Hazel stood silent for a moment.“I’m not sure about ledger paper.”I followed Hazel around the room as she found everything else.“You’d think with an entire finance department, we’d have ledger paper.”
“Not everyone works on paper anymore, many use computers, but for what I’m doing, paper works the best.No worries, I can run out at lunch and pick some up.”
“That’s my job.Just show me which one you want, and I can get it.”
“I don’t want to put you out.”
“Please, I sit at that desk all day, barely doing anything.”
“I thought you’d be busy.”Most finance departments I worked with were hopping.
“Not really.I answer the phone, make sure Lucas doesn’t miss any meetings, and stuff like that, but he’s pretty self-sufficient.I’m just there in case anyone walks in, and Lucas doesn’t want to be disturbed.Oh, and I do occasionally type up reports for him.It’s a cushy job.”
“Oh yes, Lucas was never good at typing.”I froze.Why the hell did I say that?
“You knew Lucas before today?”
“Ah, yeah.We met about six years ago and then lost touch.”That was partly true, but Hazel didn’t need to know all the dark, dirty details.I breathed a sigh of relief when she dropped it, and we went back to the office.
“When you’ve unloaded, just bring me the tote, and I’ll take it back downstairs.And don’t forget the ledger paper.You can email me a link.”
“Thanks.”I walked back into the office.
Lucas was on the phone, intently chatting with someone.I quietly went to my desk, unloaded my things, and then looked up a local office supply store.There was one just a few blocks away.While I hadn’t been here that long, my skin was itching to get away from Lucas’ fresh scent of pine and wood that filled the air before I did anything stupid.
Glancing out the window, it was a pretty day out.I stood and grabbed my purse.Lucas glanced up and frowned.“Hold on a second, Marcus,” he said, putting the call on hold.“Where are you off to?”
“I just need some ledger paper.There’s an office supply store close.”
“Hazel can do that for you.”
“I know, but I’d rather do it myself.”
“Still Miss Independent, I see.”
“Don’t you forget it.”I wiggled my fingers at him as I walked out to the sound of his laughter.How quickly I slipped into a joking mode with Lucas.Was that a good thing?I wasn’t sure.
Hazel was staring at the door as I walked out.“You made the boss laugh.”
“Yes.”
“He never laughs in the office.He’s always serious.”
Now that was food for thought.The Lucas I knew was full of laughter and life.“I’m going to go to the office supply store.Would you like to walk with me?”
“Sure, but I shouldn’t be doing that.”
I winked.“Our secret.”
We left the office.The sun warmed my skin as we walked and talked in general about Seattle.I mentioned I enjoyed being outside when I could.Hazel laughed and said that’s what happens when you had a desk job.
I didn’t disagree with her.At the office supply store, I quickly found what I wanted, but Hazel wouldn’t let me buy the ledger paper, she insisted on using the company credit card.
“Lucas and Mr.Boyd, our president, would be very upset if I let you buy it.”
“Fantasies, Inc.offers a lot of perks, doesn’t it?”I commented as we walked back to the office.
“Oh yes.It’s really nice.Our retention rate is very high because of those extras.”
