“I saw you too.”
“You did?”
“Mhm,”she says, not even glancing at me.
A pause falls between us and I feel myself grow hard when Tamara's eyes travel up and down my body.
“So,” she says before clearing her throat. “What can I do for you?”
If my smile is too knowing, I don’t mean for it to be. I can’t help liking her being so obvious about wanting me.
“I came to check up on you. See how your ankle is doing, maybe check if you’ve got the brown bottle flu.”
“Ha ha, very funny. My ankle is doing a lot better, thank you. I…” Tamara’s words drift. “I just appreciate it.” She does. I can tell. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Actually, yes. Can you tell me what you know about Kenneth, the new guy?”
“Uh,” Tamara says before her face scrunches. “Well, he’s got a pretty steady work history. He seems to really know his stuff and his references rave about his work.”
“Look. I know this might sound out there, but do you think there’s any way he could be a spy from one of the other companies?” I ask, trepidatiously.
The second the words leave my mouth, I hear Tamara laugh harder than ever. My stomach drops. This is one of those moments where I can feel the humiliation in my soul. “God, you’re good.”
“Tamara, I’m being serious.”
Her smile slowly slides off her face. “That’s ridiculous. Why would you think something like that?”
“Look, I’ve tried getting to know him, you know? Asking him about his life both inside and outside work. He hardly talks to me, toanyone. There’s just something I don’t trust about him,” I tell her, a bit defiantly.
“Did you ever think that maybe he’s shy? Or, I don’t know, he doesn’t like you?”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Doesn’t like me? That can’t be it. It’s impossible, actually.”
Tamara bites the bottom of her lip to keep herself from smiling but her eyes give her away. She always smiles with her eyes. “There’s a first time for everything. I’m sure Kenneth will open up. Give him some time. Until then, get to work.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I give her the same wink that she sent to me the other day before exiting her office and heading back outdoors. The plummet from my gut is still tight in my belly.
I can’t believe she didn’t take me seriously.