Alicia

That was the first time I left a meeting with Colin and actually felt good by how it ended. We had finally found some steady footing with another. Even Colin accepting that we don't have to be enemies was a huge step.

With a slight bounce in my step, I went to rejoin Casey and Amir. If there ever was a juxtaposition between two people, it was them.

Casey sported an electric blue hair cut that sat just above her shoulders. Her skin was so pale that I'm sure she would burn the minute she stood in the sun if she didn't wear at least 60 spf sunscreen. Her attire was understated compared to her hairstyle with a short sleeved white blouse and black slacks. Though maybe that was just her following office dress code.

Amir in comparison had light brown skin and short black hair. He was tall and lean but in a muscular way. I was surprised by the strength of his grip when he shook my hand. His clothes consisted of a long-sleeved blue dress shirt and brown slacks.

I arrived back at their cubicles to find them sitting face to face and chatting. They stopped at my approach. "Well," I said, forcing some positivity into my tone. "Would now be a good time to convene? It looks like the board room is available."

"Yeah, now's good," Amir said in a chipper timbre.

Casey however let out a derisive snort. "It's not like we have any work to do anyway."

I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or the workload really was that slow. Either way, it sounded like Casey was going to be a tough one to win over.

We settled in the boardroom at the end of the long table, each on our own side. With me at the head I placed my elbows down and leaned forward. "So, what have you guys done so far in terms of marketing for CyberSecure?"

Silence followed my question. I whipped my head back and forth between the two, waiting for someone to speak up.

"Well..." Amir said, drawing out the word. "We maintain the website, keeping things up to date. Casey here does all the graphic design. But ever since the merger, things have been slow."

"That's an understatement," Casey deadpanned. She turned to me. "Evans says it's because so much funding had to go into the merger. He says we'll get a bigger budget next quarter but I'm not buying it."

"How is it that CyberSecure has grown so fast with so little exposure?" I asked with astonishment.

Amir shrugs. "Demand mostly. And something about how Mr. Evans created a technology that is practically impervious to hackers."

That made me sit up straighter. "Really? Do you have that on the website?"

Casey let out another unlady-like snort. "Evans won't allow it. Pretty much any change we request is turned down. I can't even change the color of the logo without permission."

I couldn't say I was surprised. Even I had seen how tight fisted Colin was with his company. I fiddled with my chewed pinky finger as I thought. I knew this job wasn't going to be easy but it was going to be impossible if Colin didn't loosen the reins a little. "I can have a talk with him. See if there's any wiggle room in the budget. Fortunately, setting up social media profiles won't cost anything."

"Alright," Amir agreed, "Where do we start?"

"Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn," I said, checking off three fingers. "We can each take one."

"What about Instagram?" Casey asked in such a know-it-all voice that I'm surprised she didn't say 'duh' at the end of it.

I shook my head. "Instagram doesn't fit the image of CyberSecure. People aren't going to be on there to search for tech services or advice."

When no one questioned my reasoning I took it as a sign of agreement. "Okay, then meeting adjourned."

We all left to go back to our respective cubicles. I'm not sure if mine had even earned that title but it was the closest I was going to get.

Back at my laptop I realized I forgot to ask Amir or Casey about feeding me information from the company's network. I should be thankful for just being able to connect to the wi-fi. Yet I couldn't take part in any team chats or send correspondence through company channels. It was like I was an island surrounded by the main land that is CyberSecure. Cut off from society so to speak.

Blowing away a strand of hair that had fallen over my eyes, I hunkered down to get some actual work done. No more theories or forecasts, but work that could make a difference.

The week progressed slowly but it was steady. Having to get everything funneled through from Amir was tedious, however, by the time Friday rolled back around, we had the three major sites set up and ready to launch. On Thursday I had contacted Sandy if Colin was free for a meeting to get his stamp of approval. She booked me in late Friday afternoon since apparently he was in virtual meetings for most of the day.

Although Colin and I had formed a sort of truce, I still felt some trepidation in my belly at seeing him in close quarters. We had barely spoken to one another again throughout the week, yet I always found myself sneaking peeks through his office window as I would walk past. He was always in the same place, in the same position, typing furiously away on his computer. I doubted he even noticed me.

By the time my meeting had arrived, I had everything ready to show Colin. I double-checked all the profiles to make sure there was nothing for Colin to veto. My success was going to be based largely on how well these sites reached potential clients. Everything had to be perfect.

Not wanting to appear nervous, I took my time as I strolled over to Colin's office. Stopping at the paned-glass door, I politely knocked then waited to be granted entrance. At his bid, I entered. With my laptop in my arms, I made my way over to his desk and set it down.

When I finally looked up at him, I noticed that his hair was slightly more messy than usual and a few buttons had come undone at the top of his shirt. I quickly looked away from the skin that was exposed.

"Rough day?" I asked.

"Is it that obvious?" he replied, rubbing a hand over his forehead.

"Don't worry, it will be the weekend soon enough."

Instead of answering, he gave a weak smile like even a weekend wasn't something to look forward to.

"I'll be quick," I said, turning the laptop towards him. "These are the three social media sites we have set up so far. As you can see, each one is catered towards a different audience." I joined him on the other side of the desk as he clicked through.

Leaning over, I point to where the logo was as well as the bio info of the company. I felt Colin stiffen beside me and I immediately stood up straight. My face burned at having invaded his personal space. I retreated back to my side of the desk.

I sat down and waited quietly and watched as Colin scrolled through my laptop. His face remained impassive which I hope was a good sign.

Finally, he pushed the laptop back towards me. "Everything seems fine. Though I don't know why you need three when one is sufficient."

"One is not sufficient," pulling my laptop back to me. "We can reach so many more people." I hesitated when I thought about bringing up the topic of the marketing department being granted more funding but I knew I had to discuss it with him sooner or later. "We'll also be able to boost the site's popularity if we pay for advertising. It will help people know it's there."

Colin's eyes tightened at the corners. "I thought the whole premise of your strategy was that it didn't require additional funds."

"And I was under the impression that some resources would be available."

His mouth dropped so low into a frown that it became a scowl. "I already told you that the bulk of the budget went into the merger. You didn't mention any funding when you pitched this crazy scheme."

"I'm not talking about thousands of dollars here Colin." My frustration rising. "A few hundred dollars at most to ensure that our profiles get seen. Otherwise, what is the point of having them?"

"I'm not giving you a dime until you have proven yourself. Get past the thirty day trial and then we can talk budget."

I got up from my chair while throwing my hands up in exasperation. "You expect me to produce results while giving me no resources whatsoever to do it." I stood with my hands on my hips as I tried to keep my temper in check. But now that I started, I found it hard to stop. "No funding, no access to the network." I point my hand in the direction of my office. "I don't even get a proper workspace. So tell me Colin, exactly how am I supposed to prove myself when I have so many obstacles in my way?"

Colin rose from his chair and leaned forward on his desk. His stare could have burned a whole forest to the ground. "You practically begged me to hire you, remember? And now you're telling me you can't produce what you promised."

"Because you're making it impossible!" I practically shouted. "It would've been better if I had stuck with Kinesman. At least he wouldn't be blocking me at every corner."

Colin threw his head back and let out a harsh bark of laughter. "You would've gotten even less from Kinesman. That snake was so deep in debt, you wouldn't have seen a penny from him. It's probably why he hired you in the first place."

"What do you mean?" I asked, taken aback.

"Kinesman would've only hired a firm of your size because he thought you wouldn't have the means to come after him in court when he didn't fulfill his end of the contract."

As Colin's words sunk in, I didn't want to believe them. Could someone really be that cruel? When I reflected on all of my interactions with Kinesman, I had also caught a glimpse of a snake beneath the suit. The truth stung. How could I have been so naive? And all I did was trade one bad situation for another.

The next thing I knew, tears began to spill down my cheeks. Not being able to stand the thought of Colin seeing me cry, I turned and fled from the room.

"Alicia, wait!"

But I didn't wait. I ran past the cubicles, ignoring the wide-eyed stares that followed me. The elevator opened just as I approached. I pushed past as someone exited and slammed the button for the ground floor.

+++

Colin

Even after calling out for her to stop, Alicia still ran out the door without a second glance. I slammed my fist down, frustrated that I had let my anger get the best of me. I always prided myself on keeping my emotions in check. This time however, I failed miserably.

I could just make out through the windows of the boardroom Alicia rushing into the elevator. It crossed my mind that if I were to take the stairwell, I might be able to beat her to the bottom. Without another thought, I dashed out of my office, startling Mrs. Lee. I never thought I would show such a lack of decorum in front of my employees, yet here I was running full tilt through the office.

I banged open the door to the stairwell and began the long trip down. I jumped past the last few steps at each floor, my feet hitting hard on the concrete landing. I twisted around and continued spiraling down.

It felt like ages when I finally reached the ground floor that I'm not sure if I beat the elevator or not. I darted out into the lobby, my chest heaving. My dress shirt stuck to my back and under my arms where the sweat had built up. I only hoped my silk vest hadn't been ruined because of it.

It was the end of day so the foyer was busy as people left for the weekend. I scanned the crowds, looking for any trace of pink. My mouth quirked at how Alicia always seemed to incorporate something pink into her outfit. Today it was a scrunchie in her ponytail.

I peered through the crowds but didn't see Alicia anywhere. My chest deflated. I must have missed her. There! My eyes snagged on the pink scrunchie, bobbing just above the sea of heads. I rushed forward, offering quick "excuses" as I dodged and stepped around various people.

As Alicia came into view, her arms were wrapped around herself as she stared at the floor and trodded to the exit.

"Alicia!" I called, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She whirled around with a slight squeak. When she saw that it was me, her mouth opened and closed like a fish caught out of water. "How-How did you get here so fast?"

"Stairs," I said a little breathlessly. "Listen Alicia, I said things up there I shouldn't have. I was angry."

Alicia rubbed her upper arms. "You didn't say anything that wasn't true."

I wasn't used to seeing this side of Alicia. The side where she was unsure of herself. She always came across as determined and spunky. Almost maddeningly so.

As I opened my mouth to respond, a shoulder bumped into me, making me aware that we're standing amongst a throng of people while having a private conversation. "Let me buy you a coffee. The work day is pretty much over anyway."

Alicia blinked at me a few times like she didn't believe the words I had just said. "Sure," she said, albeit with a wary eye. We joined the crowd and stepped out into the summer air. Thankfully the sun had started its descent into the horizon, taking off the brunt of the heat.

"What's your poison?" I asked.

"Well if you're buying, then definitely Starbucks."

I chuckled. I knew the old Alicia was still in there somewhere. "There's not a Starbucks within walking distance but I do know of a small cafe where the Americano's are just as expensive."

So I led the way on the sidewalk around the block. The silence felt stilted as we walked side by side but not completely uncomfortable. I shoved my hands into my pockets to still them. The shots of electricity that kept running up and down my arm every time Alicia brushed against it was enough to drive a man mad.

Reaching the cafe, I pulled open the door for Alicia then followed her in. We placed our orders at the counter. Mine, an americano misto while Alicia asked for a raspberry fluffy.

"Not big on caffeine?"

"I'm very big on caffeine. However, I do want to be able to sleep tonight."

After I paid we grabbed our order and found a table in a quiet corner to sit across from one another. At first nothing was said. We both just stared into our steaming mugs. Just as I was about to offer a word to break the silence, Alicia spoke first.

"I realized in your office that I'm not cut out for running my own company." She scoffed. "I was willing to work for a man who was obviously a little too slick between the ears."

"Forget what I said about Kinesman," cutting my hand through the air. "The man's not worth your time."

"But you believed what you said." Alicia's gaze pierced into mine. "You truly believe he wasn't going to pay me."

I took a sip of my coffee to buy myself some time. As much as I wanted to bend the truth for her, I knew I wouldn't be giving her any favors by doing so. "Yes," I admitted, setting my coffee back down.

Alicia crossed her arms and turned her head away from me, exhaling hard through her nose. "I knew it," she muttered. Her thumb flicked at her pinky finger and I observed that it is quite a bit shorter as all of her other fingernails. When she noticed my attention to it, she set her hands down in her lap.

Ever since Alicia unceremoniously walked into my office two weeks ago, I thought I would have triumphed in this moment, seeing her get her comeuppance. But somewhere along the way, the sting of her betrayal had softened. No longer did I desire to see Alicia crushed beneath my heel. Kinesman already did that himself and the result was far from satisfying.

"You know, I also made a bad decision once and it almost cost me CyberSecure."

"What?" Alicia said, her expression turning from sullen to surprise. "But, CyberSecure is very successful. You're expected to become one of the top cyber security companies in Toronto."

"Been reading up on me have you?" I teased.

Alicia rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself, it was for the profiles. Now, stop getting off topic, I want to hear about your catastrophic failure."

My face fell into a slight frown. "It was hardly catastrophic, though it was serious." I took in a deep breath, not used to bearing my missteps. "I had just started the company and was looking for someone to do some programming for me. He was young, fresh out of college. Maybe it was because I saw so much of myself in him that I turned a blind eye when it became apparent that something was off."

It was hard admitting a shortcoming to Alicia, but I understood how she felt. I only wish I had someone to walk alongside me when I failed. "Long story short, he was embezzling money out of the company. Fortunately I caught on quickly enough that I was able to stop him before he bled me completely dry."

"It seems we are both willing to overlook the flaws in people." Alicia cocked her head to the side while tracing the rim of her mug with her finger. "Though I would say your reasons were far more noble. I was willing to make a deal with the devil just to save my business."

"Some might say that's a noble cause as well."

Alicia shook her head. "No business is worth that high of a cost. I already did that once. Paid a high cost in return for something so little."

The way her eyes bored into mine left me with little doubt as to what she alluded to. Her eyes moved back to her drink, breaking the tension that was taut between us. It almost made me wonder if I had imagined the whole thing. I went back to the topic at hand, to neutral waters. "You can't let one mistake dictate your capabilities to run a company. Instead, use it to grow. You'll gain more from your mistakes than from your successes."

"Colin, I never expected you to be such a fountain of wisdom," Alicia said with a smirk playing on her lips.

I felt a shiver run down my spine at her use of my name. I leaned slightly forward, drawn in by her allure. "I think you'll find I'm full of lots of surprises."

Something flashes across Alicia's eyes but it was too quick for me to decipher. "I really should be getting home," Alicia stood up quickly, bumping the table. "Thank you for the coffee Colin."

I nodded in response, not trusting myself to speak. I barely glanced her way as Alicia exited the cafe. When I knew she was gone I dropped my face into both my hands, trying to hide my embarrassment.

Did I just flirt with Alicia? And not even smooth flirting. I must have used the most cliche line in the whole book. It's no wonder she left quickly.

I heaved a sigh and took a long sip of coffee, as if it could calm the churning in my stomach. When would I ever learn that the nerd never won the girl.