This Guy Kills Me

by Anlyn Hansell

  Silence.

  “Carry on,” he stated with an authoritative tone and still there was…nothing.

  Finally, she croaked something out, something unintelligible which caused Anne’s eyes to focus on her once more.

  “I…just…Ok, well…” she reached over to press a button on her computer and inadvertently knocked over a small glass of water. It clattered to the table surface, spilling the contents and spreading immediately. She stood stunned for a few moments before springing into action, moving the computer away from the spreading water, pushing papers to the side as Anne and the new arrival sat and watched.

  “Here…” Anne handed a few small napkins from the center of the table to the woman, throwing a couple on the spreading water before sitting back.

  The woman was wiping, muttering something below her breath in her obviously nervous state. Anne and the new arrival glanced at each other as she continued her frantic wiping and blotting.

  “I need some…could you just…umm…excuse me…” she stated before walking out of the door abruptly.

  Anne stared at the door before the new arrival’s voice caused her to shift her eyes to him.

  “That was strange,” he stated. He was staring at her, making her feel a bit self-conscious in the small confines of the room. Her eyes shifted to the table.

  “Yeah,” was the only response she felt necessary.

  “Was she like that the whole time?” he asked. If she cared to look up, she would see his intense gaze focused on her. As it was, she could actually feel it…

  “She was fine until you walked in. Then she lost her mind,” she muttered absently to the table.

  “I have that effect on women,” he stated seriously, causing her eyes to fly up and meet his. Was he serious?

  No. Apparently he must have been joking because one side of his mouth was turned up. He was still gazing directly at her, his dark blue eyes focused intently on her face.

  He certainly wasn’t the most handsome guy she’d ever seen, yet there was something about him. There was a scar near the middle of his upper lip, his nose was by no means perfect, maybe a little crooked, his hair was fighting the skin on his forehead for territory. He reminded her of Daniel Craig with darker hair or maybe…nah, definitely Daniel Craig.

  Her eyes shifted back toward the screen. She could see why the other woman fled the room. Would it be strange if I walked out too? There was something about him. He seemed to fill the room when he walked in. He was unnerving, intense, and he was still staring at her. She could see his face turned towards her in her peripheral vision. She fought the urge to fidget or clear her throat in a nervous gesture. This was just so damned…uncomfortable.

  “So, what’s your name?” he asked, knowing full well what it was.

  “Anne,” she answered, her eyes still glued to the screen.

  “Hello Anne, I’m Mac.”

  With his accent, her name sounded more like the word ‘on’.

  “Yeah. I mean, Hi,” she added, refusing to meet his eyes.

  “So…Anne, you’re a new hire, eh? What department?” he asked.

  “R&D,” she responded automatically, her eyes were still affixed to the words on the screen.

  “Hmm…marketing or scientist?” he asked. Unfortunately, her bangs were swept to the opposite side so rolling her eyes or making any other type of unflattering facial expression would be inappropriate since he could see her face clearly.

  “Scientist,” she mumbled. Where did that woman go? What was her name? Oh, who cared? What was it about the people in this town? Everyone was so damn…chatty.

  “So, where are you from?” he asked.

  She turned her eyes toward him, softening the angry glare and schooling her face into a bland countenance.

  Deep breath.

  Be nice. The other woman would be back soon, she would continue on with her ridiculously boring and unnecessary orientation and Anne could go back to ignoring the man across the table from her. Oh, please hurry up, lady.

  “West Coast,” she replied with a certain sort of finality to her tone.

  “Really, now? That’s specific, eh? Where on the West Coast?” he asked with a hint of humor.

  “California,” she responded coolly, her eyes narrowing slightly.

  “Now we’re getting warmer. Where in California?” he asked pointedly.

  Why do you care?

  “San Diego,” she responded instead.

  “Oh yes! They have a nice Zoo there. I bet you went there all the time, eh?”

  Why is everyone so damned fascinated with the Zoo?

  “Ah…once. Once was enough. You’ve seen one ape; you’ve seen ‘em all…” she muttered before shifting her gaze back down to the Handbook on the table in front of her.

  One of his eyebrows shot up. What was that? Some veiled put-down? This woman was something else. She was clearly not much of a conversationalist; evidenced by her earlier display and now…

  Close up, she was even more attractive, he noticed as he continued to examine the woman across the table. The fluorescent lighting, while not flattering to most, caused her unusual blue/green eyes to sparkle. It was the strangest thing – how could something so cute and inviting be so cold and aloof? Maybe she was shy. Maybe she was just socially awkward?

  Many of the scientists in his acquaintance were introverts but this creature before him was clearly uncomfortable around people. It was almost fun to goad her. Little sparks of annoyance would erupt before she would tamp it back down to bland.

  “So, did you move here with your family?” he questioned. A quick perusal of her hands netted the absence of a ring. Of course some women didn’t wear a ring…

  He watched as she bit her lip and began fidgeting before curling her fingers into fists on the table. She must have realized what she was doing because almost immediately, she relaxed them again. She blew out a small breath.

  “No.”

  “No, what? No family or they didn’t move out here with you?” he asked, almost expecting some kind of verbal slashing.

  “Why do you care?” she blurted the question before clamping her lips shut once more.

  “Just being friendly. If you’re here alone, I thought maybe I could show you around the town, help you settle in,” he replied casually.

  “Thanks, but no,” she replied tersely. It was just the response he expected.

  “Really? Well, that’s too bad, Anne. It’s a lovely town and -”

  “See the screen? It’s Page 8 of the Handbook,” she interrupted. “The Fraternization Policy. You might want to pay attention to this part,” she muttered with eyes glaring back at him.

  A laugh erupted unchecked from his mouth causing her brow to furrow.

  “Oh, Anne. Aren’t you something?” he finally stated, shaking his head.

  Go away.

  She didn’t respond. She was seriously considering excusing herself from the room. It was too small and getting smaller by the second, at least in her mind. The walls were closing in; her lungs were becoming squeezed. The pressure building within her brain was starting to become unbearable.

  Her hands gripped the side of the table, ready to push the chair back before the woman wandered in again. She looked much calmer than she did when she left. She probably went somewhere to collect herself, maybe give herself a mental pep talk in order to deal with the annoying man seated across the table.

  Who was he? Why did he show up late to his own orientation? When he walked in, he did so unapologetically. Maybe he worked here already? But if he worked here, why was he sitting in this extremely boring and unnecessary training session? Why do I even care? She’s back. Ignore him and concentrate on her.

  “All right, sorry about that. Where were we?” she stated in a perfectly cool voice.

  “No fraternization,” Anne piped up before shooting a sideways glance at him. He shot one back, although his eyebrows were raised in amusement.

  “Sir?” An attractive young woman pok
ed her head in through the open door, her eyes fastening on him immediately.

  He looked from Anne to the new arrival.

  “Cyril Hendrick from Probst Labs is on line 3 for you. He says you’re expecting his call,” she stated in an almost sheepish voice.

  “Hmm…” he muttered to himself as he looked at the woman. She immediately averted her eyes toward the floor.

  “Well, Anne, you enjoy the rest of your orientation, eh?” he stated as he pushed away from the table and stood. “It was nice to meet you.” He extended his hand across the table for her to shake, apparently. She reached her own hand out after an awkward hesitation.

  “The pleasure was ALL mine, right?” he stated with a smirk as his warm hand clasped and surrounded hers, applying a slight squeeze before he let go. His eyes were still on her even as he backed away toward the door.

  She opened her mouth to respond before quickly shutting it. What do you say to that?

  He gave a slight nod toward the woman at the front of the room before disappearing around the corner.

  Anne’s eyes shifted toward the woman as a strange sound could be heard from her general direction. She blew out a rather noisy breath and was staring down at her computer.

  “I am so sorry about that. He’s never done that before,” she stated before her gaze locked with Anne’s.

  “Who is he?” Anne asked.

  The woman’s eyes widened. “You don’t know?”

  Anne shook her head and shrugged.

  “That was Ian McClellan,” she stated simply before Anne’s stomach decided to drop.