Mr. Trager

One Choice

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13th, 2011

This wasn't a good idea, I'd known that from the moment I set foot in that dusty, decrepit old asylum. How they still used that place for anything more than a storage building was beyond me, but I was on a mission that day.
With a little help from a friend in administration and bit of smooth talking, I'd wormed my way right into the corridor of executive offices.
I froze up only halfway through that long dimly lit hallway, staring down at the clash of my black heels against the light beige carpet. I took a deep breath. There was no point in turning back now, I had nothing left to lose. To my right was the door to the women's restroom, I could only hope that there was a clean mirror to be seen on the other side.
I breathed a sigh of relief, seeing my own reflection when I stepped through the door.

"Okay..." I peered into my own eyes, making sure I was prepared for what I was about to do.

The bathroom around me looked like it hadn't been used, or cleaned for that matter, in months if not years. This particular branch of the Murkoff Corporation hadn't allowed for female employees in quite some time, which only made this lucky opportunity even more valuable for me. I had to make good use of my time. With a quick look over my outfit, I straightened my pencil skirt, adjusted my shirt collar and forced myself back out into the hallway. There was business to attend to.
Each of the office doors had its own frosted glass window, the names of the men they belonged to declared in a harsh black font and golden outline. One by one, I made my way past each door, hunting for one name in particular.
'Richard Trager M.R.D'
The one man I'd been specifically advised not to visit by my administrative pal. In my mind there wasn't a single reason why I wouldn't want to open that door, especially when I'd taken such a great risk to get to what was on the other side. I feared the repercussions that would undoubtedly crash down onto me if I didn't follow through.
The faint sound of laughter stopped me from reaching for the tarnished brass doorknob. I took a step back, seeing the outline of a man through the frosted glass.

"I'll be back, don't you worry." The door swung open rather violently as those words made it to my ears.

I hadn't recognized the voice, but I knew that man the moment I laid eyes on him.
Jeremy Blaire.
Someone I didn't need to be told to stay away from. The dirty look he gave me as he passed by said more than enough, like I'd accidentally taken the most popular girl's seat in high school. Even in that brief moment, the message that he didn't want me there was clear. My presence in that building alone was a liability. As if what he wanted mattered to me, he wasn't the reason why I'd gone through all this trouble.
With a deep breath, I gave the door three confident knocks. It would be rude of me to enter uninvited.

"Come in!" An unexpectedly welcoming voice called in response.

I could feel my heartbeat in my neck as I gently opened the door, I absolutely had to make the most of this. If he really was anything like the stories I'd been told, I'd have no problem getting along with him.

"I'm here to see Mr. Trager?" I spoke hesitantly.

He was facing away from me as I entered the room, his attention drawn to something behind him.

"Well..." He sat up, turning to face me with a pleasant, pearly white, smile. "Looks like you found him."

Lovely brown curls, light brown eyes, and a smile that could please the angels. What more could someone asked for?
I felt a nervous grin form on my lips, and for the life of me, I couldn't bring my self to speak. I'd seen pictures, sure, but... Something about him had me completely enamored.

"Why don't you have a seat?" He motioned to the two chairs that sat in front of his desk. "We can get down to business."

His voice made me shiver, somehow deep but nasally at the same time. Perhaps it was the way that he spoke; eloquently enough to show his intelligence, yet casual enough to prove it took minimal effort.