The Job Read Online Free PDF

whatever I wanted
as long as it wasn’t during store hours. I’m starting to get the feeling that
you might have a little crush yourself,” Linda teases.
    “That
is absolutely the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” I tell her.
    “Shh,”
Linda says, far too loud to be discreet.
    I
look up and Eric is walking over to me.
    “Hey,”
he says, “can we talk a minute?”
    “Sure,”
I answer, forcing a smile.
    We’ve
had a number of talks throughout the last few weeks, and not one of them has
been something that I wanted to hear.
    Still,
though, it can’t always be a negative thing. At least that’s what I tell myself
so I don’t claw my own eyes out every time he says those six words.
    We
get back to my office and he closes the door behind him.
    “What’s
up?” I ask.
    “I
just wanted to say that I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting over the last
little while. The day that I got this job, I—well, the reasons don’t really
matter. You were right when you said that I was being unprofessional, and I’d
like to make it up to you.”
    “What
did you have in mind?” I ask.
    “How
about dinner?” he asks. “I’m buying.”
    “So,”
I sigh, “you wanted to come in here and apologize for being unprofessional by
asking me out on a date?”
    “Kind
of,” he says, “yeah.”
    “You
really don’t know women very well, do you?” I ask.
    “I’m
sure there’s more than a little truth to that statement,” he says, “but I’m not
suggesting anything salacious. Just the two of us over some good food in a
situation that might just help us get along better. I’m not asking you to move
in or anything.”
    “I
don’t know,” I tell him. “Dinner sounds a little familiar to me.”
    “All
right,” he says, “lunch, then. Me and the guys are set
to knock off at noon, we could grab a hot dog or something.”
    “I
don’t eat hot dogs,” I tell him, “but thanks for the offer.”
    “Well,
what do you eat?” he asks. “I’m sure we can find something that’ll fit the
bill.”
    I’m
a bit suspicious, but he does seem to be trying to make a nice gesture.
    “It’s
not a date,” I tell him.
    “That’s
fine,” he says.
    “It’s
just two people who work together going to grab some lunch.”
    “All
right,” he says. “I’ll go tell the guys they can go on break, and we can go get
something to eat.”
    “All
right,” I tell him. “Let me get my things and I’ll meet you in the front.”
    That
was a mistake, as I can already see the faces Linda’s going to pull when she
sees me walk out the door with the man I just got done telling her was so
unrefined. Maybe she’ll understand that we’re just trying to bury the hatchet.
    Okay,
that’s just a pipe dream, but I’m sure it won’t be that bad.
    Eric
goes and tells his crew whatever he tells them and I grab my jacket and walk
out to meet him.
    Linda’s
chatting him up, no doubt using her signature set of single- entendres to try to convince him that she’s what he should be drilling.
    “Ready
to go?” I ask as I reach the counter.
    “Yep,”
he says. “Where’d you decide to eat?”
    “You
two are going to lunch together?” Linda asks.
    “Yeah,”
Eric says. “Why?”
    “Oh,
no reason,” Linda says. “I just found it interesting, that’s all.”
    She
turns to me and very conspicuously winks.
    “Are
you going to be able to handle the front?” I ask.
    “Look
around,” she says.
    I
do and realize that the people I thought were customers were just my
salespeople.
    “We’re
screwed, aren’t we?” I ask.
    “Pinned
to the floor without any lube,” Linda says. “Enjoy your lunch.”
    Well,
at least she didn’t try to invite herself along.
    “Where
are you going?” she asks.
    “I
thought we might stop and get a quick bite at Carver’s,” I answer.
    “Ooh,
romantic,” Linda coos.
    “It’s
a work lunch,” I snap and she puts her palms up toward me.
    “Have
fun,” she says. “Try not to eat any baby