I moved her skirt back over her hips and snapped the clasps back together. I slid her shirt back over her arms and started re-fastening the buttons.
Once I reached the last button, I ran my fingers across her silver necklace. I was starting to keep count; she had at least ten different ones that all featured the same white and red flags.
“You sure you don’t want to eat with me?” I zipped my pants. “I don’t think it’s considered lunch if everyone has gone home for the day.”
She smiled. “It definitely is, so no. Thank you for the offer though.”
“Okay. I’ll go pay for the Chinese food, and when I get back I’ll walk you down to the garage.”
As soon as I stepped outside my office, I saw Mr. Barnes and ten other staff members lying face up on the floor.
“What the...”
“Oh! Mr. Statham!” Mr. Barnes stood up and shook my hand. “I didn’t realize you would be here so late today.”
“What are you all doing?”
“We’re following the advice of chapter seven in our Zen book. It says that sometimes it’s good to get energy from those who have been successful. So, we’re doing our Zen exercises right in front of your office. We’re trying to get some of your aura to rub off on us.”
I am never hiring another motivational speaker...“That sounds... really interesting. Do you need anything from me?”
“No, not unless you want to join us. It might work even better if the source of inspiration is in our circle.”
“Maybe next time.” I tried not to laugh. “I have some work to finish.”
“Understandable.” He lay back down on the floor and shut his eyes.
I walked out into the hallway and paid for the Chinese food, trying not to step on any of the crazed associates on my way back to the office.
“Okay. I’m ready.” Claire walked past me and I grabbed her by the waist.
“We can’t leave right now.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because your coworkers are out there doing Zen rituals. They’re trying to soak up my aura or something. Would you like to go out there and join them?”
“Are you kidding me?” She walked over to the door and peered through the blinds. “Idiots...Wait, does that mean that they could hear us?” She paled.
“Doubt it. The office is soundproof... I guess you have no choice but to eat with me today. I ordered for two.”
“Of course you did.” She took a brown bag from me.
As usual, we slipped into a state of silence, a familiar comforting silence. Even though it was enjoyable, I felt like we needed to break that routine today. We needed to be able to talk in person.
I cleared my throat. “Why aren’t you taking the Zen book as seriously as they are?”
“I only read books with substance.”
“I had to put it down after five pages myself.” I laughed. “I have no idea what that guy was talking about.”
“Then why did you pay him two million dollars?”
“Politics. Plus it’s a good tax write off.”
“Oh. Here I was thinking that you actually cared about boosting employee morale. How inspiring.”
“Careful, Claire. I’m easily aroused by sarcasm.” I watched her face turn bright red. “Are you currently reading any books with substance?”
“In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. My daughters are reading it for English class so I decided to read it with them.”
I felt a pang in my chest. “Family book club? Do you all have family meetings and things like that too?”
“Yeah.” She sliced her eggroll. “We have family meetings every other Tuesday and I try to take them on a trip every summer.”
“Why?”
“It’s just something my mom used to do for me when I was growing up and I want them to experience it too. I mean, the trips aren’t extravagant or anything—mostly road-trips, but they’re usually really fun. Did your family do trips?”
My “family” didn’t do anything...
I shook my head. “No, not really. Where are you taking them this summer?”
“I want to take them on a cruise in June, but it’ll probably have to wait until August.”
“Because of your job?”
“No, because I’m not rich and I actually have to save money to do the things I want.” She smiled. “Plus, I’m trying to put a plan together to pay off my student loans, my mortgage, and—Sorry. I know you don’t care about this stuff. I should—”
“How much do you have left to pay off?”
“I can’t go there...I’m embarrassed to say it aloud.”
“Don’t be. Tell me.”
She sighed. “I owe fifty four thousand dollars in student loans and one hundred thousand dollars on my house...I was being optimistic when I said I’d be able to pay it off. I’ll probably be sixty by then.”
“Will you still be working here with me?”
“Ha! Please!” She laughed and walked over to the door.
I followed her and saw that her team was now doing meditative yoga on top of yellow mats. Mr. Barnes appeared to be reading off a list of exercises.
“How long do you think they’ll be out there?” She sighed.