Cream and Sugar

Chapter 2

Valeria sighed and picked at the hem of her sweater as Dwight and Michael bickered more.

"Please, okay. Do you want me to tell them?" Asked Dwight hopefully.

"You don't even know what it is!"

"Can you tell them, with my permission".

"I don't need your...." started Michael.

"Permission granted. Go ahead".

Michael rolled his eyes, "Corporate has deemed it appropriate to enforce an ultimatum upon me, and Jan is thinking about downsizing either the Stanford branch or this branch".

Valeria leaned over towards Jim, "Looks like we actually got to the subject".

Jim checked his watch, "Five minutes. That's a new record".

"You'll have to remember that" chuckled Valeria a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Jim produced a notepad from his pocket, "Way ahead of you".

She definitely was not paying attention to what Michael was saying and honestly she didn't really care. It was probably all nonsense anyway knowing him.

***
"Me and Jim have this ongoing test to see how long it takes Michael to actually get to the subject of the meeting" replied Valeria, "This is definitely a new record".

***

Pam spoke up, "I was in the meeting with Jan and she said that it could be this branch that gets the axe".

"Pam? Maybe you should stick to the ongoing confidentiality agreement of meetings" stated Michael.

"Pam information is power" interrupted Dwight.

"Just say you don't know for sure! That could save us all a lot of time" suggested Valeria.

"So you don't know for sure whether it's going to be us or them" agreed Stanley

"No you did not see me in there with her. I said, if corporate wants to come in here, and interfere then they're gonna have to go through me, right? You know, you can go a mess with Josh's people, but I'm the head of this family, and you ain't gonna be messing with my chillen'" answered Michael.

Valeria sighed deeply.

***
Jim looked at the camera, "If I left, what would I do with all this useless information in my head? You know, tonnage price of manila folders. How Valeria takes her coffee black with two sugars".

***
"Jim said that?" Asked Valeria surprised, " I don't think I've ever told him that".

   ***
After the meeting Valeria walked into the break room and started her lunch, (a plain turkey sandwich and a chocolate cookie). She sat alone listening to the music coming from her earbuds that were hooked into her iPod shuffle. Tapping her feet to the song that was playing. Jim eventually sat in front of her. Valeria didn't notice him until he was trying to quietly eat his chips that he got from the vending machine. At the sound of the the crunching noise she picked her head up and took her earbuds out.

"Hey".

"Hi" replied Jim.

"So.....".

"Yes?"

"What's going in on with you and Pam?" Asked Valeria nudging him slightly.

Jim shook his head, "She's engaged".

"I thought you told me you had a crush on her though!"

                                         ***
"A while ago I told Val that I liked someone in the office. I didn't tell her who, but she assumes it's Pam" shrugged Jim, "Who is it? Well I don't feel comfortable sharing that".

                                         ***
"No. I told you I had a crush on someone in the office. I never said who".

"Well who? Angela?" Valeria faked a gagging noise.

"Of course not".

"It's Angela?" Asked Valeria, she lowered her voice, "The cat lady? I expected better from you Halpert".

Darren entered the break room and spotted Valeria. He placed his bag on the chair in between them.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything" he smiled.

"You're not. Me and Jim were just talking about the fact that he likes Angela".

Darren's eyes widened, "Angela? Come on man that's low".

Jim sighed, "I don't have a crush on Angela".

"Well you have a crush on someone in the office" stated Valeria placing her chin on open her palm.

Jim discreetly sent a pleading look towards Darren as Valeria stood up to throw away a paper towel that she had used to wrap her sandwich in.

                                        ***
"Oh Jim definitely has a crush on Valeria. I'm pretty sure a lot of people know. If they don't they seriously need to pick up on hints " chuckled Darren adjusting his tie as he talked, "I mean he's practically running after her and she has no idea".

                                         ***

"Anyways I'll see you two later I have to venture back into the amazing world that is customer service" smiled Valeria backing out of the break room and heading towards the Annex.

Jim and Darren waves after her.

Darren turned to Jim after she left, "Dude you couldn't be more obvious".

"What do you mean?"

"You are practically shoving the fact that you have a crush on her down her throat".

"I don't think I am" defended Jim.

Darren turned to look at the camera and rolled his eyes, "I'm pretty sure everyone knows".

Jim's eyes widened at his deskmate's  comment, "What do you mean everyone?"

"When I say everyone, I mean everyone" Darren stood up and patted Jim on the back, "Good luck man".

Jim sat at the table in shock. How could everyone in the office know? Maybe Darren was just trying to get under his skin.

                                           ***
"Darren's just trying to mess with me because he's Valeria's best friend. That's a thing best friends do. I mess with Val all the time" muttered Jim, "That's a thing right? What an end to a weird day".
                                            ***