Falling For Mr. Greenfield

§ 8 § (BWWM)

ASHER

It was a new day, and the sun appeared to shine just a little brighter.

Asher drove to work without any significant traffic issues. Upon entering the building, Asher greeted the same two guards who had always worked the seven in the morning until the seven in the evening shift.

"Good morning Mr. Greenfield. How are you doing this fine day?" Both men grinned from ear to ear.

"Just fine, guys, and how about yourselves?" He asked with a noticeably bright smile on his face.

"Doing pretty good." The first guard responded.

"Not as good as you." The second guard snickered.

Asher made his way to the elevator, where a few of his co-workers had already boarded the lift. Each person stared up at him as if he had suddenly grown another head. The attorney glanced at them without showing interest in whatever bit of office drama they chose to engage in for the day. Because he wasn't sure of the reason for the strange vibe, he ignored them as always.

"Good morning Mr. Greenfield." All three of them said in unison.

Not sure of how to register their unusual behavior, he greeted them.

"Good morning, Bill... Jessica... Tyronda..." He grinned to himself as he exited the elevator on his floor.

On the thirty-foot stroll from the elevator to his office, practically everyone greeted him when he crossed their path. 

Feeling that something was amiss because most people never took notice of his comings and goings unless he was discussing issues with a case, he walked into his office and settled himself before calling his receptionist.

"Yes, Mr. Greenfield." She asked upon entering his workspace.

"Elizabeth, is something going on of which I'm not aware?" He asked with a confusion-riddled face.

"Sir, I believe it has something to do with the young lady who showed up yesterday. She told security that she was your girlfriend." The woman replied knowingly.

"She is my girlfriend. So what's the problem with that?" He questioned.

"Well, sir. In five years since your divorce, no woman has ever come here looking for you except... Marie. I think they were quite shocked to see such a gorgeous young woman calling you her boyfriend." The receptionist responded carefully.

"Oh, I see. If Miss Shay comes in again, allow her to come back unless I am in a meeting." He stated with ease.

"Yes, sir." She replied as she turned to walk away.

"Oh, Elizabeth," Asher called her once again.

"Yes, sir."

"Please shut my door, and thank you." He instructed.

His entire day consisted of people who never bothered to interact with him, stopping Asher in the hall as if they were lifelong friends. More women intentionally went out of their way to greet him in one day than he could recall had ever noticed his presence throughout his life.

Asher soon began to understand that word got around that he was dating a gorgeous young black woman. His fellow attorneys came to him in droves for one reason or another. Each one asked questions to which they already had the answer.

They used the sudden visit as a pretext to poke and prod into his personal affairs.

His quiet meager existence changed in less than twenty-four hours because of the office gossip mill. But, as a man, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride because he, for once in his simple existence, was the guy who was dating a hottie.