Alicia

I couldn't believe how well that went. I practically danced back to CyberSecure. Gadget Guys was getting ready to launch a whole new line of gadgets and they wanted a revamped branding line to go with it. Which was where Hope Digital came in.

Humming to myself as I rode back up the elevator, I hoped Colin didn't mind that I took an extra long lunch break. Not that he had a say in how I chose to spend my work hours but I at least wanted to try to be considerate.

Walking onto the floor, there was a buzz in the air that hadn't been there when I left. People were gathered together, talking over cubicle walls. I noticed Amir by the water cooler and went to join him. "What's the hubbub all about?"

"Fire alarm went off just before lunch but apparently there was no fire."

"Weird."

"The boss was looking for you." Amir grinned. "He seemed a little, ah, concerned as to your whereabouts."

My face warmed though inwardly I was happy to hear that Colin was worried for me. "Too bad I missed all the fuss."

"It was more a nuisance than anything. By the way, when did you need those numbers again?"

"Friday." I had almost forgotten that my thirty day probationary period was coming to an end. I needed to bring solid evidence to Colin that my social media marketing strategy had indeed boosted clientele. "And are you working with finance to get the revenue reports?"

"Yes ma'am, I'd say it's looking pretty good."

"Did you doubt my capabilities Amir?"

"Not for a second." He cheered his water bottle in salute then moseyed back over to his desk.

I did a mental fist pump that the numbers were good. And with another big client already lined up, I could start kissing that business loan, bye, bye. But first I should probably check in with Colin and let him know I was alright. Maybe even share the good news for Hope Digital.

Spying him at his desk through the office window, I lightly knocked on his door and poke my head in. "Hey, I heard you were looking for me."

Colin turned from his monitor to look at me but instead of lighting up at my presence, his face remained impassive.

"Um, sorry I missed all the excitement earlier. I had a lunch meeting." I waited for him to ask about it so I could gush about all the details but he only continued to stare at me. Did something happen in the two hours I was gone? This morning he was a nervous wreck around me and now it's like I'm a leper. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know Alicia, is there?"

I gaped at him, wondering what happened to the man who wanted me to meet his mother. Apparently he wasn't here. "No, I suppose not. Sorry to have bothered you." I let the door slam behind me as I stomp back to my hole of an office. And he said that I was two-faced!

I hid away at my desk fuming until home time when I could slip away. I didn't even dare to sneak a peek at Colin's office as I stormed to the elevator. It was a little childish but I was too mad to care. My pinky nail could attest to that.

Getting back home, I considered going for a run but remembered that it didn't go so well last time with my mind so preoccupied. I opted for a hot shower instead.

Blowing drying my hair, my phone lit up on the bathroom vanity. The name Ashley Dover front and center. Turning off the hair dryer, I picked up my phone but didn't answer it. It was too easy to guess why Pastor Dave's wife was calling me. I was sure Jessica had told them by now about the row Liam and I had at the pizza parlor.

The temptation to let it go to voicemail was strong but I also knew I couldn't hide forever. And there was a part of me that longed to talk with a godly woman about my circumstances because I was very much lost. I swiped up on the phone to answer.

"Hi, Ashley."

"Alicia, hi, how are you? We missed you last week."

I cringed at the reminder that I skipped out on bible study. "Yeah, sorry about that."

"Liam wasn't there either."

I let the comment hang for a moment. "Then you know what happened."

Ashley didn't respond for a heartbeat. "You know we're here for you Alicia. Don't feel ashamed to share your feelings."

My throat tightened in emotion at her words. "Even if I am conforming to the world Ashley?" Hot tears burned behind my eyes. "Liam was right. I do have feelings for someone who isn't walking with the Lord."

"I don't think Liam is a reliable source right now for godly wisdom, especially since his motives are not entirely pure. The question is, what are you going to do about these feelings?"

Maybe that was the question I'd been avoiding. I always thought I could remain friends with Colin without being romantically involved. But that was getting more difficult of late. "I know a relationship is out of the question. But even knowing that doesn't make my feelings for him any less."

"Alicia, it sounds like to me that you already have your answer. All you have to remember is to put God first."

The tears were now staining my cheeks as they fell. I knew her wisdom was sound but it was what I knew I had to do that made it hard.

"Surrender it all over to God Alicia. And that includes the possibility of a relationship with Colin."

A sob broke out. I knew Ashley was right but the thought of possibly never seeing Colin again broke my heart.

"Whatever God is calling you to do Alicia, I know you can do it," Ashley soothed.

I realized how attached I had let myself become. I thought I could remain friends with Colin without getting involved. Yet my heart did get involved and now I was struggling to break it free.

"Thank you Ashley." I grabbed at some toilet paper and blew my nose.

"I'm just the messenger. Actually I read a verse this morning that made me think of you." I heard rummaging in the background. "Here it is. 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.'"

"I know what I have to do now."

"I'll keep praying for you girl. See you Sunday."

Saying our goodbyes, I found Colin's number in my phone and hit the text button.

Colin, I'm afraid I won't be able to join you on your trip to see your mom. I hope you have a blessed time. Send her my regards.

I hit send then turned off my phone. I didn't expect him to respond but I didn't want to be looking at my phone every few minutes wondering if he did.

As I left the bathroom and went to my bedroom, I knew there was one other thing I needed to do concerning Colin. On Friday when I present the positive results of the marketing campaign, I'll state that I'll be returning back to my own office for the remainder of the two months. It was our arrangement to begin with but Colin may have expected me to stay.

I was still baffled by what turned Colin's mood so quickly towards me. The wariness and mistrust in his eyes gave the feeling of deja vu. Would Colin ever be able to fully trust me?

My gut told me the answer I didn't want to hear. So I did the only thing I could do. I prayed and I cried.

+++

Colin

I'm afraid I won't be able to join you on your trip to see your mom.

I read Alicia's text and then read it again. It wasn't surprising, especially with how I reacted to her earlier. But it didn't stop the swirling of regret in the pit of my stomach.

I sat on the couch in my condo while I stared at my phone. My vest lay crumpled beside me. Normally I would hang it up immediately to prevent it from wrinkling but after the day I had, I didn't have the motivation.

The place was too quiet, too empty. I never really noticed before or I didn't care. Gray walls, gray couch, gray carpet. Quiet and bland. I'm sure if Alicia was here she would put a splash of pink somewhere.

Call her.

I knew I should. Apologize for my boorish behavior earlier. When I couldn't find her during the false fire alarm, it was like I was transported right back to high school and she was stabbing me in the back all over again. Except I didn't have any proof that she was the one to pull the alarm. Rowan said they might get some footage from the stairwell but not to get my hopes up.

I looked down at my phone again, my thumb hovering over the call button. "Gah!" I tossed it onto the armchair and stomped off to my room to change. What I needed was a few rounds with the punching bag.

My sleep was restless and my morning wasn't much better. I headed into work with bags under my eyes and an irritable attitude.

"Good morning Mr. Evans." Mrs. Lee greeted me with a cheery smile as I went into my office. I grunted in response.

Sitting at my desk, I dreaded the moment when I would see Alicia walk-in. I knew I needed to talk to her but I was at a loss of words of what to say. Hence all the tossing and turning last night.

But I would have to worry about that later. Right now I needed to focus. Rowan was coming in first thing this morning to discuss our intruder problem. It irked Rowan to no end that we didn't catch the person on Friday. And we were so close! He was still trying to figure out how they disappeared into the crowd so quickly without anyone noticing anything.

As if my thoughts conjured him up, Rowan himself stepped onto the floor and beelined for my office. He was wearing his usual black suit and tie, hair cropped short with sunglasses tucked into his front pocket. I always tried to figure out his age but he was so in shape it was hard to tell. Forties at least. All I knew was that he was good at his job and I paid him accordingly.

He entered without knocking, making Mrs. Lee jump slightly at his unannounced arrival. "Mr. Evans, I have an idea."

Always straight to the point. "I'm listening."

"I suggest we set a trap to catch this rat once and for all."

I rubbed my chin as I pondered his suggestion. "Isn't that a little risky? What if they slip through our fingers again? Along with the bait?"

"We're going to plant false information. Then we just have to wait and see who bites."

"So, what? We're just going to announce to the whole office about some fake top secret info? Little obvious isn't it?"

Rowan shook his head. "We're only going to plant it with the two people who weren't here during the time of the fire alarm."

The blood drained from my face. "You mean Casey and Alicia."

"That's right. Which matches the female profile you saw. I want you out of the office all day on Thursday. Hopefully it will prompt them to act."

The thought of setting up Alicia didn't sit well with me. But if it wasn't her, it would only prove her innocence, right? "So what's the bait?"

"Would you say your malware technology is CyberSecure's greatest asset?"

I considered his question. "Yes, though the new program I'm working on should be even greater. But only you and I know about that."

"Exactly. The thief is probably trying to steal information that can make your unhackable malware, hackable. Then selling it to the highest bidder."

I drummed my fingers on the desk. What a whole tangled mess this had become. "We make them think there is something."

Rowan nodded. "And then we lie low and wait."

"Very well, I'll make sure to say something to Casey and Alicia."

Rowan left to go make "arrangements" for Thursday. Now I needed to hold up my end of the plan.

I took a haggard breath. The idea of having to lie to Alicia made me feel ill. I wasn't sure if it was the act itself I found abhorrent or that Alicia could be found guilty in the whole affair.

I wanted to get it done and over with as soon as possible so I got up to go and search for her. It was about the time we usually met for our morning coffee but I didn't think Alicia would be interested in that today. When I peeked around the cabinets into her office space, it was completely empty. It was even undisturbed like she hadn't even come in for the day.

I headed back over to the one person who would know her whereabouts. "Mrs. Lee, have you heard from Alicia today?"

"Yes, she said she wouldn't be in today."

"Did she say why?"

"No, I'm afraid she didn't."

Was she avoiding me because of yesterday? If she was sick then she would have just said so.

"Mrs. Lee, cancel the rest of my morning appointments. I have somewhere I need to be."