The Start of Something New

What in the world am I thinking going into work at 5 am she thought to herself as she walked onto the elevator from the lobby of her highrise office building. I need to get a life, or a boyfriend at the least. Theres no reason I should be spending my 35th birthday alone. In the last eight months all she seems to do is work, never leaving any time for herself, much less friends. However; there is a guy in her office that she has a crush on, but there is one problem, he's married.

She was five foot four inches tall, one hundred forty five pounds mainly carried in her chest and hips which she didn't mind, bright green eyes and golden brown hair that flowed a quarter of the way down her back. Her pale creamy skin let everyone who saw her know she didnt find the time for the sun over summer the year.

While in the elevator she let her mind wonder to the guy in her office. They flirted occasionally at work and he always complimened her whenever they were together. Whether it was telling her how nice she looked, how he loved the way she smelled of vanilla or the way her smile lit up a room whenever she entered. She knew he was married but the word around the office was that he was going through a nasty divorce, and like her, he has thrown himself into work to keep himself busy.

She realized that she hadn't had any coffee this morning and was going to stop on the tenth floor and grab a cup before heading up to her office on the 18th floor. As she pressed the round button with the number ten on it, the elevator stopped, but it was only on the third floor. She knew the third floor was closed due to renovations and was curious who would be getting on. When the doors opened there he stood. Mason, a solid six foot two inch two hundred and sixty five pound frame, built like a line backer from playing years of high school and college football.

"Good morning, Anna Beth, you're here early."

"Yeah. I was coming in early so I could finish up some work so I don't have to come in over the weekend."

"Oh? Big plans this weekend I take it."

"None actually. I will probably spend it alone, in bed, like last weekend."

Mason looked at her and smiled.

"Oh God Mason, that's not what I meant by that. Well, it is what it sounds like. Since I've made partner at the firm my work load hasn't eased up any, its actually tripled, Im not sure what..." before she could get another word out he had pinned her against the back of the elevator leaning in close, breathing her in.

"God Anna Beth, if you only knew what you do to me" he whispered.

"What do I do to you Mason?" she said in a long drawn out wayonly a southern girl could manage.

Not looking for a sign from her Mason leaned down and kissed her. His lips were soft and warm. He smelled of a mixture of soap and aftershave, an intoxacating scent she never wanted to forget. She had dreamed of this moment, kissing him but she never imagined it would be so good that she would get completely lost in it. The elevator came to a stop and they quickly composed themselves. Mason, realizing they were on the tenth floor asked if he could buy Anna Beth her coffee, she agreed.

She couldn't believe how long the line was, especially since it was so early in the morning. While waiting in line her thoughts ran back to the elevator. Why did she just stand there, paralized? She had fantazied about this moment many times. Running her fingers through his thick dark hair, wrapping her arms along the back side of his neck, tilting her head to the right...

"Anna Beth," his smoother southern voice snapping her back into reality, "how do you take your coffee?"

"Oh, sorry Mason, with a little cream and splenda, please. Do you mind if I go and find us a seat?"

Mason shook his head no as he pulled out his wallet to pay for their coffee. Anna Beth found a window seat that gave a perfect view of the Atlanta skyline-the sun was starting to peak through the clouds casting a pinkish hue in the sky, a truely amazing sight. She was glad she came into work early today. When Mason saw her, sitting there, he knew he would eventaully have to tell her how he felt for her, ever since he saw her that first day on campus.

"Here you go" he said as he sat down at the table. "Im sorry about this morning. You just took me by suprise and you look amazing as always Anna Beth and just being with you, alone, finally got to me."

"It's okay Mason, really." I can't tell you how many times I have thought about doing that."

"Really?" he questioned.

"Yes. Especially since I found out that you were getting a dicorce. I seem to think about it more often then not."

"Yeah. Well that should be finished by the end of the week, thank God. This divorce has been a bigger nightmare then the marriage was, and we don't have any kids." They both laughed.

"Mason, do you mind if I ask what happened?"

"No, I don't. To be honest with you, Im not sure. One minute it seemed everything was fine. I know I started spending less time at home, but like you said, since we have made partners with the firm the work load has greatly increased. I was spending countless hours in the office, missing dinners and dates with friends, but I thought she knew it was going to be that way at first."

"Yeah I can see where that would be hard on a marriage." Anna Beth chimed in.

"Well, like I said, one minute everything seemed to be fine, and the next I know she is asking me to move out. She denies it, but I know she is seeing someone, I've had Shawn look into it."

Shawn was a friend of Mason and Anna Beths from law school. Even though they didnt graduate with him, the firm was very lucky to snag three of the top graduates from the University of Georgia. Although she had submited for interships throughout the country, Anna Beth had never considered moving out of the state of Georgia after graduation, her heart belonged there, the south was in her blood. There was no other place that would feel like home to her.

"Does that bother you, if she cheated?"

"If she cheated while we were married, yes. If we were legally seperated then theres nothing I can do about it. Im not as hurt as I thought I would have been and my family is taking the divorce very well."

"Well Im sorry things ended that way and you had to go through that Mason."

"Thanks Anna Beth, I will be fine."

They sat there talking for what seemed like hours. Neither wanting to leave the others company but they both had a busy day a head of them. They were quiet on the elevator ride up to their offices. Mason walked Anna Beth to her office door and gve her a quick kiss on the hand, thanking her for having coffee with him and asking if they could do it again, soon. Anna Beth smiled, "I'd love to Mason, have a good day."