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Chapter 13

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I typed away meticulously on my keyboard trying to get every last emailed answered. Questions about court dates and what they should bring with them. Documents upon documents of forms that needed to be filled and filed. Couples feuding over simplistic objects like who gets the three million count bed sheets. I rolled my eyes. I wanted to smack my head on my desk. These people were completely forgetting what was important this time of year. Suddenly I wanted to smack myself again. I had forgotten what was truly important this year.

I scrolled over the last dozen of my emails before my lunch break. I did whatever I could to answer them as fully but briefly as I could. Still while trying to avoid as many words that used the letter 't' as possible. I cursed at my keyboard below my breathe when I was interrupted with a knock on the cardboard walls of my cubicle.

"Morning." I smiled as I turned around to be greeted by a taller gentleman. His name was Kyle. I could easily get lost in his sandy brown hair and the dimples tugging gently at his cheeks.

"Hey, I'm about to head out to get some lunch for the office. Would you mind coming with me? I could use some company." I shot him a side glance as his lips separated into a wide smile. I nodded my head. I tried to convince myself that I had literally nothing better to do before hopping up from my chair. I turned the computer monitor off before grabbing my jacket.

Kyle led me through the office building allowing me to tug along as he made a pathway through the bustling worker bees. He walked quickly though making it hard for me to keep up in my heels. I wanted to cry out for him but felt too embarrassed so I placed my head down and continued trying to bulldoze my way through the crowded room. The elevator was packed so Kyle and I opted to take the stairs. I was thankful that he had slowed his pace with this decision.

"So where are we going to get food." I smiled trying to make small talk while also trying to hide the fact that I was extremely out of breath. He shrugged his shoulders before pulling out the list he had tucked away in his dark green jacket.

"Half of the office wanted the cafe in the lobby and half of the office wanted to diner just up the road." He glanced over the list trying to remember every little thing on it before turning to hand it to me. I grabbed at it carefully trying not to fall down the millionth step we had taken in what felt like the last hour.

"Wow this is a lot of food." I mumbled realizing our journey back would be even harder. I shook my head at the sheet of orders. There were only eight people in the office how could we possibly need this much. I tried handing the paper back to Kyle only to realize he was too many steps ahead of me, his hair bouncing as he continued hopping from step to step. I groaned a little quickening my pace to catch up once more.

I was thankful when we burst through the final set of doors and out onto the busy streets. Though it wasn't any less crowded out here than inside had been. In fact the bodies out here had doubled with everybody frantic to get wherever they were going. Whether that be their lunch destinations or their last minute Christmas shopping, it seemed like everyone was going over a hundred miles per hour.

I felt myself growing more and more frustrated with Kyle as we weaved through the crowds. He was leaving me in a cloud of dust. Luckily I knew where the diner was, and he wouldn't be able to do anything without me as I still held the paper tightly in my hand. When I burst through the doors of the diner Kyle was sitting enjoying a cup of coffee on one of the tables. I shot him daggers.

"Okay that was a little rude?" I grumbled to him before handing him the sheet of paper.

"It's not my fault you are slow." He was trying to be funny, maybe even cute, but in that moment I wanted to strangle him. Sure we didn't have to walk together but he could have at least been a gentleman and checked up on me once or twice. Maybe I could have gotten the food from our lobby cafe and he could have trekked all the way down here. He very clearly didn't need my help. I leaned against the counter as the lady started handing Kyle and I bags of food. He had already pre-ordered it. No wonder he wasn't worried about the piece of paper. I wanted to slap him for making me come all the way down here for what was supposed to be a pleasant lunch.

After grabbing all the food we fought the crowds on our journey back to our work complex. I held two trays with four drinks each. I was cursing myself for wearing heels but also cursing myself for not making Miranda come with me. Note to self, don't go to lunch with Kyle.

I sighed as we entered the office building once more greeted with everybody's happy faces. I'm sure most of them were starved and just eagerly awaiting their food. I placed them all down on the main desk in our office building as everyone rushed from their cubicles to dig for their bags. "Amber did we forget to grab utensils?" Kyle whined as he rushed to remove his bag as well. I rolled my eyes before heading off towards the break room, my stomach complaining with a growl. I had wanted this day to end so badly. Too bad we were only halfway through it.

I returned with enough forks for everyone only to realize no one was around nor did anyone need them. I wanted to scream as I threw the stack of paper cutlery on the table before snatching my bag and storming back to my desk. I slapped it down on the table before taking a seat and closing my eyes for a moment. I was trying to remind myself to breathe when I decided it was no use, I needed to just eat my food.

When I opened my bag to take the sandwich out of it A tiny paper fell to the floor.

If you haven't guessed already

Don't mind this note too closely

As this isn't your surprise.

Just think of me when you get home from work

I'll think of how beautiful your smile is when you see it.

And wish that I was there to witness it.

- Your Secret Santa

I dropped the note to the table a lot of my stress had dissipated as I read the words. I glanced around the office, most everyone's head missing as they munched on whatever they had ordered. Except for one. Kyle smiled in my directions as my eyes locked with his from across the room. Was it him?

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I've never left work so fast in my life. As soon as the time hit and I was ready to leave I rushed out of the office barely getting my jacket on in my frenzy. I knew I would feel bad for not saying bye to Miranda but I didn't want to explain to her why I was in such a hurry.

After rounding the last corner I exited the stairway heading down the hallway towards my apartment. My nerves were tingling thinking back to the note I had received at lunch. What would the surprise be? It wasn't long before I could see the outside of my door as vases stood lined up against the wall in a neat row. They were roses, and a lot of them. I took in the sight not really sure where all of these had come from or how I was going to get them all into my apartment complex. Vases after Vases all lined delicately against the tattered wallpaper. Each giant floral arrangements just like the last. I didn't know whether to break down and cry or began screaming with joy at the wonderful sight. Today had been so horrible and I had stressed myself out over lunch and what my surprise would be.

There was no way Kyle did all of this...