Cristina

Chapter 7

When I open my eyes, the first thing I notice is that it is way too clear to be early morning. I look at my bedside table. Damn! It is two minutes to seven. I overslept, which is so unlike me, but then I remember the restless night I had.

I run to the shower, and I am done by 7:28 a.m. Work starts at 8 a.m. I am dashing out the door, grabbing an energy bar on the way out. I will be enjoying lunch today for more reasons than one.

I don't even see Nathan or Lily. Normally, we manage to exchange a few words every morning, but not today.
I am practically running to my office when I crash into something.

"Fuck!" is the only thing out of my mouth.

"Ouch."

Oops! It isn't something, it is someone.

Just as my luck will have it, it's Mrs. Canton.

Grabbing onto her arm, my hand is instinctively running up and down her arm.

"So sorry, Mrs. Canton. I totally wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

I suddenly became aware of my hands on her arm. I feel a little jolt, so I stop.
She bends to collect her files from the floor, and I bend to help her. She gives a little giggle which is too fucking sexy for this early in the morning.

"It's ok, Ms. Hunter. I know it isn't intentional."

Reaching for the same file at the same time causes our hands to brush against each other. I feel the jolt, again.

She looks directly into my eyes, "try to wake up early, Ms. Hunter. Your late-night encounters will catch up to you."

This is the first time I get to look into her eyes so very closely. Her eyes are the most beautiful eyes I've seen. They are light brown but have little specks of green in them. So mesmerizing.

As soon as she says that, she is off to where she was originally going.

I slowly stand up and take my time heading to my office.

As usual, I am busy with work. It seems like something is always going on that my load never gets light for too long. I prefer it this way, though. It makes my days so much shorter.

Lunch is approaching, and my phone rings. An unknown number. I still choose to answer it.

Christy.

Who would have thought?! She is inviting me to lunch with her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I already have this hot lunch date. I can't leave her waiting."

In walks Mrs. Canton with some new files.

She holds them up in my line of vision since I am on the phone. I nod, indicating I will get to them. She places them on my desk and leaves.

I laugh, "just messing with you, Christy, but I do have a lunch date. My sister and I will have lunch today. We can do it some other time, though."

She doesn't hesitate to tell me how disappointed she is, being all dramatic.

We laugh a little and thereafter end the call.

It is time for me to leave for lunch. I pick up my purse and walk out of my office.

Mrs. Canton's office is open. She is at her desk. It's so weird. It seems like her husband never makes any time for lunch breaks with her.

"Ms. Hunter?"

I look in her direction.

"I'll brief you on the files I just took to your office after lunch."

Moving right to her door, I say, "ok, Mrs. Canton. Enjoy your lunch."

I spin around to leave, and she calls me again.

"Ms. Hunter?"

I stop and look back.

"Enjoy that hot lunch date."

I don't even know where it came from, but I laugh.

"Thank you, Mrs. Canton. I sure will."

Lunch with my sister is just what I thought it would be. I am famished, and the food is great.

This is always the time we unload on each other, whatever is so wrong in our lives, and we try to laugh about it. We chat about so much when we get in each other's presence. Darcy complains about work and her husband. She even informs me that she and her husband will be taking a week-long trip to Mexico. I am jealous. She asks about my plans for the upcoming weekend. I share with her that on Saturday I need to go grocery shopping, and Sunday is to spend with Gwen.

I pay for lunch, and we both rush off on our separate ways, again.

As soon as I step foot into my office, Mrs. Canton is behind me.

"How was it?" she asks.

Is she really interested in my lunch date? Not possible.

I smile back at her, "it was great, it always is."

I sit, and she comes right next to me at my desk, getting in a position to explain these files. I can feel her warmth radiating that she is so close. If I shuffle, I can have my arm touch her thigh. She bends down, sifting through the files, and I catch her scent. She smells of vanilla and honey. A fragrance so fitting.
I try to pay attention to what she is saying. She is explaining which is just to be filed, which are to be sent out-

I notice her fingers, so long, and slender. Her nails have a polish that is a little notch above nude. This, too, is so her. My eyes drift from finger to finger, and then I notice a tiny tattoo along the side of her pinky. I am so intrigued. It seems to be another language.

I'm not even thinking when I hold her hand. I feel her tense. I still don't let go. I run my index finger along the tattoo.

"What does this mean?" I ask, still holding her hand.

She licks her lips, and my eyes go directly there. I slowly take my gaze to her eyes. She looks right back at me. We stare at each other for what feels like five minutes, but it could not have been more than a few seconds. She pulls her hand away.

"It, Uhm, it says free," she says.

"I like that. I believe in freedom. In every way," I reply.

She clears her throat and says, "let's go over this last document. This is for the retreat on Friday. Make sure that everything is set. I have all the services we hired. Just go ahead and confirm everything for Friday."

I had totally forgotten about the retreat.

"Shit!"

She looks at me like I have gone mad.

"What is it, Ms. Hunter?"

She is in front of my desk by this time. I stand and pace behind my chair.

"Nothing, really. I just completely forgot about that. I will get right on it, Mrs. Canton."

Walking towards my door, she says over her shoulders, "maybe, you can invite that hot date to the retreat," and she is gone.

I giggle to myself. She is something else. This retreat is for workers, but everyone is entitled to take someone. A lover, friend, family member, anyone.

The remainder of the day, I spend my time confirming everything for Friday. I get out of work around 5:15 pm. I just don't want to stay there any longer.

I make my way home and just crash on the couch.