Writers Wednesday || Part 14 - The Guy

- Part 14 -

The Guy

Had Kameron Keating, of Keating Signatures, actually met the woman he bumped into on that blistering day rather than yell at her, he would have discovered her name was Destiny Hale, she was twenty-one, and she worked at his company in the IT department.

Destiny let out a deep sigh as she sank into her office chair, sounds of rustling papers and chattering workers leaking through her cubicle's walls. She stared at the glass desk in front of her, at the shelves and the walls, all empty except for a few work files and random electronic devices. Three years she had worked at Keating Signatures, and her office was the only office without any personal odds-and-ends or pictures of family and friends.

It had been a week since she had bumped into Kameron, and she'd managed to completely avoid her employer since then. He still didn't know she worked here, and she hoped to keep it that way for as long as possible. As soon as he found out, she would probably be out of a job.

Destiny turned on her computer monitor and fought to keep her eyelids open as it came to life. She was exhausted from her search the past last week, but had no worries about getting her work done. The things they had her doing here were like coloring in a child's book. The technology in this world wasn't as advanced as it was in Aerethyst. She could purge one of their computer viruses in her sleep. 

The monitor alive, she stared at the only open window on the desktop. There he was, the boy who had stolen her computer, his face raw under the lights they used to take the mug-shot. Destiny had easily gotten into the police database, or whatever it was these people called it.

She had tried reporting the theft to the authorities first-thing, but they hadn't done much more than mandatory paper-work and a few phone-calls. In a city as big as Vittebyre, the police had bigger thefts and bigger criminals to worry about.

Destiny stared at the boy, only nineteen according to his records. His name was Tyler Barnett. Beside his picture was a list of locations he was known to go to--though the information was from years ago, when he was still a minor--and his emergency contacts. Destiny had already tried calling all of them; everyone either denied knowing the kid or refused to tell her anything. Or they were dead.

The echoing sounds of loud voices and clacking heels brought Destiny back into focus. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. A shadow passed over her cubical doorway, and a voice said, "'Scuse me, miss. But my secretary's out and I'm having problems with my computer."

Destiny's head jerked up as she recognized the voice. A chill of dread flushed her veins.

Kameron's eyebrows rose in surprise as he saw her. "You!" he cried. "You work here? I didn't know you worked here."

Destiny pushed up from her chair. "And I didn't know you worked here," she snapped, though it wasn't true. "If I had, I would have stayed clear of the whole block. Wouldn't want to ruin another one of your suits."

Kameron frowned, "Don't you know who I am?"

She gave him a look that could have frozen lava, "Yes, you're the jerk who let my computer get stolen. So in case you--"

Kameron's expression flashed suddenly to surprise as he noticed what was on the screen of Destiny's monitor, "Is--that's the fellow, isn't it? The thief who took your bag. How did you find him?"

"This isn't any of your business."

"But how did you find him? There are millions of people in this city--"

"Am I fired or not?" Destiny interrupted, angry and scared to death at the same time. If she lost this job…

"What?"

"Are you going to fire me? I ruined your suit after all."

Kameron sighed, irritated, "That was a bad day. I'm not going to fire you over a suit. Besides, I owe you one."

"Oh?"

"I let your computer get stolen, didn't I?" he asked, a little reluctantly.

Destiny didn't say anything. Kameron coughed uncomfortably and pointed down the hall, "I'll get someone else to help me with my computer."

Destiny folded her arms, determined not to let her face show just how relieved she was that she still had a job. The young company owner backed out of her cubicle slowly and disappeared around the corner. Destiny waited three seconds before letting out the breath she had been holding and collapsing into her chair.

On her monitor screen, the alarm was beeping.

Hope you guys are liking it. :) Tips, critiques and comments are always appreciated! 

~The Scribbler in the Attic