Page 58 of Corporate Escapades

Moving slowly, he paused a couple of feet away. The woman had a devilish look in her eye, and he was certain she was trouble.

“Closer,” she encouraged.

Vic took another hesitant step forward, and to his surprise, she wrapped her legs around him and grabbed onto his shirt, yanking him even closer. Starting at the top, she undid first one button and then another until his bare chest was exposed. He stared at her, unable to breathe for a moment.

“Take it off,” she commanded.

“Um, don’t you think we should at least shut the door?” he asked.

“Vic, stop screwing around. Take the shirt off. I’ll get you a different one,” she replied as she pushed him away and hopped down from his desk.

He removed the shirt and held it out to her, speechless. She grabbed it out of his hand and left him standing in silence with nothing to show but a raging boner.

“Hey, Vic,” called Chase.

Oh shit,thought Vic.Oh shit, shit, shit.“Give me a minute,” he replied awkwardly.

“Where’s your shirt?” asked Chase.

“Seriously, Chase, I need a minute. Go outside, walk around the block of desks, and come back.”

“But I thought you wanted me to sort your desk?” he asked cluelessly.

“For the love of God, please, go!” growled Vic. He was losing his temper, which also was helping him lose something else.

Chase disappeared from the room, and Vic walked over to take a seat in his desk chair. He immediately realized that his response was not helpful to his current life situation. He would have to apologize when Chase returned. Not a moment hadpassed, and Angela was back with a baby blue dress shirt. It wouldn’t have been his first color choice, but it would have to do.

“Here,” she said. “This should fit you.”

“Thanks,” he replied as he snatched the shirt out of her hand and hurried to button it up. She left the room without further conversation. Vic felt perplexed by her demeanor. He didn’t want to know where the shirt had come from for fear that it was some ex-boyfriend's, or even worse, her own. His ego was bruised enough.

Chase popped his head back into the room. “Is it safe to come in now?”

“Yes,” replied Vic. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s been a rough morning, and the situation was beyond awkward. Please don't ask. I don’t want to go into any detail.”

“I’ll let it slide this time, but you really need to work on your temper. That’s a huge part of what got you into this mess to begin with.”

“Trust me. I know.” He watched as Chase shuffled and sorted through the files. In only five minutes, he’d organized and put each file into its proper slot in the file cabinet. “I guess it wasn’t so bad after all.”

“No, it wasn’t,” said Chase sharply. “Geez, what do you take me for, some ignorant slob? Normally I don’t leave files lying around, but Tom needed something at the last minute on Friday, and you all were waiting for me to head out. I didn’t have time to put everything back.”

“Again, I apologize. I’ve judged too quickly, and I’m sorry.”

Chase paused to consider Vic’s statement. “I don’t want to pry, but have you looked into anger management, or maybe some grief counseling? There’s no shame in talking to someone.”

Vic stared back at him. He knew he should go but he didn’t want to.

“You know,” said Chase, “attending counseling might help put you in good graces with the board.”

Letting out a deep sigh, Vic said, “Set it up. Preferably for Friday, so I don’t have to come back to work angry.”

“Really?” asked Chase. He was excited that Vic was willing to take a chance and do something therapeutic for a change.

Vic nodded. “Really. I want to do everything the board has mentioned to get back to normal in my crazy life, so set it up, and I promise I’ll go. If at all possible, find someone who specializes in grief and anger, that way, I can explore both scenarios,” he said with a sarcastic wave of his hand. What harm could it do?

“Great,” said Chase. “I’ll see about a Friday, or perhaps Monday morning before the board meetings, because the counselor will help you sort how the prior week went,” he thought out loud. “I’m so happy for you! This is a big step.”

“You can be happy if it actually helps,” he replied. “Oh, and don’t tell anyone, except my father and mother, that I’m going.”

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