Breaking The Routine

            Sam smashed the snooze button of her alarm clock. She groaned and buried her head in her pillows not ready to wake up. A smile crossed her face as she remembered Saturday night; since that night she just couldn't keep a smile from her lips. She attempted to remember every detail she could about that man when the alarm began to sound again. Fine, I am going, she snapped at it silently as she turned it off and dragged herself out of her very comfortable bed. She was dreading going to work today which was not typical feeling for her.

            She loved her job, working as the secretary for an accounting company may not sound exciting especially when your father is your boss but she liked it. Sam entered into the bathroom turning on the shower and removing her pajamas stiffly. The reason of her dread was due to her father's excitement about some hotshot that was coming in from some big city she didn't even bother to remember. He was supposed to be a big deal in the accounting world and her father was lucky to have gotten him to agree to work for company. The company had been in business for many years but it was still on the small side and didn't have much prestige, or yet anyway as her father would love to say.

            The prick probably knows how big time he is too and expects everyone to treat him with some kind of royal treatment, she thought grumpily as she got into the shower. Well if he expects me to give him special treatment and kiss his ass he has another thing coming she thought darkly as she began her daily routine.

            Sam was determined to treat him just like she treated everyone else no matter how important he was to her father or the company. Getting out of the shower and drying herself off she wished could call in sick or something but she knew her father wouldn't allow it. She wrapped a towel around her and left the bathroom passing a glance at the clock on her nightstand.

            "Crap, I am running late, Dad is going to kill me!" She yelled and dashed to the dresser, thanking god she always prepared her clothes the day before. She threw the towel on the bed and dressed in record time. She rushed back into the bathroom pulling her wild brown locks into a tight organized bun. She debated on eating something or just heading to work for a moment then decided against breakfast grabbing her keys that sat in a little china bowl on a table near the door.

            Sam parked the car in the parking lot and ran to the office. She quickly glanced at her wrist watch noticing she was right on time. Phew, that was a close one, she thought smiling with victory. There was nothing her father hated more than tardiness especially today of all days. In fact he demanded that she arrive early but obviously she didn't manage to swing that one by. Oh well, he will forgive me someday, she though as she entered into the building.

            She greeted the always happy Mrs. Simpson, the company receptionist and noticed her father was stomping in her direction. Okay, he is very pissed that I didn't arrive early, she realized wondering how to get herself out of this one. He stopped just before her and raised one stern eye brow at her and hard frown crossed his face as he awaited her explanation. She loved her father but he could be so a real jerk sometimes.

            "I am sorry Da-Mr. Peters," she started then quickly corrected herself. Her father insisted that in the work place she should address him as everyone else did. That way no one could ever think he gave her special treatment for being his daughter. It wasn't exactly true he did give her special treatment but not in the good way, he expected so much more from her than he did from everyone else.

            "My alarm clock went all funky on me," she lied smoothing out the little wrinkles upon her clothes caused by her rush. That seemed to calm him slightly and she allowed herself a small quiet sigh of relief.

            "Well David has already arrived and met everyone except you," he said placing special emphasis on the words everyone and you. She was just about to apologize when Tabby came up to them. Sam shot her friend a bright smile and a good morning. She loved that they worked together. Tabby was like an accountant wizard and Sam didn't understand why her father made such a big deal about this David guy when he had her.

            "Good Morning Mr. Peters, Sam may I have a word with you please," Tabby said giving Sam a look she didn't quite understand.

            "Does it have to be now Tabitha," her father asked with an air of impatience.

            "Yes!" Tabby said almost with a sense of urgency. "I mean yes sir, it's important," she added more calmly. Sam eyed her friend suspiciously as her father sighed, and nodded.

            "Hurry up, we have work to do and you still need to meet David," he told her harshly then turned around and walked back to his office.

            "So where is the fire Tabby," Sam asked as soon as her father was out of ear shot. Tabby looked around frantically then pushed Sam into the bathroom. "What the hell, what's wrong with you," she cried in surprise looking at her friend accusingly.

            "David Andrews, you know the new guy," Tabby started nearly bouncing in place from excitement.

            "Yeah what about him, is he a real ass," she asked hesitantly assuming the answer would be yes but Tabby shook her head no.

            "No it's not that, it's him," she replied her voice rising to a squeal as she said the word "him" and Sam looked at her friend confused not understanding at all what her friend was trying to say.

            "Him who?" She asked with a little irritation and wondering darkly why in the world Tabby was being so cryptic. Her friend got a wicked glint in her eye and a sly smile slipped across her full lips that convinced Sam whatever Tabby was going to say now she wasn't going to like it one bit.

            "David Andrews is...." Tabby started pausing for dramatics and Sam sighed loudly letting her know that she was getting tired of her games.

            "Your hotty from New York," Tabby squealed excitedly and it took a moment for Sam to fully understand what Tabby just said but when it finally clicked she could literally feel the blood drain from her face.

    "What!" Sam managed to squeak and Tabby nodded grinning

        "I don't think he recognized me

headed. She grabbed on to the sink and closed her eyes taking deep breaths trying to make the world stop

meaning," Tabby joked then noticed Sam's pale serious face. "Oh my God, it's not that big of a deal Sam.

deal! I threw my drunken self all over him when I didn't even know his name," Sam shrieked. "I slept with him and left before he woke

be normal for everybody else but not for me! I am not that type of person," Sam ranted. "Oh my God, he

     "Relax Sam, there is no reason you're dad has to

fault! If I didn't go on that stupid trip and sleep with that stupid

  "I think you're overreacting just a bit Sam, I mean didn't he say you were incredible, maybe he will be glad to see you," Tabby said with a

  "He was drunk Tabby! He probably didn't even realize he said it! I swear to God, I must be one of those people who can never do anything outside of the rules! If we speed we always get a ticket," Sam snapped then hung her head to her chest. She tried to calm herself down so she could figure out what to do since it was obvious she couldn't stay in the woman's bathroom all day...or could she? She shook her head knowing

did drink a lot that night. Maybe it ended up as a blacked out blur to him and he can't even remember my face," she said at last with hope

as I said he didn't recognize

       "Seriously, the only reason

            "Hey it hurts my self-esteem," she replied with a shrug. Sam shook her head with a tiny smile feeling a

walked over to the sink turning on the faucet. She splashed her face with water to help calm herself some more. "He won't recognize me; he will have no idea who I am," she told herself almost believing it as she dried her face with a

up high, hoping to look as if nothing had happened and it was business as usual. She started her

desk and another man, who she assumed was David Andrews, sat in one of the two chairs in front of it. Thankfully he didn't turn when she entered. "Good Morning Mr. Peters. I have the

a doubt the guy from New York

cringe as the man turned his attention to her

a smile and held out her hand politely. "It's nice to meet you Mr. Andrews. We are excited to have you here," she stated trying to keep her

her extended hand and shook it. She felt shivers run through her body at his touch and she ripped her hand from his trying to keep calm but couldn't help but notice a small smile appear on his lips. "This cannot be happening to me", she complained mutely once more as she forced herself to look away from him to her father. She handed the papers to her father robotically listing

look at him she could almost convince herself that it was someone else sitting there and everything was still right in her little

           "Thank you Samantha that will be all," her father told her once she was

and she could almost hear him laughing at

           "So," Tabby asked drawing out the "o" for several

         "This is horrible! I don't see how this could get any worse," Sam groaned and let her head fall to her

didn't recognize me," Tabby pouted and Sam tilted her head towards

my life and reputation and all you care about

going drama queen on this one. Honestly I think this will actually be good for you Sam." Tabby explained with

            "I cannot see how this could possibly be good for me!" Sam snapped back and could not believe

    "Only time will tell," she chirped and walking toward her own desk and Sam glared at her feeling purely livid with anger,

will tell," Sam mocked her friend angrily. She lifted her head up from the desk rubbing her forehead where she was sure there would be a red spot. She leaned back into

        How is it possible out all the thousands of people in New York and out of all the damn men that were in that club that night did she end up sleeping with her

made a sound between a scoff and a snort with a shake of her head causing her co-worker Adam to shoot her an odd look before he returned to his work. Sam bit her lip feeling her cheeks heat up slightly but with the determined decision that David Andrews wasn't happy to see her and it was in her best interest to avoid him at all costs, there was only one sure way to do that. She had to dedicate herself totally and completely to her work then maybe just maybe she could survive the day

     The day passed quickly and it appeared her plan was working to perfection. She hadn't had to speak to or see David Andrews again. She glanced at her wrist watch and saw it was time for lunch. "Thank God the first part is over," Sam cheered silently as she got up from her chair and grabbed her purse. She looked around the room and didn't see David anywhere and decided it was the perfect time to leave. She made a mad dash for the door to only run into a large wall of muscle half way there. She started to

of gloating and she grimaced with the even more confirmation that he remembered all too well that night. She suddenly noticed how close together they stood and her body started to warm up. Sam pushed herself away from him with the hope of not making a fool of herself.