Perfectly Unexpected - Finished

Beep. Beep. Beep. The familiar sound of my alarm clock disrupted my sleep. I unwillingly rolled over, regretting my late night out on a weekday the night before. I had gone to a favorite local bar with my best friends and coworkers, Jasmine and Daniel. We don't work in the same department anymore, I moved from being an accountant to being a paralegal. “Hey ARI... snooze the alarm.” “OK. Alarm snoozed, 10 minutes.” ARI, my home assistant said in her robotic tone. This thing was an alarm clock, weather reports, controls for the lights and everything else. I snuggled back in under my fuzzy blanket, sprawling across the bed, tucking the pillows in under my head. I dozed back off. Beep. Beep. Beep. “Fuuuck.” I said out loud, jolting to a sitting position. “OK ARI. Stop.” The alarm stopped. “Turn on the bedroom light.” The bedroom light came on. My head was pounding, and now I didn't even have time to shower. It was 7:15AM, and I had to be in office by 8AM. I had to leave in 15 minutes. Perfect, no breakfast. My feet hit my cold wooden floors and I made a promise to myself for the millionth time to remember to buy slippers to wear around this apartment. I had been living here two years, and still got grumpy about the cold floor. I walked to my bathroom and looked in the mirror. My naturally straight brown hair was a complete mess. I tore a brush through it and used more bobby pins than I cared to count to fashion it into a low messy bun. It could pass as professional. I pulled on a dress and blazer with heels to hopefully make up for the lack of effort put into my hair. I grabbed my badge, my purse, and my keys on the way to my car. Once I got in my driveway, I realized it was April 1st and rent was due. I let out a sigh and hesitantly checked my bank account. I had just enough to cover rent, maybe a few groceries. I made a lot more when I got promoted to being a paralegal six months ago. However, I turned 25 at the same time and had to start hunting for my own health insurance and paying back my student loans, so money was tighter than before. I was also not the most financially responsible. I got to the office and immediately went to my office to drop my things. I pulled out a mirror from my desk and started throwing on minimal make up. “How are you feeling?” A mail voice came following a small knock on my office door frame. It was Daniel. He's the head of accounting at our law firm, and used to be my boss. He was also one of my very best friends. “Not great, Daniel. Not great. You?” I said. “Same, but I needed that night out. I brought you a sausage egg and cheese sandwich as a token of my gratitude.” He passed me a sandwich wrapped in parchment paper. Daniel was 32 and recently divorced, so he was struggling with being alone and adjusting to single life again. His ex wife left him when he wasn't able to have children. He took it hard and was still recovering. Jasmine and I had tried to be there for him the best we could. “Where's mine?” Jasmine asked, suddenly slipping in under Daniel's arm. “On your desk.” Daniel said, brushing his sandy hair back from his face. “OK you two, get to work.” He was still Jasmine's boss. The two of them went down the hall to their shared accounting office. I left my office and went around the corner to the break room, coffee pod in hand. I popped it into the machine, stuck my “Paralegals are awesome” coffee mug under the spout and pressed the button to disperse. I started scarfing down my sandwich and reaching down into the mini fridge to grab my half and half. “Good morning Kassie. Long night?” My boss, Sam, came up next to me, leaning against the counter. He was a lawyer here and I was the paralegal for his department. “That obvious?” I asked, trying to keep it light. “Yeah... a little. Hot date?” He asked, a smirk pulling at his lips. Sam was very attractive and I spent a lot of my time staring at him in his office across from mine. Our walls were both glass and we could see each other all day if the curtains weren't pulled closed. “No, you know me. I don't date. Not a fan of commitment.” I said. Sam and I were not close outside of work, but had done plenty of chatting while working. He knew that after my awful break up two years ago, I decided I did not want to commit to anything at all for a long time. “Yeah I get it. The wife had another date over the weekend. She seems to be having an incredibly easy time, I'm not. A woman going on a dating site saying she's in an open marriage... men don't care either way. A man on a dating site saying he's in an open marriage... women automatically think he's cheating. It's been exciting but I'm getting a little tired of toddler duty.” He said, referring to their two year old daughter. Sam told me he and his wife had almost split up after she had their daughter, but being in an open marriage was what saved them. “I'm sure you'll find someone.” I said, giving him a half smile and walking back to my office before things got too awkward. * As I was packing up to leave the office, there was a knock at my office door. I looked up to see Sam leaning against the door frame. Suit jacket on, briefcase in hand, and ready to head home. “Hey, headed out?” I asked. “Yes. I had a quick question first.” He said. “Go ahead.” “I was actually wondering if you'd like to go for a drink this Saturday. I know it's short notice since it's already Thursday, but my wife just let me know she's got an overnight date and her mom is taking Ellie.” He said. My heart started beating quickly. A date? With my boss? He was extremely hot, I'd had a crush on him for a while... "Oh. Um. Sure." I said. Oh, boy....