"Excuse me," she said for the third time.

Thea had been leering over my desk several minutes. I collated each of the twenty color copies of a design with a press release. It was four o'clock and they had to be in the mail boy's hands by four fifteen.

"I'm busy Thea."

"Why haven't you returned my calls?" She was tense, but kept her voice to a whisper and forced a smile.

"Thea, I didn't hear from you for a week," I stapled.

Her hands pressed on my desk, her body leaned on her arms. "Honey, I was working."

"Don't call me honey. You sound like a Hollywood collegiate fool." If I looked at her, I wouldn't be able to say what I wanted.

"You didn't mind it before."

"That was before I found out you were an insensitive, self-serving, flesh eating disease."

"I deserve that, I suppose. Now that you got that out can we talk like civil adults?"

I looked. "Whatever. What do you want, Thea?"

"Meet me later."

The phone rang. "This is Fran."

It was Christine. "I hope it's okay to call you at work. Are you busy?"

With my hand over the mouthpiece, "Thea, I have to take this call." I didn't wait to see Thea's response.

"Christine," I said purposefully. I'm no fool. "No, I'm not busy. It was great seeing you the other night." I was completely aware of Thea hanging on my every word.

"I'm glad," Christine said. "I wanted to make sure you were okay and to tell you that for the last few days, I've never felt better."

"Really?!" I blushed.

"I wanted to make sure that no matter what happens...we don't lose the friendship."

"I want that, too." Thea was eating this up and we continued a few more minutes before I told Christine I had to go-- mail boy was waiting.

I silently finished inserting each press package into their pre-addressed manila envelope.

She couldn't hold it any longer, "Who was that?"

"A friend." This was great!

"Fran, please talk to me. I don't want you to misunderstand me."

"I understand you perfectly." I stood and headed for the elevator where Thea and I first kissed. She trailed closely behind and attention from employees was starting to stir. She didn't seem to care, and neither did I. I pressed the down arrow and it glowed red.

We awkwardly stood next to each other in front of the doors that slid open. I stepped into the empty elevator and realized Thea wasn't following.

I turned and saw Thea's eyes were watering. No, not possible. I wanted to get a better look, but suddenly something took over. Something hard-- filled with resolvement-- and peace.

I reached my hand forward and pressed the basement button. "Good-bye Thea."

And the doors sucked closed.