by Regina Duke
And she now she was really depressed. CEO? The rest of the day was like walking through a dark cloud of anguish. The thought of listening to her parents exalt her older sister for all that she had accomplished filled her with dread.
By one the next morning, Camryn realized she was not going to sleep at all. She’d tossed and turned, wondering who her secret admirer could be. At last she turned on the lamp by her bed and made a list of all the men in her department. One by one, she checked them off. She knew it couldn’t be Tim, who occupied the front desk. She was pretty sure it wasn’t Roger either. Roger slicked his hair down to his head and wore plaid trousers to work. The other three men in her department— Cyril, David, and Jerome— had very little to offer her, and she hoped beyond hope that none of them were involved in her e-cards. Cyril was bald and had glasses thick as Coke bottles. David was a nice enough guy but he was younger than her by four years and was the boss’s nephew. Jerome was sixty-two if he was a day. His hair was white, his tummy hung over his trousers, and he coughed and made rude noises a lot. She lay back on her pillow and closed her eyes. Who else could possibly be involved?
Maybe she needed to look outside the department. After all, the fellows that she had on her list didn’t seem at all capable when it came to computers. They could barely run the software required by their office work. The card was signed “from IT,” so she needed to think about the possibilities there. The problem was, she had no idea who they were. Then she had a brilliant thought. She pulled out her cell phone and looked them up online. It took her a while, but she wasn’t going to sleep. That was obvious. So why not?
She finally found a listing for the personnel in the IT department. This was more like it. She scrolled down and realized there were a lot of people working in IT. She saw at least twenty-three names there. She immediately eliminated the women and jotted the names of the men on her notepad. Somehow writing them down made them more substantial. Okay, let's see, Norman… Richard.… Casey…. She paused for a moment. She liked the name Casey. Maybe Casey was her secret admirer. And maybe she just wanted it to be Casey because she liked the name.
She clicked her tongue at herself and continued. Riley… Harry… She was in no way a “Harry” person, so she crossed him off the list and hoped to God that he had not sent the e-card. She ignored the names of men whose photos showed mustaches or beards. She wanted her secret admirer to be clean shaven. Once she compiled her list, she promised herself that, the next day, she would go to IT and check these guys out. Knowing that she had a plan allowed her to fall asleep at last.
CHAPTER 3
The next morning, for the first time in weeks, Camryn actually showed up at the office thirty minutes early. No one had even made coffee yet. But she had stopped at Starbucks on her way and got herself a latte. After all, it was the Christmas season. She should treat herself. She went into her office and closed the door.
It was very quiet. The cubicle workers outside her door, who had theoretically been at their desks since eight, were not thumping away on their computers and answering phones. In fact, she didn’t even hear a phone ring. For a while, she sipped her latte and stared at her computer screen. What if there were no more e-cards? What if it was the same one as yesterday?
As if testing to see if a burner was hot, she flicked on the computer.
And there it was. A beautiful e-card blooming in the center of her screen. When the tree appeared, she almost dropped her latte. All the ornaments were now angels with lace doily wings and sweet painted faces.
Her heart pounded with excitement. The tag line at the bottom had changed again. “Wishing you angels and love this Christmas. Your secret admirer.”
She pulled her list out and flattened it on the surface of her desk. Then she took a red pen. She numbered the guys one by one. And then she tried to come up with a really good reason for going down to IT.
After all, when one had a computer problem, one called IT to one’s office, she thought. One didn’t run down to IT. It was unheard of. Especially for middle management. It took a while, but at last she thought she’d come up with a reason to go. Just in time, because she could hear people starting to pound keyboards and answer phones outside her office. She put her plan into action. She unscrewed the cable from the printer and unplugged it from her computer. Cable in hand and feeling quite self-sufficient, she opened her office door and walked sedately past the cubicles and into the hallway, down to the elevator, where she punched the call button for the next floor. Once the doors opened on IT’s floor, she began to get cold feet, but then she reminded herself that it was just another department in the company. No one would think anything about it.
She walked down the hall until she saw the big sign next to the door: Information Technology. She wasn’t surprised to find it gave her a warm fuzzy feeling. After all, IT had been the field she’d aimed for when she started night classes. Then she got interested in computer graphics, and she had so much fun in those classes. But with the constant competition going on between her and her sister, when that position came up in middle management, she felt like she had to apply. If she hadn’t, the family would have said she wasn’t even trying. Besides, it was her sister who noticed the ad in the first place, circled it, and left it for her at the family’s Fourth of July picnic.
She took a deep breath, straightened her spine, and opened the door to IT. More cubicles inside. That was no surprise but there was a registration desk near the front of the room with three women working behind it. Darn. She pulled out her list of names and, with the list in one hand and her cable in the other, she went up to the friendliest-looking woman and said, “Hi. I’m Camryn from downstairs, and I was wondering—”
The other woman stopped her. “I’m Kelly. Nice to meet you. You look so familiar. Didn’t you ask for tech setup for that presentation last week?”
Camryn blushed. “Yes, I did. Thanks to you guys, the computer equipment all worked perfectly.”
“What can I do for you?”
Camryn held up her printer cable and said, “I was wondering if you might have another one of these? Or if I could talk to a technician about it?”
Kelly said, “No problem. I’ll see if we have one in stock.” Before Camryn could say anything, she was gone.
Well, rats.
Okay, she thought. Let’s see, Norman… Richard….
A tall man with dark wavy hair and black horn-rimmed glasses came around the corner. He stopped when he saw her and almost did an about-face. Then he seemed to realize that such an action would probably seem rude, so he approached the counter instead.
“Welcome. Have you been helped?”
Camryn smiled and said, “Yes. Someone’s checking on something for me, but actually….” She peered at his name tag. “Riley?”
He said, “Yes, that’s me. That’s my name. Nice to meet you.”
Camryn squinted at him. “I think we've met before.”
Riley looked around as if there were someone else behind him whom she might be talking to.
Camryn studied him carefully. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, like the salad eater she’d spotted the day before. “Were you in the lunch room yesterday?”
Riley rubbed his face and said, “Gosh, yes, I probably was. I often go there. Usually to eat lunch.”
Camryn felt like an idiot. Of course he went there to eat lunch. She tried again. “I just can’t quite place you. You look so familiar somehow.”
Riley shuffled his feet and gazed down at the carpet. He finally tilted his head sideways, almost looked her in the eye, and said, “I may have met you in school.”
Camryn snapped her fingers. “We shared the same computer graphics class!”
Riley nodded. “That’s right. What can I help you with?”
She held up the printer cable. “Look, Riley, I’m here on false pretenses.”
Riley’s brows rose, a question mark over his stunning sky-blue eyes. “So…what kind of false pretenses?”
Camryn thought to herself, Okay, so he’s not a great conversationalist. Who cares? Look at those dreamy eyes!
Besides, she’d learned in her computer classes that guys who loved tech would often prefer to communicate through their keyboards instead of engaging in witty chit-chat. Then she realized that she’d put her finger on how and why her secret admirer could very well be Riley!
“I came here with this hijacked printer cable so I could say something was wrong with my computer. But I’m actually trying to solve a mystery. Can you help me?”
“A computer mystery?” Riley sounded doubtful. “I’ve never found them all that mysterious.”
Camryn wasn’t sure but she had the distinct impression that he was playing with her. Maybe it was the glint of a tease in his eye or his quirky almost-a-smile.
Two could play at that game. “I remember you now. You were the lanky know-it-all in graphics class, weren’t you? The one with all the answers?” She smiled and moved her head as if to flip her hair, but it wasn’t long enough. Even so, it had the desired effect.
Riley’s color rose. His perfect nose and sensitive mouth almost twitched. After a few awkward seconds, he came back with, “Lanky?”
Camryn laughed. Then she said, “Will you be my Sherlock and help me solve my mystery?”
Riley’s eyes flicked up and down, as if assessing her total package. Without taking his eyes off her, he raised his voice. “Donna? I’m making an office call. Be back later.”
CHAPTER 4
Riley couldn’t believe his luck. The woman of his dreams had just walked in and told him she needed him. He had spent numerous hours in graphics class slouched sideways in his chair so that he could keep an eye on that striking blonde huddled over her keyboard. When they demonstrated the projects that they were working on, it was obvious that she had a knack for computer graphics. He would even say she was gifted. He had almost worked up the courage to talk to her when, all of a sudden, she stopped coming to class.
The instructor told him that she’d gotten a job at Hyper Tech Inc. At first Riley was little disappointed and a tiny bit jealous, because Hyper Tech was the company he’d set his own sights on. He’d submitted three different applications there for various positions in their IT department. At that point, he was only a few credits away from his degree in Computer Graphics and IT.
He had a hundred questions for Camryn, but her very presence tied his tongue in knots. In the elevator, she made an attempt at some conversation.
“How long have you been working here, Riley?”
“Just a couple of months. I had to finish my summer courses.”
That was all they had time for before the doors opened.
“My office is this way,” said Camryn.
Riley blurted, “Why did you leave? You were a genius in class.”
Two spots of color rose on Camryn’s cheeks. “I was sort of pushed into applying for a middle management job. My family wanted me to have the security of a job with a future.” She snorted derisively, then fell silent when two coworkers approached, deep in conversation.
Riley waited for them to leave. “That was my logic as well. Get a day job, and work on the apps at night.”
Camryn’s face lit up. “You’re actually using your classes?”
Riley shrugged and nodded. “I’m entry level at IT, but I’ve always dreamed of starting my own business and selling my apps all over the world.”
Camryn stopped, her hand on her office door. “That was my dream, too! When I started with computers, I was so excited.” She opened the door, let Riley in, then left it ajar about six inches.
Riley went straight to her computer. He held out a hand for the cable, reinstated it, and sat down in her chair. “Your excitement was contagious in class.” He pushed his glasses up his nose and pretended he didn’t see the Christmas card icon at the bottom of the screen. “Before you left, I was sort of hoping….” He let it trail off.
“Hoping? For what?” Camryn sounded interested, and she moved to stand beside him.
Suddenly nervous again, Riley cleared his throat and reverted to his junior high days. “A lot of our course work felt like hoops to jump through in order to get the degree. I’ve been working with computers and graphics and such since seventh grade.”
“I see. So you were hoping…the instructor would discover one of your apps and help you promote it?”
Riley shriveled inside. He wasn’t making much personal progress. “Um, not exactly. More like, hoping you might have coffee with me after class.”
He could have sworn Camryn’s body heat increased by at least five degrees. He peeked at her out of the corner of his eye and added, “No pressure.”
Camryn’s response was the sweetest he’d ever heard. “I wish you had asked me. Say, if you can solve my computer mystery, I’ll raise your coffee to a lunch date.”
Riley’s heart was in his throat. “Okay.” Gee, that was suave, he thought. “Where’s the mystery?”
Camryn leaned close to cup her hand over the mouse. She clicked on the icon and the e-card bloomed on the screen.
Riley blinked at it.
“Does this look familiar?” asked Camryn. “I mean, did everyone in the office get this?”
Of course it looked familiar. He’d created the darn thing. He scrambled for words. “Is it annoying you?” he asked. He peeked upward in time to see Camryn roll her eyes.
“No, of course not. How can I be annoyed when something this beautiful is signed ‘your secret admirer’?”
Riley relaxed a bit. “Only one person received it. You.”
Camryn pushed his chair gently around. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
Riley suddenly ran out of air. Instead of speaking, he put his hands on the keyboard and typed with lightning speed, I think you’re beautiful.
Camryn nudged him sideways and typed, I think you’re the cutest geek I ever met.
Now Riley’s hands were shaking so hard he couldn’t type. He looked up at her hopefully and almost squeaked, “Does this mean we can have lunch together?”
Camryn giggled and nodded.
Riley grinned from ear to ear. Then he asked awkwardly, “Any other questions for your IT guy?”
“Yes,” said Camryn. “Can we leave right now?”
CHAPTER 5
They left the building like two kids skipping school. When they emerged on the sidewalk, they were both laughing. After half a block, Camryn took a chance and let her hand brush against Riley’s. A moment later, he was holding her hand, and they walked on in silence.
At the corner was a coffee shop promising quick service, and they went in.
“We should eat,” said Riley, “if this is a lunch date.”
Camryn giggled. “Good thinking.” Even if it was only nine-thirty. They settled at a table for two against the back wall. No sense in flaunting their truancy by sitting next to the window.
A waitress approached and poured coffee without asking if they wanted any. When she left, they shared a moment of disbelief. Camryn whispered, “Do you think she even saw us?”
“She looked but didn’t see. Very Holmesian, don’t you think?”
Camryn was delighted. “You’re a Sherlock Holmes fan?”
Riley’s brows rose. “You, too?”
“Totally!”
Riley looked pleased. “That’s a very good sign.”
Camryn nodded. “We’ll always have something to talk about.”
“Excellent!”
Camryn realized Riley was looking deep into her eyes, and she was transfixed. She could have sat there all day, just staring into his eyes. The waitress had other plans.
“What’ll you have?”
“Hmm? Oh. Right,” said Camryn. “I’ll have a cinnamon roll.”
“Me, too,” said Riley.
The waitress left, and they scrunched their shoulders and tee-heed at each other. “What now?” asked Camryn.
“We eat our rolls while you explain t
o me why you gave up on graphics and app building.”
Camryn made a face. “I loved those classes. I wanted to finish, but when they gave me this job, they said, ‘Surprise, you get to take hours of work home with you’ because no one had been filling my position for almost a year.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Oh, that’s not the worst part,” she said glumly. She lowered her voice. “I don’t even like the job.” Before she knew it, the cinnamon rolls were gone and an hour had passed while she unburdened her soul to Riley.
“You must think I’m really pitiful,” she said at last. “Letting myself be bullied out of what I loved to do, just for a paycheck.”
Riley shook his head. “Not at all. We have to pay the rent.” He glanced around. “Let’s get out of here, okay? Let’s go do something worthy of playing hooky.”
Camryn felt a thrill. “Like what?”
“Let’s go look at Christmas windows! And we definitely need to buy candy canes.”
“Big ones!”
Riley grinned, and Camryn’s heart soared. The rest of the day was filled with fun. After finding the biggest candy canes in the city, they decided to buy slightly smaller ones because the biggest were too large to carry. Later, after critiquing all the Christmas windows they could find, they sat down on a bench next to an outdoor ice rink.
“Do you skate?” asked Camryn.
Riley looked aghast. “On ice?! No way. A person could break an ankle…or even worse, a wrist.” He mimicked typing at a keyboard.
Camryn laughed.
Then Riley took her hand and pulled her across the street to a bus stop, just as a large green-and-white bus slowed to a stop.
“Where are we going?”
Riley paid both fares and tugged her down the aisle to the back of the bus. “Skating.”
Camryn’s forehead scrunched in confusion. “On a bus?”
“You’ll see.”
Five minutes later, he buzzed for a stop and pulled her to the door. They stepped onto the sidewalk in front of Roller World.