An Office Affair

"So, have you enjoyed your first week with us?"
Rachel smiled at her colleague as she flapped her hands under the hot
air dryer. "I really have thanks, Hannah," she replied truthfully,
crossing over to the mirror to re-touch her lipstick. She'd been
nervous about starting her new job, but all the staff at Planet
Electronics had made her feel extremely welcome. "I feel as though I've
been here for ages, to be honest!"
Hannah smiled as she brushed her thick blonde hair. "I think the boss
has taken a shine to you, you lucky devil!" she said cheekily. "I've
never seen the gorgeous Mike so attentive to a new member of staff. He
generally plays it pretty cool you know." She sighed enviously.
"What?" Rachel started, smudging her lipstick. "Don't be silly," she
laughed nervously, fumbling in her bag for a tissue.
"Us girls have got a bit of a bet on actually," said Hannah, lowering
her voice as though their boss might be listening outside the ladies.
"Which one of us will be the first to tempt him out on a date!"
"Really?" Rachel turned away from the mirror and picked up her bag
with trembling hands, recalling the way Mike had looked at her as she
walked through the office just this morning. "Is he single?"

"Who cares?" Hannah laughed, turning to admire her pert bottom in the
full- length mirror. "A little detail like that isn't going to stand in
our way!" She glanced at Rachel. "I suppose you don't approve?" Her
tone had become cool. Rachel hesitated. She desperately wanted to be
part of the gang - to fit in. She took a deep steadying breath, and
tried to smile. "I don't disapprove," she said, looking Hannah in the
eye. "In fact - Mike is just my type. I might be tempted to have a go
myself!"
Hannah laughed out loud, and linked arms with Rachel as they made their
way back into the large open-plan office. She beckoned Sam, the pretty
receptionist, over. "Guess what Sammy? Our Rachel here reckons she's in
with a chance with the lovely Mikey!"
Sam pretended to pout. "Not fair&;#8230;&;#8230;&;#8230;.we've
enough competition as it is!" she wailed, only half joking as her
sweeping glance took in Rachel's long black hair and stunning figure.
Anna scuttled over from the photocopier in her painfully high heels, to
see what all the fuss was about, and before long all the females in the
office were having a heated discussion about which of them most
deserved a date with their delectable boss. Not for the first time,
Rachel was sure.

Feeling slightly shaky, she returned quietly to her desk, aware that
Mike could probably see her from his office. Of course she'd noticed
the effect her boss seemed to have on his female members of staff, but
in all honesty she was taken aback to discover that every woman in the
office found Mike as attractive as she did. She felt a strong pang of
jealousy. Hannah said he tended to play things cool and Rachel
respected his professional demeanour. But what if he had a secret thing
for one of them? They were permanently wiggling in and out of his
office with the flimsiest excuse. How could he not be tempted by all
that feminine attention?

On the spur of the moment, Rachel switched off her computer, stood up
and made her way over to the gaggle of women. Hannah looked at her
curiously.
"I think I'll go and ask him out now, actually" she said, surprised at
how steady her voice sounded.
"You're joking!" Sam's pink frosted mouth was hanging open.
"You've only been here five minutes - we've been trying to bag him for
months and got nowhere!" Julie actually looked angry while Hannah's
eyes sparkled with excitement. "Go girl" she laughed. "I dare
you!"

Slowly, Rachel made her way over to Mike's office, aware that the eyes
of everyone in the office were watching her disbelievingly. She knocked
on the door tentatively, then opened it and slipped inside before Mike
could answer.
"Yes Rachel - what is it?" Mike put down the phone and looked up at
her quizzically, a definite twinkle in his green eyes.
"I - er - was just wondering if - er - maybe we could go out to dinner
one evening, Mr Freeman? If you're free?" She smiled a slow, shy smile
as his eyes lingered on hers. "Please?" He was silent, appraising her.
"Pretty please?"
"Do you think that's wise? What will they all say?" He gestured
towards the window, where Rachel could see everybody standing perfectly
still, waiting. Mike stood up and walked round his desk to stand in
front of her. The smell of his aftershave made Rachel feel faint with
desire.
"I don't care what people say," she said boldly, holding his
gaze.
"Well, well Rachel. There's certainly more to you than meets the eye."
Mike looked at her thoughtfully. "Okay then. How about tonight?"
Rachel exhaled, unaware that she'd been holding her breath. "
Wonderful! I'll - er - see you later then." She turned and almost ran
out of the office before she could change her mind. There was palpable
tension in the office.
"Well?" hissed Hannah. Julie looked sceptical. Sam was fit to burst.
"What happened?" she whispered, grabbing Rachel's arm as she walked
past.
"He's taking me out to dinner tonight!"
"WHAT?"
Rachel smiled and walked confidently back to her desk. The bubble of
conversation grew louder as the news spread. There were mixed
reactions. "Good for you, Rachel!" John from accounts grinned across at
her, with a cheeky wink. "That'll shut them all up for a while - maybe
they'll do some work now!"
The women were admiring, and jealous in equal parts. Rachel kept her
head down for the rest of the afternoon and tried to ignore all the
curious glances and whispered comments.

At five thirty on the dot Mike came out of his office, shrugging on his
jacket.
"Ready to go Rachel?" he called
Rachel picked up her bag, grabbed her coat and left the building on
Mike's arm. There was a collective gasp at her audacity.

"Do you really think this is a good idea?" asked Mike when they
reached the car park.
"I think it's a very good idea," replied Rachel and reaching up, she
kissed him full on the lips."
"They're going to be watching you know," he grinned as they climbed
into his Mercedes. "I can feel about twenty pairs of eyes burning into
my back!"
"I know," said Rachel, shamelessly. "I don't care!"
"What brought this on then?"
Rachel sighed, then decided to be honest. "All the women fancy you,
Mike."
"I know," he smiled, without a trace of arrogance. "So what?"
"Well it made me feel jealous, so I decided to do something about it."
Rachel blushed at her admission and Mike leaned over and kissed her
cheek tenderly. "You've nothing to worry about darling."
Rachel sighed with relief.
"I know we were going to leave it a bit longer, until you'd settled in
properly, but I guess we're going to have to come clean now," said
Mike, struggling with his seat belt.
"Do you think they'd have guessed eventually anyway?"
"What - that you're my wife? Probably!" Mike stroked her cheek. "We
couldn't have kept a secret like that for too long." He started the
car. "Mind you - we don't have to tell them just yet&;#8230;"