#oreosarealwaystheanswer
From: [email protected]
Re: who I am
Dear Sienna,
The Rough Riders reference is a nod to Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry, which was formed for the Spanish-American War. It was a diverse group that included college athletes, miners, outdoorsmen, and cowboys.
My weekend was good. I had to work, but I love my work, so I didn’t mind. I’m with you on the Oreos, and between you and me, I don’t mind a romantic comedy myself.
Your porcupine reference is funny. I know some people think a strong woman who can get shit done is prickly, but those people are (forgive my language) fucking stupid. I wouldn’t mind hearing more about your soft underbelly, or your lingerie. Doesn’t matter what color it is anyway. The best part of lingerie to a man is the way it feels. When we slide our hands over a woman’s ass and cup it through that silky fabric . . . yeah, it’s good. And that feeling a guy gets when he unhooks a woman’s bra is basically like a chorus of angels singing from above.
I’m sorry about the sick boy you mentioned. Kids shouldn’t have to go through that stuff.
You asked who I am, so here goes . . . I’m decisive. I knew what I wanted to do for a career in high school, and as I said before, I love it. Sometimes I think I’m a little too driven, but other times I think I need to step it up. My outlets are exercise and reading.
Being decisive is both good and bad. I know what I want, but that doesn’t always mean I can have it.
A real man isn’t fazed by PMS. I’d handle yours by listening while massaging your shoulders. And of course—Oreos.
RoughRider
From: [email protected]
Re: UGH
Dear RoughRider,
I feel like a real ass for assuming your name was a sexual reference. Of course, it had to be noble and patriotic to make me feel even worse.
Moving on . . . What do you do for work? And what do you want that you can’t have?
I thought about our alpha conversation this morning because as I was walking into my office, a guy passing me on the street told me my hair would look really good wound around his fingers. He was rubbing his crotch as he said it. Isn’t that an alpha attribute? Walking right up to a mark and telling her how rough and good you want to give it to her? Isn’t that supposed to make me weak-kneed? Because I thought it was gross, and I told him so.
You aren’t married, are you? Or underage? Please tell me I’m not emailing a teenager right now.
Sienna
From: [email protected]
Re: UGH
Sienna,
You can relax, I’m not a teenager. I’m 32. And I’m not married either.
I don’t have long, but I had to write back immediately to set you straight on something. What that guy did to you this morning does not make him an alpha—it makes him an unclassy douchebag. Words like those aren’t meant for a woman you see on the street. Men should only say things like that to a woman they’re with, and only when they’re alone. But I’m not sure I’d even say it then. I prefer actions to words.
Slap the next guy who talks to you that way.
RoughRider
From: [email protected]
Re: retrospect
RoughRider,
I may slap *that* guy if I see him on the street again. Do you ever hear something come out of someone’s mouth, but there’s a delay before your brain registers how offended you actually were by it? I had one of those moments this morning.
This afternoon, I have to fire an employee. I’m dreading it because I know she genuinely needs this job, but she did something I can’t overlook. She has access to money here, and our auditors discovered that she took some money late last year and then replaced it the next month. She probably needed that money for Christmas. Firing people is the worst part of my job, but I think it’s important that I do it rather than my HR manager. Everyone deserves to be fired by someone who doesn’t relish doing it and who will do it as compassionately as possible. I’m giving her a severance, which I don’t have to do. And she stole from the company, so why do I still feel so terrible? My underbelly is showing.
Sienna
From: [email protected]
Re: say yes
Hey Sienna, are you free for breakfast tomorrow?
From: [email protected]
Re: say yes
Hi Ben,
Yes.
Sienna
From: [email protected]
Re: say yes
Meet me at Thistle at 7?
From: [email protected]
Re: say yes
See you then.
From: [email protected]
Re: long day
Sienna,
Sorry I’m late getting back to you—it was a long day, and I’m just now getting a chance to sit down and write you.
I’m loving this view of your underbelly, btw. It’s very sexy.
How did it go with your employee? I wouldn’t relish firing someone who needed the job either. But you’re right—you had no choice. She could have come to you and asked for a loan if times were tough, and while you may not have said yes, at least that would have been above board. Hope your day got better when that was over. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
I have a work dilemma myself, though it’s less weighty than yours. Someone I supervise is more deserving of a promotion than the person I have to give it to. I’ll call the person I’m giving it to Bob. Bob is arrogant and immature, but he’s very good at what he does. He’ll execute this role better. The other person, whom I’ll call John, works his ass off but just doesn’t have the natural talent Bob does. I lifted heavy tonight at the gym because I’ve been conflicted about this even though I know what I have to do. I realized Bob will win this battle, but John will win far more battles in his life than Bob will. There’s no substitute for heart.
It would have been nice to have a late dinner with you tonight after our shitty days. You’re beautiful in the skirts and heels you wear to work, with your makeup done, but I bet you’re even more beautiful in sweats and a T-shirt, with your hair down, a glass of wine in hand, and a relaxed expression on your face.
A real man doesn’t let his girl go to sleep stressed or upset. I know of some great ways to work out stress before bed. But if you just needed me to listen and hold you, I’d do that instead. I’d be the luckiest bastard in the world if I got to be the one to do that.
Sleep well, Sienna.
RoughRider