“It’s… awesome.”
“Seriously? You’re not just saying that because I’m bricking myself and have sweet F.A. to show Gary when he comes in here?”
Still staring at the drawing, I answer distractedly, “I have no idea what the hell you just said, but this is really beautiful.” I trace a line of the building with my finger.
He laughs. “Well. I can never get enough of flattery, but we really need to figure out what I’m going to say.”
“What’s wrong with what you just told me?” I ask, snapping out of my trance.
He starts to enumerate all the problems with it, but I interrupt him. “Well, obviously, we’ll shine it up. And we’ll have to add to it, but we can hide a lot of deficiencies with sweet computer graphics.”
I walk to his desk and pick up his phone, calling down to Marvin in Graphic Design. I tell him what’s going on and that Gary says it’s our top priority. He listlessly informs me that he has nothing better to do today, anyway, and he’ll be right with us.
“We’re going to take the Museum Board on a virtual tour of your new modern art wing. And they’re going to be blown away,” I assure Jude. “In the meantime, sit down over there and repeat what you told me.” I settle myself at his keyboard and start typing what he says. When we get the skeleton down, we go in sentence by sentence and tweak the language.
I have him come around the desk to read it through. When he finishes, I say, “Plus, let’s face it; you could stand up there and recite the alphabet, and they’d be impressed and consider you an authority because of that accent.”
“I don’t have an accent,” he says, still leaning across me. “You do.”
I’ve seen that face before. This close to me. At that angle.
“Your eyes are so stunning. I find myself thinking of them at the oddest moments during the day.”
“Like when?”
“Constantly. Mostly at work, when I’m supposed to be concentrating on other things. But also when I’m in bed… alone. You drive me to distraction.”
“Well, I’m here now. Why don’t you do some of the things to me that you imagine doing?”
“What a fabulous idea,” he mutters as he slowly and sensuously begins removing my clothing.
Neither one of us seems to breathe. I see for the first time a slight bump in the bridge of his nose, only noticeable at this distance (or lack thereof). He licks his lips. I mimic the gesture without thinking.
“Knock-knock. Someone call a graphics genius?” Marvin asks as he lets himself in.
Jude stands up straight, and I roll away from him on the chair. After I explain to Marvin what I’m envisioning (for the presentation), he complains, “I totally should have known about this a week ago, dudes. What you’re asking for will take days. I’d have to work through the weekend to get it done.”
“So you’ll do it?” I half-joke hopefully.
He stares me down. I stand up and clasp my hands to my chest, pleading, “Please? It’ll be so awesome; it’ll be worth it.”
“Says the girl who’s not going to spend her weekend at work.”
Suspecting I’m going to regret it, I say, “What do you need me to do to help? I’ll work this weekend if it means you’ll do this for us.”
Jude steps in. “Ah, no. No worries. Never mind. I’ll simply… mount the drawing on a backing and frame it, put it on an easel. It’ll be fine. You shouldn’t have to work through your weekend, mate, because I made a pig’s ear of this whole thing.” I notice he didn’t say anything about how I shouldn’t have to work on my weekend.
I shoot Jude a dirty look. I almost had Marvin ready to agree. I could see it. I place a silencing hand on Jude’s arm and say to the graphic artist, “Seriously, Marvin, I’ll do what I can to help. So will Jude. We’ll all work this weekend, if that’s what it takes. And… and…” I desperately search for anything else to sweeten the pot. “And I’ll take you to a Cubs game, my treat. Next weekend. I think they’re playing the Cardinals. Big rivalry!”
Now I have his attention.
“I do likes me some Cubs,” Marvin says in a silly voice.
“Oh!” Jude cries. “Now this is getting a bit ridiculous. If anyone should be bribing the bloke, it should be me. I’m the twit who got myself into this mess.”
“No, no,” Marvin is suddenly very accommodating. This will work just fine. As a matter of fact, you don’t even have to work the whole weekend with me. Just come in for a couple of hours tomorrow so I can make sure everything looks the way you want it to look.” He points to me. “You. Call me later and give me your cell phone number. Before you leave today.”
I want to cry when he actually winks at me.
I gulp. “Okay.”
He waves in Jude’s general direction. “You, too, I guess. In case I have any questions or problems.”
“Really—”
But before Jude can object any more, Marvin’s out the door, a copy of the plans under his beefy arm.
I smile sickly but bravely at Jude. “Well, we still have a lot to do before Gary gets here. Let’s get back to work,” I say, trying not to think about what I’ve gotten myself into.
And for what? Some guy who’s a procrastinating ‘twit.’ But it’s not really for him. It’s for his presentation, for the company.
And I have to admit, this is the most fun I’ve had at work in a long time.
8
Jude was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago. We’re going to see what Marvin has so far. I don’t know why I’m needed. I’m pretty sure I’ve already paid my dues by
