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

       "I don't think he recognized me though,"

            "How is this possible," Sam exclaimed feeling light headed. She grabbed

            "I don't know usually guys never forget me, if you get my meaning," Tabby joked then noticed Sam's pale serious face. "Oh my God, it's not that big of a deal Sam. These kinds of things happen all the time!" Tabby despaired and Sam glared

over him when I didn't even know his name," Sam shrieked. "I slept with him

normal for everybody else but not for me! I am not that type of person," Sam ranted. "Oh my God, he is my father's new star employee! My father will kill me," she shouted feeling herself go from angry to hysterical

  "Relax Sam, there is no reason you're dad has to know about it." Tabby said trying to

          "This is all your fault! If I didn't go on that stupid trip

         "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 hopeful face but Sam just gave her 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 that

it ended up as a blacked out blur to him and he can't even remember my face," she said at last with hope lined in her face and

            "Yeah maybe, as I said he didn't recognize me so maybe that is it! You're freaking out over

   "Seriously, the only reason you are upset is because he doesn't remember you," Sam asked her

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

calm herself some more. "He won't recognize me; he will have no idea who I

    Sam left the bathroom with her head up high, hoping to look as if nothing had happened and it was business as usual. She started her daily routine but as soon as her father saw her he called her into his office. Nervously she straightened and smoothed skirt again taking a deep breath gathering

at his large wooden 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 morning's duties here for you as well as some documents that you need to look over," she said as she did every morning as she ran through the papers she held in her arms. She circled around the desk trying her best to stay away

long glance at him and her heart skipped a couple of beats. It was without a doubt the guy from New York and he was so much more attractive than she remembered. She quickly

"Yes but before that I would like you to finally meet David Andrews. David this is my secretary and daughter Samantha Peters," her father started and Sam tried not to cringe as the man turned his attention to her for the first time. Her

hand politely. "It's nice to meet you Mr.

           "Thank you, I am glad to be here," he said as he took 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

      Sam refused to turn her attention back to David. If she didn't look at him she could almost convince

you Samantha that will be all," her father told her once she was finished.  She turned and noticed David watching her sending her little

           "Nice to meet you Samantha, I look forward to working with you," he said and she could almost

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

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

     "I can't believe he didn't recognize me," Tabby pouted and Sam tilted her head towards her friend so she could glare

and all you care about is how he

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

for me!" Sam snapped back and could not believe her awful luck. Tabby shrugged and got

       "Only time will tell," she chirped and walking toward her own desk and Sam glared at

time 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 the chair thinking about what

     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 father's new prized employee? She huffed as she sat up in her chair and

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

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

with an obvious hint of gloating and she grimaced with the even more confirmation that he remembered all too well that night. She suddenly noticed how close together