Craig pulled up the document on his computer where he’d typed out all these thoughts. He didn’t want to have a speech, exactly, when he told her how he felt, but he wanted to have something coherent.
He was absorbed in the document, scanning what he’d put down, when he looked up and saw Rose standing in front of him.
It was if she’d stepped out of his mind. He gasped.
Rose put her hands up. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you. Is this a bad time?”
She was wearing the outfit she’d worn on her first day in the office – a black dress and a flowery blazer. For some reason, it was seared in his mind. At the time, he thought she’d be the answer to all the company’s problems. If only he’d known…
“I’ve always got time for you,” he said. “Please, have a seat. What’s up?”
She took a few hurried steps and lowered herself into the seat across from him. “I don’t think I can keep this up, Craig.”
“Keep what up?” He cocked his head to the side. “Being the matchmaker?”
She bit her lip. “No, wait. I didn’t want to start there. Let me start over.” She sighed. “I’m worried because…”
Her voice trailed off, and Craig leapt in. “Don’t be worried. I haven’t had a chance to tell you everything about Phoenix, but he’d like to meet with you. I told him how incredible you are.”
She winced. “That’s nice.”
“Not to scare you, but he has some doubts about matchmaking. I don’t think it’s a problem, because your numbers speak for themselves, but he’s more comfortable with machines than people. You know the type.”
She looked at her hands, and when she looked back up at him, her eyes looked glassy. “Craig.”
Oh no. “It’s really not a big deal, don’t worry about–”
She cut him off. “I don’t know how to tell you this because I love working here. Like, really love it. And…I like you. A lot.”
Craig’s throat was suddenly dry. He forced a swallow. “Are you breaking up with us?” he said with a weak laugh.
“No. Crap.” She rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know what to say first.” Rose pressed her hands together, then stood up. “I thought I could just come in, do the work, make some money, and eventually I’d get fired.”
He stood, too, and looked her in the eye. “I’m not going to fire you. Have you been talking to Sherry?”
“What? Who’s Sherry?”
“Never mind.” He cleared his throat. “Rose, you’re a star employee.”
She turned away from him and paced toward the door, then back. “I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I have to now. I like you, Craig. Not just as a boss. I…” She looked down again and sighed.
It felt like a flock of butterflies hit him in the chest. “I’ve been looking for a way to tell you I feel the same way.”
She put up a hand. “Please, let me finish.” She sighed and put her hands on her hips. “I’m not who you think I am.”
He stared at her, trying to process what she’d said. “Okay?”
“Do you remember that day at the news studio?”
He nodded, and she went on. “I was supposed to be on a different floor for a different interview. My name is Rose Woodley, and I’m an administrative assistant to the stars.” She shook her head. “Just kidding. Not the stars. Mostly people who scream at me a lot.”
His mind, slow as it was caught up in a tornado of magical butterflies, started to catch up to the conversation. “So you’re not Rose Woodson…”
“They mistook me for her. They asked if I was there for an interview, and I said yes, because I was. Then they pulled me in front of the camera and I just started talking. I don’t even remember what I said. Then your assistant came to get me, and you were so persistent–”
“You’re not Rose Woodson?” He repeated, lowering himself into the nearest chair.
“No. I’m not.”
