“Hello Nancy.   How have you been?”  Karen said as she took her uninvited seat.  Nancy stared at her as if she lost her mind.

“What are you doing here; shouldn’t you be out aggravating some other employer?”

“Oh Nancy why can’t we let the past be the past?”
“That was just last week Karen.”  Nancy said wondering what she up to now.  “What is it that you want?”

“My job back.”

“Out of the question; there is no second chance with me Karen.  I’ve tried and I’ve tried with you, but you insist on being malicious.  I don’t have the time or the patience to deal with your childish antics.  That’s my decision.”  Nancy said, spitting out her words like daggers. 

“Is Robert in?”  Karen said as she rose from her seat. 

“He’s in a meeting right now.  If you will like we can pencil you in?” 

“That won’t be necessary.”  Karen stormed out of the office down the hall towards Robert’s office.   Nancy stopped Karen in her tracks when she stepped in front of her.

“I said he’s in an important business meeting.  We can set an appointment or you can deal with security.” 

“Really you’ll have security drag out a woman that is expecting?”  The word ‘expecting’ cut through Nancy’s chest like a hot knife; she took a deep breath trying her best to stay calm. 

“Yes. They will drag you out of here, whether you are pregnant or not.  You would have put yourself in that position.” 
“Nancy please get the hell out of my way.”  Karen said through clenched teeth.  Karen felt the heat rise to her face as her temper was about to get the best of her.

“No, you will need to make an appointment.  Robert has no time for your threats and stupidity.  So if you will like to talk to him in person.  Get to him after work or set an appointment during business hours.  Right now he’s in a very important business meeting.  Karen, we both know how Robert feels about you.  Do it the right way.  You storm in here right now, he will have no choice but to react as ignorant as your acting.  Now you’ve known him longer than me is that something you would like to risk?”  Nancy watched as Karen took a deep breath and closed her eyes, hoping she had hit a nerve.

“Nancy I said get out of my way!”

“He is in there with an investor Karen.  Keep your voice down…”

“You don’t tell me what the hell to do.  I want to speak to my unborn child’s father now!”

“Whoa whoa, what’s all this?”  Robert asked as he exited his office.   “What’s going on out here?”  He asked looking at Nancy.

“Well sir, I tried to tell her that you were in an important bus-.”

“‘Sir’, you call him sir?  This is just a big joke. You got your little girlfriend calling you ‘sir’ Robert?”

“She can’t help it she’s a professional and decent person, unlike you.  What the hell are you doing here raising your voice, can’t you see I’m in a meeting.  Anything you want to talk about we can do it after work.  You know Karen, calm the hell down and leave this office before I have you escorted out.”  Robert spat before he re-entered the office closing the door behind him. 

Nancy stood and watched as Karen spun on her heels heading towards the elevator.  She stopped in her tracks and turned around and walked towards Nancy.  “Don’t think this is the last you will see me.  I will have my job back.”

“No one took your job away from you, you left it.  You will be replaced by next week, so I highly doubt that.”  Nancy said with a smirk.  She made her way around Karen and sauntered into her office.  Once inside Nancy looked over her top three choices.  Considering what she expects and Robert’s reputation she decided to go with Roni Jacobson.

“Roni Jacobson?”  Robert asked when Nancy asked for his approval.

“Yes Roni.  Exceptional experience huh?”

“Yeah it looks great, but this is your assistant so whatever works for you.”  Robert said as he handed the resume back to Nancy. 

“That’s true, I will be working with this person more than you, but on the unfortunate circumstance that I may get sick.  You will have to work directly with this person.”  Robert looked up at Nancy as if she said the most absurd thing.

“Just make sure you get sick on weekends and holidays.  Check your calendar for the holidays you’re allowed to be sick.”  Robert said trying to keep a straight face, but failing miserably. 

“Look Robert, I’m human.  It’s been awhile since I’ve been sick but note this. It may happen one day.”  Nancy said as she glimpsed over the resume once more.  Robert made his way around the desk towards her.  Nancy watched as his face changed to the well known look of ‘I want you.’  “No we are at work Robert.  Remember our agreement.” 

“Yeah, its 5:30; so it’s after business hours.  Technically it’s after working hours.”  Nancy backed up until she was against his bookcase.  “Nancy it’s been a whole week since I’ve touched you come on baby.  You know how many times I’ve wanted to ravage you in my office.  Just to slip off that business suit; damn girl you don’t know how sexy you are.”  Robert nibbled on her neck as his hands traveled down her sides, over her hips, and settled on her rear. 

“Robert not here, come on.”  Nancy said not putting much energy into resistance.

“If you don’t want it push me away.”  Robert said as he continued to kiss over her neck.  He folded her skirt up and lifted her leg to rest it on the chair that sat nearby.  “No pushing?  So I guess this is okay.” Robert said as his hands traveled up the inside of her thigh.  Nancy could hardly breathe or move a muscle as Robert touched every point on her body that made her shudder.  Robert came back to Nancy’s lips, but was interrupted by the sound of his cell phone.  

“Ignore it.”  Nancy said breathlessly.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”  Robert continued over her body.   His phone rang again.  “Man!”  He exclaimed impatiently as he reluctantly pulled away.  “I’m just gonna check if it’s an emergency.”  Nancy stood up straight and pulled her skirt down.   “Hello?”  Robert answered the phone. 

“Robert its Karen, I need you to come over right away.  I’m bleeding and I want someone to take me to the Emergency Room.”

“Girl I’m busy right now.  Get one of your chicken head friends to go with you.”  Robert said as he reached wits end with Karen’s charades.

“Robert whether you like it or not this is your child I’m carrying.  Your too busy laying up with that heifer to come out here to make sure we’re okay?!” 

“Again, that is not my child!!”  Robert hung up the phone and began to pace the office. 

“Is everything okay?”  Nancy asked as she adjusted her clothes at the notice of the moment being gone. 

“No it’s not.  Karen said she’s at home bleeding.  What am I suppose to do I’m not a doctor?  Call an ambulance or something.”  Robert said as he searched for his cigar in his desk. 

“Well maybe you should check on her.”  Nancy held up her hands when Robert looked up at her with a crazy look in his eyes. “Just on the fact that it is a human life; we may not like her but we know her and she may be in trouble.  So just in case anything comes up in the morning, our conscience is clear.”  

“Okay, you made a good point.  It kills me that this girl has given you hell in the few weeks that you’ve known her and you still find it in your heart to have compassion towards her.” 

“Makes me a punk huh?”

“No it makes you an angel.”  Robert said as he kissed her forehead.  “Are you riding with me?”

“Of course, then afterwards how about I ride you?”

“Girl that’s all you have to say; now I won’t be able to concentrate for the rest of the night.”   Robert said as he kissed her forehead and followed her out the office. 

Darren sat at the bar at Jazzy’s, a new jazz club.  Finishing off a glass of Hennessy and signaling the bartender to give him another.  “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”  A female voice said from beside him.  Darren turned to answer with attitude, but his mind changed quickly at the sight of a long legged beautiful woman.  Her caramel skin glistened in the dim light of the club.  Her red dressed hung of her perfectly toned body. 

“Well that was just my third glass.”

“And your last I hope.  It is gonna be hard speaking to an inebriated fine looking man.” 

“Well I’m not inebriated yet.  So let’s see what we can fit in before that happens.”  Darren responded with a chuckle. 

“Well why are you here alone tonight?  You don’t seem like the type to be alone.”

“I decided to take the night away from friends tonight.  How about you?  You are gorgeous, if you don’t mind me saying.”

“Oh I wouldn’t mind at all.  Actually I had a blind date, but he didn’t show up.”  Darren looked surprised. 

“He didn’t show up?  Well he really is blind and it’s his loss.”

“Thank you.  Now why are you hiding from friends tonight?”

“Well it’s one of those things where everyone is coupled up and I feel out of place.  So I took the time to come talk to my favorite girl, Hennessy.”  Darren said holding up his glass.  “So excuse me, my name is Darren.”  Darren said holding out his hand.  

“Lisa.”  She said with the most beautiful smile Darren thought he has ever seen.  Then he remembered Nancy and placed Lisa’s smile at number two.