There’s only one company on this level; I can see the doorway from here, no windows, and just a small brass nameplate. The door swings open. A young woman walks out, expertly wheeling a dolly stacked with boxes. She’s tall, long legs in her brown uniform shorts. Curvaceous. The top two buttons of her shirt are undone. A ball cap over her light-brown ponytail. Streamlined wraparound sunglasses hide her eyes but her lips are clearly exquisite. She stops and turns her back to me; let’s the dolly stand on it’s own as she enters something onto her electronic pad. She turns and for a moment I think she’s seen me. Childishly I hold my breath. She turns and walks back towards me. I watch the muscles of her legs as she comes near, her sturdy boots squeak on the polished marble. She moves with athletic grace and surety. She pushes into the Ladies room taking the loaded dolly in with her. I can’t resist the temptation; I follow her in. There are only three stalls, she’s taken the furthest from the door, her dolly waits against the wall for her. She’s humming a tune but stops when she hears me enter. I don’t have to go but I pick the first stall and go through the motions. I’m slowly washing my hands when she exits her stall. Desire hits me with a full body shiver. My eyes explore her in the mirror. I glance at my own reflection and see the obviousness of my lust, I know I should not look and at her again, but I have to. She’s looking down at her hands as she lathers them with soap and begins to rinse them. My own hands have been more than thoroughly rinsed so I turn off the tap and grab a couple of paper towels. Suddenly she’s right next to me drying her hands as well. She smells like dessert. Must be vanilla body spray or perhaps it’s her deodorant. She drops the paper into the bin and turns to grab her dolly. I’ve moved back to the counter, ostensibly to reapply some lipstick. I’m looking at her instead. She turns her head and looks right at my reflection her eyes still obscure behind the shades.

"You do know it is impolite to stare?" she asks with the tiniest smirk.

"Sorry." I try to switch to performance mode but I don’t quite make it.

Her smirk widens to a smile. She’s stunning, I can feel the pulse points in my thighs throbbing.

"Are you really?" an eyebrow appears above the right side of her shades.

"You are quite …striking." I say in the friendly way women use to hide envy or lust. She moves past me so she’s closer to the door.

"So you’re not really sorry then?" She is definitely flirting. I turn and look at her, let my eyes slowly travel her curves once again, and drop my voice and octave.

"No, not really." I smirk right back at her.

"Good." She dips her head as she says it and pulls open the door. In a moment she’s gone and I’m left feeling flushed and aroused. Now I really need a drink.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s Friday, thank the Gods, and I have the weekend to myself. No family dinners or official appearances to make with Mark my so-called husband. The clock says 3:30; I might as well skip out early. I gather my jacket and attaché; my assistant Sheila is sipping tea at her desk.

"I’m taking off, Sheila."

"Had enough for the day?" She looks up through her diamond shaped lenses.

"Have I! You should knock off early too, feel like a margarita?" She looks mildly surprised.

"Who are you and what have you done with Kathryn Ridgeway?" She jokes. "I can’t. Rain check? I have some things to finish, and I’ve got a date."

"Ooo, well you’ll have to tell me all about her." I say quietly leaning close. "Really leave it ‘til Monday if it’s not important." I say starting to walk away.

"What has gotten into you today?" She asks emphasizing each word equally.

"Maybe I’m finally beginning to realize that life is too short."

I pass through the cubicles and leave through the private door. It closes with the satisfying clang of the Mag-lock, "freedom" it proclaims for me. I stride past the elevators and through the glass door to reception. Nell is dealing with a courier as I approach.

"Nell, I’m done for the day." I say simply.

"Ok." She glances at me. I turn to go. "Oh wait, these came for you." She calls and I return to her desk. The elevator chimes behind me. The courier bolts for it. Nell produces three large manila envelopes. "Sorry I didn’t page you about them, they’ve only been here a few minutes." I hear the door swing open as I’m reading the return address … Barristers and Solicitors… I look up. It’s her, My fantasy courier girl. Her sunglasses hang around her neck, she’s not wearing a cap today and I can tell, by her roots, that her natural hair colour is much lighter than her current shade of brown. Nell is signing her pad. The nametag sewn onto her shirt says Nika. I look up from her ample chest and lock eyes with hers. Her huge, liquid blue eyes. She raises an eyebrow at me. She turns and smiles at Nell, then quickly nods thanks and turns to go.

"Have a good weekend Nell." I say over my shoulder as I follow her out to the bank of elevators. We don’t look at each other; it’s as I we’ve never met. A car arrives and she waits for me to go first. I push "B" and step back behind the man who was already on it. Nika moves to the back as well and stands at the opposite wall facing me. She glances at his back and then at me smiling, the barest, most subtle smile I’ve ever seen. She looks me over slowly. I feel exposed. I stand with both hands on the handle of my attaché, my jacket thrown over them. I think of the fantasies I’ve had about her and my nipples ache. I can just barely smell her perfume. The car stops and more people get on. She slides along the back wall closer to me. We’re at right angles to each other our arms almost touching. I look up into her eyes, she’s staring at my lips and moistening first her top and then her bottom lip. Her eyes reach mine and I feel heat blooming all over my body.

The door chimes for the main floor, everyone else gets off, the mechanical voice announces that this car is going down. The people waiting continue to wait. We’re alone for a few brief seconds. Her voice barely above a whisper she says: "You do know that you are quite ‘striking’ yourself." All I manage to do is swallow and breathe. "I’d so love to kiss you right now." She says as the car reaches the basement.

"Perhaps that could be arranged." I say, my voice husky with lust. We step out into the long white concrete corridor and walk together towards the loading dock door. I stop next to an alcove for a doorway, it’s about a metre deep. She pauses and looks back at me. I step sideways out of view of the hall. Her body follows her head as it turns towards me and she moves closer.

"This might not be safe." She says leaning her back against the cinder block wall.

"I’m sure it’s not." I step towards her and she towards me. Her lips are incredibly soft and oh so persistent all at the same time. I drop my case and jacket wrapping my arms around her waist and ribs. She pushes my back against the door. The feel of her curves pushing into mine makes me throb. It’s not a sweet kiss, no where near tentative, it’s as if we do this all the time. Our mouths know each other, when to tilt, when to breathe, our lips part and tongues dive. The elevator doors open. Shoes squeak on the coated concrete. There is no stopping us; they’ll only see Nika anyways, really. And my heels… suddenly the thought that we might get caught is really turning me on. The thought that perhaps some stranger will see two women kissing and be shocked, or surprised

or even appalled makes me feel powerful, and makes me want to kiss her more. I feel her start to pull away and I whisper "no" as I pull her lips back to mine. The footsteps pass us by without apparently noticing. A few minutes later we release each other and stand staring. Our chests gently heaving, her nostrils are flared. Gods, she looks sexy.

"I must, I have … deliveries." She looks at me longingly. I try to straighten my clothes and resist her lips. "Could we?" "Are you?" we both speak.

"Tonight?" she asks looking suddenly very young and vulnerable.

"Where?" I try to embrace her with my look.

"Do you know the Willow Tree Café?"

"I’ll find it." I reach out and stroke her jaw with my fingertips. She takes a deep breath.

"This really isn’t safe." Her sexy little smirk is back; I give one of my own.

She walks away. I gather my things and stride quickly after her; as she opens the heavy metal door I mumble: "Time?"

"Half past eight?" She quirks her eyebrow in a question and holds the door for me.