The mayor of Townsville had never been so nervous. He had polished his monocle until it was noticeably thinner, adjusted his bow-tie until it was moist with sweat. For years he had defended his metropolis – well, with a little help from those dear sweet girls – and yet, when it came to facing his feelings, he was a mess.
Finally he could stand it no longer, and jabbed the buzzer by his chair.
"Yes, Mayor?" said Ms. Bellum, appearing at once, her beautiful visage obscured by a tall potted plant.
"Oh, Ms. Bellum," stuttered the Mayor, as if it could have been anyone else. He dabbed a kandkerchief ineffectively at his sweating forehead. He needed to see her face! "Come closer, I need to tell you something."
She moved quickly forward, and now an ornate lamp blocked her head from view. Never mind.
"I've been meaning to tell you..." he faltered. "That is, for some time now – erm..."
She put a hand on one jutting hip in a gesture of impatience he found utterly besotting.
"Er... I just wanted to say... good work."
"Thankyou, Mayor." she turned to leave.
"And I love you, Sarah."
She paused for an eternity, silhouetted in the doorway. And then he was in her arms, and all was right with the world.