Michael Leon and Steve Bray sat in Micheal’s office for another one of Michael’s good natured tongue lashings of Steve. The door was shut and Micheal was yelling at Steve.

Steve, Michael’s buddy from college had always given Michael something to get on him about.

“I don’t know what is wrong with you,” Michael slightly elevated his voice. “You promised them what?”

Steve sat and thought for a moment then he said. “I…ah…know the timeline is a bit ambitious…”

Michael laughed and yelled, “A bit ambitious? Applied Research couldn’t even get this done in the time frame that your dumb ass promised them.”

Steve wasn’t offended for there relationship always consisted of some good natured ribbing, but he did know for a fact that it was his mistake that required Watts to do more than they could really do.

“We can do this, I know we can.” Steve lied.

Michael continued to laugh and said, “You are lucky I can’t fire you…”

A cocky grin grew on Steve’s face when he said, “I would rather be lucky than good.”

They both laughed. Michael then said, “OK, I will talk to Dr. Stevens. We will get VanderHolt to accept a more realistic time line. And you…”

Steve pointed at himself and said, “Muah…”

“Yeah, you are not going to talk to them anymore…Damn, you need a babysitter Steve.”

Steve laughed and said, “You knew what you were getting when you got me. The best salesman you have ever seen…”

“And the biggest shoveler of horse manure in the country.”

Steve smiled and asked, “What’s the difference?”

Michael just shook his head and said, “OK, get out of my office and get back to work!”

Michael sometimes thought that he pushed the envelope with his relationship with Michael, but both knew that there was a limit to what Michael would put up with. Steve started walking towards the door.

Michael stopped him and asked, “Hey Steve, what happened with that big date you had last night? What was her name…ah…”

Steve interrupted him, “Sandy…and it was amazing. I can’t wait to see her again.”

“Could this be the one?”

“I rebuke you in the name of JEEEZZUS.” Steve said in a voice that mimicked a television evangelist. “By amazing I mean she held my interest in the bed…You know that!”

“Steve you ain’t getting any younger. You don’t need to be in a hurry, but you need to at least be looking.”

“I’m looking…for the next skirt to chase. All of us can’t be like you and Laura.” Steve said emphasizing the Laura’s name.

Michael smiled and said, “Well, I bet you just ain’t met the right one yet. When you do you will be singing a different tune.”

Steve thought for a moment and said, “Unless that tune is sung by a girl band, I ain’t really interested.”

“Whatever…Now don’t forget our card game tonight, you, me, Janet, and Laura. Now get out of here and get back to work.”

Steve walked out of Michael’s office and walked into his office. He had his feet up on the table and he was picking up his cell phone. He had forgotten about a date that he had for tonight that he had to cancel due to the card game.

Steve had many dates, but he never liked to miss the card game because he genuinely liked being with Laura and Michael, and he also didn’t mind being in the company of Janet Mills.

While he was dialing the cell phone Janet walked into his office.

“You can come in.” Steve said after she was standing in front of him.

“I know you ain’t trying to start anything.” Janet joked.

“What do you want?”

“I heard Michael yelling at you, are you in trouble over that VanderHolt thing?”

“Nope…well…He did tell me that I can’t negotiate with them anymore…but that won’t last long.”

“I told you, you know I should be sitting in that seat.” Janet said while pointing at Steve’s seat.

“Hold on…” Steve said to Janet while finishing dialing the cell phone.

Steve faked a cough and said, “I am really feeling under the weather Patricia, I can’t meet you tonight…what’s that?…No please don’t come by, I am going to sleep in the whole night.”

Janet stood there looking disgusted at Steve. “So you playing another woman? When will they pick up on you?”

“Don’t worry Janet, I broke that date so that you could have me all to yourself. It’s card night and you are going to be my partner.”

“Don’t remind me, I’ll be there, but it ain’t to get next to you.”

Steve laughed and said, “You know you want to get on the Stevie Train of Love.” He started a fake dance.

“Oh Lord…” Janet said while she walked out of the door.

Steve said to her while she left, “See you at eight, don’t be late.” He laughed.

************************************

Janet walked back into Ashley Miller’s office. She was the Human Resources Manager. Janet perceived that Ashley was still hurt over the Michael and Laura relationship, but she was mending.

What Janet didn’t know was why her and Ashley were not as friendly as they had been in the past. But Ashley’s door was always open to Janet.

“Hey Ash, what’s going on?”

“I have a few more things to do before heading home.”

“What you got planned for today?”

“A good book and a good pillow…”

“Hey, you know that card game that started when you joined the company?” Janet said.

“Yeah, I remember.”

“You want to go?” Janet asked. Janet knew that Ashley had not been back to the card game ever since Michael and Laura had become a couple, but everyone had made it clear that she was welcome to come.

“I don’t know…” Ashley said.

“I really need to you come, I can’t take another time being Steve’s partner.”

Ashley laughed and asked, “What is it with that guy? One second he is Casanova the next second he is Jim Carey.”

They both laughed.

“I know right…But then when he has to get the job done he really gets it done.” Janet said. “That’s the only reason why people put up with him.” Janet continued.

They both continued to laugh while Janet continued to put the pressure on Ashley to come.

“Come on Ash, you don’t really need to read that book.” Janet said.

“Well, it would be nice to get out of the apartment.”

“That’s what I’m talking about…”

“OK, but doesn’t that leave Steve out in the cold?”

“I have a friend from church that I will bring to be his partner. She will kill me, but I will bring her.

Ashley smiled and said, “It’s a date…” Ashley look genuinely excited. Janet felt good that she would be getting her out and about.

Ashley walked into her cubicle and picked up her cell phone and began dialing.

“Hello.” The voice said

“Hey Penny.” Janet said to her good friend Penny Young from her church. She was a tall and pretty and religious woman. Janet kind of felt bad, but she couldn’t think of anyone else that she knew that would be free on that night.

“We have a card game tonight and I need you to come.” Janet said.

“You know I don’t gamble…” Penny said.

“No we aren’t gambling, I just need you to be the partner for one of my co-workers.”

“Are you setting me up?”

“NNNNOOOOOOO…I wouldn’t do that to…what I mean is…well…it’s just a friendly game of Cards and we need an even number of people.”

Penny said, “Sounds like fun, could me in.”

Janet let out a breath of relief and said, “I will call you with the details later.”

Janet got up to go to the copy machine to make a few copies when Laura walked by her. Janet thought that Laura is still walking on cloud 9 from her relationship with Michael.

Janet then thought about her fiance who was living in New York City. She was counting the days until he comes to visit her. She was literally checking the days off in her calender app. She knew it wouldn’t be but a few days before she would be face to face with her lover. But now she had to go through another night of Jim Carey mixed with Casanova.