Susan not only jumped in head first at the credit union to learn every aspect of running the branch possible, but she also worked hard after work attending Liberty College Online and obtained her MBA with a 3.98 GPA. She worked her way up through every position in the branch to include Branch and Regional Operations Manager until she finally landed the job she had worked her whole career to achieve. After 15 years with Carolina FCU, Susan was named the new Vice President of Branch Operations. It was a dream come true for her, and she put everything she had into being the best VP the credit union had ever had.
As she sits in the third-floor conference room, running what she is sure to be the millionth meeting of her career, Susan finds herself feeling like something is missing. Not in the meeting, but within herself. She has found herself getting distracted more and more lately with thoughts of family, or more accurately her lack of household. In her dedication to becoming the best in her field and reaching her career goals, Susan put her personal life on hold. Outside of work, she does not socialize with anyone which means her friend circle is limited to her college best friend, Margaret. Hell, she can't even remember the last time she went on a date, and her sex life is non-existent.
Shaking off her momentary lapse into self-pity Susan focuses her attention back on Heather as she lays out the proposed new hours for their New River branch and details her plan to notify the members and make the proper operations changes needed to accommodate the much shorter hours for the office. "Based on the data we have collected over the past six months we have determined the branch is only busy on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays midday around normal lunch hours. I propose we change the hours of operation, so the office is only open on these three days from 10:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. We will start putting up notices in the branch, and…”
The conference room door swings open distracting Heather and cutting her off mid-sentence drawing the attention of everyone in the room as a young woman comes strolling in a little carrying a coffee cup in her right hand and a notebook in her left. When the woman first enters the room she has a small smile on her face and is humming to herself; okay that might not be exactly correct because she is loud enough everyone in the room can hear her. It was loud enough that Susan could make out the song she is humming: Pink "Just Like Fire."
The woman took a few steps into the room humming and grinning before she seems to take finally in the scene around her. Susan watches her and notices when the woman twists her wrist slightly to peek at her watch and then her smile falters. Susan saw something wash over her features, a bit of anxiety clear in her eyes and the crease that has now formed between her eyebrows. Beautiful. The thought crossed Susan's mind out of nowhere, and it takes Susan a moment to realize she is biting down on her lip and staring at the woman; ogling is probably a better description.
"Oh my gosh, I am completely sorry. I thought the meeting started at 9:30. I promise I'm not that person; you know the one always late and making excuses. Okay, I realize that it looks like that is what I am doing now and the meeting invite said 9:30 and I made sure to be here by 9:15. You know, because if you're not early, you're late, right." The woman said to the room as she looked around the room at everyone present, a small smile tugging at her lips with her last comment. When her eyes made it to Susan's at the head of the table Susan was sure she heard the woman suck in a deep breath, and her eyes got a fraction larger if only for a second. Susan wasn't surprised, likely the woman was just a little intimidated by her. After all, it was likely a bit nerve racking to realize you just showed up late to a meeting with a company V.P., and then you proceeded to ramble about why you were late in front of them.
Heather stood and motioned to the empty chair on her right for the woman to sit. “Everyone this is Marlena Shafer, our new Membership Development Coordinator. She just started yesterday morning and is still in a bit of a training phase." Turning to Marlena, Heather smiled at the woman and said, "Marlena, don't worry about it. The meeting was scheduled for 9:30. All of us have worked with Susan here long enough to know she also believes in the motto you mentioned about being early. We also know that she doesn't like to wait to get started on the agenda; if everyone is present early, we get right to work. In your case, she just wouldn't have known everyone was not already here."
Marlena turned her gaze back to Susan as she said, "I am sorry I interrupted Ms. Ellis. I give you my word it will not happen again." Susan couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face as she looked at Marlena. She couldn't explain it, but something about Marlena caught her attention, and suddenly this meeting wasn't so ordinary after all.
Susan was wrapping up her last report for the day before heading home when she heard a light knock on her office door. Glancing at her clock, she saw it was already 6:30 pm and was surprised anyone was still here. Susan was always the last one to leave for the day, and no one but the cleaning crew was still in the building. Everyone in the office knew not to bother her when the office door was closed. She heard a louder knock this time as if they thought her lack of response meant she hadn't heard their first attempt at a quiet knock.
"Come in," Susan said, eyes on the door.
When the young woman from this morning's meeting entered, Marlena, Susan found herself momentarily speechless. There was no doubting the fact that this woman was beautiful. Marlena was curvy, approximately 5'6" tall, with long auburn hair. She had emerald green eyes that accentuated by her long, thick eyelashes. She wore makeup that was a bit more dramatic than Susan usually liked, with a dark gray smoky eye and black eyeliner, but Susan found herself enjoying the way the shadow brought out those luminous green eyes.
“Ms. Ellis, I was just leaving for the day, and since I noticed you were still in your office, I wanted to stop by and just apologize for one more time for this morning. I assure you it will not happen again." Marlena said breaking through Susan's reverie.
"Susan, call me Susan. No need to be so formal Marlena, and you don't have to apologize. Everyone takes a while to get used to a new job, and you had no way of knowing I like to start early. If someone had let me know we had a new team member, I wouldn't have started first without you. My title might be VP now, but I wasn't always in this position. I worked my way up, and while that means I believe in hard work, it also means that I know how hard everyone in this credit union has to work to be successful. It means I'm not such a hard ass, not like most of the department heads around here."
When Susan saw Marlena's body apparently relax she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. If she thought the woman was beautiful before, that was nothing compared to the relaxed version in front of her now.
"Thanks, Susan. Now I know why everyone said this was the department to be in and why they all seem to respect and admire you so much. Well, thanks, and I will get out of your hair."
Marlena smiled and turned to the door. Just before Susan could respond, Marlena turned back around and said, "You know it is like 7:00 at night right? You should go home. Everyone also tells me you work too hard, and I am sure you have family who would love for you to be home right now."
Susan was a bit shocked, not just by Marlena’s sudden brazenness, but by the sincerity she saw in the woman’s eyes. She didn't say this just to make nice with the boss; she seemed actually to care that Susan was stuck at work so late, which was funny since Marlena was here too.
"Pot calling the kettle black huh? You do realize that we are both still here at work right now don't you?" Susan couldn't help the smirk her mouth formed as she found herself teasing Marlena.
The difference is I am leaving, while you still haven't made a move away from that desk. Plus, I'm the newbie. I'm the one with a lot to learn, and who still needs to prove I am an asset to the company. Apparently, you've already shown that, or I doubt I'd be looking at the only female VP this credit union has ever had. Seriously, you should get out of here. It is getting dark, and I don't want to leave you here alone. It can't be safe to go after dark."
&nb
sp; "You make a great point Marlena, but trust me, you don't have to stay so late after work to impress anyone. Just work hard during regular hours, and you will do just fine. I was just about to shut things down here and leave before someone knocked at my door."
Susan smiled at Marlena as she stood up, grabbing her bag from the credenza, and walking around her desk to the door to leave. Marlena hadn't moved so when Susan reached around her to open the door for the two of them to move they were nearly touching, and after she had pulled open the door, Susan found herself reaching out behind Marlena's lower back and steering her out the door.
When Susan's hand touched Marlena, a sudden warmth ran through her body, one that she hadn't experienced in a very long time. The heat that spread through her and woke up her body in all the right places and found herself wondering what Marlena would think about the contact, which was probably a little too intimate at work if she knew that Susan was a lesbian. Well, there is always the possibility that Marlena is too, but Susan couldn't be sure. Shaking her head, Susan removed her hand from Marlena and laughed at herself internally.
Even if Marlena is attracted to women, she'd never be attracted to a boring 46-year-old. She is way too young and beautiful ever to consider someone like Susan attractive.
Chapter Two
Marlena was surprised when Susan put her hand on her lower back, leading her out of the office to the parking lot. What shocked her more was the tingles she felt travel across her body at the other woman’s touch. Not that Susan wasn't attractive because she was. Hell, beautiful didn't even begin to cover it, the woman was gorgeous. She was just the tiniest bit taller than Marlena, maybe 5'7", or 5'8" tall.
She had beautiful black hair that was long and wavy; currently, she wore it swooped up into a sophisticated side bun. She wasn't skinny, but her curves were beautiful, and Marlena imagined she had men crawling at her feet with a body like that. She had these big blue eyes highlighted by mascara and just enough makeup to help light them up.
Her mouth, Marlena found it hard not to stare at her lips, with full lips with red lipstick that begged for attention. When they got to the parking lot, and Marlena felt Susan's hand slip away, she had to shake off the feeling of loss that moves left behind. She needed to get it together. It would be an awful idea to crush on her new boss. The no fraternizing at work policy was very strict at Carolina FCU, plus Marlena couldn't even imagine Susan would be even the slightest bit interested in some young girl who had yet to make anything of herself.
No, that woman could have anyone she wanted, and there was no way she would want Marlena. Marlena laughed at herself; none of this mattered because Marlena had Jeff, her boyfriend for the past five years, and even though Marlena knew she didn't love him, she knew he would never willingly let her leave. No, the only way she was ever getting out of that relationship would be if Jeff decided he didn't want her anymore. Until then, it would be easier just to stay put and keep a smile on her face, even if it was fake.
Marlena was jostled out of her thoughts when Susan stopped behind a black Yukon.
"Well, this is me. Where are you parked? I want to make sure you are safely in your car before I leave. Someone recently reminded me that it probably isn't safe to go alone in the dark." Susan smiled when she made that last comment and Marlena couldn't help the laugh that escaped from her mouth as Susan used her words against her.
“Yeah, thanks. I’m just right there in the silver KIA.” Marlena points towards the middle of the lot. “Well, I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night Susan.”
“You too Marlena. See you tomorrow.”
Marlena turned and headed to her car. When she sat in the driver's seat and reached to pull the door shut, she noticed Susan was still standing behind her SUV watching as Marlena got in her car. Marlena smiled and waved to Susan before pulling the door shut and kept her eyes on Susan until she was also safe inside her vehicle and Marlena heard the sound of her cranking the engine.
Marlena pulled out of the parking lot and found herself smiling. She may never have a chance with Susan as anything more than an acquaintance, or friend if she's really lucky, but she would take what she could get if it meant she got to be around that beautiful woman more.
“Marlena, are you available to attend the BSA conference on Friday? The credit union will provide the hotel and money for food and anything you need." Susan asked during Tuesday's morning meeting. Marlena was shocked to be invited so soon after being hired. Then again, she was one of the only people in the room that were unmarried or had small children, so Susan probably just asked her since she didn't have any kids.
“Yes, I'd be glad to," Marlena responded.
"Great. We will leave from here Thursday morning, so we have time to settle in and make sure we are rested from the drive before the conference Friday morning. Just bring your things with you and meet me here at 8:00 am on Thursday; we will take the company car."
Marlena hadn’t expected that she would be going to the conference with anyone else, least of all Susan. She just assumed Susan asked her because no one else could go. It took her a second to shake off the surprise before nodding her head yes.
“Marlena Shafer. Can I help you?”
"Hey Marlena, it's Susan. Do you have time to meet in my office this afternoon to go over the plans for the trip tomorrow morning?"
It was Wednesday afternoon already when Marlena got the call from Susan which meant she didn't have a lot of time to prepare and make her schedule for the impromptu meeting.
"Hey Susan, I am booked up this afternoon with training for service excellence, but I can meet you after if you'll still be here. I will have finished by then so that I can meet you at 5:30 if that will work." Marlena hated having to make Susan wait, after all, she was the department head, but she couldn't just bail on the class since she would be gone the rest of the week and therefore unable to reschedule.
She heard Susan's quiet laughter, and then Susan said, "Sure that works. You know I never get out of here that early. This way we can walk each other out afterward, you see, make sure we both safely get to our cars."
It had been a few weeks since Marlena demanded Susan leave with her because it was late and not safe for her to be walking to her car alone. It made her smile hear Susan reference her remark again. Honestly, she was surprised because they had not had any further one on one interactions since that day and she didn't expect Susan to remember much about their conversation. Marlena smiled and agreed with Susan before hanging up and gathering her notes to head downstairs to the member service training room.
“Hey, come on in.” Marlena sat across from Susan.
The day was over, and she would be leaving as soon as they finished reviewing the trip details. Marlena still had to get home and pack; she didn't want to pack earlier in the week because she was worried her clothes would wrinkle and the last thing she needed was to look like a wrinkled mess at her first conference on behalf of the credit union, especially not in front of the VP.
"Sorry to keep you late, especially since we have a long ride ahead of us in the morning to Virginia, but I just wanted to make sure we're on the same page," Susan told Marlena as soon as she sat down.
"In the morning we will just meet in the parking lot and leave from there if that is okay with you. I know if I enter the building I'll get caught up with someone, and we will not get on the road in time. I just realized that I never asked, you don't mind leaving your car here for the few days we'll be gone, do you? I mean, if you prefer I could just pick you up from your house." Marlena was surprised that Susan would even offer to go out of her way to pick her up, but it wouldn't be necessary.
“No, that is fine. No need for you to make the extra drive, I will meet you here.”
It was then that it hit Marlena, she was going to be alone in a car with Susan for several hours tomorrow. She already struggled with keeping herself from acting like a school girl with a crush when she was about the woman at work where there was plenty
of space, and usually, many other people present. How in the world was she going to keep her thoughts and body under control alone with Susan for so long in such a tight space?
"Great. Well, let's get out of here so we can get some rest before the drive in the morning."
Susan grabbed her bag and stood, and Marlena followed suit. Briefly, Marlena wondered if Susan would escort her to the parking lot the same way she had the last time. Before she could think too much about it, she felt Susan's hand at her lower back as they walked from the office and she had her answer. Marlena smiled, unable to help it and unable to ignore the warm tingles that spread through her body at Susan's touch, just like before. Yep, tomorrow was going to be a long day, and Marlena only hoped she could keep her feelings to herself while she was alone with Susan for the next few days.
Chapter Three
“You want to stop and grab lunch somewhere?” Susan asked Marlena.
They had been driving for the past three and a half hours, and Susan needed some air. Not because the drive itself had been tiring, she traveled a lot for work and was stuck in a car for extended periods of time often, but because she needed a break from being enclosed in the small car with Marlena. Susan was struggling not to stare at the woman, or touch her in such proximity.
Of course, that would be dangerous for some reasons to include the fact that Susan needed to keep her eyes on the road while driving, not to mention the fact that Marlena probably wouldn't be happy about being ogled by some creepy middle aged woman. There had been a few times during the drive when Susan could have sworn she saw Marlena staring at her like maybe she wasn't quite as uninterested as Susan assumed, but she was sure that was just her imagination dreaming up things she wished were true.
One Little Letter: A Bad Boy, Second Chance Romance (Office Escapades Book 1) Page 68
