one of the cups at the water
cooler when she hears a familiar baritone voice appro aching.
She tries to hasten filling up the cup, and take off, but she doesn't
before Colin walks right next to her. His hand carefully grazes her own while she stands at the water cooler.
Her heart beats faster. She watches as Colin, Travis, and Nick's co ntinue down the hallway. They had been in the library. Of course! Renee figures it out. They are able to
access the library, without being seen from her end of the Pit. Oh My God! Renee's thoughts are off and running,
even more wildly. She raises her right hand to her
chest to examine it. She can still feel Colin's lingering touch.
Renee d ips back into her work chair, still in a daze. She can't
believe what has just taken place. She looks up at her desktop screen, takes a
deep breath, and attempts to get h er work done.
Renee sketches, researches, plays with varying color options, and sketches
again. She is able to find her momentum despite her most recent close encounter
with Colin. She's decided to block it out. Melaine's words, from earlier that morning, about conquering the situation, has kicked in. It's truly
Renee's objective to "win".
"Ready for lunch?" Renee looks up to see Nick
smiling down at her.
"Is is that time already?" She asks, totally
oblivious. Renee diligently plugged away at her latest assignment. She created her own mental cocoon, and blocked everyone, and
everything out including her thoughts.
"Yep! Amanda is waiting for us in the downstairs
lobby."
"Okay then...let's get out of here." Renee says,
and the two head out, to embark on the elevator.
Nick, and Renee talk and laugh heartily while waiting for
the elevators to come. They become fully engaged in conversation about
Nick's promotion.
"Well Nick, it is truly well deserved. You've got
skills!" They laugh in unison. "Congratulati ons!"
Just then one of the elevator doors opens. Colin and Travis are
already on it. Renee and Colin's eyes immediately connect. Colin smiles. Renee
looks away. Travis senses awkwardness, but doesn't think much of it. Colin has
made many a young woman nerv ous.
"Going down?" Travis asks. Colin is fixated on
Renee.
"Yeah." Nick responds, and extends his left arm,
indicating to Renee to get on ahead of him.
"Thank you." Renee says unconsciously, and stands
on the elevator directly in front of Colin. He snap s
a mental picture of Renee from his vantage point. His eyes trace her
curves, accentuated in a black tailored sleeveless dress. It stops just before her knees. Her legs
shimmer like gold, and her athletically toned rear end is perfectly elevated by
her t wo inch pumps.
Travis makes conversation with Renee, and Nick on the short
ride to the lobby but Renee is too nervous to talk, and only offers forced
smiles. Colin contributes short phrases that don't distract from his
concentrated focus on Renee. Once on the lobby level,
Renee immediately springs forward, and speedily walks toward Amanda. Nick
breaks from Travis and Colin amidst more small talk, and joins the Ladies who
are waiting patiently for him. Colin takes the opportunity to gaze at Renee one
last t ime. Amanda waves gracelessly at the company's
founder. She mistakes his look in their direction as an opportunity to interact. Colin nods. Renee can't help
but laugh at her comical friend, and finally relaxes about the entire
situation.
"See? Everyone th inks those
upstairs guys are stuck up. They're cool, right?" Nick says as he
approaches.
"Come on Nick. Now you know, that Winston was not
always like that." Amanda sets him straight. "I think he found God
overseas or something." Amanda deduces.
"Well, w hatever it is. He's
pretty cool now. I had a blast with him, and Travis this morning. They're
really shaking things up in here." Nick concludes while the three are
walking out of the building. Renee listens intently. What is truly happening around here? Sh e wonders.
CHAPTER 7
"You're working late. Does it