It was only 3pm, but it felt like I had been here for at least 24 hours straight. Between the sexual harassment complaint in marketing, the standard ‘code of conduct’ piece I was working on for next month’s National Sales Meeting and some supply budgeting (not to mention the fact that my mind kept getting lost in the thought of Jordan’s smile), it seemed I didn’t have a moment to just breathe.

Papers were sprawled all over my desk in no order whatsoever, I had sixteen windows open on my computer and my coffee cup had been empty for far too long for someone who’s brain needed to work at the speed necessary to at least have a hope of getting home before midnight. It was overwhelming to say the least.

I looked up just in time to see Jordan walk by, holding a paper cup in one hand and my pen in the other. He was chatting with one of his sales guys whose name I had forgotten. A knock on my door later and they were both standing in front of me.

“Hey, HR guy,” Mr. No Name said, louder than necessary, puffing his chest out like a bird.

“Mason. His name is Mason,” Jordan snapped.

“Whatever. Anyway, I’m sure you’re busy but I need to sit down and ask you a few questions about how much we can spend on gifts to potential clients. See, I disagree with what’s in the handbook and…”

I couldn’t hear what he said after that. I was already knee deep in other shit and to have to even pretend to put on a kind face for this guy who was clearly too smug for his own good made my blood boil.

I opened my mouth, hoping that something even remotely polite would come out, but I didn’t have the chance to even utter a word.

“Actually, this is something I can handle with you. We don’t need to bother Mason for this.” Jordan had clearly been watching my subtle facial expressions of frustration and wore his look of concern for me like a comfortable suit of armor.

“Well, Jordan, I think I should handle this with Mason. I think we can get more done that way.”

Jordan’s eyebrows began to lower and his lips tightened. “O’Malley, you want to deal with Mason because you know he is new and that he is much more likely to fall for your pathetic bullying than I am. Why don’t you do this: Stop trying to buy your clients and start doing something to actually HELP them. I swear to God, if I catch you in this office again trying to bother this man, who CLEARLY has things to do, I’ll take you off of every client you’ve got, demolish your expense account and you’ll be demoted to cold calling in a cubicle for eight hours a day.”

Mr. No-Name ran out of that office so fast, he almost lost his footing as he turned the corner and disappeared.

Looking adorably proud of himself, Jordan nodded his head in my direction. “Well, it seems you’ve got a lot to do, so I’ll be on my way as well.”

I was speechless…and beyond impressed.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Jordan walked back over to my desk and set the large tan-colored paper cup on my desk. “I got you a cappuccino from around the corner. Best spot in town. Thought you might want a pick-me-up.”

With that, he was gone. His fragrance, however, continued to linger in the air for the rest of the day, giving me an intense sense of comfort and safety.