Chapter 34

Sally was still frowning at her laptop screen, and she didn't smile at me when she looked up at me entering the conference room.

"Come sit over here next to me, Elena," she said. I sat down, folding my hands in my lap.

I waited.

After a moment of looking off into space, Sally finally spoke.

"What is it about this story? Why can't you let it go?"

It wasn't what I expected, and it took me a moment to get my brain working again.

"I'm also an orphan," I began. "But I'm lucky. The place I came from was well-supported. Our city orphanages, well, there's something going on that's not right. They're having trouble with basic operations, and it's putting the kids at risk."

Sally was quiet. I assumed this meant she wanted more, and I rushed to fill the silence.

"I have something else I'm working on if you really don't like it, but I honestly think it would work for Social Scene because it has a good combination of heart-warming and..."

"You say something is going on?" she interrupted. "Do you suspect a person or entity is behind this?"

"Well, that's just it," I said. "A second orphanage is reporting similar issues. I'd like to follow up with the representatives from city hall who actually are in charge of the funding, to see what they have to say about all of this."

Sally took a deep breath, looking at the wall above my head.

"Let me tell you why this makes me worried, Elena. First, it has the potential to get people in trouble and I don't mean our department. We get sued all the time. I'm thinking about the people who run these orphanages."

I nodded. "I've discussed that with them."

"And I honestly don't think pointing fingers at any sort of government is worth the time and energy. One doesn't win. It creates a lot of stress, and in the end the bad things don't change."

I looked at Sally's face, concerned. She seemed so sad, so hopeless.

"I understand and I appreciate your concerns," I said. "But I'm in the position where I've developed relationships with these people and I don't feel right about letting it go. My article may be a flash in the pan, it may be published one day and gone the next, but at least I've tried."

"I don't think the innocent should suffer needlessly," I continued. "If there's something in my power to do, no matter how small, shouldn't it be my moral obligation to do it?"

Sally's face twisted in pain. She took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, have I said something wrong?" I asked.

"No. Your morals are admirable."

"I don't want to come off as trying to be morally superior or snobby, as Stan called it. But those kids were me. And if any of them got hurt I would feel responsible."

Sally nodded her head, looking down at the table.

She stood up suddenly, her chair flying backwards. She turned and left the room, walking quickly in the direction of the now empty bathrooms. I heard the door fly open, creek closed, and then silence.

I sat in the empty conference room until the motion sensor light turned itself off. Sally hadn't returned.

I stood and the light flickered back on. As I left the room I glanced at my phone. Charles had texted a big question mark. I replied that I was on my way.

I paused outside the bathroom, and hearing nothing continued to my cubicle. I sadly gathered my things and went to the elevator.

I wanted to go in, to comfort her, and yet she didn't seem like a woman who would appreciate a subordinate showing sympathy.

As I rode the elevator up, I suddenly realized what had happened a few minutes ago. Kevin had asked me out! I'd been so stressed that I'd almost forgotten it.

I shook my head in disbelief. Sheila would be unhappy, first of all. But secondly, what was the deal? People seemed to either totally ignore me or want to date me.

I thought of Craig, my old boss and his lewd suggestions about his wife not being able to smell me on him. I shuddered.

Cathy had said I was special, and Charles certainly made me feel like I was unique, if not exactly special to him. How could they feel one way and others so powerfully like I'm nothing or an object to be maneuvered around?

I entered Charles's office confused, my brow furrowed. He looked up from where he was dividing up multiple sushi rolls.

"Uh oh," he commented. "You look how I feel."

"You feel confused?"

"I feel dissatisfied."

"Because you're hungry?"

"That, too. I've got us sushi."

"Great."

"Want to talk about it?"

"I think I made Sally upset. You want to talk about yours?"

He looked at me and his eyes hardened slightly.

"Yes. I think this isn't working, Elena."

"What?"

I was thrown off. I'd thought things had been going well. We'd even seemed to be enjoying each other's company. Had I been wrong?

I felt my eyes begin to well up and sting, but I blinked rapidly. I would not cry in front of him.

"I don't mean you're not doing a good job eating all this food," he said, hurriedly, as if he'd seen my tears. "What I mean is I am having more going on in my life and ..." he took a big breath and waved his chopsticks.

"I need you here more. This meal thing is nice, but it's not enough, Elena."

My mouth opened in surprise. I had no idea how to take his comment. Was it a compliment? Was it a demand?

Charles passed me a plate of rolls and packaged chopsticks and began to eat his.

"I didn't mean to be late tonight," I offered.

"That's not what I mean. A few minutes here or there isn't it." He took a few thoughtful bites. "Maybe it's good Sally is angry. If she fires you, then it solves my problem."

"But what about my problem?"

He looked at me, and I saw something behind his eyes shift. They became less hard, more focused on my face.

"Yes, I see how that wouldn't be ideal for you."

For the second time, I thought I might cry. It was the first time he'd acknowledged my desires as far as my life and career.

I felt torn. I didn't want to be fired, and yet it suddenly felt like it wouldn't be the worst thing. I actually enjoyed being near Charles now, and for more than just how beautiful he was to watch.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"I'm just thinking that you've been way more pleasant to be around than I'd anticipated."

He beamed. "So you'll quit and be my assistant again?"

"No!" My head jerked back. "I didn't say that."

He laughed. "Take it easy, Elena. Just promise me you'll try to find more little times to come up here. Like coffee breaks or something?"

I nodded my head. I could do that, if he truly needed me, why not?

Later, he insisted on driving me home. The intruder who had been in our office and followed me had made him protective and he didn't trust me walking home as usual.

As he pulled to the curb in front of my apartment, he leaned toward me and inhaled softly.

"Shall I come up? Just to check no one is there?"

His eyes looked dangerous and fierce. I felt a tingle go down my body and remembered another conversation we'd had in his car. And have lots of sex, he'd said.

For a moment I saw him without his sweater, his broad, bare shoulders powerful and smooth, moving over me, upstairs in my bedroom, and for a moment I couldn’t breathe.

"Okay, I get it," he said. "But I'm going to sit here until I see you get inside."

I frowned. Was that what I wanted? He was so frustrating!

"Fine," I said, and went to go.

He grabbed my hand and held it to his lips. They were soft and full, and he pressed them to my hand.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, his breath hot on my skin. "And we'll see what Sally says about your job."