I started to invent any excuse to go to Mason’s office. One time it was to ask about compensation plans. The next it was to inquire about a performance improvement plan status of one of my guys. Since it was only Mason’s fourth day, it took him forever to answer my questions because he had to learn about the process himself. That didn’t bother me because it meant I got to spend more time with him. The more I watched him, the more I noticed little idiosyncratic things about him that made me fall even further for him.

This time, I vowed I would not go into his office on my way to the conference room. I wouldn’t even look inside to see if he was there. Closing the door to my own office behind me, I straightened my tie and began to mosey on down the hall.

“What’s up, Gil?” I said as a man in a button down, red shirt passed me by. I added the ‘salute’ hand gesture for good merit. See? I was cool as a cucumber.

“Yeah, hey Jordan,” he replied with a look of confusion.

“Mary, lookin’ good!” She was exiting Mason’s office and gave me a strange look as she passed by me, no doubt due to such an odd (and frankly, inappropriate) comment.

Jesus, Jordan, keep your shit together!

I was almost safe from the danger zone, until I inadvertently raised my head and looked inside Mason’s office. He had taken off his blazer and was rolling the sleeves of his shirt up past his forearms. Due to no conscious action of my own, I found myself diverting and entering Mason’s office once again.

“Uh…hey!”

Mason looked up at me and his shoulders relaxed down as did the muscles in his face. Was he relaxed to have me in his office? Did I bring him peace or something? He began to smile and I followed suit by sporting a smirk on my face as well. After a brief moment we both shook our heads slightly, coming back into our ‘office’ selves.

“Hey, Jordan, fancy having you in here again for…what…the third time today?”

“Yeah, well, I want to make sure I’m up to code with everything, you know?”

“Actually, you’ve been super helpful. I needed to learn this stuff anyway and your questions have forced me to quickly acclimate to the way things work around here. Yet again, I owe you one.”

I blushed slightly and looked down at the floor. “Hey, it’s my pleasure.”

“So, what can I help you with?”

“Oh!” I tried to think quickly but my brain was starting to become absolute mush whenever I was in the presence of Mason.

“Uh. Well…a pen!”

“What?”

“I…I forgot a pen and I am heading to the conference room and, well, I need a pen.”

“Don’t they have pens in the conference room?” He said with an eyebrow slightly raised.

“Yeah. I mean…yeah, of course they do. But. The thing is. I like your pens better.”

We both began to grin stupidly at each other again before Mason casually walked over to his desk drawer and removed a long, oak box. He slowly opened it up and pulled out a matte black pen with a silver top.

“My dad gave me this pen when I graduated from college. I hardly ever use it, but I figure if I am going to be known for my pens, I should probably begin to lend this one out.” He pointed the tip at me.

“Wow. Thanks, Mason.” As I reached out to grab the other edge of the pen, I couldn’t help but run my pointer finger over his. “I’ll take good care of it.”