Excerpt: Office Gossip ( Need to Know Only)

I stood up and cat walked towards Sec to hand him our morning e-mails. He smiled and nodded as he went through it with me. I glanced around to find that Ms. Diagracias, our Accounting head, was interviewing what looked like our new bookkeeper. I craned my neck for a better look. It was a guy. I couldn’t see his face.
I was only half listening to Sec who was telling me what to trash, what to answer and to whom to forward the e-mails. I was more curious about the newcomer. Armed with notes, I passed by Jo’s table to pretend to ask her about a Crew Detail that I have to send. Then I lowered my voice to whisper to her.
“Is that the new book keeper?”
“Think so. He was introduced to Mommy and Ms. V. So I think he is…” Jo said as she handed me a folder. “I’ll check him out. Tell you about it later.”
I nodded and left to write my first ten million e-mails of the day. As I approached my desk, a cadet approached me.
“Maám, Mr. Lorenzo is upstairs waiting for an Allotment slip, Mr. Carlos is for SSS and Mr. Riazan needs an SSR.” He rattled off the list of appointment slips in his hand as I sat down and took them.
“Have Mr. Lorenzo come first, give Riazan a request form and Carlos could wait for a minute. I have e-mails to send. Thanks, Agoto.” I beamed at him as he scuttled off with my instructions.
The morning continued on like this- Half-busy and full on crazy with appointments, e-mails, and spying on the new comer. I couldn’t really see him from my desk. But informants tell me that his name is Carl Dos, fresh from the Call Centers of Sykes Asia and he’s not that good looking.
The Devil finally came in at 9:45 AM with a cup of hot black tea in his hand and noisy complaining about traffic, the world and all its misery. I glanced up and sighed loudly at this to let him know my disagreement as he looked at me and handed me a bag with a chocolate donut in it.
“Thanks,” I managed to say. CHOCOLATE DONUT?! Is this guy insulting me, or what? What idiot who knows I am on a strict no chocolate, no sugar, no rice, diet gives me chocolate? I glare at the piece of cake like it was vermin and decided to stand up and hand it to one hungry liaison officer in the back. There! Problem solved and I helped a person in need.
Chocolate, indeed. Hmph! Now, if he gives me wine, tea or fruit, I will love him. Ok, not really, but you know what I mean.
For the curious minds who want to know what the Devil looks like. Well he looks like this. He is tall maybe about 5’10” or something with fair complexion, curly brown hair, brown eyes with long lashes, rosy cheeks, pink lips and a cute smile. He wears a rolled up bandana on his forehead, several of those emo-rubber and silver bracelets and a cool, confident attitude that says “I own the world.” Most people say he is handsome. I say not.
Alright, I lie. I had a crush on him on my first day at work. He was flirting with me too and I was a bit hopeful that this office rebel might be my Prince Charming. But when I got to know his Kiss-up attitude and crab mentality I quickly dropped it like a smelly shoe. Yuck. I have no need for men like those. Confirmation of my decision came when I learned through Eliza that he was married. Ah, good call, Sassy. You do not need an arrogant married man in your life.
“Good Morning, Maám.”
I looked up to a hopeful smiling face. “Morning, what is it?”
“Do you want a refill of hot water for your tea?”
I cocked my head and looked at my teacup. Sure enough it is empty. I smiled and nodded. “That would be wonderful, thank you. What was your name again?”
“Dylan.”
“Thanks, Dylan.” I gave him a dazzling smile and then turned back to the e-mail I was writing. I tried to stifle a giggle. I gave him a second glance as he rushed off to refill my cup. Who needs a Prince Charming right now with all these little sailors falling over themselves to pamper you?