That Escalated Quickly

Chapter 3

Once he has his cup, he stomps over to Erica's desk.

"Uh oh," she says, "why do you look more cross than when I saw you fifteen minutes ago and after you have had your coffee?"

"There is this absolute dick, who I swear, must be out to get me."

"Paranoid much?" Erica mumbles.

"I'm serious, Erica. This guy took my parking spot, and then he ended up taking the last of the coffee and didn't even have the decency to start another pot. Like he literally took the last of it while I was standing there in front of him and was all hot and smug about it when he 'apologized' and then just like shrugged and left."

"Wait... hold up. Hot and smug?"

"What? I didn't say that."

"Oh yes you did, buddy," she remarks, her eyes lighting up like she's unraveling a mystery. "This guy is hot? Who is he?"

"I don't know!" Stiles shouts and winces in apology when the girl next to Erica gives him a dirty look.

"You think he's visiting from another office?" Erica wonders out loud. Stiles shrugs, and then Erica suddenly gets a devious look.

"Uh oh. I know that look. What are you doing?" Stiles asks, suspicious.

"You know who would know? Danny. Let's ask him."

Stiles shakes his head. "Erica, I have work to do, speaking of..." He gives her a wide, pleading grin.

"Is your computer being slow again?"

He nods. "Will you pretty, pretty please go on the drive and print out my slides and notes?"

"I am not your secretary, you know."

"I know you aren't. I'll make it up to you. I'll... take you to lunch."

"Sushi."

"But..."

"Sushi or no dice, Stilinski."

Stiles sighs. "Fine. Sushi. Thanks."

Erica bobs her head and waves him off. "And call IT and tell them to get you a new damn computer," she shouts back, not taking her eyes off of her computer so she can download and print off Stiles's documents.

Stiles shakes his head as he walks off because he knows that's a fight he won't win. He might have gotten a fancy parking space and a tiny raise, but there's a waiting list for new computers and he knows he's not near the top.

He takes the long way to get back to his office because he needs to cool down a bit and put thoughts of the horrible Smug Hottie out of his mind so he can get in the right mindset for his presentation. He nods or says hi to the few people he knows as he passes. He's about to pass what is normally an empty cube, except someone's stuff is there.

He makes a face at Isaac, who is sitting a few cubes down, and thumbs at the cube. Isaac shakes his head and frowns.

"Never seen him before. I think he's visiting?" Isaac says when Stiles walks the few feet to stand in front of him.

"Not a new hire?"

"Don't think so. Saw Finstock talking to him like he knew him, like they've worked together before."

"What'd he look like?"

"Uh... tall, dark hair, nice suit..."

"Angry eyebrows and a glare-y look?" Stiles supplies.

"Uh... yeah sort of."

"That douche."

"You know him?"

Stiles looks around them to make sure no one else is paying attention. "I don't know his name, but he's seriously the worst. He stole my parking spot and took the last of the coffee."

Isaac doesn't seem like he cares or feels sorry for Stiles in the slightest.

"I got it," Stiles says snapping his fingers. "Hey, Isaac, let me borrow your scissors."

Isaac raises his eyebrow and reaches for the requested item. "Why? What are you going to do?"

"Nothing, just give 'em to me."

Isaac rolls his eyes and places the scissors in Stiles's palm. Stiles, as subtly as he can, walks over to the once-empty-now-occupied cubicle and starts to loosen a few of the screws on the chair with the scissors. He arranges it so that with even the slightest weight, the chair will tip over or collapse, and Stiles giggles to himself when he's finished, imagining the results that will happen.

He hands Isaac back his scissors with a wide grin, telling him to IM him when mystery man comes back to his desk, and takes his coffee with him back to his office.