Merry Mixups
Chapter 2
Monday morning came as Lee and Amanda prepared to head to work from their separate homes.
Meanwhile, two Agency employees were on the phone with each other from their homes having a disagreement over what presents they received from the party.
Woman states: "I would've thought I meant more to you by now! A scarf? Really?!"
Man responds: "Well, what about you? A book on Westerns? I thought you knew me!"
Woman queries unbelieveably: Wait! What did you say? A book? Westerns? I most certainly did not get you that! Do you have the receipt?"
Man sarcastically replies: "Yeah, I got it right here! Of course I don't! Why would I have a receipt? You should have it since you bought it!"
Woman sighing answered: "Usually when someone receives a gift they have something called a gift receipt that they can take to the store with the item for exchanges. Got it now?"
Man irritatedly remarks: "Look, I'll meet you at the office and we'll go through our desks and figure this out!"
They both hang up and leave their homes heading to the Agency.
By the time Lee and Amanda arrive, the office is abuzz with the mystery of who gave what to whom throwing a wrench into a typical work day!
By lunchtime Billy has had enough and comes out of his office making an announcement:
"All right, People. Listen up! There has been various discrepancies concerning the gift exchanges we did at our office party. Now, who here got the wrong gifts? Whoever raises their hands will come into my office immediately so that we can put an end to this ridiculous interruption of our day and get back to work! Am I making myself clear?!"
Everyone nodded and the four people raised their hands: Lee, Amanda, one person from the Accounting Department and one from Cryptology!
The four involved went into Billy's office and as they all sat down with their bags Billy put the blinds down and made a final statement remarking,
"People, We enjoy our holiday festivities because it's rare here when we can unwind and actually enjoy something.
Now whatever gifts were meant for each other and the reasons behind the thought of the gift for that person are their business. It was clearly a mistake and we won't discuss it again. You will tag your gifts next year, keep them in the same bags so that Santa will deliver to the right person. You may now exchange to the right person and leave this office and get back to work. "
Lee gave his gift to the Cryptology man while Amanda gave hers to the Accounting woman and then they gave their wrongful gifts to Lee and Amanda and apologies were exchanged as well.
Billy nodded as Lee and Amanda left and Billy stated to the two left in the room, "Rick, Jill? Sit down for a moment."
They sat and Billy responded, "I try very hard not to get involved in my agent's personal business but I have to ask that whatever your relationship is stays outside this building so that this kind of thing doesn't happen again."
Rick spoke up asking as he gestured out towards the bullpen, "Excuse me Sir, but what about Stetson and King?"
Billy shook his head querying, "What about them?"
Jill spoke up next smirking as she replied, "Rick has a valid point, Sir. Anyone can see that there's at least something starting there if it hasn't already-"
Billy stopped her with a hand raised and questioned incredulously, "Just a moment, Jill. Since when has this become The Rona Barrett building? Are we to report to any rag paper out there about any and all interpersonal communication in this unit?"
When Jill began to answer Billy commented firmly,"This is an intelligence community for a reason. If anything out of the ordinary should come to light out there, we would cease to exist as a cover and we would all be relocated. As for what goes on in here, it is our own business to deal with our own problems unless it affects work performances and then things would have to be adjusted for the employees. This isn't a playground. I don't tolerate tattling games of any kind. Do your work, keep your noses clean and we won't have any problems. Dismissed."
The two workers left silently each thinking twice about mixing their work and personal relationship.
Meanwhile Lee and Amanda were in the conference room discussing opening their gifts and Amanda caught a grin go across Lee's face as he mentioned the lingerie box and chuckled stating, "I wish I'd have been there when your family saw that!"
Amanda blushed with embarrassment and replied, "Well, they saw nothing because the phone rang and it kept my boys distracted and my mother was getting the waffle mix ready and the iron out so I put everything back in the bag and scooted upstairs to put it away before they could ask any questions and what's so darn funny, Mister?"
Lee cleared his throat and shook his head grinning still as he replied, "Nothing really. But you could have kept Billy and Jeannie's gift, right? And what about Francine's gift? Surely she-"
Amanda sighed irritatedly and commented, "Why must men be so obtuse? Of course I kept their presents! Anyway now that I have the right one from you, I can use it when I need to. Thank you."
Lee nodded as he glanced at his book about westerns and whistled low stating, "I'll enjoy this for sure. Histories of famous cowboys and the places they lived. There's even a section on John Wayne. Thank you."
It was Amanda's turn to giggle as she nodded and Lee then stared at her and queried, "What's so funny?"
Amanda gulped as she replied shrugging, "Oh, I was trying to get a picture of you as you saw the other book! Did your uncle see it?"
Lee shook his head furiously remarking, "No way in hell! He woulda been up in arms about the " talk" he had with me when I was the right age and wondered why I hadn't listened!"
Lee then asked, "So, what was in that box anyway? I'm sure it wasn't anything you're used to-"
Amanda swallowed and retorted, "What do you mean by that? I've worn things before-"
Lee chuckled stating, "Yeah, the nightgown the day we met and then that oversized robe when I came over that night to take you for a ride in my new car. What's that look about?"
Amanda narrowed her eyes at him asking, "What do you mean by that?"
Lee sighed and replied as he went to the door, "Forget it. Let's just get back to work-"
But Amanda shook her head remarking as she grabbed his arm to stop him, "No, no! You started this. I want you to tell me what you're thinking about!"
Lee swallowed hard. Damn. Why had he said anything and what was he to say now?
TBC