© Copyright 2001 by Meag Brorman
Chapter Four
Lexa stepped into the elevator and smiled in contentment. The trip had been wonderful and Bethany’s wedding beautiful, but this was home now and she’d missed it. The elevator stopped on the forty-ninth floor and she got out. She was supposed to be off today, but knowing Mr. Burke as she did, she figured the temp would enjoy the early
release. Lexa hoped Cameron hadn’t been too hard on Ashlee.
Lexa opened the door just as Cameron started yelling. She said a quick prayer and walked into the front office. The yelling was coming from Mr. Burke’s office.
“I told you three times! I want two copies of everything, not one! And where are those staples? Come on! Can’t you do something right for once?” Cameron sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“But…but…”
“No buts! Just get it done, pronto!”
Ashlee walked back into the front office and promptly burst into tears at the welcome sight of Lexa.
“Oh my gosh, thank goodness your back Miss Campbell!” Ashlee sobbed.
“Are you okay?” asked Lexa compassionately as she handed her a tissue.
Ashlee shook her head ardently. “No I’m not! I have never been so stressed out in my life! How do you put up with him? He never tells me anything, just expects me to read his mind. I can’t do anything right and I don’t think he even knows how to talk, just yell.”
Lexa smiled. “It isn’t always easy.”
Ashlee snorted derisively. Lexa continued. “I’ve worked with him for six months so I have learned to read his mind enough to keep him from getting too mad. When he yells, I just stand up to him and tell him he never told me to do that. He can be pretty
forgetful. And I pray. A lot!”
“You are a stronger women than I,” sighed Ashlee.
“Amanda! Where are those papers?” yelled Cameron from his office.
“He still doesn’t know my name either!” Ashlee said.
Lexa chuckled. “It took two months for him to learn mine! Look, why don’t you go on home. I’ll take over here, but you’ll get paid for it. You deserved it!”
Ashlee looked relieved. “Thanks Miss Campbell, and good luck!” She shook her head as she left the office. She didn’t envy Miss Campbell one bit!
Cameron looked up. Man, was he ever ready for Lexa to come back. He even thought he saw her standing in the doorway. Wait. He rubbed his eyes. She was standing in the doorway!
“Heya Boss!” Lexa said cheerfully. “Miss me?” She smiled
“Alexandra?” he asked disbelievingly.
“In the flesh. Here are your papers, stapled. You know, you shouldn’t have been so hard on Ashlee. You not exactly the easiest person to work with,” Lexa said dryly.
Cameron was still getting over the fact that Lexa was really back. “Who?”
“The temp.” Lexa reminded him as she leaned against the doorway. “You know, the cute, short, brown haired girl that you just yelled at? Ring a bell?”
“Oh,” Cameron said, slightly chagrined. “Well she can’t do anything right!” he tried to defend himself.
Lexa raised her eyebrows but kept silent.
“She was always messing up my instructions,” he continued. Still Lexa said nothing.
Cameron began to feel a bit uncomfortable. She’d only been back five minutes and already she was making him feel bad. She had a way of doing that and it irked Cameron.
“Fine,” he gave in. “Maybe I was a little hard on her,” he grumbled.
Lexa gave him a hundred-watt smile and Cam caught his breath. He’d never realized how beautiful she was before. The way the sunlight played on her hair and—hold it! His thoughts were getting out of hand. He was just glad to have her back, that’s all, he justified. Those crazy emotions churning in his stomach like butterflies were
just products of his happiness in having a good assistant back. He shook his head. Enough of that!
Cam cleared his throat. “Umm,” he started distractedly. “Could you hand me the uh, the…”
“The copies?” Lexa asked, slightly amused.
“Right, the copies. Right”
Lexa turned with a smile on her face to walk back to the front office.
“Uh, Alexandra? Why are you back today anyway? Your not due back until tomorrow.” Cam sounded a little strained. Lexa wondered if he was feeling okay.
“Wow, you must have really missed me if you actually remembered when I was supposed to come back,” Lexa teased.
Of course I missed you. I missed ev—Cam dashed away the thought before he could complete it.
“Of course I missed you,” he said gruffly. “Your twice the assistant that that little incompetent—“
“And you wondered why I came back early?” she interrupted before he said something he’d regret. “I felt sorry for the temp and for you. This past month could not have been very easy for either of you,” Lexa replied. “Now, I have papers to file, appointments to schedule and so forth. It’s good to be back Mr. Burke.”
With that final thought she left the office. Mr. Burke still looked slightly uncomfortable and Lexa figured it was because he still felt bad over the way he’d treated Ashlee.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Don’t forget that you said I could leave at four o’clock today, Mr. Burke.” Lexa said as she sailed into his office a few weeks later.
Cameron looked up sharply. “What? I don’t remember you asking for time off. You can’t leave early today anyway. Lex Boswell is coming in for a meeting at 4:30 today and I need you here.”
“All taken care of Mr. Burke. All of the files are sitting on my desk, ready to go. I’m copying those printouts you asked for and Richard Hadley is due to call any minute about that piece of land on 34th Street. So you’ll be fine. I’m here for thirty more minutes if you need anything else.”
Lexa shook her head and smiled. That man would lose his head if she wasn’t there to tell him where he put it. She was excited. Her best friend Mandie and Mandie’s brother Colin were driving in from La Vernia late this afternoon for a visit. Lexa hadn’t seen Mandie for two months and Colin for at least four, so she was
looking forward to the visit. She needed to get home to clean and stock up the kitchen but she made herself stay until four.
Cam looked over at the front door of Johnny Carrino’s and did a
double take. In had just walked Alexandra and two others he didn’t know. Lexa saw him, waved, and walked over to his table.
“Mr. Burke, what a surprise! Are you have a pleasant evening?”
“Hello Alexandra.” He eyed the man with his arm draped casually around her shoulders.
Mr. Burke, I’d like you to meet two friends of mine. This is Mandie
Whiteside and her brother Colin. Guys, this is my boss Cameron Burke.”
“Nice to meet you Mr. Burke,” said Mandie cheerfully. Colin was a bit slower with his greeting.
“Good to meet you Cameron,” he finally said with a smile and offered his hand.
Cam nodded and took his hand. “Nice evening to be out isn’t?”
“Oh yes.” Lexa agreed wholeheartedly. “I thought I’d take these two out to my favorite restaurant tonight for their first night here.” She glanced over at the other occupant at the table. “Hi, I’m Alexandra Campbell.” She extended her hand to Cam’s dinner companion.
“Oh, so sorry,” Cam said contritely. “Alexandra, this is a high school buddy of mine Brian McCall. Bri, my assistant Alexandra.”
“It’s a pleasure Alexandra.”
“Please, call me Lexa. Everyone else does.” She gave Brian a bright smile.
“Fine then Lexa. Would y’all care to join us?” Brian asked warmly.
“No thanks. It looks like our table is ready. It was nice to meet you Brian. I’ll see you in the morning Mr. Burke.”
Cam was annoyed. She’d never asked him to call her Lexa. And what was with that smile she gave Brian. Or the way she acted with Colin what’s-his-face. They weren’t dating…were they? His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“She’s a pretty girl. You’re a very lucky man.” Brian snapped him back to reality. He shook his head.
“What was that?” he asked, slightly bemused.
“I said,” Brian repeated in an amused voice, “that you are lucky to be working with such a lovely and nice lady.”
“What?” Cam asked distrustfully. “Do you like her or something?” He wasn’t sure what had gotten into him.
“No, no. I was just making conversation.” Brian looked at Cameron. “You feeling okay buddy?”
“Yeah, sure, fine. Man, is our food every going to get here?” he digressed.
“Relax Cam.” Brian’s eyes narrowed and he smiled. “You like her, don’t you. You’re falling for your secretary.” It was a statement rather than a question.
Cameron averted his eyes. “What are you talking about? That’s ridiculous!”
“Is it?” Brian raised his eyebrows.
“Come on Bri. You know me. I always said that my business would come first. I have no time for, nor do I want, a girlfriend!” he said vehemently.
“Uh-huh. If you say so buddy,” Brian replied unbelievingly. Just then the food came.
“So, tell us about your boss,” Mandie said eagerly once their orders
had been taken. “How long has he been in love with you?”
“In love? Ha ha, very funny,” Lexa replied dryly. “Half the time he doesn’t even realize I’m there. He has a penchant for forgetting everything but his work.”
“But—“
“Cameron can’t be in love with her, because she’s going to marry
me!” proclaimed Colin while giving his sister a warning look. Mandie looked confused.
“That’s right Colin,” added Lexa with a laugh. It was a long standing
joke between them that the reason Colin never dated was because he was waiting for Lexa. “I’m going to use the restroom before the food gets here. Excuse me.”
“What was that all about?” demanded Mandie as soon as Lexa as out of earshot. “You saw the way he looked at you two.”
“I know, but Lexa didn’t see it. Apparently she has no idea of his feelings for her. If we tell her, it’ll just compromise their work relationship. Lexa has been so happy since moving here to San Antonio and I don’t want that to change. She’s had some tough times in the past few years. She deserves a little happiness.”
“Don’t you think that her having a boyfriend would just make things even better?”
“In this case, no. He is apparently denying his feelings for her and—Hey Lexa.”
Lexa sat down. “Man, you two look way too serious. How about we hit the River Walk after we eat?”
“Let’s leave the River Walk for tomorrow night. Then we won’t have to worry about keeping you up too late,” suggested Colin with a smile.
“That’s cool. Okay.” Lexa smiled back. “It’s so good to see y’all again! I’ve missed you.”
“Us too Lexa. Now, tell us about life here in San Antonio,” Mandie said.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“How was dinner last night?” Cameron asked as he strolled into the front office the next morning.
Lexa glanced over at Cameron in surprise. This was the first personal question her boss had ever asked her.
“Uh, great. The evening was really great. And yours?”
“Fine. So how long have you known the Whitesons?”
Lexa giggled. “That’s Whitesides. Since college. Mandie was my roommate my sophomore year."
“And you three are pretty close?”
Bemused, she replied, “Yeah. Mandie is my best friend and Colin is the brother I never had. We’re very close.”
“Oh.” Cameron looked relieved. “Okay. I need you to get Calvin Miller on the phone for me.” With that he left.
Lexa sat there for a minute or two. She was nonplussed. She felt like she’d just walked into a game of twenty questions. Her boss could be very confusing at times.
They weren’t dating. Cam smiled triumphantly. Not that it matter or anything, he reminded himself quickly. The less time she spent worrying about a boyfriend the more time she’d have to concentrate on work. He nodded. Yes, that was it. His phone buzzed.
“Calvin Miller is on line one Mr. Burke.”
“Oh, thank you Alexandra.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“So, have you asked her out yet?” Cam and Brian were playing a game of one-on-one after work a few weeks later and Cam was winning by two points.
“Have I asked who out?” Cam pretended not to know. Brian stole the ball and went for the basket.
“Lexa of course. Who else are you in love with? Unless there is someone else you’re not telling me about.” Brian grinned mischievously and made a three-pointer.
Cam took the ball and started dribbling.
“I’m not in love with anyone, including Alexandra,” he faked and made a basket.
“Sure, and I’m the Pope,” Brian shot back.
“Excuse me Your Eminence, I have a basketball game to play,” Cam answered dryly. Brian stood there holding the ball.
“We’re not playing until you admit that you’re in love with her.”
“Fine, then I’m going home,” retorted Cam.
“Wait! Why won’t you just admit it?” an exasperated Brian demanded. “It’s not the worst thing in the world ya know. If she’s as awesome an assistant as you say she is, then what a great wife she’ll make. And if I can see that, others will too. She won’t be free for long.”
Cameron picked up a towel and wiped off his face. “Fine, they can have her then. And good riddance!”
“You don’t mean that.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I can tell you’re in love with her and by denying it, you’re denying a great relationship with a wonderful woman. I care about you buddy. You’re my best friend. I just want what’s best for you.” Brian sat down on the bench dejectedly.
Cameron put his hand on the back of his neck in a long-suffering movement and sat down beside his best friend. He sighed.
“Okay, I am in love with Alexandra,” he put up his hand to stop Brian from saying anything, “but I can’t have her.”
Brian frowned. “What are you talking about? She’s not dating anyone is she?”
“No, at least not that I’m aware of.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Cam sighed. He’d try to explain it, but he didn’t think his friend would understand. “She’s a Christian. Sarah explained it to me once. Christians won’t date non-Christians. Something about being unequally yoked.”
Brian shrugged. “So became a Christian. It can’t be that hard can it?” He couldn’t see what the problem was. Those two were perfect for each other. Anyone could see it. Why should something as trivial as religion come between two people?
Cameron sighed again. “It’s not that easy. To Alexandra and Sarah, this is not just something you do on Sundays. This is an everyday thing. It’s a complete life-changer.”
“So just pretend.”
“I can’t do that. I couldn’t ever deceive Alexandra,” Cam answered vehemently.
“You’re deceiving her now by not telling her your feelings for her aren’t you?” Brian countered.
“Maybe so, but that’s something I have to do with.”
Brian was at a loss. He’d never seen his friend like this before.
“Look, I need to get into the office early tomorrow. I’d better be getting home,” Cam said.
“Yeah sure, me too. We still on for basketball next Wednesday?” asked Brian.
“Unless you hear from me otherwise. See you then.”
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