The New Guy

Did I leave the air conditioner on? I went into the bathroom and unplugged the curling iron and then I locked the balcony door, but did I turn on the air? Poor Maxwell, he’ll suffocate in the apartment. Why can’t I remember? How slow is this elevator? I hate Mondays. I hate working. I hate my life, and my God- I hate these shoes.

The elevator doors opened facing the receptionist.

“Connors, Michael’s, and McGavern,” she glanced at the opening doors.

“Morning Rachel,” Lisa smiled at me. She held her hand over the mouth piece, “have you seen the new guy?”

“We have a new guy? What happened to the old guy?” I asked her, not really interested in the answer.

“Very funny, Rachel,” Lisa returned to her phone duties.

I picked up a copy of the Wall Street Journal tucked it under my arm and headed for my office. The typists were not in yet. The open bay of desks remained empty, but then most of them come over by ferry; I take a taxi in-- the privilege of rank.

My office is slightly larger than a cubicle and I shouldn’t complain, at least I have a window. The floor typists have nothing but the back of the head of the typist in front of them. The front wall of my office is all glass so that I can keep an eye on my employees. They call me the ‘dragon lady’, which I think is very rude. I am just doing my job and my job is to make sure they are working, every minute of every day that the company pays them.

My office is next to the break room-- an added advantage to keeping the typists at their desks working. I can plainly see if they go for another cup of coffee.

I toss the paper on my desk, sitting my briefcase on the guest chair next to my desk. In the corner of my office where the glass of the front wall meets the sheet rock of the adjoining office is my coat stand. I am hanging my coat when I notice him. He must be the new guy that Lisa mentioned.

His office is caddy cornered to mine.

Ummmm, he’s nice looking. Nice suit, great hair, not that spike up in the front like so many are doing. Must mean that he is his own man. No one telling him what to do, I bet. Stand up, so I can get a good look. Oh, that’s it. Tall, I like tall men. Looks like he works out. Well, I should go over and say hello? It would be neighborly of me.

The office next to mine is used for the copier, the shredder, and a couple of file cabinets. Next to that office is my friend’s Connie’s office and then there he is.

“Morning,” I offer him my hand.

“Good morning,” he smiles at me.

Nice smile. White teeth, dimples squeezing at the side of his mouth, he even has a sparkle in his eye, oh my, he is sumptuous.

“Rachel Burke,” I introduce myself, and then to make sure he knows where to find me, “I have the office across from you.” I point at my glass cage.

“Alex Downs,” he answers. “I’m the new guy in sales.”

“I guess you are,” my turn to smile.

Did I brush my teeth this morning? I can’t even remember if I turned on the air for my poor cat how can I expect to remember if I brushed my teeth? Oh God, he is still holding my hand. I can’t brush my tongue across them now he would see it.

“It is nice to meet you. Would you like some coffee?”

“Oh no thank you, I can get my own when I’m ready.”

Well, at least he let go of my hand. Did he think I was going to get his coffee?

“Well, then I better get back to my office. Let me know if you need anything.”

Well, Rachel you made an ass of yourself and stop saying ‘well’. No one says ‘well’ anymore, except mom. That’s where I get it from, I’m sure. I wish Connie wasn’t on vacation. Is he looking at my butt as I walk away? Do I turn and look? Connie would know. But, she’s not here to tell me, so do I? Do I turn and look?

At my office door I turn. He’s not looking. Mr. Sumptuous is busy unpacking his boxes.

Maybe I should send him a plant for his office?

“Morning, Miss Burke.”

“Morning, Gloria.”

The typists are arriving. They come off the elevator like a wave coming to shore.

I better get my coffee before they storm the break room. Well, the typists have noticed the new guy. Look at them whispering and giggling like junior high schoolers. The sluts. Sorry girls, I saw him first.

The break room holds only three tables, a coffee machine, a microwave and a small refrigerator for lunches. I get my coffee and return to my office before the peons fill the room with their gossip, their loud voices, and the frig with their sack lunches.
I settle at my desk to work. My coffee cup is on my right next to the phone. My job is to manage the typists but I am also responsible for keeping the expense accounts for the sales men. The company has eight salesmen with territories across the east coast. Most of them never come into the office. I oversee their expenses via email and on-line reporting.

(i)It is easier that way to skim some of the profit from the company to my pockets.

“Excuse me,” Alex is standing at my office door.

Instinctively I move the accounting books, one for the company and one for me, out of his line of sight.

“I was wondering if you had plans for lunch.” He smiles at me. “I thought we could get to know one another and you could fill me in on some of the details around here, you know who to watch out for, and all that?”

“That would be great,” I answer. “Shall we say, 11:30?”

“I’ll see you then.” He goes to the break room for his coffee.

Nice butt.

For lunch we chose the Italian restaurant on the corner.

“Rachel, how long have you been with the company?”

“Ten years, this fall.”

He sits with his legs crossed? I’m not sure if I like that or not. Look at how he holds his coffee cup- it almost looks delicate. He ordered well. He took charge of the entire possess of the waiter, the menu, even ordered drinks for us, so he couldn’t be gay, could he?

“But, let’s not talk about me. I want to hear all about you.”

“All right, I am a recent graduate of NYU, and I….”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-six. Why is that a problem?”

“No, no of course not.”

Twenty-six? Is that considered cradle robbery? I am only four, or five years older depending on what mood I am in, so that’s not too bad. Is it?

“Not for me, is isn’t. I’m twenty-seven. Do you mind being with an ‘older woman’?”

I hope my laugh sounds happy, and not forced.

“There is nothing old about you, Rachel. Your skin is flawless and I love the way your hair sweeps back away from your face. It really shows off your cheekbones.”

“Alex, you are going to make me blush.”

The waiter always interrupts when he shouldn’t. It is a rule of restaurants and first dates.

Is this a date? It feels like a date. But, we are just having lunch. Geese, Rachel, calm yourself down before you go into heat.

Over pasta, salad and bread sticks, Alex informs me that he is the new Sales Director.

Mr. Connor didn’t even bother to let me in on that information? Well.

“Rachel?” Connie approaches the table.

“Connie, you’re back? I thought you weren’t due back until Thursday?”

“Came in early so I could get a few things done at home, who’s this?”

“Alex Downs our new salesman, or should I say, Sales Director? Alex, this is Connie Phillips she has the office next to yours.”

“Nice to meet you, Connie. Please won’t you join us?”

“Oh, Alex, I’m sure Connie has things she needs to do.”

“No I don’t.” Connie accepts the chair that Alex is holding for her. She smiles at me as he slides her to the table.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love Connie, but she doesn’t know when to stop talking. She is too cute. You know the type? Short brown hair bobbing back and forth as she talks, and those big brown eyes of hers-- I’ve seen men swoon over her cow eyes. I’m the blonde. I’m supposed to get all the attention. Look at her flirting with Alex.

“Don’t you have to get back to the office?” Connie asks me. “When I was there the girls were all piled in the break room, even Lisa.”

“Oh, pity sakes! Can’t they even allow me a half hour lunch without acting like children on substitute teacher day?” I stand. “I’m sorry, Alex, but I do have to go back to the office. I’ll leave you in the capable hands of, my friend.”

It was hard leaving I’ll admit it but I did have a responsibility at the office, and besides that after Alex’s confession of being the Sales Director- I needed to take care of those books. The last thing I need would be for him to see my second set.

When Alex and Connie returned from lunch, hours later they went straight into his office and shut the door.

Why did they shut the door? That hussy is moving in on him, isn’t she? Well, I’m not even going to look. I am busy at my job. Busy, busy, busy.

I look. Alex is sitting on the edge of his desk and Connie in a chair facing him. Alex looks so serious. He glances at me and then smiles-- it is forced. I am sure of it. He gave me a forced smile like someone embarrassed by being caught.

Caught at what? He is asking Connie out, isn’t he?

I glance up from time to time as causally as I can so they won’t think I am watching them but I am. Alex moves around the desk to use his phone and Connie leaves his office.

Is she crying? She looks like she is crying. He brushed her off for me! That is what happened. She made a play and he brushed her off because he likes me. HA! Take that, my friend. So men really do prefer blondes over perking little brunettes?

I sigh. It is nice to be chosen. Connie walked straight to the elevator and left, disgraced no doubt. I try not to smile but my cheeks are aching. I am so wrapped in my thoughts of asking Alex to dinner that I didn’t notice the men getting off the elevator. I didn’t notice the typists stop work as they watched the four suited men head to my office. I didn’t notice Alex coming out of his office and walking my way. I didn’t notice anything until they were there.

“Rachel Burke?”

“Yes,” I lift my head. The men have their badges pointed at me.

“Agent Wells, FBI, would you step away from your desk please?”

“What? What?”

FBI? What is going on? Alex?

Alex is standing outside my office looking through the glass at me. The typists are standing at their desks; some are standing on their chair seats for a better view. Alex looks strange.

What is it? Guilt? Pity? Why is he holding a badge, too?

“You are not a sales man?”

“Miss Burke, I will ask you again-- step away from your desk, please. Keep your hands where we can see them.”

I stand-- my hands in the air. One of the men firmly takes my elbow and leads me toward the elevator. A glance over my shoulder confirms it all. Alex is holding the second set of books. Stepping inside the elevator my knees began to shake but as I turned and faced the typist’s pool my stomach turned. They were smiling, some clapping and others just nodding their heads with approval.

“Is there anyone you want us to notify?” One of the men asked as the elevator doors closed. It was quiet inside just a soft ding as each floor ticked off to the lobby.

Notify? No, there was no one to notify. No one.

“Could someone check on my cat?”