“Oliver!”
“Yes, Ms. Penrose?” A tall, well dressed and handsome man accompanied his darkly honeyed voice as he strolled out of his corner office in response to her yell. He smiled over at where she was standing halfway out her office door.
Natalie handed him a sheaf of papers. “You told me to holler as soon as these arrived.”
“I did.” He chuckled. “After all these years, I am still amazed by your remarkable knack for details.”
“All these years? You make it sound like I’ve worked for you forever. It’s only been 3 years.” She scoffed as she moved back into her smaller office.
Oliver followed. “That’s a lifetime for me. Before you, I couldn’t keep hold of an executive assistant for more than a week.”
“True.”
“And yet, after three years of great teamwork, you still insist on being called Ms Penrose.” He leaned against the doorframe, a cajoling tone entering his voice. “You call me Oliver.”
Her hands went to her hips as she laughed. “Only at your insistence.”
“Then I insist you allow me to call you Natalie at work.”
She was shaking her head before he even finished speaking. “Mr Hickson, if you insist on that, I may have to insist on two weeks’ notice. Besides, you call me Natalie all the time.”
“Yes, but only outside the office.” He pointed a finger at her. “And do not call me Mr. Hickson.”
She folded her arms and smiled up at him. “Outside the office is when we are friends and you are not my boss.”
“If you weren’t so competent, Ms Penrose, I’d fire you.” He scowled and pushed off the door frame. “I’ll need you in my office at 3 tomorrow. There’s a deal being discussed that I will need your insight on after the initial talks are complete. You might as well be there in case you have any questions you need me to ask in my follow-ups.”
Natalie nodded and added a reminder on her computer. “I’ll be there. I also got a call from the Farrow Charity. They have not yet received your answer. Were you expecting me to reply for you?”
“The Farrow Charity? Isn’t that this weekend? I can’t go. I don’t have a date.”
Natalie leaned back in her chair and laughed. “So get one. I will let them know you will be coming with a plus one.”
“Don’t do that. Then I’d actually have to look for a decent date. And I don’t have time for that. How about this? If you want me to go so badly, you find me someone.” He pouted for a mere moment then glared. “Isn’t it your job to see to all the details?”
“No.” She glared. “I see to the details of your work life, not your personal life. Besides, you never like the dates I get for you. And at the end of the date, they don’t seem to like you either.” Natalie shook her finger at him. “If I find someone, you will have to promise to be nice and charming and at least pretend you are thrilled to have her there. Olivia still won’t speak to me after that disastrous gala she attended with you.”
“That was not my fault.” He leaned over the desk. “And you never let me defend myself about that one.”
“There was a picture in the newspaper, Oliver. That told me all I wanted to know. And Desiree scowls at me everytime I even mention work. Who else?” She paused. “Oh wait. How could I forget about Bree or Nicole? Your history of dates with people I know is abhorrent. Now, you either agree to my terms or go find your own date.”
He didn’t move. “Why can’t you be my date?” His smile grew. “You would be the perfect date.”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“And why is that?”
With a triumphant smile Natalie crossed her arms. “Because it would be a work event and I would have to insist you call me Ms Penrose all night.”
“You’re joking.”
She shook her head and went back to work, leaving him standing there. He didn’t move for several minutes, silent. After the first few minutes, she stopped glancing up to see if he was still there.
“Ms Penrose.” His pensive voice startled her.
Natalie set down the paper she was revising and looked up. “Yes, Oliver?”
“Work is over. Shouldn’t you be heading home?”
Glancing at the clock, she nodded. “You’re right. See you tomorrow.” As she stood, she glanced over at him. “Don’t forget to find a date. I’ll be telling them that you’ll be bringing one.”
He nodded. “May I walk you out?”
Side by side, they walked out to the sidewalk. Since she lived close, she always walked. However, his walking with her was new. And since he offered no explanation Natalie slowed down and peered over at him. As he continued to walk with her, she laughed. “Are you lost or are you going to walk me all the way home in an attempt to convince me to set you up with someone?”
Oliver glanced back at their office building and smiled, ignoring her question completely. “Would you say that we are officially no longer at work?”
She shrugged. “I suppose so. Are you waiting for me to call you Oliver before you leave? Is that why you are following me? See you tomorrow, Oliver.”
His hand on her arm stopped her as she turned to continue her walk home. When she looked over, he smiled broadly. “Natalie, my dear friend, dearest of all my friends, I don’t know if you know this but I have this charity thing I have to go to because my executive assistant is insisting I go and I would be honored if you would come with me as my date.”
“Oliver.”
He put his hands up. “Natalie, I am asking as a friend, not as your boss. Now you can’t insist on me calling you Ms Penrose at the Farrow Charity night.”
“I’m also not required to accept.”
“But will you anyways?” He gave her a huge fake pout. “Please.”
With a sigh she shook her head. “Put that face away and I’ll think about it.”
“Yes!’ He whooped.
“I didn’t say yes.” Natalie began walking away.
He called after her, “But you will!”
