For one, it is the middle of the night which is a PERFECT time to do something that scares you shitless…
The next morning…
Walking into her kitchen to see Kyle just playing with his cereal instead of eating it like he’d do normally, “Hey, eat up buddy. I want to get to the office early, okay? You’re also going to have your usual Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich for lunch today. Okay?”
After not responding she asks, “Hey, what’s up?”
“Does Dad like peanut butter and jelly, too?”
“Well, who doesn’t?” Bridgette sighs.
Not quite satisfied with the answer, Kyle just shrugs and continues eating his cereal. After he finishes getting ready, Bridgette walks Kyle to the bus stop at the end of the block per their usual routine to see other kids already waiting there and hands Kyle his backpack.
“Okay, here you go.” Bridgette says as she tries to give him a kiss and hug goodbye.
“No, mom. You can’t do that. It’s not the cool thing to do anymore.”
“Okay…what is cool then?” Bridgette says shocked as Kyle gives her a high five before walking up to the curb as the school bus pulls up.
Before getting on the bus, Kyle turns around and whispers ‘I Love You’ and Bridgette says it back and smiles.
Chapter 2
Bridgette was already running behind the minute she woke up late that morning but the extra conversation she had in the kitchen with her son after he brought up his dad again only increased her lateness. Her boss Vince didn’t like lateness. He was a minute by minute individual and it didn’t matter if you were a minute late or 10 minutes late, it was all the same to him.
Bridgette rushes into her department’s suite and runs up past Beth’s desk. Beth was the receptionist to the department she and Bridgette worked in.
“Hey, Beth!”
“Morning!”
“It’s a very late morning. Is Vince in yet?” Bridgette says as Vince walks into the room.
“We start at 9:00 am, Bridgette. Not 9:30.”
“Oh, I’m sorry Vince. The freeway was bumper-to-bumper. There was an accident…”
“Actually Vince. The freeway was so totally backed up. It took me thirty minutes to get here when it usually takes me only fifteen.” Beth said in agreement.”
Vince huffed before walking away saying, “Well, I guess I can understand. Just remember ladies, if all of our team members aren’t at 100%, then nothing is happening.”
“Okay.” Both women agreed in unison.
“Thank you for that.” Bridgette said gratefully once Vince walked out of the room.
“Oh, Jim is just a big ol’ teddy bear.”
“How is the leadership training going for you?” Bridgette asked Beth.
“Everyone has been really nice. Jim says it’s the first step to climbing the corporate ladder.” Beth giggled.
Just then, Luke known as the office sleaze ball runs into the room panicking. “Bridgette! Bridgette! Where are the summer music award reports?”
“Um. They are on your desk in a file called, ‘Summer Music Award Reports’.” Bridgette says sarcastically.
Trying to save face, “Ok, cool.”
“By the way, I ended up editing your grammar use and fixing all of your typos.” Bridgette rolled her eyes before walking away.
“That’s our little editor!” Luke shouted after her.
***
“Monica, sorry I’m late.” Bridgette apologizes as she walks into Monica’s office. Monica was the Director of Marketing for the company they both worked in, also Bridgette’s immediate supervisor. Despite being her boss, they had become close, personal friends.
“Oh, you look like you had a rough night, last night.”
“Uh no. More like a rough morning actually.” Beth sighed. “Kyle must be officially a man because he wouldn’t let me kiss and hug him goodbye this morning at the bus stop.”
“Prepare yourself, honey. It goes downhill from there.” Monica said as Bridgette giggled before walking to her cubicle.
Bridgette goes about her morning routine of turning on her computer, seeing her son Kyle as her computer wallpaper and opening up her email. Bridgette scanned the 20 emails she already had gotten with emphasized and over-exaggerated subject lines until she noticed one that read something she doesn’t see every day. It read: The Important Reasons Why I am Your Secret Admirer.
Opening the email, she read:
For one, it is the middle of the night which is a PERFECT time to do something that scares you shitless…
Secondly, because I interact with strangers every day, but it wasn’t until I saw you that I realized I was alone.
Third, because I see the beauty in your soul.
Fourth, I see goodness in your eyes.
And finally, whenever I see you, you take my breath away.
Meanwhile, on other side of town…
“Let me guess, you bared your soul to the mystery girl and you got nothing back.” Patrick teased.
“Well, I sent the email last night and when I sent it, it was very late.”
“Whatever, if you don’t hear from her by lunch time, you should think about moving on. Now can you stop checking your email and let’s discuss the upcoming campaign?”
Later that night…
At first when he didn’t get a response, Sean was slightly disappointed but after thinking about it, he quickly assumed that she was busy and hadn’t seen the email yet. Unfortunately, email doesn’t have the technology unless you set it where you can tell if they opened your email and just chose not to respond. Since he couldn’t tell either way, he decided to email her again that night with something just as witty:
Some things you should know about me…
I am an old-fashioned gentleman
This is the first time I’ve ever done something like this but you are worth it.
I’m a great cook if I do say so myself and I make a fantastic chicken alfredo dish.
I believe in true love
***
The next morning, aware that her secret admirer sent her a second email and before she even considered responding to either one of them she decided to let Monica read them.
“Thank you for showing these to me.”
“I actually wasn’t planning on showing these to anyone. So what do you think of all this?” Bridgette asked.
“I think that he’s either the greatest guy on the planet or he’s bad news.”
“Yeah, your right. I am DEFINITELY not writing him back.” Bridgette said and closed the emails.
“I didn’t tell you to write him back.” Monica laughed as Luke approached them.
“Ladies. Ladies. The meeting has been pushed back an hour and unfortunately there have been changes”. He starts to sniff Monica and says, “Is that you? What is that beautiful fragrance?”
“It is called ‘I am married and your boss. I’m old enough to be your mother and you should know better.”
“Where can I buy it?” Luke winks and laughs before he realized his sense of humor was wasted on the women and huffs before walking out of the room.
After the delayed meeting, on her way back to her desk, Bridgette noticed beautiful bouquet of flowers on Beth’s desk.
“Those flowers are gorgeous. Are they yours?”
“No. Someone just sent them. There was no name or anything but they are so beautiful.”
“Maybe they’re from your secret admirer.” Bridgette said jokingly.
“Oh that would be so great and romantic. Oh, I wish.” Beth gushed.
“That wouldn’t bother you? Wouldn’t you worry that they were weird or something?”
“Gosh no. Thinking that way would ruin all of the fun.” Beth gushed again.
Bridgette walks away to her computer and sit there for a minute, contemplating about her own secret admirer. In that minute, she thought about all of the worst possible things that could happen to her as a result. But what if she didn’t respond,
she could be missing out on Mr. Right.
Bridgette decides to open her email and replies to the most recent email her secret admirer had sent her and types: Do I even know you? If so, where?
On the other side of town, anxiously waiting for a response, any response from ‘B’. Just when he was about to give up and just focus on work he gets an email notification. He clicks on it and notices it’s from B.
“Hell yeah! It’s her, Patrick! It’s her! She has written me!!!!”
“No way!” Patrick stands up excited for his friend and walks over to Sean’s desk. “What does it say?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t open it yet.”
“What are you waiting for? Open it!”
“Okay, Okay.” Sean clicks the email open.
“Do I even know you?” both men said in unison.
“Do I even know you?” Patrick repeats again. Exasperated, he walks back to his desk.
“Wait, wait! That’s a very valid question.”
“Well, it’s not exactly exploding with enthusiasm or joy.” Patrick said.
“No, but it’s a start.” Sean says to himself and starts typing a response to B.
“Don’t tell me you are already responding to her, she’s going to think you’re desperate.”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing.” Sean says to himself again as he continues typing his response: No, but I’m fascinated by you. Isn’t that a great place to start at?
Later that night, Bridgette checks her email and notices that she received a reply from her secret admirer but plagued with all of her chores and a million other reasons she tried to convince herself that she had no time for silly, little games, she turns off her computer monitor.
Bridgette stared at her computer for a second and then goes about chores including washing the dishes, laundry, and vacuum and goes about cleaning up. An hour later and spent, she recalls the email and can’t help but wonder if she was making a mistake by not answering.
Bridgette goes back to her computer, turns on the monitor and stares at his most recent email stating she didn’t know him. She started to type up her response of:
There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t be writing you back, but five reasons why I am.
At a bar miles away….
“Hey, Patrick, check this out!” Sean called to Patrick who was a few feet away playing his turn on the shuffle board against Sean.
“Let me guess. She responded?”
“She did! Check it out..” Sean read Patrick B’s response:
There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t be writing you back, but five reasons why I am:
Because, I’ve never had a secret admirer and I’m trying to convince myself that you’re not some crazy felon.
I could eat more Italian food than most men.
I like your choice of words.
Because you’re starting to make me feel alive
Because I’d like to think that I also believe in true love as well
But the fact remains, that I have no idea who you are or what you even look like which such a big disadvantage for me is considering you know exactly who I am. To be honest, that is a little creepy.
“I should send her a photo.” Sean said as he stared at the email.
“No! Don’t send any pictures. If whole thing goes bad and she ends up running into you, then she’ll punch you in the face.”
“Wait, there’s more!”
While I’m not comfortable meeting you in person, I’m pretty okay with getting to know you through email.
With that, they started to email each other back and forth for several days sharing little tidbits about each other including their first major crush. Sean’s being his 6th grade teacher.
Chapter 3
“Hey Bridgette, did you hear the great news?” Days had passed when Monica walked to Bridgette’s cubicle only to find she was glued to her computer screen reading. Monica bent over to snoop and realized she was reading an email that looked like it came from Bridgette’s secret admirer.
“Are you and that internet guy, writing emails back and forth?” Monica said surprised.
“Just one little letter, so far. I don’t know what I’m doing.” Bridgette shrugged.
“Why don’t you tell me all about it?” Monica said laughing.
“So what’s the big news?” Bridgette asked curiously as Beth walked over with a box full of belongings and placed it on the cubicle adjacent to Bridgette.
“Howdy, neighbor.” Beth crooned.
“Beth got promoted to Project Coordinator, seems like Vince liked some of her ideas when she was in the training program.”
“Was this the project you told me about?” Bridgette asked.
“Yeah. This is all so crazy huh?”
“Well, congratulations. You must be so excited.” Bridgette hugged her excitedly.
“I’m shocked and already overwhelmed but I’m ready to dive right in.” Beth said as Luke came over with another box of Beth’s belongings.
“Here you are your things, Beth. Remember, if you ever need anything just ask Bridgette. She knows everything. Now, to change the subject entirely, care to join me for lunch, my treat! Let’s say it’s a congratulations gift on your promotion.”
“Yeah, sure.” Beth said.
Trying to hide his joy, Luke did a half cheer attempt, “Alright! She’s going to have lunch with me!” and strutted away.
Later that night…
Carrying a load of laundry, Bridgette called for Kyle. “Hey buddy, your laundry is done, come and get it.”
When Kyle shows up, she says “You know what to do with it right?”
“Uh huh.” Kyle says as he grabs the laundry basket and scampers away to his room.
Exhausted from the long day, Bridgette heads over to her computer and sits down and decides to respond to the Secret Admirer’s latest email:
Well you weren’t the only one who had a crush on a teacher. My teacher crush was in the 8th grade and I thought he was perfect. Turns out, he ended up getting arrested and put in jail for shoplifting right in front of my mother and I.
Bridgette clicked send and it became a series of emails they sent back and forth to each other over the next several weeks:
Sean
My best friend is my dog, Corey. Named after the actor of course. Because all white colored dogs have unique genetics, he was born deaf. All completely white colored dogs are.
Bridgette
My weirdest job was a waitress for a cheese store…
Sean
I’ve had more women in my life than most. There were very few men in my family. I had lots of aunts, grandmothers, female cousins, nieces…
Bridgette
I was a rock star, in my mind…
Sean
I was a star athlete. Right. I couldn’t even catch a ball. Dessert, cheese cake. You?
Bridgette
Who doesn’t love cheesecake?
Days later…
“Who is a genus? Me, that’s what!” Sean gloated as he sealed the envelopes of his latest marketing proposal for their client and gave it to the receptionist to ship out.
“Yeah right. You almost as good as me. What started your confidence engine? Oh that’s right, your internet relationship.” Patrick teased.
“Relationship is right!”
On the other side of town…
Beth walks up to Bridgette’s cubicle and places a vase full of lilies on her desk. “This is for you.”
“From who?” Bridgette eyes the flowers suspiciously.
“From your secret admirer.” Beth teased. When she saw the awkward expression on Bridgette’s face she confessed, “I meant me. Just a small thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Oh, well thank you Beth. They’re beautiful.”
“You looked horrified for a second. It’s the concept of a secret admirer, isn’t it?”
“Well, I actually kind of have one. We’re exchanging emails right
now.” Bridgette confessed.
“Oh my god, that’s so exciting! Are you two going to meet?” Beth asked excitedly.
“Oh god, no. Not yet. If ever. Oh, I don’t know.” Bridgette said confused.
Beth eyes her suspiciously and came to the conclusion that Bridgette is out of touch when it came to dating and really wanted her to find a real man. “Listen, I’m having this dinner party at my house on Saturday night. You really should come, there will be a lot of good looking guys there.”
Jack (Secret Revenge #1) Page 10
