Prompt: Shoulder

"Hey."

"Hey, yourself."

"So, what's the problem?" I ask Edward. He spins around in his chair to face me then nods for me to sit.

"Carmen's pissed because we didn't get Mayor Gray's birthday gala."

"Crud. Vicki got it?"

"Yup," he says, crinkling his nose. "She undercut us by five percent."

"You're kidding! Oh, man, this is so not good."

"Tell me about it." Edward laughs, shaking his head. He's obviously not worried about our company losing our ticket into the world of Washington, D.C. Personally, I'm not too concerned about it either, but planning political events would be kind of fun.

Carmen's had grandiose visions of monopolizing all parties and fundraisers within a 100 mile radius surrounding Pennsylvania Avenue for years, but especially anything to do with politics. Since she lost the job to Vicki, she's going to be an absolute bear to be around for the next week. Maybe two. Jeez, I hope not two.

I lean back in the chair and cross my legs. Edward's eyes flicker down then quickly back up to mine. "Yeah, so," he says, "I hope she doesn't give Angie a hard time. Apparently, Vicki was waiting to pounce and came in with a second proposal minutes before the deadline."

"She's such a dirty schemer," I say and he nods, scratching the back of his neck.

We sit in silence for a minute or so, him fiddling with a pen and me glancing around his office. I've been in here a million times and nothing ever changes, except for a layer of dust that's sometimes present. He has a few pictures on his shelves, mainly of his two German Shepherds: Jack and Sparrow. There's one of all of us from our company picnic a couple of years ago, and then, of course, a picture of him and his wife, Leah.

I smile and tilt my head toward the door. "I'm gonna get to work. Thanks for the warning."

"I didn't want you walking into a possible tornado," he says.

"I appreciate that, Sir."

"Anytime, Ma'am."

The morning was relatively quiet—I avoided Carmen like the plague, though. She didn't seem to be too, too angry aside from a couple of door slams. In a small office of twenty people that sound is rather loud, so we all just busied ourselves with work, pretending like it was any other day, ignoring her mood. Angie said Carmen didn't fault her at all to which I was really glad.

I chowed down a sandwich at my desk, deciding to forgo lunch out with Edward, Angie, and Rose because the job I have coming up in a month is getting a little hairy. It's a smallish benefit a local couple is hosting that's going to take place at a golf course followed by dinner and an auction. Attendance started out at a mere two hundred guests and yesterday I received a call from my contact who nonchalantly upped the list to three hundred, like it was no big deal. Really, it's not that much of a hassle since the event is thirty days out, but it is a pain, and I hope she doesn't call back adding more people.

Playing around with a seating chart, there's suddenly a hand holding a brown paper bag in front of my face and the other rests lightly on my shoulder. I should, but I don't move.

"Rose said you'd kill us if we didn't bring back a piece of cheesecake for you."

"Ooo! She's right," I say, snatching the bag from Edward. He steps back as I turn around and shoves his hands into his pockets. "Thanks."

"No problem."

"Chocolate."

"Yep."

"I love chocolate cheesecake."

"Yeah, I know. Hey," he starts, backing away while I tear into the bag, "you're still going to the Nats game Saturday, right? Bringing Garrett?"

My mouth is full, so I answer by nodding. My God this cheesecake is almost better than an orgasm…I think. It's been a long time, a really long time.

Thanks for reading.