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"No. No
NOOOO!" Beth banged the keyboard several times before plopping into her office chair in defeat.
Carol, the manager, buzzed on the intercom. "Is everything okay out there?"
"I hate this machine. Why is it that every time I go to download something, it crashes?"
"The nature of the beast, I guess." She walked over to Beth's desk for a better look. "Could it be the website you're using? Maybe the trouble's on their end."
"Who knows? Nothing's going right in my life this week. You know my boyfriend and I aren't speaking, right?"
"Andy? You're kidding. Why not?"
"Long story. Lies and more lies. Can you hand me that bag of pretzel sticks?" Carol obliged.
Beth clicked the mouse over and over, but to no avail. Finally, she powered down the computer and waited. "I guess I'll just have to reboot." She swung in her chair to face Carol. "Now back to Andy. He told me he had to work late two nights ago. Well, a friend of mine saw him at the florist's at the exact same time."
"So?"
"So I didn't get any flowers that night, or the next night, either."
"Did you confront him?"
"Of course." Beth started up the machine again. She held those pretzel sticks like a chain smoker.
"I said, 'Hello! Do I look stupid to you? Who were you sending flowers to?' But, of course, he denied there was anyone else."
Carol smiled warmly, nodding in agreement. She eyed her watch. Beth's expense reports were late, but she couldn't exactly rush on that dinosaur PC.
"I told him I needed space. This morning, I got an email from him with a large attachment. It's a video file, called 'Let me explain.' So, I'm thinking, 'This had better be good.' But wouldn't you know, the darned thing froze!" And with that, she gave the keyboard a fierce shake.
"Beth, I'm sorry
can we pick this up later? Let me know when you can get those reports out."
"Okay. Sorry for rambling."
_________
With the PC running smoothly again, Beth uploaded her work to the office server. By the time she finished, it was almost time to head home.
Carol had spent the afternoon in meetings, checked in one last time. "Any luck with that e-mail from Andy?"
"I didn't go back to it. Hold on, let me try now." She logged into her account. This time, she found a second email from Andy, with the subject line "new format." She downloaded the message as they looked on together. "I can't imagine how he'll get out of this one."
The video began with Andy sitting in a fancy restaurant. The camera panned around, revealing extravagant dιcor and lush food. Live piano music swelled in the background. He cleared his throat. "I left work just a teensy bit early the other day. I stopped in here to make reservations for us
for tonight."
The scene changed, and Andy reappeared holding a small, oddly shaped box, gift wrapped and tied with a bright red ribbon. After leaving the restaurant, I went to the mall, because, well, I had ordered something for you and had to pick it up
Did anybody ever tell you that you tend to overreact? Why do you listen to those gossipy friends of yours anyway?"
"I don't really do that," Beth retorted out loud. "Anyway, what's this got to do with those flowers?"
As if on cue, Andy stared into the camera and said, "As for the flowers, they were for you, too. Delivery was scheduled for this afternoon. I hope you like them, and we'll get to speak later." End of video.
Carol dipped into her office and returned with a box of long-stemmed roses addressed to Beth. Beth's jaw hung. "Wow. He planned this
Carol, you were in on this the whole time!"
"He wanted to surprise you. I told him I'd be glad to help."
I know exactly what's going to happen, next. He's going to propose. Oh! I knew he was a good guy. I'll really have to eat crow this time. I wonder what kind of diamonds
Just then Andy popped into the office, grinning broadly. "I come bearing gifts!"
Beth ran over, threw her arms around his neck and grabbed the gift box from his hand. Her soul sank as she realized what it was.
A new memory card for her PC.
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