Nancy returned to the office Monday morning not knowing what to expect.  She hadn't heard from Karen since Sunday morning and it left her nervous.   She walked making sure to hold her head up just in case Karen already made her a topic at the water fountain.  Surprisingly as she passed Karen's desk she noticed she wasn't there.  Nancy walked into her office and placed her bags on the couch.  She grabbed the bag of CDs that she received at the mall for Robert and her portfolio and headed to Robert's office.  "Come in!"  Robert yelled in response to Nancy's knock at the door.  Nancy walked in to see Karen standing over Robert massaging his shoulders.  Nancy's stomach tightened, but she held her composure.

"Am I interrupting anything?"  Nancy asked as she kept her hand on the doorknob.

"No you weren't! Karen was just leaving."  Robert said as he sat up and straightened his tie.  Karen sauntered pass Nancy with a smirk on her face.

"Karen there was some messages on my desk.  Return the calls; you know how to answer those questions."  Nancy instructed.   Before Karen could turn to object Nancy swung the door closed.  Nancy picked up the remote that lay on Robert's desk and pressed the CD option.  The wall opened up to reveal a huge entertainment center.  Nancy really didn't know how to operate it, but she was too ticked off to ask Robert for help. 

"Do you know how to operate that?"  Robert asked. 

"I know how to read, right?"  Nancy said, as she looked down at the touch screen remote.  She finally saw the open/close feature and touched the button.  The CD door slid open as Nancy searched for the first CD to listen to.

"Nancy what you just saw was exactly what it was." 

"What are you talking about Robert?"  Nancy asked as she jotted down the name of the artist in her portfolio.  She stuck a label to the front and numbered it to correspond with her notes. 

"Nancy, come on-."  Robert said as he squat in front of her.

"Robert what we have is a professional relationship.  You do not have to explain anything to me. What happened on Saturday night was a lapse in my judgment.  I would hope we could continue on without any awkward feelings toward each other."  Nancy's face was like stone as Robert looked into her eyes that suddenly looked iced over.

"Obviously this is not the place for us to talk about this, so I'll just leave this for another time."  He said as he made his way back to his desk.  Nancy took a deep breath and rose to place the CD in.  "So is this we're going to listen to."

"This is Ahmad Sookdeo.  He calls himself the Desert Storm."

"Desert Storm eh?  They're usually not so creative with their names.  I like that.  Go ahead press play."

For the rest of the day Nancy went over the artist CD by CD and wrote notes on each.  She also made a list of "definitely", "can work with" and "definitely no".  The day seemed long and it was.  By the time Nancy looked up from her portfolio and stretched it was already dusk. 

"What time is it?"  Nancy said as she grabbed her notes and placed them in order. 

"It's 7:30."  Robert said as he yawned. 

"I didn't know we had to listen thoroughly through every CD.  My goodness!"

"Well you know there are times people have rough days when recording.  They're sick but it's the only time they could find to make it into the studio.  So it's our job to listen and see if we can catch the gift they think they have."
"I don't mean to sound naïve here.  On TV, I've seen where they listed to just one minute of a track and keep it moving."

"Nancy I didn't build this empire on no one minute demos.  You see that pile you got there?  After they go through my boot camp of music, they should be ready.  If not then this game isn't for them."

"But all the money you lose doing it."

"You have to lose a little money to make a lot of money.  You've played the lotto right?"  Nancy nodded.  "So you understand where I'm coming from.."  Nancy grabbed the "No" pile and threw them into the garbage.  She looked back at the piles she had left.  Out of 45 CDs they only had 3 definitely and 6 maybes.  "So where are you going for dinner?"  Robert thought he would try his luck. 

"Home."  Nancy said giving off the vibe to stop his thoughts where they were.  Of course Robert didn't care about iciness.

"Let's go to Fogo de Chao.  You'll love it there."  Nancy continued to organize the CDs and print the phone numbers on the label she placed on them so she can easily call them for appointments in the morning.  Robert stopped her in her tracks as she tried to grab her things to leave.  "It was just a massage.  Chill out."

"It was just a massage from a woman who despises me.  From a woman you had a sexual relationship with; from a woman that will do anything and everything to make my life miserable."  Nancy shook her head and wandered ‘Why am I having this conversation.'  She pulled away.  "What happened was just something that happened we both know you don't care, so let's stop before anyone gets hurt; mainly me." 

"I know how it looks and I know the awkward position I've placed you in.  It's not easy, but you can't allow the petty things people do and say get in the way of you being happy.  I know it's hasn't been long since we've known each other, but all the hours we've spent together seems like I've known you forever.  Give me a chance to get to know you, Nancy.  I'm serious about everything I've said and I will never mean you any harm.  Let me prove that to you."

"Robert I'm tired."  Nancy said as she picked up her things and walked out the room.

"Nancy..." Robert called after her.  Nancy hesitated at the door took a deep breath and closed it behind her.  When she got to her office she realized that coffee was poured over her desk and the post its that she left on the desk. 

There was one post it stuck to the end of her desk that read, "Does this answer the questions?"  Nancy looked back at the desk and concluded that Karen may have spilled a whole carafe of coffee over her desk and she noticed her laptop.  Nancy's blood started to boil as she opened the laptop that was drenched in coffee. 

"Son of a B-."  Robert strolling in ready to plead his case once more cut off Nancy.  

"What happened in here?" 

"The petty thing people do to get in the way of my happiness."  Nancy said as she dropped the laptop back on the desk.  "I'm happy I keep a back up of everything."  She said as packed her things in her briefcase. 

"I'll take care of this."  Robert said following close behind Nancy as she left.  Nancy looked down and noticed that Karen's desk had been cleared. 

"There's nothing to take care of she's gone and that's all I wanted.  Have a good night Robert."  Nancy said holding up her hand indicating that she rather take the elevator alone.  When the doors came to a close Robert turned around and took a deep breath.  He made up his mind to go see Karen that night, as he waited for the elevator to return.   

"Yes girl, I poured coffee all over her desk.  Slut.  I don't know who she thinks she is."  Karen said as she curled up on the couch talking on the phone to her cousin.  "I'll be fine girl I aint worried about nothin'.  I got this whole thing on lock.  My bills will most definitely be paid." Just then a knock came to her door.  "Girl let me call you right back I gotta see who this at my door."  Karen hung up the phone as she walked towards the door. "Who is it?"  She sang.

"It's Robert."  A big smile came across her face as she opened the door.  Robert stormed past her and stood in her living room waiting for her to saunter in.  "What's wrong with you woman?" 

"She is rude Robert!  Slamming the door in my face.  Who does she think she is?" 

"She was your boss; you were to respect her as such."  Robert said through clenched teeth. 

"Well I did respect her while she was my boss.  What, you wanted me to respect her like I do you?  I'll do it if you promise to watch."  Karen said as she wrapped her arms around Robert's neck.  She pressed her body against his and teased at his mouth with her lips for a kiss. 

"Let me go Karen."  He asked calmly. 

"Come on Robert just one kiss."  She said as pulled him closer.  Robert grabbed her arms and forcefully placed them at her side. 

"Keep your hands off of me.  What you did back at the office had me lose any respect that I had left for you.  It wasn't much left to begin with.  I'm glad you quit so you don't get a penny with your ignorant behind." 

"I thought you loved me Robert?"  Karen said as a pain entered her heart. 

"Love you?  When did I ever tell you that?  You were a piece that's it!  That is all that what we used to have will be.  Grow the hell up!"  Robert said as anger filled him.  "I finally find someone that I have some interest in on another level other than sex and you want to ruin it because you thought?  You thought I loved you!  Next time you think, call up one of your little chicken head friends and they'll let you know what's up!"  Robert said as he stormed out Karen's apartment. 

She stood there in shock as the door closed.  Tears rolled down her eyes and soon, anger replaced her heartbreak.  She held her stomach as she screamed over and over until her throat couldn't take the strain anymore.  "Okay I got you."  She thought to herself as she wiped the tears from her face.  "I got the both of you."

Nancy walked into her bedroom after her shower and sat down to apply lotion to her legs.  Beats rang in her head due to all the songs she heard that day.  She turned on the TV to drown out the sound.  Her doorbell rang and she pulled on her robe and headed to the door.  "Who is it?"  She said as she peeked through the hole.  All she could make out was a box. 

"Pizza ma'am."

"Wrong apartment I didn't order pizza."  Nancy felt a little nervous, as she couldn't see the person's face. 

"Are you Nancy?"

"Yes I am."

"Well I have the right place ma'am."  Nancy pulled a bat out of her coat closet and slowly opened the door.  She held the bat in swing as the pizza box was lowered.  She stopped as she realized it was Darren.  "What were you going to do with that?"  Darren asked as he walked by her.

"Knock your brains out.  What are you doing here anyway?"  Nancy asked.

"I came to bring you dinner.  After our little chat on your way home I figured I should meet you here with a meal.  Knowing that you weren't gonna cook when you got here."

"Well isn't that sweet.  Thanks by the way for listening to me vent on my way home.  I had to get that out before bringing it into my house." 

"It's okay.  Life isn't drama free you know.  I'm always willing to be a friend Nancy."  Darren said as he searched her cabinets for dishes. 

"Well thank you, it's hard to find someone to talk to who doesn't have other intentions.  You don't have other intentions do you?" asked Nancy.

"If you by intentions you mean sex, no.  I don't mind being that shoulder for people to lean on.  Besides any male employee that would try you will be risking his career."

"Robert makes me sick, wielding his power like that.  It's so unfair the bastard."  Nancy said with more anger than she wanted to reveal. 

"Did you sleep with him?"

"What?"  Nancy said as she stretched the cheese off the slice of her pizza. 

"You don't understand English all of a sudden?  That means you did."

"No I didn't!" 

"Come on Nance the cat's out of the bag.  I know you may think rappers are stupid, but we're really very intelligent."

"I don't think rappers are stupid, never did.  Yes I did, but it was a mistake.  I refused to be one of his toys when I decided to work for him and that's exactly what I've become.  Now that he ‘owns' me I can't talk to anyone or have a problem with anyone and they not suffering the consequences."

"Look to be honest I think when you first started Robert looked at you as another secretary another ‘toy' as you call it, but the more conversation you guys had the more he realized that there's more to you.  I'm no expert but I do think that Robert likes you; genuinely likes you."

"You think so?"  Nancy said blushing. 

"Yes.  From the look on your face I see you like him too.  Just promise me one thing.  Take it slow.  Find out everything you can about him before giving him your heart.  Your heart is a beautiful thing, don't give anyone the chance to ruin it."

"Wow, I never knew you to be so deep Darren."  Nancy said shocked at his advice. "Well I knew there was something there, that's why I was so comfortable to call when I thought I was going to explode.  You know how much that laptop cost me."

"Well you shouldn't be using your personal equipment for work purposes anyway.  Let Robert buy you a new one and one for the office.  Learn to separate the two.  You are going to need to practice that now anyway."  Darren hated giving her advice that pushed her toward Robert.  But what else could he do.  If he didn't do something he was afraid of his own feelings towards her and he couldn't risk his career over some girl anyway.

"Thanks Darren. I'll talk to him about it tomorrow.  He's lucky to have a friend like you."

"Well most people are."

"Well count that compliment that will be the last one I give your cocky behind.  Wine?"  Nancy offered as she grabbed the bottle from her liquor cabinet. 

"Yes sounds good."  Nancy struggled with the top until it finally popped open she placed the glass in front of Darren as she poured him a glass.  She lost her balanced and knocked the glass over into Darren's lap.

"Oh my goodness I'm sooo sorry.  Hurry up and take it off so I can throw it in the washer.  I'm so sorry Darren did it get on your shirt too.  I'm such a klutz..." 

"You said it, not me."

"Whatever just hurry up and give me your clothes.  I'll get you a robe."  Nancy said as she rushed to her bedroom.  She returned with a robe in her hand. "Sorry it's pink, but it'll only be for an hour."

"I'm not putting that on.  I have boxers."

"What you allergic to pink or something?"

"I'm not putting that on."  Darren said shaking his head.

"Fine, don't complain about my AC being on though I'm not turning it off."

"That's fine." 

Nancy placed Darren's clothes in the washer and set it to run.   They continued to drink and talk as his clothes washed.  Suddenly there was a knock on the door. 

"Can I use your restroom?"  Darren asked as Nancy walked towards the front door. 
"Yea sure, it that door in front of my bedroom.  Who is it?"  She sang as she looked through the peephole.  It was Robert.  She opened the door "Hey what brings you by?"  She asked.  Robert walked by her.  "Just was in your neighborhood." 

"You were in my neighborhood."  Nancy said with a smile on her face.  Robert looked her up and down.

"What's under that robe?"  He asked indicating the silk robe Nancy was wearing. 

"Why should that be any of your concern?"  Just then Darren walked out of the restroom rubbing his hands together. 

"That lotion you had in the bathroom smells so good.  What is that?"  As Darren looked up he met Robert's fist that knocked him to the ground and knocked out all his senses.  Robert climbed on top of him and continued punching Darren in the face. 

"Didn't I tell you I would destroy you boy?"  Nancy screamed as she pulled at Robert begging him to stop.  Robert stood up and stomped in Darren's stomach.  Darren doubled up in pain and groaned. 

"You stupid jerk!!!  It's not what it looks like.  I spilled wine on his clothes!"  Nancy said as she kneeled next to Darren whose nose was bleeding profusely. 

"Nancy I-."  Robert started after he got a good look around.  He noticed her bed still neatly made up and the wine glasses on the counter. 

"I don't want to hear it, Get out!"

"Nancy, lis-." 

"I said get the hell out Robert!"  Nancy said as she looked down at Darren who was still trying to focus after his surprise attack.  Robert took a deep breath and walked out, closing the door behind him.