It's almost lunchtime and I'm hungry as fuck.
I hadn't had breakfast and now I'm on the edge of eating my desk.
My boyfriend is supposed to be bringing me lunch, but I just got a text from him stating that he
won't be able to deliver and if we can do a rain check because he's in a meeting.
I didn't want to put off anything because I'm hungry and he always does this.
He never eats when he's supposed to and then complains about having gas.
When it hits 12 o'clock, I tell my boss I'll be out for lunch and head out of the office.
If he can't bring me lunch, then I'll carry it to him.
I know it sounds cheesy and you're thinking if I do spontaneous visits to my boyfriend's workplace,
I may find something I'm not looking for.
But that's the thing, I'm looking to find exactly what I'm looking for.
There's a long line at my favorite cafe, so I take a few more blocks down the street.
I get to a restaurant and it's fairly busy, but when I arrive at the counter to place my order,
they are out of chicken.
10 minutes, the lady says.
Are you willing to wait?
I nod. It doesn't make a difference at this point because if I leave for another cafe or
restaurant, I may have to join a line again and wait.
Yeah, sure.
She takes my cash and hands me the receipt.
My stomach growls.
10 minutes has turned into 15.
I'm annoyed, but I wait.
Good food comes at a cost.
Besides, Brian is probably still in a meeting and I hope to deliver the lunch to him instead
of handing it over to his secretary.
Plus, I don't like his secretary.
I get a vibe that's not positive and I know my vibes.
The last time I delivered food for Brian, he didn't get it.
Apparently, she had left it on the desk and her arm knocked it over.
Like, what the fuck were you doing for your arm to knock over a box of food?
I hate bitches with an agenda.
The bell dings and the girl calls my number.
I grab my order and head out, summoning the first taxi I see.
Greenwich Corporation, please.
I tell the driver.
I get to the building and it's like clockwork.
People are bustling about, minding their business, and their fancy shoes are clapping
against the marble flooring.
The guy at the front desk sees me and smiles.
He knows me very well and doesn't miss a beat when he hands me the visitor card.
He glances at his watch.
Mr. Chance should just be getting out of a meeting.
Thanks, Yosef.
I head for the elevator and press the numbers 1 and 7.
My boyfriend is a top guy.
He manages the Books for Greenwich Corporation.
He's the chief financial officer.
I exit the elevator and immediately my mood goes downhill when I see Brian with his secretary.
I may be overreacting, but I just hate that buck-teethed bitch.
Brian is hovering over her desk, smiling and laughing with her, and she is smiling too.
But when I clear my throat, Brian faces me with surprise.
Wow, uh, Erika, what are you doing here?
Just wanted to surprise you with lunch.
Is something wrong?
Nuh, nothing.
He leans in with a kiss on my cheek and takes the bags from me.
Tricia, his secretary, leans back in her chair and rolls her eyes.
Are you staying to have lunch with me?
It sounds more like an unhappy statement than a genuine question.
I have precisely 15 minutes before my lunch ends, but after a few moments with that bitch, I think I'll stay.
Yeah, sure. I've got time.
I follow Brian to his office, but not before shooting a glare at Tricia. She huffs.
Brian closes the door after me and sets our lunch on the table.
How was the meeting?
I ask.
Frustrating, I work with corporate monkeys.
Well, on the bright side, it's over, right?
Brian moves behind me and hugs me from the back, wrapping his arms around my waist.
I'm wearing a red pencil skirt and a white ruffled sleeveless blouse.
He sets his chin in the crook of my shoulder and inhales me.
You smell good. Wonderful.
Brian and I don't live together, and that's on my part.
I prefer my own place, and that's so he doesn't get comfortable being with me.
If he really wants us to live together, then we should get married. But that's another topic.
Thanks, I say.
And you smell...new.
Brian proceeds to kiss me on my neck, turning me to face him.
Is that in a good way or a bad way?
Then he kisses me on the forehead.
Brian, I say softly.
We need to eat. I'm deathly hungry, and I might just eat you.
He chuckles.
I may not mind that, but alright, kitten, let's eat.
He gives me another big kiss on the cheek and heads back to the desk.
He unpacks our lunch and spreads it out on his table.
I'm two minutes deep into my chicken panini when he gets a phone call from Trisha.
He ends the call abruptly and stands.
Just a second, babe, I gotta go deal with something.
I continue eating my panini until I'm finished, and Brian still hasn't returned.
I walk outside and Trisha is not by her desk.
I gather my belongings and leave, finding a taxi back to the office.
I'm seated at my desk when Lance peeks over my cubicle.
Hey, Erica, so are you gonna take me up on that offer?
Lance is like my work husband.
He buys me stuff, treats me nice, and always takes care of me at the office.
He smells good and even has a body built like a guy in the army.
He looks more like a cop than a corporate worker.
He always asks me out, and I tell him no every time because I'm with Brian.
But today?
Today, after smelling Trisha's musty ass perfume while passing her desk on my way out
and smelling something like it on Brian for the last two weeks,
I am reconsidering that date with Lance.
Yes, I say.
Lance's eyes brighten, and he's so stunned that when he moves to join me in my cubicle,
he stubs his foot on the edge.
Shit.
He curses. I laugh.
Are you okay?
I am now.
He taps on the top of the cubicle.
I'm sorry, but did I hear right?
Yes.
So, we can have dinner?
I nod.
Lance has always been the playful kind of guy.
He's cute when he needs to be and serious when it's time for work.
For the five years I've been at this firm, he has always asked me out.
I didn't think of giving him a chance because, one, I always had boyfriends,
and two, we worked together.
Lance is a director and works five floors above me,
but he finds the time to come check in and see how I'm going.
What about Brian?
I shrug one shoulder.
Am I going to be in the middle of something?
Maybe.
Lance fingers the short beard on his chin, then says,
If this means that I can have a shot with you and turn this into something else,
then I'm all for it.
I smile.
Is this tonight good?
Yes.
He grins.
Great.
He tucks his hands into his pockets, looking like the gears are turning in his head.
Knowing Lance, he's probably trying to figure out how he's going to plan our dinner tonight.
He'll probably want to do something elaborate to impress me.
Eight o'clock, I'll pick you up, send me your address.
Sure.
He walks off and then realizes he's going in the wrong direction.
See how you've got me excited and confused, girl.
I laugh.
See you later, Lance.
I get home and two hours later, my bed is filled with tons of clothes.
I have nothing to wear.
Nothing seemed right.
And I don't want to be underdressed for a fancy restaurant.
I'm about to shoot Lance a message to get an idea of where we're going
when Brian's name flashes on my screen.
I send it to voicemail and send my message to Lance.
I head for the shower and return to my room only to find six missed calls from Brian.
After today, he only saw it fit to call me now.
At 7.15, I get dressed in a purple skater dress and add some jewelry to compliment it.
Brian calls again and I answer,
Yes?
I say, bored.
Why haven't you been answering my calls?
I was busy.
More busy than talking to me?
Well, you were more busy today than to eat.
So I guess we're on the same page.
Come on, Erica, don't be like that.
My phone buzzes with a text from Lance saying that he's outside.
I've got to go. I'm going out. We'll talk tomorrow.
On a Tuesday night?
He asks.
Yes. Goodbye, Brian.
I hang up mid-conversation and head downstairs.
When I open the door, Brian is standing in front of it, looking pissed.
Why are you here?
I say annoyed.
Where the hell are you going, Erica?