Human Translation

Challenge At Work

"Have a wonderful day at work, baby.  I'll pick you up for lunch, okay?" Caleb kissed his wife quickly on the lips as the elevator they were on stopped on her floor.  He didn't care if they weren't alone in the elevator; Simone was his wife and he could kiss her whenever he wanted.

"Okay.  I'll wait for you around 11:30?" Simone looked up at her husband.

"Yup.  Bye, baby." 

Simone smiled at her husband and gave him a little wave, blushing at all the faces in the elevator staring at her.  She pulled her purse higher up on her shoulder as she walked to her desk.  She placed her purse inside  her empty desk drawer and turned on her monitor to get her computer out of sleep mode.  She had just signed into her work e-mail when a petite brunette approached her desk holding a take out container of coffee and a brown paper bag.  The brunette stopped in front of her desk and Simone smiled at the young woman.

"Hi, can I help you?"

"Hi, I'm Penelope, Mr. Nathaniel Smith's administrative assistant," the brunette smiled at Simone.

"Hi, Penelope.  Are you looking for Natasha?  She isn't in yet.  I can give those to her if you'd like," Simone stood up from her seat and motioned to the coffee and paper bag the brunette held in her hands.

"Actually, you're Simone Hamilton, right?"

"Yes," Simone said slowly.

"Then these are for you.  A vanilla latte and a blueberry muffin from Mr. Smith," Penelope stretched out her hands for Simone to get the breakfast from her.  

"For me?" Simone asked Penelope in disbelief.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't ask questions, Simone.  I just do as I'm told," Penelope shrugged and turned around towards the elevators.

Simone sat down and opened the paper bag.  She saw a folded up piece of paper on top of the muffin and took it out.  

Simone,

Don't read too much into it.   It's just breakfast.

Nate

Simone shook her head.  She could not believe the nerve of this man!  Nathaniel Smith knew very well that she was married; he even knew Caleb personally!  She stood up from her desk and picked up the coffee and bag of muffin.  She stomped all the way to the elevator and pressed the button for the topmost floor where Nathaniel's office was located.  She stomped out of the elevator and stomped past Penelope's desk.  Penelope quickly stood up to block Simone's way.

"Is he in, Penelope?" Simone tried to ask nicely, but the irritation was still evident in her voice.

"Yes, but I'd have to call in to see if he's taking any visitors right now," Penelope stammered.

"Don't worry.  I'm not gonna take long," Simone smiled before sidestepping Penelope and knocking on Nathaniel's frosted glass door.

Penelope heard Nathaniel's voice over the intercom.  "Yes, Penelope?" Nathaniel asked.

"Mr. Smith, Simone Hamilton is here to see you," Penelope ran back to her desk to answer the intercom.

"Sure, let her in."

Penelope's eyes widened.  Usually, her boss didn't take unscheduled visitors, no matter what.  Penelope stood up again and opened up Nathaniel's door for Simone.  Simone mumbled a quick thanks and stepped into Nathaniel's office.  His office was huge, with modern and contemporary touches.  It looked cold, it looked uninviting, it looked...calculating, just like the man who occupied it.  It was a beautiful office, all black and white and dark wood, but it was not a place one would want to spend long hours in.  Behind the marble desk and sitting in a customized ergonomic office chair was a smirking Nathaniel Smith.  He waited for Penelope to close the door before speaking.