Between Devil and Ocean

Reports

Trevis deliberately dropped the card that had his office, home and cell number, even his home address and smiled out.

This was going to be interesting. He had just met the most beautiful lady ever, and he was going to make this meeting worthwhile, you know, know her more, and maybe more than that.

He walked down the pathway and met with a huge, obviously locked black gate.

Nice. Nikolo had locked him out again.

He pulled the bell string with a bit more force than he was supposed to, then let it go. As expected, the bell made a loud noise, and Trevis heard someone shriek. He was so sure that Miss Rothen had heard it wherever she was.

Ooh, he was now thinking so much about a person with a nice, strange, somewhat familiar surname.

Before he could continue thinking - or probably daydreaming - Nikolo Strange, The Fauna's Head of Security, opened the passenger gate and glared at him. Trevis sighed. That was a knowing glare; he had scared the Safari adventurers at the zoo again.

"Sorry, Niks. You locked me out again," Trevis said, hopping he could share the blame.

"I didn't do it on purpose. Someone used bananas to lure the monkeys out and I had to lock the gate to know who did," Nikolo explained.

"Have you found who?" Trevis asked, walking in, his hands in his pockets then watched Nikolo lock the gate again.

The older man sighed. "Still on it. But I promise to kill whoever has decided to trouble my old bones this hot afternoon." He raised two fingers. "Scouts Honour."

Trevis laughed. "See you later, then, and good luck."

"But, Mr. Kitridge, don't ring my bell like it's for the Angelus, again," Nikolo warned.

"Yessir," Trevis said, grinning, and walking to his office. All he could think about was a way to ask Miss Rothen on a date. Trevis was shy.

***

Kaylee, finally done with reviewing the reports, raised her heavy eyes to the clock and gasped weakly. Faintly, she remembered that her secretary had peeped in to say goodbye and drop the financial reports.

What was she doing at work by 8:36PM?

She dragged her eyes from the the financial reports or she would sleep in the office. Then, her eyes caught on a card, and she raised a brow. It took a minute before she realized that that was Trevis' card, and Khloe had dropped it there during lunch break.

Kaylee looked down at her stomach. Just a thought in the direction of lunch and her stomach growled, which was bad because she had only half plate of cereal and an apple for breakfast.

She picked up the card and looked at it. It had his office, home and cell number and even his home address.

She slipped the card in her bag and yawned then put on her heels and increased five more inches in height. She brushed her hair with her palms then used the same to straighten her ankle length, navy blue flay pants then her button down shirt. She licked her lips then picked up her bag and phone and walked to the door before she paused, walked back to the table and picked up the financial reports and walked back to the door.

After closing the door and locking it, she put the keys in her bag, and walked out of her office reception, where her secretary stayed.

When she got out of the door, she wiped her eyes and looked again. What was Mr. Kitridge and The Flora Accounting Manager, Miss Totter, doing at work 'together', by this time. She shrugged, what was her business, anyway?

Soon, she was walking out of the General Reception, and towards her car in the parking lot, where Mr. Kitridge and Miss Totter stood, talking.

Good evening," she greeted the Accounting Manager who nodded and she turned to Mr. Kitridge. "Mr. Kitridge, I saw your card, but I couldn't call because I was still reviewing those reports, and," she stressed, "I haven't inspected The Gardens yet."

"And, have you finished reviewing yet?" he asked, the sarcasm in his voice, teasing her.

"Yes."

There was amusement in his voice, and he hid his surprise expertly. "You heading home? I could drop you off."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I brought my car." Kaylee didn't miss the triumphant quick grin that flashed across the other woman's face even in the darkness.

"Okay," Mr. Kitridge said slowly and hesitantly. "Good night, then," he said.

"Good night to you, too. I want to review those accounting report s this night so wish me luck," she said.

"I thought that was my job," Miss Totter said in a voice that sounded like she was about to bully Kaylee.

"That's part of your job," Kaylee said, emphasis on 'part'. "But as the General Manager of The Flora, don't you think that that's also part of my job?"

Miss Totter was about to reply but then, Mr. Kitridge cut in. "Good luck, but don't stay up too late, it will reduce the brightness in your smile by tomorrow," he said.

"Um, thanks," Kaylee said with a smile.

"Anytime," he replied.

She got into her car, shut the door and, in minutes, she was driving away.