The Chronicles of DNC

With my next novella hitting these digital book platforms this Friday, April 24, I wanted to share a teaser to get you started. It’s the uncut, expansion of my short story from my best seller, Untraditional: A Collection of Passion-fy Short Story. Pre-order you copy today.

OFFICE   EXTRAVAGANZA
by DNC

“I’LL LOCK THE DOOR when I leave. Don’t worry about it,” I yell to Dora, the operations manager.

“Nat Simmons, you’re the greatest!” She responds with a Kool-Aid smile, sweet enough to give everyone in the office cavities.

She hugs me tight and leaves a soft peck on my cheek. I smile and watch her walk to the door, admiring her new Tory Burch purse.

“Hey,” she spins around making her curly brown hair bounce.

“Are you coming by tonight?”

“Maybe, if you give me that purse.” I raise an eyebrow daring her to give into my demand.

“Ha, we’ll see I guess.” We both laugh. Dora leaves and then I refocus on the task at hand.

I decide to stay as long as it takes me to complete my dashboards. I walk back to my reception desk and unlock my screen to see that I had an IM up.

Marc X3T: You’re still here too?

It’s the new guy. He was working late on his second week — poor baby.

Natalie S: Yeah. They work me to the bone every day.
Marc X3T: Man, they’re tough here. How do you do it?
Natalie S: I just do it. Like Nike.
Marc X3T: LOL. Yeah, I like that motto, in more ways than one.

I sit back and wonder exactly what he means.  How many ways could you just do it?  Was he flirting with me?

He was alright. The other ladies thought he was cute. It was like getting a new, attractive guy in class; they were too shy to ask more questions, but quick enough to make up tales about his sexual prowess. They’re so cliché.

Okay, maybe he was easy on the eyes. Let me stop fronting; he was fine.

Marc was the new IT manager brought in to help with our computer chaos. He seemed quiet, even shy at times. Most of the ladies thought he was cute; twenty-six years old, five/ten with caramel skin. It was the first time in a while that the office had had some eye-candy and he was definitely delicious to our eyes.

Marc X3T: Hello!
Natalie S: My bad, I just got a phone call.

I lie since he couldn’t know that I was stuck on his comment.

Natalie S: What are you up to this weekend?
Marc X3T: I’ll probably go play some ball, maybe do some work, and then chill at home.  Maybe do some cooking.
Natalie S: Oh, you cook?  Go ahead! I don’t know too many men that can cook.
Marc X3T: Oh, I cook, girl.  I do it well, just like other things.

All the innuendos were starting to add up. He’s got to be flirting now.  I cross my legs and move a little closer to my computer screen.

Marc X3T: What do you like to eat?
Natalie S: I love seafood, especially crab legs.
Marc X3T: I’m not really a seafood person, but I do love catfish.  I’ll try anything twice.  I have a thing about having different textures on my tongue.

My mind shifts immediately over to how much he would like the taste of me. What am I doing? Jon was at home. At this moment, cooking dinner waiting on me to join him. I refocus and shift the conversation.

Natalie S: So, are you watching the game this weekend?
Marc X3T: Yeah, but I think I’m going to come in this weekend after I leave the gym and do a little work.
Natalie S: Yeah, I think I am too, because I need a head start on some projects for next week.

It’s a little funny how we both feel the need to come in and work on the weekend.  Not too many other people in the office like that idea, but I usually did.

Natalie S: I’ll be there in the afternoon tomorrow. If you want to come then I can let you in.
Marc X3T: Sounds good. See you at 1 p.m.

Marc was turning out to be more than just a cute face. I can respect his work ethic, since it was much like mine. I was just getting back from a five-day vacation, so I had only been in the office three times since he started. Marc was nice, had a genuine smile and spoke to everyone; even the “I hate my job every day” grouchy people.  It was refreshing to have someone else around who seemed to enjoy their job as much as I did.

We’ve had a lot of IT guys come through this office but he’s the first one that I know of that actually enjoys talking to us; talking to people in general. He seems to really enjoy getting to know people’s thoughts, kicking off conversations and even making eye contact. He’s definitely a unicorn in the industry.

I send him one more IM to let him know that I’m heading out. I log off the computer and grab my things but where am I going? Dora’s or home to Jon.

Choose Nat’s next move:
If she heads to Dora’s house, go to the next page.
If she heads straight home to Jon, jump to this page.

Pre-order your copy to choose what she should do!!