Lisa Taylor sat at her computer desk in the Sommerfield Granary office, her screen flickering intensely between spreadsheets, delivery orders and inventory reports.
When not socializing with her colleagues in the tight knit office, Lisa was all about business. With her keen eye for detail and remarkable organizational skills, she had easily spotted several grain deliveries to a few smaller customers which were on the verge of being overlooked.
The office manager John Combes noticed her efforts and appreciated Lisa's dedication. Having just gotten off a call on his phone, he walked over to Lisa, catching her attention with a polite tap on her desk.
"Lisa, I just got off the phone with the specialty mill in Elkridge. They are ok with the slightly later than usual delivery given the heads up. I can't thank you enough for catching that mistake. How about I buy you a coffee as a token of my gratitude?"
Lisa, always one to think outside the box, chuckled mischievously. "You know what? Instead of just coffee, how about you shout the entire office a box of donuts? I know just the place that makes the best donuts in town."
Harry laughed heartily, captivated by Lisa's infectious spirit and feeling a little generous, "Donuts it is, then! You saved us a lot of embarrassment, it's the very least I could do." John was about to leave but he suddenly remembered something, "Oh Lisa, how is your course going?"
"It's going really well. I've been able to use the things I've learned and apply it to work already." Lisa smiled, her pride and satisfaction evident.
John beamed back at her, he pointed his finger at Lisa, the superstar amongst his staff. Lisa quickly messaged the donut shop address to John as he left to buy the treat.
The news of the forthcoming donuts spread like wildfire throughout the office, eliciting cheers and excited chatter from the staff. They had all grown fond of Lisa, drawn to her vivacious personality and genuine warmth.
Amidst the bustling atmosphere, Mary, being one of the younger girls in the office, made her way over to Lisa during her break carrying her mug of peppermint tea.
Having known Lisa since elementary school, Mary was aware of Lisa's long-standing feelings towards and having had recently gone through a relationship that ultimately came to an end. In spite of that, Mary had remained close to Lisa as they continued to work together in the same office.
"Hey, Lisa!" Mary greeted with her energetic smile. "I just wanted to thank you for convincing John to get us those donuts. You always seem to know how to get things done around here."
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Lisa's smile widened as she looked at Mary, appreciating her kind words. "Oh, it's nothing, Mary. I just love seeing everyone enjoying something together."
Mary couldn't help but quietly admire Lisa's ability to build meaningful connections with the people around her. She was also struck by Lisa's effortless beauty, her long blonde hair perfectly styled, makeup applied modestly but always to great effect and her fashion sense always on point. Mary wished she could exude half of Lisa's style and confidence.
As Mary sipped her tea, its warmth embracing her, it reminded her of the recent outing she had with Becky at the bookshop café.
"You know, I had coffee with Becky Jones the other day at the bookstore. Do you remember her? She's back for a break from university in California. It was so fun catching up with her, she told me all these amazing stories of her college life and travels."
Lisa's smile froze for a moment, caught off guard by the mention of Becky. In her pursuit of Dan's affections, Lisa had long considered Becky her rival. Since Becky's departure for study and university around five years ago, Lisa had done her best to put Becky out of her mind, believing she was no longer a threat to her chances with Dan.
In fact, Lisa had succeeded in capturing Dan's interest and had finally experienced the joy of dating him for a year. Her long-cherished dream coming true.
From the moment she had first noticed him playing in a local baseball game when they were around ten years old, Lisa had been smitten with Dan. His athleticism, gorgeous dark hair and considerate, polite demeanor had captured her heart.
However, Lisa couldn't ignore the fact that Dan and Becky had always been close friends. Their bond had annoyed Lisa, causing her to feel a deep sense of insecurity and jealousy. Despite never dating, Becky had effortlessly held Dan's attention, a closeness that Lisa yearned for with all her heart.
Taking a deep breath, Lisa forced a smile, masking her unease.
"Oh, that sounds nice. I'm glad you and Becky had a good time." She tried her best to push away any hint of insecurity that threatened to surface.
Mary, at the moment forgetting the potential undercurrent of rivalry that may have existed between Lisa and Becky, smiled innocently. "Yeah, it was really lovely! Becky is such a great friend, and I'm grateful for her. It's so nice to have someone so smart and experienced to talk to and share moments with."
Lisa's smile remained fixed, but her mind raced with conflicting emotions. She suddenly felt small and inadequate compared to the well traveled Becky. Her thoughts then turned to how much of an influence Becky still had on Dan's life, and if their close friendship would ever diminish. Deep down, Lisa feared that Becky would always hold a special place in Dan's heart. Furthermore she began suspecting whether or not Becky's eventual visit had precipitated her break-up with Dan.
Pushing aside her worries, Lisa focused on Mary, determined to be supportive. "Having good friends is truly a blessing, Mary. Cherish those moments and treasure the bonds you have."
Mary nodded, her admiration for Lisa undimmed. "You're right, Lisa. I'm grateful for the friendships I have, including ours. Plus you just scored us some donuts so I love you the most right now!"
Lisa laughed and her heart swelled with affection for Mary, appreciating her innocence and sincerity. She couldn't help but think that Mary possessed a certain lightness and purity that she herself had lost along the way. In that moment, Lisa silently vowed that she would try to remain a positive influence in Mary's life, just as she had tried so hard to be for Dan, however difficult it had been.