CHAPTER SIX
New York City - Room 426, the DoubleTree Hotel
December 15, 2000
10:30 AM
Carol was sitting in her room, curled up on the couch, her laptop perched in her lap. She had slept in late that morning - finally waking around nine o'clock. There were a thousand thoughts whirling around her head and she had decided to have breakfast in her room after a quick shower.
She nibbled on a room service breakfast of a bagel with cream cheese, a grapefruit half, and some coffee. 'Coffee, definitely coffee this morning,' she thought. She also started to make some notes on story ideas, plot lines, and characters. After only a short while, she had the beginnings for what she thought was a pretty good story - a romantic thriller. The protagonist was a blonde haired novelist, named Caroline, who helps unravel a series of murders in upstate New York and becomes involved - quite unexpectedly - with a mysterious dark-haired lawyer.
Carol wrote for several hours. The words came effortlessly to her as she hammered out chapter, after chapter, after chapter. And while she wouldn't openly acknowledge it, with each page, the mysterious dark-haired lawyer became more and more similar to the man Carol had dinner with the night before - Ed. She continued writing through lunch (more room service) and was just reaching the part of the story when her two leads were going to act on their obvious physical attraction to one another.
Carol stopped typing for a moment. 'Was it getting hot in here?' she asked herself. She glanced over at the clock again - intending NOT to be late for her evening with Ed this time.
She had just resumed work on the aforementioned 'steamy love scene' when she was startled by the ring of her cell phone. For a moment, she thought it might be Nick again - calling to ruin yet another day of her trip. And yet, now that she thought about it, Nick hadn't ruined that day. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more she came to the conclusion that all in all, it had been a good day - a very good day.
Even so, when she finally picked up her cell phone and checked the caller- id her tension eased.
***
Stuckeyville - the office of Dr. Walter Jerome
December 15, 2000
1:00 PM
Mike searched through a medical supply cabinet, "Hey, Wendy, have you seen the boxes of blue powder free nitrile exam gloves. I can't seem to find any."
"Have you checked the back?" Wendy's voice called from the appointment desk.
"Yep. I guess we're out. Order some more will you?"
"Okay."
Mike turned to walk back to the exam room, only to almost walk right into Dr. Jerome.
"Well, Dr. Burton," Dr. Jerome's voice came from behind Mike, "you continue to surprise me."
"Dr. Jerome," Mike said in a clipped tone as he turned to face his mentor. "And why is that?"
"Well," Dr. Jerome said, "I was positive that you couldn't read. But here you are actually reading the labels on those boxes. Or were you (he reached in a grabbed a box and shook it in front of Mike) just looking at the pretty pictures?" He tossed the box back in the supply cabinet.
"I have a patient waiting. I am looking for some powder free exam gloves. The box in the exam room is empty."
"And what, based upon your numerous years of practicing medicine," Dr. Jerome said, his voice dripping with scorn, "are you planning on doing with those."
"Uh, I have to wear gloves when I exam a patient Dr. Jerome," Mike replied.
"I KNOW THAT, YOU NINNY!" Dr. Jerome screamed. "I want to know why you need to wear the silly little blue gloves instead of the regular exam gloves."
"Dr. Jerome," Mike said, "I'm allergic to the latex exam gloves. That is why I need to use the powder-free blue nitrile gloves."
"Oh, well," Dr. Jerome said sarcastically. "That's a horse of a different color. I didn't realize that you had the constitution of tse-tse fly as well as the brain of one. Would you like to lie down there, Bubbles? Maybe take a little siesta between patients?"
With that, Dr. Jerome stalked off. Mike sighed as a vision of Dr. Jerome suddenly falling over, clutching his chest passed briefly across the surface of his brain.
***
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer & Sheehan
December 15, 2000
2:00 PM
Ed and his team had just finished a meeting with representatives of the Henderson Corporation. Henderson was an international conglomerate which had interests in everything from commercial agriculture to high tech industries. Farmer & Sheehan was handling the legal minutia for their latest acquisition, a telecommunications company in upstate New York.
The meeting had gone well. In fact, the meeting had gone *extremely* well. Ed's team played their role perfectly. Robert Farmer and Roy Sheehan were VERY happy with Ed's handling of the matter. Ed suspected that the managing partners had assigned him the case as a test - to evaluate his fitness for a larger role at the firm. And he had passed, with the help of Jerry and the others - with "flying colors". Mr. Henderson was very pleased. He'd even made it a point to congratulate Ed personally, all while the managing partners looked on.
Nearly everyone had filed out of the conference room and Ed was finishing up, putting some papers back into his briefcase, when he noticed that Robert Farmer had slipped back into the room and was walking over to him.
"Mr. Farmer, sir, is something wrong?" Ed asked.
"Wrong? Wrong?!! My dear boy, you just closed the most lucrative deal this firm has ever handled. I just wanted to step back in and congratulate you personally on a job well done." He shook Ed's hand heartily.
"Thank you, sir," Ed said, "but it was a team effort. Everyone pitched in and did their parts."
Farmer smiled, "Loyalty. That's good Stevens. That's very good." Ed couldn't help feel that he'd just passed yet another test. "Your staff is really quite fond of you, you know?"
"Yes sir. They're the best."
"A testament to your leadership. I foresee great things for you, Stevens. GREAT things."
"Thank you, sir. I'll try to live up your expectations."
Farmer just nodded. "Ed, after the holidays, we'd love for you to have lunch with us. Roy and I have something we very much would like to talk to you about. Concerning your future. (He smiled) Have Deloris schedule something with Angie and Marie, okay?"
"Yes, sir, that's very gracious of you sir." Ed replied.
"Think nothing of it. You've earned it. Now I won't keep you anymore," Farmer replied. He shook Ed's hand again, then slipped back out of the conference room, leaving Ed alone with Jerry Pender.
"'Farmer, Sheehan & Stevens' has a very nice ring to it, don't you think?" Jerry mused.
Ed looked at his friend quizzically. Jerry was a mild mannered sort - average height with a slightly receding hairline. He was a couple of years older than Ed, but had never set out to distinguish himself. Never sought the spotlight. Not that Ed had either, but unlike Jerry he was less skilled in avoiding it. Jerry on the other hand, relished the role of second banana - it matched his temperament.
"I don't think so Jer-," Ed replied. "I expect something will come from that luncheon. A bonus, or maybe some additional perks, but a full partnership? I think that's a bit ambitious."
"Ambition is good quality in a corporate lawyer," Jerry rebutted, "at least that's what my wife keeps telling me."
Ed smiled. Jerry's wife had been pestering him for years to make associate partner. It wasn't that she was overly concerned with material possessions, it was simply a desire to see her husband receive the credit she thought he so richly deserved.
"Hmph," Ed said. "Just remember, it only takes one misplaced comma and it all comes crashing down. Fortunately you caught the misplaced comma and it didn't *that* time."
"So," Jerry said as he helped Ed collect the few remaining stray documents scattered across the conference table, "I heard you had to have a talk with Miranda?"
Ed sighed uncomfortably, marveling once again at the speed of the Farmer & Sheehan rumor mill. "I'm not even going to ask how you found out about that," Ed said, but he already knew - Deloris. "But yeah, I did. She tried to muscle in on the Heller merger. Talked to the client directly without instructions."
Jerry whistled, "Maybe you should talk to one of the managing partners. I can't imagine they know what she's been up to. Or she'd be history by now."
"No," Ed replied, "I think it's been handled. If she does it again, then I might have to take stronger action, but like you said 'ambition is a good quality in a corporate lawyer'."
"Now wouldn't THAT be interesting ..."
"What?"
"Hmmm? Nothing. Just thinking out loud."
"*What*?" Ed asked again, this time more forcefully.
"Well, if you *really* must know." Jerry nudged him, "I was just wondering if our Ms. Van Note will misinterpret your failing to report her 'transgressions' as a sign that her charms are finally beginning to have an effect on you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ed asked.
"Well," Jerry finally said, drawing out the word, "According to the rumor mill." He placed his hand over his heart, "Which by the way, I place absolutely no stock in, myself. It appears that Ms. Van Note has her eye on you."
"What are you talking about, sport?" Ed asked. "Miranda Van Note doesn't have a 'thing' for me. She hates me."
"Not according to my sources," Jerry replied. "She's apparently decided that with, uh, Liz out of the way you are prime bachelor material."
"I don't believe this," Ed said. "I do not need this right now!"
"No," Jerry says sympathetically, "Especially, now that things are picking up on the social front for you?"
Ed was about to ask something, but then remembered - Deloris. "Okay, how much do YOU know?" Ed wondered if Deloris had informed the window washers or the janitors on the 32nd floor, as well.
"Just that you bolted out of here earlier than normal last night. To meet that VERY cute blond that popped in to see you yesterday."
Ed sighed. "It's not like that Jer-, she's just an old friend from high school."
Jerry just looked at him suspiciously. He was obviously not buying Ed's explanation, but let it go after he saw the look on his friend's face. Ed knew he wasn't buying it either, but decided it just wasn't worth the energy to debate it further. Or was his reluctance because he wasn't buying his own explanation. He thought about it. He had felt a connection with her.
He sighed. Jerry was a good friend, but Ed wished Mike Burton were here.
Desperate to change the subject, "Anyway," Ed continued, "Collect everyone's notes on the contract mods and..."
Deloris walked into the conference room, a curious look on her face.
"Ed," she said, "there is a phone call for you."
"Um, take a message, please, Deloris. I need to finish up here with Jerry right now."
Ed turned back to Jerry and continued, "Get a start on making the contract changes. Then we'll need..."
Ed noticed that Deloris was still standing there. He raised his eyebrows at her in lieu of a question.
"I think you'll want to take *this* call," Deloris said with seriousness in her voice.
Ed was suddenly concerned. "Is it my parents? Is everything all right?"
"No, nothing like that," Deloris responded.
"Deloris," Ed said, sounding exasperated, "is the call an emergency?"
"No," Deloris said, drawing out the word.
"Then take a message," Ed said. "I'm busy right now."
"Now," Ed said as her turned back to Jerry, "we need to schedule another..."
"O---kay," Deloris said, a mischievous tone creeping into her voice, "I'm sure Ms. Vessey will understand." She started to walk out of the conference room, her back to Ed and smiling.
"... meeting to go over..." Ed trailed off.
"Uh, Deloris?"
Deloris stopped and turned to look at Ed, an innocent look on her face, "Yes, Mr. Stevens."
"You know," Ed said, "you could have just told me who was on the phone?"
"But where would the fun be in that?" she asked, obviously pleased with her little bit of mischief.
Ed glared at her for a moment, then said to Jerry very quickly, "Okay, I've got to take this call."
Jerry just smiled and said, "Say hello to your 'friend' for me."
Ed walked out of the conference room at a rapid clip. He looked like he wanted to break into a run, but was desperately trying to maintain decorum. His office was visible from the conference room. Deloris and Jerry watched - both in amusement.
"He's got it bad, doesn't he?" he asked Deloris.
"She's a very lovely young woman," she replied.
Ed entered his office and closed the door. Deloris covered her mouth with her left hand while she silently counted using the fingers on her right hand. Jerry watched her in confusion.
Just as Deloris' fingers indicated 'five', the door to Ed's office opened and he leaned out. He looked down the hall and asked sheepishly, "Deloris, which line?"
Deloris was unable to speak, afraid she would burst out laughing. She silently held up her hand, showing three fingers. Ed looked at her hand and said, "Right. Thanks."
He closed the door. A second lately, Deloris and Jerry heard a muffled thud followed by a curse from inside Ed's office.
Both could no longer hold back their laughter.
***
Ed closed the door to his office and rushed over to his desk. He'd forgotten about the janitorial staff's habit of moving the waste paper basket every few days just to keep him on his toes.
As he rounded the side of the desk, his shin hit the metal rim of the basket, sending it flying and the contents tumbling in several directions. With a curse, Ed dropped into his chair and grabbed his shin. He rubbed it for a couple of moments before taking a deep breath. He turned the chair so that he was facing forward and collected his thoughts.
Finally, he picked up the phone receiver and pressed the button for Line 3. "Ed Stevens," he said. He thought for a moment about a more lively greeting, but decided to play it safe in case he had gotten the wrong line. Wouldn't be good to pick up the wrong line and say to Mr. Sheehan's wife "Hey there, pretty lady! Recovered from last night yet?"
"Hi, Ed," Carol voice said over the line. "It's me, Carol."
"Hey Carol," Ed replied. "How's the writing going?"
"Actually, very well!" Carol replied. "I got several chapters of a new novel done today. I don't know...the setting, the characters, the plot just kind of came to me. I felt...inspired."
"Yeah? That's great Carol, really." Ed said. "What's it about?"
"Oh, um," Carol hesitated, "I don't like to talk about my work while I am in the middle of it."
"Oh, come on, Carol, you can tell me," he replied. "You know you want to." Carol could almost see that him flashing that charming smile of his.
"How can you be so sure, that I 'want to'."
"Because it's obvious that you can't resist the boyishly convincing smile of one Edward J. Stevens."
"You're sure about that?"
"Quite sure," he replied without hesitation.
Back in her hotel room, Carol couldn't help but smile. "You say that like we've known each other for years," she finally replied. 'Actually,' she thought, 'I DO feel like I've known him for years.'
"Well," Ed said as he looked at his watch, "we've known each other for 23 hours, but that's 1,380 minutes...or 82,800 seconds. That's sounds like a pretty long time to me."
Carol laughed, "Alright, but this is all you're going to get from me. It's a romantic thriller - a murder mystery."
"A murder mystery ... Really? Wow. That's terrific," Ed said, obviously impressed. Then he added "Wait a minute ..."
"Is something wrong?"
"You killed me?"
"What?"
"That's why you don't want to tell me about the book. You used me for one of the characters in the story and you killed me. I'm dead. I've been killed by Carol Vessey. Knifed in the heart, shot in the back, bludgeoned with a candlestick ..."
"Bludgeoned with a candlestick?"
"I'm afraid my experience with murder mysteries is limited to playing 'Clue'."
"Oh." She paused, "Ed, I didn't kill you."
"Ha! I knew it. I *am* in the book!" He replied triumphantly.
Carol couldn't believe it. He had done it to her again. "Um, look, Ed, I have some bad news about tonight."
"Oh," Ed said, trying to sound unconcerned - but he was terrified that Carol Vessey had finally come to her senses and realized she didn't want to spend any more time with a "dork" like him, "Something come up?"
"Nothing bad. It's my publishing agent. They want to take me to dinner tonight. I'm...I'm really sorry."
Ed was disappointed, but he understood. He almost suggested that he accompany her, but realized if she'd wanted him there - she would have asked. "Carol," Ed said, "its okay. I understand. I mean, that's what you're here in New York for, right? It's no problem, really." He lied. He really, *desperately* wanted o see her again.
On the other side of town, Carol looked down at her shoes. Of course, it wouldn't be a problem - he'll probably just go to one of those New York Lawyer parties and meet some attractive woman and ... She stopped herself. She was doing IT again. She had no claim on Ed. It wasn't any of her business if he went out somewhere without her. She wasn't his girlfriend. She didn't even want to be his girlfriend.
Or did she?
"Well," Carol said. "I still feel bad. But, tomorrow is Saturday and we could do something then, right?" Her voice tinged with more than a little hope.
"That sounds wonderful, Carol." Ed said, "Why don't we shoot for a 10 AM start. We could even get some Christmas shopping in ... If you'd like, that is?" Now it was his turn to sound hopeful.
Carol's mind suddenly conjured an image of her and Ed walking arm-in-arm, along the streets of New York, carrying packages and laughing and fooling around. She felt her body suffused with a giddy warmth. Smiling, she replied, "Yes Ed, I'd love to. I'll be ready at 10 AM tomorrow morning..."
"Well," Carol continued, "I should let you get back to work."
"Okay. Oh, I almost forgot," Ed said, "are you expecting to sign those contracts tonight?"
"No," Carol said. "They didn't want anything to proceed until I could meet with Victor Knight, the head of the publishing company."
"Good," Ed said sheepishly, "because I, uh, haven't finished going through it yet. We just finished closing a major deal and this will be the first ...."
Carol paused, in her short-sightedness, she hadn't even considered that Ed might have other more-pressing concerns. "Ed, you don't have to explain. I appreciate what you're doing, but if it's interfering with your job ... I don't want to get you in any trouble."
"No Carol, you're not interfering. You would *never* be 'interfering'. It's fine. We finished everything we needed to do on the other matter today and I was just about to look at the contract. Now, I want you to go and have a nice time tonight and don't worry anymore about it."
"Thank you,", she replied, noticing how he had said that she was never an 'interference'. He was very different from Nick. "I'm going to let you get back to work now. If anything changes, you'll call me?"
"Of course. Have a good time tonight," he said.
New York City - Room 426, the DoubleTree Hotel
December 15, 2000
10:30 AM
Carol was sitting in her room, curled up on the couch, her laptop perched in her lap. She had slept in late that morning - finally waking around nine o'clock. There were a thousand thoughts whirling around her head and she had decided to have breakfast in her room after a quick shower.
She nibbled on a room service breakfast of a bagel with cream cheese, a grapefruit half, and some coffee. 'Coffee, definitely coffee this morning,' she thought. She also started to make some notes on story ideas, plot lines, and characters. After only a short while, she had the beginnings for what she thought was a pretty good story - a romantic thriller. The protagonist was a blonde haired novelist, named Caroline, who helps unravel a series of murders in upstate New York and becomes involved - quite unexpectedly - with a mysterious dark-haired lawyer.
Carol wrote for several hours. The words came effortlessly to her as she hammered out chapter, after chapter, after chapter. And while she wouldn't openly acknowledge it, with each page, the mysterious dark-haired lawyer became more and more similar to the man Carol had dinner with the night before - Ed. She continued writing through lunch (more room service) and was just reaching the part of the story when her two leads were going to act on their obvious physical attraction to one another.
Carol stopped typing for a moment. 'Was it getting hot in here?' she asked herself. She glanced over at the clock again - intending NOT to be late for her evening with Ed this time.
She had just resumed work on the aforementioned 'steamy love scene' when she was startled by the ring of her cell phone. For a moment, she thought it might be Nick again - calling to ruin yet another day of her trip. And yet, now that she thought about it, Nick hadn't ruined that day. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more she came to the conclusion that all in all, it had been a good day - a very good day.
Even so, when she finally picked up her cell phone and checked the caller- id her tension eased.
***
Stuckeyville - the office of Dr. Walter Jerome
December 15, 2000
1:00 PM
Mike searched through a medical supply cabinet, "Hey, Wendy, have you seen the boxes of blue powder free nitrile exam gloves. I can't seem to find any."
"Have you checked the back?" Wendy's voice called from the appointment desk.
"Yep. I guess we're out. Order some more will you?"
"Okay."
Mike turned to walk back to the exam room, only to almost walk right into Dr. Jerome.
"Well, Dr. Burton," Dr. Jerome's voice came from behind Mike, "you continue to surprise me."
"Dr. Jerome," Mike said in a clipped tone as he turned to face his mentor. "And why is that?"
"Well," Dr. Jerome said, "I was positive that you couldn't read. But here you are actually reading the labels on those boxes. Or were you (he reached in a grabbed a box and shook it in front of Mike) just looking at the pretty pictures?" He tossed the box back in the supply cabinet.
"I have a patient waiting. I am looking for some powder free exam gloves. The box in the exam room is empty."
"And what, based upon your numerous years of practicing medicine," Dr. Jerome said, his voice dripping with scorn, "are you planning on doing with those."
"Uh, I have to wear gloves when I exam a patient Dr. Jerome," Mike replied.
"I KNOW THAT, YOU NINNY!" Dr. Jerome screamed. "I want to know why you need to wear the silly little blue gloves instead of the regular exam gloves."
"Dr. Jerome," Mike said, "I'm allergic to the latex exam gloves. That is why I need to use the powder-free blue nitrile gloves."
"Oh, well," Dr. Jerome said sarcastically. "That's a horse of a different color. I didn't realize that you had the constitution of tse-tse fly as well as the brain of one. Would you like to lie down there, Bubbles? Maybe take a little siesta between patients?"
With that, Dr. Jerome stalked off. Mike sighed as a vision of Dr. Jerome suddenly falling over, clutching his chest passed briefly across the surface of his brain.
***
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer & Sheehan
December 15, 2000
2:00 PM
Ed and his team had just finished a meeting with representatives of the Henderson Corporation. Henderson was an international conglomerate which had interests in everything from commercial agriculture to high tech industries. Farmer & Sheehan was handling the legal minutia for their latest acquisition, a telecommunications company in upstate New York.
The meeting had gone well. In fact, the meeting had gone *extremely* well. Ed's team played their role perfectly. Robert Farmer and Roy Sheehan were VERY happy with Ed's handling of the matter. Ed suspected that the managing partners had assigned him the case as a test - to evaluate his fitness for a larger role at the firm. And he had passed, with the help of Jerry and the others - with "flying colors". Mr. Henderson was very pleased. He'd even made it a point to congratulate Ed personally, all while the managing partners looked on.
Nearly everyone had filed out of the conference room and Ed was finishing up, putting some papers back into his briefcase, when he noticed that Robert Farmer had slipped back into the room and was walking over to him.
"Mr. Farmer, sir, is something wrong?" Ed asked.
"Wrong? Wrong?!! My dear boy, you just closed the most lucrative deal this firm has ever handled. I just wanted to step back in and congratulate you personally on a job well done." He shook Ed's hand heartily.
"Thank you, sir," Ed said, "but it was a team effort. Everyone pitched in and did their parts."
Farmer smiled, "Loyalty. That's good Stevens. That's very good." Ed couldn't help feel that he'd just passed yet another test. "Your staff is really quite fond of you, you know?"
"Yes sir. They're the best."
"A testament to your leadership. I foresee great things for you, Stevens. GREAT things."
"Thank you, sir. I'll try to live up your expectations."
Farmer just nodded. "Ed, after the holidays, we'd love for you to have lunch with us. Roy and I have something we very much would like to talk to you about. Concerning your future. (He smiled) Have Deloris schedule something with Angie and Marie, okay?"
"Yes, sir, that's very gracious of you sir." Ed replied.
"Think nothing of it. You've earned it. Now I won't keep you anymore," Farmer replied. He shook Ed's hand again, then slipped back out of the conference room, leaving Ed alone with Jerry Pender.
"'Farmer, Sheehan & Stevens' has a very nice ring to it, don't you think?" Jerry mused.
Ed looked at his friend quizzically. Jerry was a mild mannered sort - average height with a slightly receding hairline. He was a couple of years older than Ed, but had never set out to distinguish himself. Never sought the spotlight. Not that Ed had either, but unlike Jerry he was less skilled in avoiding it. Jerry on the other hand, relished the role of second banana - it matched his temperament.
"I don't think so Jer-," Ed replied. "I expect something will come from that luncheon. A bonus, or maybe some additional perks, but a full partnership? I think that's a bit ambitious."
"Ambition is good quality in a corporate lawyer," Jerry rebutted, "at least that's what my wife keeps telling me."
Ed smiled. Jerry's wife had been pestering him for years to make associate partner. It wasn't that she was overly concerned with material possessions, it was simply a desire to see her husband receive the credit she thought he so richly deserved.
"Hmph," Ed said. "Just remember, it only takes one misplaced comma and it all comes crashing down. Fortunately you caught the misplaced comma and it didn't *that* time."
"So," Jerry said as he helped Ed collect the few remaining stray documents scattered across the conference table, "I heard you had to have a talk with Miranda?"
Ed sighed uncomfortably, marveling once again at the speed of the Farmer & Sheehan rumor mill. "I'm not even going to ask how you found out about that," Ed said, but he already knew - Deloris. "But yeah, I did. She tried to muscle in on the Heller merger. Talked to the client directly without instructions."
Jerry whistled, "Maybe you should talk to one of the managing partners. I can't imagine they know what she's been up to. Or she'd be history by now."
"No," Ed replied, "I think it's been handled. If she does it again, then I might have to take stronger action, but like you said 'ambition is a good quality in a corporate lawyer'."
"Now wouldn't THAT be interesting ..."
"What?"
"Hmmm? Nothing. Just thinking out loud."
"*What*?" Ed asked again, this time more forcefully.
"Well, if you *really* must know." Jerry nudged him, "I was just wondering if our Ms. Van Note will misinterpret your failing to report her 'transgressions' as a sign that her charms are finally beginning to have an effect on you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ed asked.
"Well," Jerry finally said, drawing out the word, "According to the rumor mill." He placed his hand over his heart, "Which by the way, I place absolutely no stock in, myself. It appears that Ms. Van Note has her eye on you."
"What are you talking about, sport?" Ed asked. "Miranda Van Note doesn't have a 'thing' for me. She hates me."
"Not according to my sources," Jerry replied. "She's apparently decided that with, uh, Liz out of the way you are prime bachelor material."
"I don't believe this," Ed said. "I do not need this right now!"
"No," Jerry says sympathetically, "Especially, now that things are picking up on the social front for you?"
Ed was about to ask something, but then remembered - Deloris. "Okay, how much do YOU know?" Ed wondered if Deloris had informed the window washers or the janitors on the 32nd floor, as well.
"Just that you bolted out of here earlier than normal last night. To meet that VERY cute blond that popped in to see you yesterday."
Ed sighed. "It's not like that Jer-, she's just an old friend from high school."
Jerry just looked at him suspiciously. He was obviously not buying Ed's explanation, but let it go after he saw the look on his friend's face. Ed knew he wasn't buying it either, but decided it just wasn't worth the energy to debate it further. Or was his reluctance because he wasn't buying his own explanation. He thought about it. He had felt a connection with her.
He sighed. Jerry was a good friend, but Ed wished Mike Burton were here.
Desperate to change the subject, "Anyway," Ed continued, "Collect everyone's notes on the contract mods and..."
Deloris walked into the conference room, a curious look on her face.
"Ed," she said, "there is a phone call for you."
"Um, take a message, please, Deloris. I need to finish up here with Jerry right now."
Ed turned back to Jerry and continued, "Get a start on making the contract changes. Then we'll need..."
Ed noticed that Deloris was still standing there. He raised his eyebrows at her in lieu of a question.
"I think you'll want to take *this* call," Deloris said with seriousness in her voice.
Ed was suddenly concerned. "Is it my parents? Is everything all right?"
"No, nothing like that," Deloris responded.
"Deloris," Ed said, sounding exasperated, "is the call an emergency?"
"No," Deloris said, drawing out the word.
"Then take a message," Ed said. "I'm busy right now."
"Now," Ed said as her turned back to Jerry, "we need to schedule another..."
"O---kay," Deloris said, a mischievous tone creeping into her voice, "I'm sure Ms. Vessey will understand." She started to walk out of the conference room, her back to Ed and smiling.
"... meeting to go over..." Ed trailed off.
"Uh, Deloris?"
Deloris stopped and turned to look at Ed, an innocent look on her face, "Yes, Mr. Stevens."
"You know," Ed said, "you could have just told me who was on the phone?"
"But where would the fun be in that?" she asked, obviously pleased with her little bit of mischief.
Ed glared at her for a moment, then said to Jerry very quickly, "Okay, I've got to take this call."
Jerry just smiled and said, "Say hello to your 'friend' for me."
Ed walked out of the conference room at a rapid clip. He looked like he wanted to break into a run, but was desperately trying to maintain decorum. His office was visible from the conference room. Deloris and Jerry watched - both in amusement.
"He's got it bad, doesn't he?" he asked Deloris.
"She's a very lovely young woman," she replied.
Ed entered his office and closed the door. Deloris covered her mouth with her left hand while she silently counted using the fingers on her right hand. Jerry watched her in confusion.
Just as Deloris' fingers indicated 'five', the door to Ed's office opened and he leaned out. He looked down the hall and asked sheepishly, "Deloris, which line?"
Deloris was unable to speak, afraid she would burst out laughing. She silently held up her hand, showing three fingers. Ed looked at her hand and said, "Right. Thanks."
He closed the door. A second lately, Deloris and Jerry heard a muffled thud followed by a curse from inside Ed's office.
Both could no longer hold back their laughter.
***
Ed closed the door to his office and rushed over to his desk. He'd forgotten about the janitorial staff's habit of moving the waste paper basket every few days just to keep him on his toes.
As he rounded the side of the desk, his shin hit the metal rim of the basket, sending it flying and the contents tumbling in several directions. With a curse, Ed dropped into his chair and grabbed his shin. He rubbed it for a couple of moments before taking a deep breath. He turned the chair so that he was facing forward and collected his thoughts.
Finally, he picked up the phone receiver and pressed the button for Line 3. "Ed Stevens," he said. He thought for a moment about a more lively greeting, but decided to play it safe in case he had gotten the wrong line. Wouldn't be good to pick up the wrong line and say to Mr. Sheehan's wife "Hey there, pretty lady! Recovered from last night yet?"
"Hi, Ed," Carol voice said over the line. "It's me, Carol."
"Hey Carol," Ed replied. "How's the writing going?"
"Actually, very well!" Carol replied. "I got several chapters of a new novel done today. I don't know...the setting, the characters, the plot just kind of came to me. I felt...inspired."
"Yeah? That's great Carol, really." Ed said. "What's it about?"
"Oh, um," Carol hesitated, "I don't like to talk about my work while I am in the middle of it."
"Oh, come on, Carol, you can tell me," he replied. "You know you want to." Carol could almost see that him flashing that charming smile of his.
"How can you be so sure, that I 'want to'."
"Because it's obvious that you can't resist the boyishly convincing smile of one Edward J. Stevens."
"You're sure about that?"
"Quite sure," he replied without hesitation.
Back in her hotel room, Carol couldn't help but smile. "You say that like we've known each other for years," she finally replied. 'Actually,' she thought, 'I DO feel like I've known him for years.'
"Well," Ed said as he looked at his watch, "we've known each other for 23 hours, but that's 1,380 minutes...or 82,800 seconds. That's sounds like a pretty long time to me."
Carol laughed, "Alright, but this is all you're going to get from me. It's a romantic thriller - a murder mystery."
"A murder mystery ... Really? Wow. That's terrific," Ed said, obviously impressed. Then he added "Wait a minute ..."
"Is something wrong?"
"You killed me?"
"What?"
"That's why you don't want to tell me about the book. You used me for one of the characters in the story and you killed me. I'm dead. I've been killed by Carol Vessey. Knifed in the heart, shot in the back, bludgeoned with a candlestick ..."
"Bludgeoned with a candlestick?"
"I'm afraid my experience with murder mysteries is limited to playing 'Clue'."
"Oh." She paused, "Ed, I didn't kill you."
"Ha! I knew it. I *am* in the book!" He replied triumphantly.
Carol couldn't believe it. He had done it to her again. "Um, look, Ed, I have some bad news about tonight."
"Oh," Ed said, trying to sound unconcerned - but he was terrified that Carol Vessey had finally come to her senses and realized she didn't want to spend any more time with a "dork" like him, "Something come up?"
"Nothing bad. It's my publishing agent. They want to take me to dinner tonight. I'm...I'm really sorry."
Ed was disappointed, but he understood. He almost suggested that he accompany her, but realized if she'd wanted him there - she would have asked. "Carol," Ed said, "its okay. I understand. I mean, that's what you're here in New York for, right? It's no problem, really." He lied. He really, *desperately* wanted o see her again.
On the other side of town, Carol looked down at her shoes. Of course, it wouldn't be a problem - he'll probably just go to one of those New York Lawyer parties and meet some attractive woman and ... She stopped herself. She was doing IT again. She had no claim on Ed. It wasn't any of her business if he went out somewhere without her. She wasn't his girlfriend. She didn't even want to be his girlfriend.
Or did she?
"Well," Carol said. "I still feel bad. But, tomorrow is Saturday and we could do something then, right?" Her voice tinged with more than a little hope.
"That sounds wonderful, Carol." Ed said, "Why don't we shoot for a 10 AM start. We could even get some Christmas shopping in ... If you'd like, that is?" Now it was his turn to sound hopeful.
Carol's mind suddenly conjured an image of her and Ed walking arm-in-arm, along the streets of New York, carrying packages and laughing and fooling around. She felt her body suffused with a giddy warmth. Smiling, she replied, "Yes Ed, I'd love to. I'll be ready at 10 AM tomorrow morning..."
"Well," Carol continued, "I should let you get back to work."
"Okay. Oh, I almost forgot," Ed said, "are you expecting to sign those contracts tonight?"
"No," Carol said. "They didn't want anything to proceed until I could meet with Victor Knight, the head of the publishing company."
"Good," Ed said sheepishly, "because I, uh, haven't finished going through it yet. We just finished closing a major deal and this will be the first ...."
Carol paused, in her short-sightedness, she hadn't even considered that Ed might have other more-pressing concerns. "Ed, you don't have to explain. I appreciate what you're doing, but if it's interfering with your job ... I don't want to get you in any trouble."
"No Carol, you're not interfering. You would *never* be 'interfering'. It's fine. We finished everything we needed to do on the other matter today and I was just about to look at the contract. Now, I want you to go and have a nice time tonight and don't worry anymore about it."
"Thank you,", she replied, noticing how he had said that she was never an 'interference'. He was very different from Nick. "I'm going to let you get back to work now. If anything changes, you'll call me?"
"Of course. Have a good time tonight," he said.