After Shattered

Chapter 3 - Tears in Her Eyes

Terrence had no reason to complain with their work throughout their 'probation period' but whenever he walked into their office, he always interrupted something rather unorthodox for the office. It wasn't ever overly inappropriate. Just a little.

For instance, on Tuesday he found Yvonne in front Michael's chair giving him a massage.

Granted it was nearly five, but to any stray witnesses the image was a beautiful black woman with her hands in a man's partially unbuttoned shirt. She was leaning against his desk, his head bent slightly toward her chest as her hands stroked up and down, kneading his shoulders and neck.

Terrence had stood there for a moment, with one eyebrow up.

"The pains of high school and varsity sport," Mike had grinned, when he had finally been released.

Yvonne had clucked her tongue, "He just likes me touching him."

Mike had wiggled his eyebrows in return and Terrence had laughed.

So much for appearances.

The following day he'd walked in on them talking about a sex toy Mike's sister had given him. The most catching thing was that they'd been working during the conversation, furiously typing out figures and programming instructions. He had chosen not to mention that particular encounter to anyone or make his presence known at the time.

Then on Friday, Yvonne was relaying the details of an office prank with relish. Michael was laughing so hard he was crying as she told the tale of how her team had broken in yet another filing clerk in Accounts. They had changed the identification code so that no matter which finger she put on the laser, she remained locked out. They had given her a key for her to use in the afternoon after the finger ID incident until they could get her a new code. She realized too late that there was no keyhole on the records door to begin with. Somehow they had even sent her to the men's room and she had walked in on the senior executive of Sports and Apparel.

Of course, almost anyone would have seen the hint of malice in all their activities, but Yvonne made the girl's mishaps sound so hilarious and harmless one couldn't help but laugh. And that is exactly what Mike did.

"Oh," he chuckled, "you are bad."

"I learned from the best," she answered sweetly.

"Yeah," he popped his collar. "We're bad, baby, very bad."

"Do you ever suppose we'll grow out of it?"

Michael was quiet for a little while. Then he'd grinned and shook his head.

They lifted their bottles of Perrier in a silent toast, most probably to the Terrible Two.

Terrence, by this time, was resting against the doorjamb. He spoke slowly, "You two are amazing."

Their heads snapped back to look in his direction. "Hi," they said in unison.

Terrence said again, "Amazing. Just like twins. Only," he paused speculatively, and then looked apologetically at Mike, "Yvonne's so much cuter."

Yvonne hooted and Mike digested the painful information.

During the customary drink after work that night, Yvonne received a pleasant surprise. In the middle of their conversation, Michael's eyes widened with recognition. "Eve, look who's here."

Her eyebrows dipped into a slight frown, not bothering to crane her neck or search the crowd. Terrence looked around and couldn't see the person who Michael had smiled and nodded at. This same person had brought a slight scowl to Jean-Luc's face.