Page 20 of Burning Obsession

“Yeah, sorry,” I say awkwardly as I step up to the counter. “Can I get a large Caramel Macchiato with an extra shot of espresso?” “Got it. Would you care for anything else today?” “No, thank you.”

She gets my name and tells me the total, and with my wallet already out, I swipe my card and step to the side. I make sure to angle my body so that I can still see his table without looking like a crazed lunatic looking over my shoulder.

He’s got an empty chair at his table and no one seems to be with him. I could easily go over there and sit down for a few minutes. We don’t have to talk. But I could get to look at him up close.

It’s a fucking crazy idea. And I shouldn’t even be thinking about it. I need to get home and prepare for the meeting, but a quick look at my watch tells me I can spare a little bit of time.

Instead, my feet start moving before my brain can protest, and they’re guiding me right to his table.

He doesn’t look up, doesn’t even seem to notice I’m standing there.

It takes clearing my throat to get his attention, but when I ask if I can sit down, he says yes.

From there, we ended up talking. Awkward at first, but it didn't last long. I even flirted. And I think he did too, in a weird way. Whatever the case, I ended up walking out of there with him asking me for and getting my phone number.

Did we make concrete plans? No. But he did ask.

It should’ve just been a thought in the passing. But all afternoon all I can do is obsess over our interaction. Over him asking me out and having my number. The fact that he hasn’t made any other contact.

During the meeting, I’m supposed to be discussing quarterly numbers, but my attention keeps wandering to the phone sitting beside my laptop.

I glance at it again.

Then again.

I tell myself I’m only checking the time. But I know it’s a lie. I’m dying inside waiting for him to message me again. I’m lying.

Could I message him? Absolutely.

But maybe that’s not what I want. I want to be chased, desired. Him reaching out to me would show that.

Yes, he asked for my number, and technically that means he made the first move. But did he?

If I hadn’t walked over to his table and asked to sit down, he wouldn’t even know I existed.

I flirted and made it pretty damn obvious I was interested.

Maybe that’s why some small, irrational part of me wants him to chase me now. I want to know that I'm not the only one replaying the conversation. That he’s looking at his phone, at my number, and thinking of me.

I shift in my chair and force myself to pay attention to the meeting.

“Are you listening?” My client’s question pulls me from my musings.

“Absolutely.”

He raises an eyebrow and I know he doesn’t believe it.

“I think rebranding would help, but that’s an additional cost that you’ll have to weigh, especially with the company already being in the red.”

He stares at me and I gaze back with confidence. Finally, he must accept that I’m fully listening and continues with the other ideas he has. I make sure to pay attention in case any other financial questions arise.

I reach out to pick up my bottle of water when my phone vibrates on my desk.

Excitement overtakes me and my eyes immediately drop to see that it’s only a calendar notification for the meeting I’m fucking on. Yep, guess I put that in at the wrong time.

“Okay, that’s it for today. We’ll take these ideas and get back to you. Hopefully, these changes can turn the company around.” My client gives a wave and the video conference disconnects.

I lean back in my chair and let out a heavy sigh. This is the worst part of being an accountant and financial advisor. When your clients are great, but the business doesn’t really have a potential of surviving. Secretly, I pray these ideas yield an improvement to their second quarter.