She nodded. “Right. Okay. Gotta hit the ladies’ room before work!” Turning, she trotted toward the entrance ahead of him. She couldn’t even imagine what he must think of her. Maybe if she worked really hard, she’d look more professional the rest of the day.
Unfortunately, her whole day was hectic. She had to arrange for Mr. Gherring’s trip to Switzerland the next week. He was taking two executives with him for a big presentation the next Friday. One was a thirty-year-old named Jared, who had a new baby. The other, a forty-two-year-old named Jeff, was recently divorced. Jeff made a point of flirting with Anne and, as she’d observed, every other single woman in the office. She tried to do most of her communications with Jeff via phone or email to avoid his constant advances. He was nice enough and a good-looking guy, but she didn’t trust him. This time she was grateful when Gherring came out of his office and made some snide comments that encouraged Jeff to retreat rather sheepishly.
At least she didn’t have to make flight reservations, since Gherring was taking his private jet, but she still had to coordinate for three pilots since it was an overseas flight. She also had to put together the PowerPoint presentation before they flew out next Wednesday—a task complicated by the fact the information to be included was trickling in each day. Anne hated having to make so many changes, but she couldn’t possibly get it all done if she waited until next week to start organizing. She wanted to just set an arbitrary deadline for the men to give her their contributions, but she didn’t have the authority. Her frustration was making her a little edgy, and she caught herself snapping at Katie when she asked how things were going.
“I’m sorry Katie, this has been a stressful day. I’m really just glad you’re still here handling the day-to-day stuff. How did you ever do this job all by yourself?”
“I know just how you feel; it can be a stressful job. We have all the pressure and none of the power. I don’t want to discourage you, because I sure don’t want you to quit.”
“I’m not a quitter. Gherring will have to fire me if he wants me gone. But he might do that if I get any more irritable.”
Katie chuckled. “You’re not bad at all. One time I actually told Gherring to stick his computer where the sun doesn’t shine.”
“You’re kidding me. What did he do?”
“He gave me a gift certificate for a day at the spa.” Katie leaned in and spoke in a low voice. “He can be so demanding and so infuriating, but then he does something like that… I think he just uses that hard exterior to cover up a soft heart.”
“That’s what I think. He’s really just a softy.”
“Who’s a softy,” Gherring’s voice came from his doorway.
Katie stood up, her eyes wide. “Mr. Gherring…”
“We were talking about Gary,” declared Anne.
“Is that so?” Gherring cocked his head sideways. “I didn’t know you’d met Gary.”
“She met him at his work one time,” Katie lied smoothly.
Anne kept her eyes glued to her desk. Lying was not her forte—at least not getting away with it.
“What did you think of him?” Gherring inquired of Anne, moving toward her desk.
“I thought he was very nice and very handsome.” She struggled to remember some detail about Gary from his photograph on Katie’s desk. “I just love his… his… blue eyes. I think blue eyes are so beautiful.”
Anne suddenly realized Gherring’s eyes were also blue, and felt heated all the way to the roots of her hair.
Gherring’s dimples appeared, evidently enjoying her awkwardness. “And did you let Gary give you a lesson?”
Anne panicked, unable to remember what Gary actually did. “No, but I plan to let him give me a lesson some other time.”
“You wouldn’t be afraid to try it?” Gherring asked.
Anne glanced at Katie who looked like she was in great pain. Katie nodded her head slightly. Was she telling Anne to agree she wouldn’t be afraid, or to say she would be afraid? Anne decided to try a safe answer. “I just won’t know whether I’d be afraid or not until I try.”
Gherring smiled, apparently satisfied with her answer. “We should go tonight. Katie, why don’t you call Gary and make a reservation for us.” He walked back into his office.
Anne glanced at Katie who was rather white. “What does Gary do?”
“He owns a climbing gym.”
“Oh… I’m sure it’ll be fine.” She hoped her words were true. “I’ve never seen a climbing gym. How high do they climb? Fifteen feet? Twenty?”
“No, it’s forty feet to the top. But you don’t have to go to the top. That is, if you even try it.”
“Of course I’m trying it.” Her competitive spirit bubbled to the surface. “And I’m going to make it to the top. But you’d better call Gary and tell him he’s supposed to know me already.”
“Yeah… Gary’s going to be so mad when I ask him to lie to Steven.”