The Gift Box

When I opened the door this morning, the gift box sat on the step. It wasn't even my birthday, but there it was, a squared box tied up with a bright blue ribbon. I gazed up and down the road, but saw no one.

Inside, I placed the box on the table, searched for a card, and didn't find one. Yes, I was curious, but having just finished my latest detective novel, I hesitated in opening it.

Detective Dan Smith had been hot on the trail of a murdered heiress. Her body parts were sent in boxes to members of her family. Yes, pretty gruesome, although one would ever guess that the bespectacled, mousy me would enjoys such a thing, but I do. Hey, we all have our vices.

I thought about my mean boss. He constantly put me forward for things I didn't want to do. I'd told him many times that some things were out of my comfort zone. Did he listen? Ever? No. I'd like to cut off his head and stick it in a box.

I felt the most unappreciated person in my office, yet I did most of the work.  I'd just secured a lucrative client, but before he signed on the dotted line, I was to take him out to dinner and tell him how wonderful our company was, which I did.

We were supposed to go together, but Meany Mark, my boss, dropped out at the last minute. He said he had an emergency and was sure I could handle it alone.

Turning my thoughts from the office, I sat in the armchair and stared at the gift box on the table. It looked fancy, expensive even. The ribbon shone and it called out to be opened. Tension built in my neck at the thought of it.

Mark and I made a good team, but he didn't know I'd been looking for another job. Something with less stress. I hated being thrown into these situations, and it wasn't the first time he'd dropped out suddenly. To be fair, Mark was nice.  I'd miss him, and the work, but after the deal I'd just done, was the stress worth it? I'd rather sit at home with a detective novel than play super-office-girl.

Getting to my feet, I walked over to the table. I lifted off the lid, three red sparkly balloons rose to the ceiling. Their strings dangled to the box as if pointing to the contents. I lifted out a parcel wrapped in red tissue, and it revealed a heart shaped chocolate box. Lying on the top was a blank card with silhouette of man. I turned it over.

'I wanted to leave it blank because it looked more macho. Note underneath.'

I raised the chocolate box and sure enough, a small envelope was taped to the bottom, just like in good detective novels.

Removing it, I put the chocolates on the table and sat back down to read the accompanying missive.

'Don't leave. I saw you looking at the job section. I need you, and know I don't always say it. Without you, we wouldn't thrive. My delinquent brother chose then to get arrested. Mum called me. So, I'm sorry I dropped you in it. But you did it, and you don't give yourself enough credit for just how good you are. But let's talk about it. Dinner tonight? Farley's at 8?'

My tense shoulders slackened and I broke into a smile. Perhaps Meany Mark, wasn't so insensitive after all.

The End