Read Less Than Perfect Circumstance for Free Online Page A

to reschedule.”
    “Do you have a specific date in mind?”
    “Whenever he chooses, I’ll have to accommodate. I will be in the office the remainder of the week.”
    “Is that all sir?”
    “Yes. Thank you, Camille. If I think of anything, I will call you.”
    “Enjoy your day off, Mr. Harrison.”
    “Don’t worry. I plan on doing just that.”   
    I thought about how dependent I had become on my new secretary. Camille had cheerfulness about her that most peo ple might have complained about  I welcomed it. Maybe there was something other than coffee in that mug that’s always within reach on her desk. To think, this twenty-five year old would have been wasting her time walking the floor of a bookstore, helping sometimes rude and unappreciative customers. It wasn’t that I felt sorry for Camille when I handed her my business card and asked her to fax a resume to the office. I was more impressed with the time she took in assisting me during one of my many visits to the bookstore.
    I remember her staring at the card and then back at me. I was still dressed in business attire, which either made my gesture more accepting, or she ha d just decided to take a chance; after all, what had she to lose. Early the next morning when I reached the office, her resume and cover letter sat in a folder in the center of my desk  probably the only thing the previous secretary had done right since she was hired. Hiring Camille was one of the best professional decisions I had ever made.
    “Denise, hey, this is Trevor. I was calling to see if you want ed to meet for lunch today.”
    I wasn’t surprised when Denise didn’t answer my call. Her mornings at work were often inundated with managers meeting, supervisors meeting, or whatever meetings they felt she was needed to be a part of. After leaving my message, I clasped my hands behind my head, stared into the morning sky, and escaped in deep thought, which was later broken when my cell phone vibrated across the tabletop and fell into my lap. Startled, I responded without looking at the screen.
    “This is Mr. Harrison.”
    I glanced at my watch realizing I had only fifteen minutes to entertain whoever had decided to interrupt my silence.
    “Sup man? I wasn’t expecting you to answer,” Kelvin stated with the still obvious sound of excitement in his booming voice.
    “I almost didn’t. Oh, thanks for waking me up,” I said sarcastically.
    I heard Kelvin’s voice and was suddenly revived. Kelvin had that effect on me. 
    “Don’t tell me you’re falling asleep on the job,” Kelvin joked.
    “Of course , I’m not. I’m working from home today.”
    “Why? I s everything ok?”
    “Everything is just fine, Kelvin,” I responded. Does something have to be wrong for someone to take time away from the office? Better yet, why is he asking if everything is ok, when it should be clear to him that not everything is? I thought.
    “You know you suck at pretending, right?”
    There were times I felt Kelvin knew me too well.
    “Pretending? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    I got up from the table, walked inside the kitchen, and poured another glass of wine.
    “Yes, pretending everything is fine,” Kelvin repeated for clarification.
    “Nothing is wrong. I took today off so I can have some time to myself.”
    I knew what Kelvin was fishing for, but I wasn’t in the mood to entertain him. Somehow, Kelvin suckered me into it.
    “Trevor, I am always telling you to talk to me when something bothers you. For some odd reason, you still find it difficult to open up to me.”
    “We can’t get into it right now, but there are some things I need to say.” I glanced at his watch and continued. “I have a 10:30 conference call with Wesley and a client.”
    “Ok. Listen, I have a meeting today from three to five, then dinner with a few execs until seven, after that I am free. Can I call you around eight thirty?”
    “Ok. I’ll be here.” 
    “Alright, I am heading