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other smart woman will snatch him up, and you’ll be sitting next to me at his wedding. Men ain’t like women. Women get divorced and spend a year or two in therapy and crying to their girlfriends. Men find them a new woman and get remarried. They can’t handle being alone after they been married. Their primary goal is to fill that spot so they can get on with their life.”
    I shook my head, more to get rid of the thought than to say no. “Erika, you know how the boss lady is. She strongly frowns on intimate relationships between co-workers.”
    â€œSo.” She sucked her teeth. “That didn’t stop Randy from knocking up Brittany, now did it? And quiet as it’s kept, everybody knows Richard and Sheryl are kicking it. So, you need to go ’head and get yours.”
    â€œThat’s different. Randy is a free-lancer. Brittany is an administrative assistant. And Richard and Sheryl aren’t upper level. They’re under the radar. Ain’t nobody paying attention to them.” I lowered my voice a little. “And you know the deal. I want this promotion, more than anything. I can’t afford to mess up.”
    Erica nodded slowly. “I guess so.” She took another deep whiff of my Jason air. “Whatever, girl. You can get a new job. Where you gon’ find another Jason Hampton? He is truly one of a kind. Sleep if you want to. I guarantee we’ll be at Jason’s wedding within a year. Now whether you’ll be carrying the bouquet or catching the bouquet is up to you.”
    Erika took one final sniff, got up and left my office. As she closed my door, I heard her humming the wedding march, “Dum da da dum. Dum da da dum.”
    I looked back at my computer screen at my treatment, begging to be finished. Yeah, right. Like there was any way I could concentrate for the rest of the afternoon with this new bit of information.
    I clenched my teeth, grabbed my mouse and scrolled up to the last thing I had written.
    Reality television is the latest trend in programming . . .
    Jason was divorced. Jason was no longer married and unavailable. Jason was single.
    Viewers enjoy it because of the “anybody-can-be-famous” factor . . .
    Jason is gorgeous. Jason is smart. Jason is sweet. Jason smells good.
    This show would highlight individuals who are . . .
    Jason is saved and attends church regularly. Jason keeps a Bible in his desk drawer that I’ve seen him take out and read on many occasions.
    I had to concentrate. There was too much riding on this show. It could be the key to my promotion into a position where I had more input about programming. I decided to answer the nagging voice in my head.
    Jason is freshly divorced. Jason is three years younger than you. You NEED this promotion.
    Unfortunately, none of my thoughts overpowered the scent of his cologne still hanging in the air.
    I pushed back from my desk and marched to the restroom down the hall. I grabbed the air freshener off the little shelf, concealed it in my suit jacket and marched back to my office. Once I got inside, I sprayed and sprayed and sprayed until I was sure there was no remnants of Jason left behind.
    Of course, that was too much. My eyes watered, and I started choking. I tried to catch my breath, but every time I inhaled, my lungs filled up with the chemicals.
    I stepped into the hallway, coughing. Erika looked up from her desk. I was sure I looked crazy—tears flowing from my eyes, stooped over wheezing, trying to get some fresh air.
    She came running over and pounded me on the back. “What’s wrong with you?”
    I waved her away. “I’m fine,” I gasped.
    â€œYou’re not fine. Are you choking on a peppermint? Do I need to do the Heimlich?”
    â€œReally, I’m okay.” I tried to stand up and look normal. I took a deep breath and set off another coughing fit.
    Erika took me by the arm and headed toward my office. I was creating a stir