Wild Thoughts

Jane called Nancy the moment she got home. Her hands frantically rummaged through her bag for her phone. Her fingers drummed on the counter as she waited for the call to connect. She couldn't stop assuming the worst after seeing Nancy’s text. she paced around her home at the thought of the announcement. She could hardly stay still.

“Hello? Jane?”

“Nancy! Thank goodness you picked up. What is it you were trying to say will happen on Monday? How did you find out? Who said…,” Jane’s breath shook between each word. The numerous possibilities she thought of spiralled out of control in her mind. 

“Calm down, will you? Sheesh,” Nancy cut off Jane before should ramble on. “I found out when I went out drinking with the others. It just so happens Tony from HR has a slightly loose tongue when drunk,” Nancy’s giggles rang through the phone. 

“I see, so what's the announcement being on Monday going to be about?” Jane held on to the kitchen counter to calm herself down, waiting for Nancy's response.

“Well, there's good news and bad news, pick one.” Nancy teased.

“Nancy! This isn’t the time to tease me, just tell me already.” 

I swear this girl is going to be the death of me.

“Ok, fine! The good news is there won't be any layoffs, the bad news is…I don't know what it is because Tony passed out drunk. Although he kept mumbling about having a new big boss. Aside from that I‘ve got nothing”

The resumed drumming of Jane's fingers stopped mid-air, and the silence hung in the air like a thick cloak the moment she was done speaking.

“Nancy?”

“Yeah?” she answered nervously.

“ARE YOU CRAZY?!” Jane screamed into the phone.

“WHAT?! NO! It's not my fault Tony passed out, we pretty much tried to stop him from drinking so much.” 

“But you didn't have to give me a literal heart attack like that.” Jane let out a short breath as her palm ran down her face. Frustration piled up again after the long day and dealing with Marcus's mess. I really need a break.

The cupboard hinges creaked open, and she leaned forward to grab a mug. Cold water rushed into the mug as it splattered around in the sink.

“The least you could do is give me a heads up that it won't be that bad…probably,” Jane said as she rushed to turn off the tap. The cold water cooled her lips and throat as it passed.

“Ok, that's on me. I'm sorry, and I promise I won't ever give you a potential heart attack again,” she teased.

The loud rhythm of her heartbeat settling as she slumped against the counter, lips twitching at Nancy’s ridiculous promise. She knew full well that her dramatic antics weren't going to end here, even if she promised so.

“Now that we know there's no layoff happening, we can rest assured, right? Besides, I bet it’s just another newbie with connections that got in, I mean Marcus is a perfect example.”

What Nancy said reminded her of what Marcus has been getting involved in; her head was reeling from the thoughts of an unforeseen challenge that could wreck her life for good.

“I don’t know Nancy. Mrs Lin sounded pretty serious about this announcement...” Jane’s brows furrowed at the thought of Marcus. “Um…Nancy, have you heard of any rumours involving Marcus lately?”

“Marcus? Why him all of a sudden, did he do anything to you? Did he give you another unnecessary tasks again” Nancy asked.

“Oh, no, not at all. I was just curious, after all I’m told to get along with him.” Jane swept her palm over her face. Phew, I nearly slipped up.

“Well, there’s pretty much nothing to worry about anyway.” 

Once again, Jane breathed out a heavy sigh. She felt better from hearing Nancy's encouraging words. She missed comforting hugs and the scent of her butterscotch perfume that always seemed too sweet.

“Yeah, you're right,” Jane’s thoughts It felt like a burden even though a little has been lifted off her heart.

“Well, of course I am.” 

Jane snorted. She shook her head at Nancy's high-pitched voice. A gentle smile tugged on her lips.

“I'll call you back some other time. I need to get something to eat soon, or I'll die.”

“pfft, been there. Ok, bye~.”

“Yeah, bye.” Jane smiled at her phone before she ended the call. 

The thought of Monday made her mind wander off to the man she met in the elevator. His charming green eyes, high nose and sharp jawline. She wondered if she would see him again.

Snap yourself out of it! Jane smacked her cheeks hard.

“It’s best I take a cold shower right now.” 

Jane’s ears turned red while fanning herself from the imaginary heat. The luxury to think of a man she met once in an elevator was a coincidence she knew won't happen again, no matter how good-looking and annoying he was.

Who does he even think he is? Poking into my space like it's nothing. I‘m just thankful he wasn’t someone connected to Marcus.

“Really though…just who is he?” Jane mumbled.

“Ok, that’s enough for today.” She smacked herself again, trying to keep her mind at bay as she got ready for bed. 

 Jane continuously flipped her pillow to the opposite side. The stranger’s face and voice replayed in her head; the words he spoke kept ringing like an alarm she couldn’t turn off, no matter what she did. His deep voice echoed like an empty cave inside her head. 

The weight of the long day would have carried her off to sleep like the slow waves of the sea, but now she’s stuck thinking about the man who kept poking into her business.

…it sucks, but thinking about him is better thank thinking about Marcus. 

” If only that idiot and his problems would just disappear into thin air.” She mumbled.

Jane turned to the opposite direction of her bed, clutching her pillow to her chest, staring at the digital clock that sat on her nightstand beside her bed. She watched the time change from 11:30 pm to 12:00 am. The pillow pressed tighter against her chest as her mind kept reeling on what to do next. She hoped and prayed never to meet him again; she made a decision she knew she would regret.

Jane grabbed her phone from the nightstand as she frantically sent a few short texts to Nancy about the elevator stranger.

Dear God, please don’t let her see this till noon. I know I would regret this. 

She lay back in bed, her head sinking into the soft pillow as she closed her eyes. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. This time, she let the exhaustion wash over her as she drifted to sleep. 

The soft rustling of the wind comforted her mind as she slept until her eyes snapped open from her phone's sudden ringing. Jane felt around for her phone, the bright light burning her eyes until she recognized the name of the caller on her phone. It was Nancy.

She stared at the clock on her nightstand, 3:30 am staring back at her. She directed her sight back at her phone, waiting for the call to end. When it did, Nancy would call back until Jane had no choice but to pick up.

“What part of goodnight don’t you understand? It’s 3:30 am. Go to bed.” Jane yelled.

“Don’t you dare put the blame on me, you’re the one who sent me a crazy text in the middle of the night.”

A low groan left her throat as her palm ran down her face.

“Ok, I admit it’s my fault, but can we talk about this on Monday?” Jane’s pleading voice rang through the phone, softening Nancy’s resolve.

“I’d appreciate it if I could not think about him one bit this weekend.”

“…fine, but as compensation, you’re hanging out with me tonight.”

“Deal. Where are we going?”

“You’ll find that out tonight.”