It was very hard for Sam to keep from screaming at the unfairness of it all.

She had been working at the newspaper for years. She wasn't always the best writer, and she
certainly could have been a bit more social with the rest of the office staff, but she was good at
her job, and she had become invaluable to the editor. Derek had always valued her opinion for
what it was, and he trusted her more than anyone else at the paper.
But that was before Christine.
Christine slammed into the newsroom like a Category 5 hurricane. She tore down everything
Sam had worked so hard to build and left a trail of destruction in her wake. Within her first
month, she'd managed to get four good reporters fired, and at least a few others were on the
chopping block.
And Derek seemed to love her immediately.
It didn't matter to him that Sam had given the paper everything or that he used to trust her
implicitly. When Christine winked, complimented him, and broke things off with her fianc to get
to know him better, all of that went out the window. It was like Caesar and Cleopatra all over
again.
She demanded Sam's resignation two weeks later.
It was sheer luck that Christine wasn't in a position to influence hiring. No matter how much she
complained about Sam's work, she couldn't get her way.
And then came the last straw: Derek promoted Christine to the job Sam had been promised,
and that was it. A carefully crafted letter of resignation made its way to her direct supervisor's
desk.
Truth be told, Sam still wasnt sure whether it was the right decision. But shed given her two
weeks notice, and her desk would have to be cleared out by then. She had to focus on that.
When she walked back into the office that Wednesday night, there he was. She had hoped that
today would be the day hed decide he didnt have to work until all hours and let her clear out
her desk in peace. But Derek, who always seemed to have a sixth sense about her, picked his
head up the second she made it across the room.
There wasn't much left: a calendar, a mug, a few notebooks, and a well-worn chemistry
textbook lined the box she brought for her things. He at least had the decency to let her finish
packing before calling her over.
This wasn't going to end well, and she knew it.

Are you okay? he asked once she was settled into the uncomfortable chair across from him.
She nodded mutely, and he cleared his throat.
Good. I, uh...you'll have to forgive the lack of professionalism here, but...
She tilted her head. But what? she asked graciously, wondering briefly if he knew how thin a
line he was treading. His eyes fixed on her, and it was like she was seeing the Derek of three
months ago. She couldnt breathe.
Please don't go, he blurted. She blinked, working hard to keep face blank. He leaned over the
desk theatrically, and it was hard for Sam to keep from smiling. Whenever he pulled that move,
she couldnt help but think Derek looked a bit like Cary Grant.
I don't know why you're leaving, but we need you here. You're the best writer at the paper. And I
need your advice. Please stay.
And there he was, giving her that look againthe one that always got him an extra slice of cake
at company gatherings, could probably get him out of prison, and was very effective at melting a
reporters heart. Sam felt her reasons for leaving start drifting away. He needed her. And she
had always been there for him. How could she leave?
She felt the corners of her mouth turning up and forced them back down again. No way could
she cave now; she was right in the middle of packing up her stuff! What about Christine?
Derek shook his head, sighing audibly. Christine iswell, shes something, all right. He locked
his eyes on hers, and Sam felt herself unable to look away. But you have something that she
just doesnt.
Sam furrowed her brow. And what might that be?
He ran a hand through his hair (his beautiful, perfect, full head of hair, Sam thought in spite of
herself), seemingly struggling for words. She waited, biting her lip in anticipation.
Finally he spoke. Youre kind. Youre funny. Youre incredibly talented but so modest that hardly
anyone knows how amazing you are, even though they should. You keep to yourself, but youre
easy to talk to, and I know youll be honest with me no matter what I ask. Basically, youre one
of very few people I look forward to seeing every day, and I would genuinely hate to see you
go. By the end of his soliloquy, his face had gone red, and Sam noticed that he was twisting his
tie around in his handsalmost as if she were making him nervous.
She smiled at the thought. And then she had an idea that was so crazy and out of character for
her she couldnt believe it could have come out of her own rational, analytical brain. But this is
my last chance, really, she realized. If I dont do this now, Ill never be able to.

So she blurted it out before she had too much time to convince herself it was a horrible idea.
If youd hate it so much, prove it to me. Take me to dinner tonight. You can give me more
compliments, she laughed, and reasons you want me to stay.
He opened his mouth, his lips forming the word no, then caught her eye again and shut his
mouth. Sams breath was stuck in her throat. She stared at him, refusing to blink, until at last
she heard the words she hadnt known she was waiting for.
You know what? Its a date.