I'm feeling a creative flow today and decided to try a hand at writing. I've always had intentions to write a book someday... so here and now, a first chapter, written during a lazy winter Sunday morning... hope you enjoy it...
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When one door closes, another opens
"Just three more days at work and it's weekend," convincingly she tells herself as she lays her handbag on her desk. Only two days ago, Hayley was enjoying her Monday with her sister Lisa in Amsterdam. They were joined in the afternoon by Carl and Roy, two guys who they had gotten to know at the party the evening before. At the party, Lisa had made it her personal mission to introduce Hayley to as many potential guys as possible. Hayley has been single for a year now, which is actually something very unusual. After her last dramatic break-up, she wasn't quite ready for a serious relationship just as yet. However, a flirtatious adventure did seem fun, so Hayley was game.
Rain, her colleague, was already busy talking to clients on the phone when Hayley came in. She has the late shift this week but she didn't mind, it was so much better than getting caught in traffic jams. As she settled in and got on with her work, she was pleased with the current state of mind she was in. She felt she was open again for new adventures and she knew now in her heart that that meant something really good. It meant that she had finally succeeded in closing the chapter.
As she was talking on the phone, the corner of her eye catches a glimpse of someone walking past her desk and Hayley suddenly feels compelled to look up. As she looks up, their eyes lock for a brief moment and he greets her with a warm smile. She returns a smile and continues talking to her client. She was used to this gesture at work after all. The past months, there have been guys who regularly greet her with a smile each time they see her. It's flattering and kind of bucks up her confidence in her own sex appeal. "Yep, I've still got it", Hayley thinks to herself but thinks nothing more of it.
Today however, mystery guy was being pulled away often from his focus room, by his colleague. And each time he walks past Hayley's desk, mystery guy keeps his gaze locked on Hayley, trying to get her to look up from whatever she was doing. And whenever she finally looks up, he gives her a warm smile. After some time, this attention pull begins to become more than obvious to Hayley.
"This guy actually always does this every time he sees me, for many months now, whenever he gets a room here..." She turns to Rain and shares this thought with him.
Rain's eyes lights up, "Maybe he likes you!"
When mystery guy does the very same thing again, being pulled once again from his focus room, Hayley says teasingly to him, "You seem to be very popular today! It seems that colleague of yours can't do without you"
Mystery guy smiles and says blushingly, "Yeah, it does seem like it, doesn't it?"
All this, of course, doesn't get unnoticed by Rain. He turns to Hayley and enjoyingly says, "Oh my god! Look at that guy blush! He must really like you girl!"
Hayley smiles and thinks, "Hmm... Maybe you're right.... but I don't even know his name..."
She turns back to her screen and carries on with her work.
Hayley was trying to book seats for a show which she was planning to go to with Rain. She printed out a seating plan and went to get the printout. As she walks back to her desk she feels again this attention pull coming from her right. Mystery guy was sitting in the room and was smiling at her. She thought, "Hell, why not?"
With the print out in her left hand, she opens the glass door with her right, and enters the room with a soft smile on her face, "Gosh, you finally able to work peacefully?"
His face lights up with a warm welcome in his eyes, "Yes, they were constantly pulling me into a meeting which I didn't want to take part in. But they couldn't decide and needed my advice..." Amused with his facial reaction, her intuition told her he was glad that she had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation with him. Hayley stands next to the desk and they talk for some time, light chit chat and her preferred working hours to miss the jams.
He asks curiously, "So, what do you do here? You always seem to be very busy on the phone." Hayley says smiling, "Oh, brain-dead work...." and rolls her eyes. He seems amused at the word play and chuckles. She looks at him, "But it's a relaxing job which I feel is good for me temporarily. I am planning to get back to my actual line of work, though." Hayley sees his eyes have an inquisitive look in them and she tells him about her previous job. He listens to her with interest and when she finishes her sentence, he looks into her eyes and says, "Well, if you feel it's time for a new job, let me know and maybe I can help out. I often hear about openings within this company... even outside..."
Hayley teasingly says, "Ah, so I need to stay friends with you!"
With a broad smile, he replies, "Yes, you should... you should ALWAYS keep me as a friend!" Hayley laughs jokingly with him but she can't help but feel that he was trying to tell her something with a deeper meaning.
She stands leaning back elegantly on the wall behind her, taking care not to slouch. Wearing a short black skirt with knee high boots, she thanked god that she chose that outfit that morning. Standing there, secretly she knew that she was looking good that day. While she's unconsciously and nervously rolling the printout, he continues, "I have a broad network and usually hear all sorts of job openings everywhere. So, if you're looking send me a mail to let me know."
Hearing those words, Hayley ceased her opportunity this time, "I don't even know your name! To send you an email, I do need to know your name..."
He smiles, "Justin"
"Well, I also need to know your last name..." he then shows her his badge, "and what's yours?" She pulls herself away from her little comfort zone, the wall, takes a small step forward and reaches for her badge which was hanging from her right hip. He leans forward and she says, "It's Hayley."
Feeling a little bit awkward now, she decides she should retreat, "Now that we've exchanged names, it's time for me to get back to my desk... I've been away longer than I should and before the guys start to wonder and get curious about my whereabouts, I'll make a move now, if you don't mind" With those words, Hayley turns slightly to the door. She notices a slight disappointment in his eyes but he smiles and says, "Okay, it was nice having you here and talking to you. Remember; let me know when you feel you're ready to look for a different job."
With one hand on the door, Hayley smiles warmly, "Yes, thanks Justin, I'll certainly keep that in mind. I'll let you know sometime..." She closes the door softly behind her and when she's sure that he's not able to see her face, she blushes... Taking care to walk with a straight posture, she walks back to her desk, lets out a soft sigh and nestles back into her chair. Rain turns to her and with curiosity burning in his eyes, wants to hear it all....
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