Chapter 11

The little clock in the bottom corner of my work computer screen was taunting me. With determined concentration, I willed it to move faster, but it was like time was standing still today. I had a hair and nail appointment along with shopping to do after work, and I was impatient. Tapping the screen with one finger, it remained stubborn as a mule.

"You look like you're hard at work," Daniel, my new co-worker, said as he walked into my office for the fourth time today. He flashed me a fall catalog smile. "Just a few hours left, and you'll have survived your first day here."

"Uh-huh..." I nodded, half listening as I looked back at my screen.

Daniel was the office 'hottie.' He had a boy next door face and a Calvin Klein everything else to go with it. From talk around the water cooler Daniel had been with at least every girl at the bank, sometimes twice. He was about as genuine as a three dollar bill. I was new, so I was getting all the attention, much to everyone's chagrin. Daniel had been chatting me up all day, much to my chagrin.

"Got any plans this weekend?" he asked, brushing my training booklets aside so he could prop his high-priced pants up on my desk.

"I have a date tomorrow for the symphony," I replied, not looking up.

"Ah, that classical crap?" he replied with a laugh. "Booor-ing." Yeah, he was a real tactful guy. Jack would've liked him immediately. "Why don't you ditch the orchestra, and come out to the Blazers game with me? I have a spare ticket, and they're courtside." He laid a basketball ticket across my keyboard. Tall, dark, and handsome was nice, but tall, dark, and arrogant was not cute at all.

"How about I get back to work and you do the same," I replied flatly, handing him the ticket back as I looked up at him.

He gave me a discerning look. "Your loss, Davenport." Tall, Dark, and Arrogant scoffed and walked off.

I shook my head. If that was a loss then… I sighed. He wasn't even worth the snarky comment.

Time seemed to move as slow as molasses as I worked on a PowerPoint for the first training I had coming up. I was adapting well to my new position, but I was unfocused today, which was probably not the best way to be the first day on the job. Overall, I was enjoying my new position, well, except for Daniel. Fortunately, I wouldn't have to work directly with him all the time. My eyes moved down to the clock again. I swear it was going backwards.

Sighing once more, I gazed out the window behind me. My trusty Malibu was in sight. "I'll be there soon, girl," I said to it as I turned back to my computer screen.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

As soon as the clock turned five, I dashed out the door to the parking lot. Hopping into my car, I set the GPS toward the nail salon. I had a much deserved mani-pedi scheduled. The nail stylist pressed me to go with red nail polish, but I talked her out of it. I still had no clue the ratio of red to Blutbad. Was there a chart for these things? Regardless, I couldn't risk ruining the evening by setting Monroe off with red nails. Living through my first date was a priority, so red of any kind was definitely off the list. I opted for silver polish, since I wasn't sure exactly what I was wearing. Silver would complement most anything.

The hair appointment was fairly quick— just a trim and a wash. Today I just needed the pampering. Afterward, I made my way across town to a little boutique I'd found online. The nerd that I was, I'd researched what to wear to a symphony on E-How, and the consensus was a little, black dress. Classic. The boutique ought to have something that would fit the bill.

A girl in her early twenties waved as I walked in the shop. Her light brown hair hung in a mess of curls over her shoulders, and her chubby cheeks held a planted smile on her face.

"Hi there, how can I help ya?" she asked cheerily as I surveyed the store.

"Well, I was hoping I could find a little, black dress." I chuckled. It sounded more cliché than classic once it had left my mouth.

"Ah, got a big date?" she asked, still smiling.

"I'm going to the symphony on Saturday," I said, trying not to sound too posh.

"Ooh, that is a big date!" she exclaimed and her face morphed into a squirrel. "I've got just the thing!"

She headed to the back area labeled 'stock room' above it and reappeared with a black dress that looked like something out of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I was in love!

"Oh my, it's perfect!" I raved and she motioned me to the fitting room to try it on.

"I guessed your size… six right?"

"Yeah." I sighed. "Most of the time." It usually was when I wasn't drowning my sorrows in ice cream over the Jack situation. Hopefully this turn of events would have me in better spirits, and I could leave the memories of Jack behind for good.

Once the dress was on, I admired myself in the mirror. Move over Holly Golightly! The fabric hugged my curves perfectly. There was a large, black bow that cinched the waist, which was flirty. The neckline dropped a little lower than I would've liked, but I filled it out well. It also dipped quite a ways down the back. Overall, it was quite elegant. I had a simple tear drop necklace and matching earrings at home that would go well with the dress and the fingernails. My strappy black heels would work out fine, too. (That would save me some money.) Now I needed a clutch to round out the ensemble.

When I walked out, the Squirrel Girl squealed with delight. "Your date is going to howl!" she exclaimed. Oh, if she only knew.

I asked about clutches, and she located a black and silver one from the shelf behind her that brought everything together.

"Oh, and I have a surprise for you!" She grinned and pulled out a hair pin, ornamented with silver flowers and faux diamonds. It was magnificent. She held it up by my temple, and I looked at my reflection in the mirror on the counter beside me. The silver had a nice contrast to my dark hair. Squirrel Girl smiled. "It goes with the dress, no extra charge."

"You really don't have to do that," I said, "but thank you!"

As her smile widened, her squirrel features came out again. "I've been storing it here for a while, but it's calling out your name." She wrapped the hair pin in some tissue paper.

I changed clothes and paid for the dress and clutch. "I want to thank you again for the hair pin," I said amiably. "It's gorgeous."

"And so are you!" She beamed at me. "Have a great time tomorrow on your date!"

I needed the confidence boost today. After Jack had cheated on me, I felt like I'd lost my sex appeal. Squirrel Girl's compliment renewed my spirits, and by the time I'd left the store, I felt like a million bucks. I headed home with a spring in my step. Tomorrow was going to be fantastic!

A/N: On my profile I have a pic of the dress I used as inspiration for the one Renée bought. Check it out if you're interested. (:

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