Something Special

Chapter 2

Rushing into the office building, Brianna sees her best friend, Winnie, at the receptionist desk. “Hang on…I gotta go clock in…I’m gonna be late!” Bri says over her shoulder as she power-walks into the hallway to clock in.  Whew! 30 seconds to spare--that was too close.  Mr. Mason, their boss, had been really watching the time clock logins lately.  “Ok, now that I clocked in, I’ll go say hi to Winnie,” Bri thought to herself.

“Hey, Brianna! How was your weekend?” Winnie cheerfully asked as she was getting some papers off the copy machine.  It’s no wonder that Winnie was the receptionist for their company, Gold Standard Provisions. She was always put together like a fine piece of art. Today she wore a blue silk blouse and navy pencil skirt with 3” heels. Her hair looked a little like a goddess’ long wavy blond locks. Even though she had the looks, she was always so friendly and helpful, and had become a genuine friend to Brianna.

“Oh same ole, same ole” Brianna answered her.  “Did you do anything fun this weekend?” Winnie was a bit of a party goer and she always seemed to be doing something. 

“Nothing too crazy. There was a great karaoke contest at Club Wave. You should have seen some of those guys…some real eye candy, Bri! We should go sometime!!” Winnie swooned.  ‘Wave’ was one of the latest and greatest night clubs in the area, and Winnie would know.

“Winnie, you know that I’m not interested in “window shopping” for a guy. I’m a married woman, after all.” 

Winnie looked at Brianna with a straight face. “Girl. We both know that THAT train is going nowhere fast.  It’s not like you are going to test out the merchandise! What would it hurt to blow off a little steam and have some fun?”

“I know, I know. I just feel like I don’t have that freedom anymore,” Brianna answered, before turning to leave. “I better get to work before Mr. Mason sees me coming in late.”

Winnie smirked and said, “I wouldn’t worry about that. He had an interview this morning with some really hot looking intern!” Winnie fanned herself with some papers in her hand to make the point.   “I took him to the conference room about 15 minutes ago.”

Brianna beamed at her friend. “I’d better go, then!  Thanks, Winnie! See you at lunch!” as she slipped into the closing elevator door.

Brianna quickly walked out of the elevator and into her cubicle before anyone noticed her.  As she turned on the computer and put her things away, Bri noticed a stack of paperwork in her “IN” box. As she picked it up and began to look it over, she realized it was the huge project Portia had been assigned. What the heck!?!? Like I don’t have my own projects to work on!  Brianna thought as she checked her email.  

Mr. Mason had sent her a message:

“Brianna,

I have noticed that you have been doing an exceedingly good job with your database. Portia has requested some assistance on the Dunbar account. I have asked her to divide the work up and leave your part in your IN box. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Mr. Arlo Mason

Head Manager”

My PART!?  This is the whole freaking project! Brianna stormed to herself as she set the account to the side and checked the rest of her own workload for the day. Good thing she was pretty efficient-she had a knack for figuring out accounting projects. Maybe that’s why Mr. Mason put me on it, she thought. 

Soon, Brianna’s stomach began to grumble, as she realized that after the fiasco at breakfast, she hadn’t eaten anything. It was only 9:20, and a long time until lunch. Hoping someone had brought doughnuts, she went to the breakroom.  As she approached, she heard the cackling laughter of some of the other women in the office.

“I hope Mr. Mason has me train that new gorgeous intern.  I can teach him a thing or two…” they all start giggling and making other remarks that would surely be frowned upon by HR.  

Brianna turns the corner and sees Portia standing there with a half cup of coffee, talking with the other women.  “Good morning”

Brianna says to the collective group, as she pushes through to the coffee maker. She picks out a pod that says “Morning Brew” and pops it in the machine. 

“Brianna, have you seen the new guy? He is such a hunk!” Maria remarks.  

“No, I haven’t,” Brianna replies with more interest in the box of doughnuts on the table than the current conversation.  Grabbing a plain glazed doughnut, she waited on the coffee machine to finish so she could get back to her desk.  

“Portia, I saw the Dunbar project on my desk,” Brianna started.

Portia takes a sip of coffee before replying, “Yes, I had started it and have been working on it, but I am just so busy I’m not able to get it finished.  Could you be a dear and take a look at it for me?” 

“Um, sure. I’ll try to work it in with all my other regular accounts.” Brianna grabbed her coffee and four sweeteners, and after dumping them in, took the cup and doughnut begrudgingly back to her desk. 

Hoping for the coffee to kick in soon, she began working on her own accounts.  Portia would just have to wait her turn.