Day after day, I watch her function through her work on nothing but coffee and a love for solving puzzles. She seems so in her element when she’s busy solving cases. Cases I give her because if it weren't for me, she’d be stuck with the patrol. And my darling Veronica is too perfect for that. Far too perfect to waste her talents with those cop losers. No one likes a cop but everyone loves Veronica.
My darling Veronica.
From the office cubicle to her left, I sit, twirling in the seat. Watching. Always watching. She is such an interesting person to watch. Something exotic and spectacular with those bright, emerald green eyes that light up at the slightest mention of a case. Her cute button nose that wrinkles in severe concentration. And even the way her long, auburn hair cascades down her narrow shoulders.
I could go on and on but then you, dear reader, would soon too, fall for my Veronica the way everyone else has before you. She really is something, isn't she a dear, reader?
As I’m spinning around quietly in my seat, I see that she looks forlorn and sickly, seeming to have aged a few years from what that man had told her earlier. A minute ago she was frantically pointing at the cameras, asking for something. I was sure she scared him off because he ran away with his tail between his legs.
Surprisingly though, he came back. And now she looks distressed. I had the sudden urge to walk over to her and help console her but it would ruin everything. I need to wait for the perfect opportunity-
She begins walking quickly toward my desk but she stares ahead with a blank expression, she looks robotic and almost scary.
Almost. Because my darling Veronica is too perfect to be scary.
As she passes by my desk in a hurry, she knocks over some stacks of papers. She spins around sharply and looks like she’s going to yell at me for being in her way when she sees the flurry of papers falling on the floor. I scramble to pick them up, too nervous to look her in the eyes. She’s so pretty like this but I must also refrain from making her any more agitated than she already is.
She walks over and bends down to help pick up the papers. I glance at her and see that her cheeks are flaming red with embarrassment. She then looks at me and I’m suddenly drawn to those eyes. Those vibrant, elegant eyes. I look away and duck my head, picking up a couple of pens that have fallen as well. Slowly I stand up, shuffling the papers into a new stack and she does the same, turning to hand me her stack when she’s done.
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“I apologize for bumping into your work,” She says shrewdly, trying to feign guilt. I smile and give her a friendly nod.
“It’s perfectly okay. You seemed a little stressed and out of it. It’s understandable.” I nod toward the officer she was talking to just moments before. “May I ask what happened?”
She shakes her head and gives me an amused smile. “If you really are a detective, sitting in that cubicle, you’d know not to ask questions you wouldn’t want the answer to. Plus it's part of a case. Can’t disclose information to strangers.”
Now it was my turn to burn from embarrassment. She did have a fair point. And I, out of anyone else, should know this considering all the cases I’ve given her.
I place the stacks of paper on the desk and make everything neat as it was before. I give her another quick, self-assuring smile and sit back down at the desk. “Well it is only a stack of papers,” I say as I drop a couple of the fallen pens into the pen holder. “And a couple of pens. No harm done.”
She takes a sigh of relief. “Oh good! I just hate having to repay people”
“Oh that’s a new one. No, you don’t have to repay anything. It was just a simple accident.” I begin spinning in the chair again, keeping my gaze on her. Dear reader, she is indeed an exceptional woman. It is such a shame and yet a blessing at the same time that we are now no longer strangers.
Smiling, I stopped spinning and looked into those vibrant green eyes again but, before I could say anything, a woman came up to my veronica. I stiffen. Her eyes. They were the exact shade of green with the exact amount of intensity and-
Oh. She’s speaking to me. I blink and tilt my head like a confused puppy. “I’m sorry? What were you saying?”
The woman stood up straight and rocked from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable. “I was saying that, erm, you are needed by Mr. Ying in his office.” She phrased it like a question. I stand up abruptly, making the woman jump and putting Veronica on edge. I hold out a hand, saying I’m not going to harm anyone.
“Don’t worry ladies.” I turn to the woman. “How urgently does he need me Miss..?” I trial off, searching for her name.
“Percy. My name is Percy.” She says flatly. “And he expects you there in 5 minutes.” she gives me a stern look and saunters off to her own office. I look back at Veronica but she’s heading toward her cubicle to grab her things. I take a quick jog to catch up to her.
Upon reaching her, I clear my throat. “Are you leaving?” She nods quietly and slowly as if she’s tired. “But it’s only lunchtime,” I add, trying nervously to not scare her away.
“That’s exactly why I’m leaving. I’m going to pick up some lunch.” She turns around sharply and glares at me. “Look, I don’t know you okay? We talk briefly for one minute and you’re already prone to keeping me here.”
Uh Oh.
“Well I was only going to ask if you wanted me to pick up the food for you, as a proper way of showing I forgive you?” I say, phrasing it like a question, like the woman did moments before. She scoffs. Don’t you have that meeting with my boss? And I don’t even know your name!” She begins walking to the nearby elevator.
She presses the down button and impatiently taps her foot. “Well,” I say, trying to calm her down, and my nerves. “Maybe some other time.”
She huffs her annoyance in a way of agreement and sighs, stepping onto the elevator. Moments before the door closes, I say with a slight smile, “My name is Owen. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Let me tell you dear reader, her face was pure surprise.
And it was
Priceless.