Rolex Romance

Mr Fields

Wednesday I was busy running segments of next weeks paper around the building. My first "action" as a journalist was uncovering two crime stories for my small article. I contacted the city police to question them on two burglaries and if they could possibly be connected (no they were not by the way).

The next day I anxiously waited for Leo Fields to come by. Anytime I heard the clicking down the hall, I jumped to sneakily peek. I was left nervously waiting until mid afternoon. After my lunch break I was reading a mystery novel when shoes entered the hall way. I struggled to keep my eyes on the pages. When they neared, I set my book down and looked up at the visitor.

"Good afternoon Karenina."

"Hello Leo. How are you ?"

"Good and you ?"

"Surviving the work day." We shared a smile, but I felt as if mine was the face of someone who just got a light flashed in their eyes. He handed me another vanilla file and I stood taking it. When I knocked on Marius's door, he hollered for me to enter.

"The return file from Jason Duncan." He just nodded and took it. I left quietly meeting Leo again. He had taken a seat a little down from my desk. My stomach flipped as he relaxed in the seat. We were using first names (can you hear my childish giddy).

"You're reading Agatha Christie ?" He smiled and I was seeing stars.

"Yeah, do you like her ?"

"Yeah totally, but I lean more to King because his have more twists." With his one question we started a lengthy conversation of books. Leo Fields was a dream. He loved Hemingway, the Brontës, but hated Dickens. Our talk was cut short as Javier decided to abruptly return after not showing up since his blow up. I tried my best to ignore him, but when he stood in front of my desk I knew I'd have to stop talking to Leo.

"Hello Karenina."

"Hello Mr Chavez. This is Leo Fields, Leo this is Javier Chavez." The two met and shook hands with guards up. Javier looked as angry as he did Tuesday and I remained cold. He completely left me to pick up files he made me drop.

"You can go right in sir. Marius is expecting you." I nodded and looked directly at Leo as we picked up our conversation once again. Javier awkwardly stood still for a few long moments until he entered the office.

"I should get going." I frowned to myself as Leo stood up and adjusted himself. "Would you like to go and get drinks tonight or dinner ?" He asked and I pinched the skin around my pinky under my desk to make sure I wasn't dreaming. How ?

"Drinks is good, yeah. I get off at five."

"I'll be around then." We exchanged smiles and he disappeared into the elevator. I immediately texted Dani and she called me. Quickly, I ran outside to describe what happened. I had not been asked out since my sophomore year of college and before that was my junior year of high school. I'll never understand what he saw in me that day, but I was grateful.  There was not a single remarkable thing about me.

Javier and Marius were in and out of the office all day. The minutes dragged by on the ikea clock in front of my desk. Three hours felt like five. When the time finally came, I held in my breath. Leo was in the same well-fitting clothes and smiled even brighter.

"You ready ?" He asked with his hands in his pockets. I did not know what I did to ever deserve this bundle of heart stopping eyes or intelligence, but I held onto every word.

"Yeah, I just have to check on my boss before leaving." I slipped on my coat to protect myself from the cold breeze and knocked. When I entered, both men were standing behind Marius's desk with their sleeves rolled up.

"Good night sir."

"Goodnight Karenina." Marius responded with a frown at the paper in front on him. Javier seemingly ignored me. I felt like a ghost as I slipped out with Leo.

***

Whenever he talked I stared at him with the highest admiration. He was talking to me, me actually. Leo loved sports, not just did he love them, but he knew facts and the history behind it. He wasn't from Texas, but he appreciated the sport life here. I just stared at him dumbfounded.

We sat in a booth together at a bar down the street from where I worked. It was close and a cool night, so we walked. The serenity of the town gave of a feeling of calmness in a world that never stopped. I had not really drank before and when the brown liquid oozed down my throat, it brought tears to my eyes and burned my trachea.

"Did you go to college ?" I asked with a horse voice. He nodded as he finished his glass. Oh my god I'm never doing this again.

"Yeah, I studied law. I passed the bar and every thing and I'm an assistant." He rolled his eyes looking defeated.

"I went for journalism and I thought I was getting the city and crime columns, but I'm Marius Alvarez's assistant." He smiled and I took a small sip of my tall glass. Why do people do this ? It's awful.

"Hopefully in a year or two we will have assistants." We raised our glasses and they clinked. Maybe in a year I will still be where I'm at. That's scary. I can't do this all my life. My entire college education will have been wasted.

We talked for about another hour until he finished his third. I never made it past my first glass. After Leo paid, which I highly subjected, we left for the bus. He made me nervous because he swayed a little in every step and his feet stomped on the concrete. Thankfully there were two open seats in the back and we took I them.

"Where do you live I'll walk you home." I asked and he frowned.

"It's the other way around ! I'll be fine. In college I tripled." He waved me off and got where I lived. We didn't talk on the bus and it disappointed me. I loved hearing his voice and what he was passionate about. Instead he was sitting with his chin in the air, staring at the bright lights. It instantly gave me a headache, but he liked it ?

Leo tripped on the steps and nearly fell, but used me as a pillar to catch himself. It was actually funny and we both laughed. The rest of the way home he held my hand that he used to catch himself. It was after eight and nearly pitch black. Above us the stars were distant white dots in the sky. They gave so much, but we returned nothing.

I dreaded the lead up to my apartment door. His judgement was clouded and I only just met him. What ever was going through his mind then, I wished it would stay.

We stopped at the door and he used it for support. I didn't want him to go home alone, but his own manly pride forced me to shut my mouth. Carefully, I watched him as a test. If he made the wrong move he would fail miserably.

"I'll bring you lunch Friday ?" He offered and I nodded.

"Thank you Leo." He smiled proudly.

"Good night Karenina."

"Goodnight." I unlocked my door and flew inside. He hadn't taken anything far and was a perfect gentleman. It surprised me that he hadn't gone for a kiss. I couldn't wait for that moment, but I didn't want it to be when he was drunk. Friday felt like a million years away.