at her new company.
And at precisely the 30 minute mark, Meechele stood and stuck out her hand, "Well, I have to get moving. I appreciate your time and it was great meeting you."
"Same here," Lynne said earnestly as they shook hands. "Drop by anytime if you have questions or ideas or whatever."
"I will."
"And I have to ask you something," Lynne spoke in a conspiratorial tone.
"Shoot."
"I love your perfume. What is it?"
Meechele smiled proudly, "Thanks. Actually, I made it myself!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's a hobby of mine ... You know, I'm mixing up a new batch. I'd be happy to give you some."
"Oh, I don't want to bother you ..."
"It's no bother at all, I promise."
Lynne thought it over, "Okay then. Thanks."
After Meechele left, Lynne called Trevor into her office, "Well, I seem to still have all my clothes on ... I told you there was nothing to worry about."
She made a point of not telling him about the perfume.
"We'll see," he sniffed.
* * *
Lynne and Meechele met on a semi-weekly basis to talk about their departments, commiserate about work and gradually got to know each other. Meechele was an army brat, had lived all over the world and spoke a few languages, yes, she was named after The Beetles song, she liked rock climbing and hated ferrets. Lynne's graduating class in high school had 80 kids in it, she'd gone to Notre Dame, she was a very distant relative of Kaiser Wilhelm.
Their meetings were focused and efficient, but usually ended with 10-15 minutes of chit chat. Lynne quickly came to think of Meechele not so much as a co-worker, but as a friend.
And never once, in those initial few weeks, did Meechele display an interest that was anything other than friendly or professional. Lynne had no idea if Meechele was gay or not. She eventually concluded, in this case, Trevor's love for the dramatic had overtaken his otherwise good sense.
Those meetings almost always ended the same way, with Lynne asking if Meechele had finished with her latest batch of perfume.
"Not yet," Meechele always said. "It takes a while to get things just right."
* * *
Trevor eyed Lynne critically.
"You have another meeting with The Mountie today, don't you?" Trevor sounded quite smug.