By My Side

CHAPTER 3

Phoebe was so preoccupied with caring for Jake and scouring the newspaper want ads for a part time job that, before she knew it, the weekend was over and it was once again time to return to her temporary secretarial position. She was very lucky that she had found a neighbor willing to watch over Jake until she could find a more permanent solution to her childcare problem.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Stouts. Here is my work number for emergencies. Jake has not been feeling well for the past day or two, but I am sure it won't amount to anything. Now, are you really okay handling this? I wouldn't normally ask you to do this, but..."

Phoebe's explanation was halted by the comforting pat given to her shoulder by Mrs. Stouts.

"Oh, no dear. I am only too happy to help. Jake and I will be just fine together, won't we, Jake?"

Undaunted by Jake's wide eyes and trembling lips, the elderly woman forged on. "Sure, we will. Now, off to work with you. Jake and I will be just fine together."

"All right. Give me a hug, Jake."

Phoebe grasped Jake tightly in her arms and wished she didn't have to let go.

"You be good for Mrs. Stouts now, okay?"

With one last hug and another quick thank you to Mrs. Stouts, Phoebe looked at her watch and ran for her car, hoping against all hopes that she would not be late for work.

******

By lunchtime, Phoebe was well past the point of exhaustion. Not only had she skipped her ten minute break earlier to make up for coming in 5 minutes late, but she was also trying to get twice as much work done in order to not fall behind when she left early for a job interview. Busily trying to ignore her impending headache and concentrate on the report needing to be typed in front of her, Phoebe didn't notice Cole exiting his office.

"Hey there, beautiful. What are you still doing at the office? Everyone else is already out at lunch." With a smile and a teasing tone, Cole continued, "You weren't waiting for me, were you?"

"As much as I would like to trade witty banter with you right now, I have work to do. So, if you don't mind..." With that, Phoebe turned back to her computer to reread what she had just finished typing.

Cole gave Phoebe a hard, assessing look. He had long since seen the beauty that was Phoebe, but he had neglected to look any deeper. Upon closer inspection, Cole now noticed worry lines between her eyes. He could see could see the sense of weariness and despair that encompassed her composure. It was clear that By lunchtime, Phoebe was well past the point of exhaustion. Not only had she skipped her ten-minute break earlier to make up for coming in five minutes late, but also she was trying to get twice asj much work done in order to not fall behind when she left a little early for a job interview. Busily trying to ignore her impending headache and concentrate on the report needing to be typed in front of her, Phoebe didn't notice Cole exiting his office. "Hey there beautiful. What are you still doing in the office? Everyone else is out for lunch." With a smile and a teasing tone, Cole continued, "You weren't waiting for me, were you?"

"As much as I would like to trade witty banter with you, right now I have work to do. So if you don't mind ... " With that Phoebe turned back to her computer to reread what she had just typed.

Cole gave Phoebe a hard look and continued on in a more serious tone, "Phoebe, all joking aside, when are you planning to go to lunch?"

"When I get the money to pay the rent and feed my son three square meals a day," thought Phoebe. But, not wanting to admit that to Cole, she simply replied, "Oh, I'm not really hungry right now. So, if you'll excuse me, please."

"Phoebe, come with me."

"No. I really can't. As I already said, I have a lot of work to get done," insisted Phoebe.

Cole turned around and gave Phoebe a hard look. "I don't believe that was a question. Now follow me."

Seeing no alternative, Phoebe did as she was told and followed Cole into his roomy executive office. As she looked around, she noticed that Cole had opened a small co1npartment next to his desk that, surprisingly, turned out to be a mini refrigerator. Astonished, Phoebe watched him pull out a sandwich on wheat bread and a fresh bottle of apple juice.

"Oh, I couldn't. That's really not necessary," Phoebe denied as she tried to push the meal back towards Cole.

"Just take it Phoebe. After all, you 're not going to have any energy if you do not eat."

"Well, thank you. And I guess you're right. I do need my energy if I am going to get all of my work done." Smiling, Phoebe accepted the meal with a slight blush.

"Yes, among energy for other more ... active endeavors."

The comment caused Phoebe to blush furiously, especially when she looked up and noticed there was something more than a teasing glint lighting up Cole's vivid blue eyes. Thanking him for the food, Phoebe quickly left his office and hurried to finish the pile of work she had yet to complete.

Cole watched as Phoebe hurried out of bis office. She really was a sight to behold. He wasn't really sure why he was attracted to her in the first place. His normal type, blue-eyed curvy blondes with legs that seem to go on forever, were Phoebes exact opposite. With her mousy brown hair, hazel eyes, and short sized frame, he should have found her extremely unattractive. But he didn't. This attraction was creating a major problem for Cole. He couldn't look at another woman without wishing that she were Phoebe instead. Cole was sure that if he could get Phoebe to go out with him, he could get her out of his system once and for all, but so far that endeavor was an uphill battle. It was a good thing he wasn't the type to give up easily. With that final thought, Cole smiled and sat down at his desk and tried to get his mind back on the business at hand.

******

As she waited to be called in for her interview, Phoebe took note of her surroundings. The lobby for the sewing plant was a small room with three chairs and a desk. They all looked as though they had seen better days. The fluorescent light in the middle of the ceiling continued to flicker in an unsteady rhythm. Even the carpet, with its multiple stains and frayed ends, seemed to fit the room's general look.

After waiting for several minutes, the secretary finally announced that Mr. Stone would now see her in his office. Picking up her purse, Phoebe thanked the secretary and proceeded to her interview. Her first impression of Mr. Stone was not a very complementary one. His greased back hair, sweat stained t-shirt and the predatory look in his probing eyes made Phoebe want to turn around and run right back out the dingy front door. If she didn't need the money so much, she probably would have done just that.

"Thank you very much for waiting, Ms ... Losste?" Waiting for Phoebe's consensual nod, Mr. Stone, a chubby balding fellow, continued. "Please take a seat."

Phoebe followed his directions, took a seat and tried to ignore the overwhelming smell of sweat drowned in aged aftershave as she attempted to get through this interview as quickly as possible.

******