Page 173 of By A Thread
From: Dominic Russo
Subject: HR Policy 135 Sections B-D
Ally Morales and I have entered into a romantic relationship. To avoid any potential workplace favoritism or friction, Ms. Morales has been transferred to the graphics department. No questions or opinions will be entertained.
Sincerely,
Dominic Russo, Creative Director
* * *
Ally: Nice subject line, boss. Only one of my new coworkers opened the email so far. She spun around in her chair so fast, she knocked over an entire bowl of ramen.
Dominic: Good god. Not another poor person.
Ally: Not poor people ramen. Fancy ramen. It’s a whole thing now.
Dominic: Adding this to my list of things I wish I didn’t know.
Ally: You’re crotchety-ness is adorable.
Dominic: Let’s come back to my crotch, which is recovering nicely from its overuse. But first, can you go for drinks tonight after your dance class?
Ally: Yes. But only if you don’t mind going with Ruth and Gola. Uh-oh. Hang on. More spinning. And now some loud whispering. Did your email insinuate that I was deaf?
Dominic: My email insinuated that everyone should mind their own damn business and leave us the hell alone. I suppose your friends are fine if you don’t mind Harry and Delaney joining us.
Ally: Look at us doing the boyfriend-girlfriend thing. What’s next? Potluck suppers and coed baby showers?
Dominic: I am going to vehemently hope not. Oh, whatever you do don’t mention lipstick or bed linens to Delaney.
Ally: I don’t even want the context. This will be more fun.
Dominic: Let’s go out to lunch. I want to touch you without a few hundred people watching.
Ally: Count me in. They’re all staring at me and eating popcorn.
Dominic: Want me to come down there and give them something to stare at?
Ally: The part of me that saw you naked for twelve straight hours wants to say yes. But maybe we should at least give the HR guidelines a try for a full two hours before we ruin everything?
Dominic: Setting my timer for two hours and one minute.
* * *
Ally
Iducked down to the cafeteria for coffee and to get a break from the stares of my new coworkers.
I was just browsing the spectacular pyramid of pastries that I was absolutely not going to buy when a snide presence threw its evil shadow over me.
“Well, if it isn’t Dominic’s new toy,” Malina said snidely.
She was dressed in an ice blue pantsuit with a V neck that went almost to her belly button.
“Lovely as always to see you, Malina.” I sighed.
“How did you do it?”
