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feeling she knew what was
going on, but kept her mouth shut and her mind
open as she continued to rummage through her
pile.

Chapter 2
Alex had completed an exhausting month at the
factory.
More often than not, she was staying late
and finishing old projects so that a new one could
be begun the next day.
She had taken all of the
knowledge that Jeff, James, Larry and Allen were
able to give her and put it to good use.
The offices
and factory were running a much more smoothly
and even Francine had to admit that Alex was good.
James worked late every night, too.
It wasn't so
much that he had work to do, but it gave him an
excuse to be near Alex.
She had refused to give an
inch in the office romance department and objected
to his carrying on with Francine even if it was
silently.
Jean had moved out of their house and
into her father's and he no longer liked to be there
alone.
It was too big for just him and the dogs and
he considered selling it more than once.
Alex had just finished clearing her desk for the last
time, when the intercom on her phone
buzzed.
She had thought that she was alone in the
offices because she hadn't heard anyone moving
around for a while.
A glance at her watch told her
it was past six and her stomach reminded her that
something more substantial than Pepsi and half a
sandwich was necessary.
"This is Alex," she said into the receiver.
"Hi, can you come in here, please," said the
voice.
It took two seconds for Alex's brain to click
on the name to go with it.
She was still having
difficulty matching faces, names and voices.
Jeff
didn't express any concern, though.
He knew it
would take time for her to learn them.
"Sure, I'll be right in," she replied, then hung up the
receiver and made her way into James' office.
James had just finished replacing the receiver and
calming his nerves, when Alex came in.
He had
come to know her a little better in the past
month.
He was impressed with her work even
though he only requested a few items here and
there.
His reaction to her when they shook hands
that first time came as a shock to him, particularly
on the heels of his pending divorce from
Jean.
When Jean had served him with divorce
papers, James had admitted to himself that he
would probably be spending the rest of his life
alone.
He had understood her reasoning behind
the request for divorce.
Jean had made her point,
when she had discovered his passion for sampling
the women in his travels and as much time as he
had spent at home, Jean was better off for getting
the divorce.
"What's up?"
"Close the door, please," he requested.
"There's nobody here, James, accept for the second
shift machine shop.
I'd prefer to leave it open,"
said Alex, remembering the recurring incident that
took place every day since she arrived.
Francine
emerging from James' office about 20 minutes after
going in and flushed and a little rumpled.
Alex
hadn't thought about much else since.
She had
indeed felt the tension between her and James
since they met, but didn't feel comfortable playing
office games with him.
She would let Francine
handle that.
"Is there a particular reason," he queried, lighting
another cigarette.
Alex glanced at the ashtray and saw the pink lipstick
that Francine favored outlining the edge of one.
"Nope.
Just prefer it that way, thank you.
"Fine.
I just wanted to let you know, that I think
you're doing a fabulous job.
I haven't made that
clear and I'm sorry.
How are you doing out there?
Have enough to do?"
"Yeah, I'm fairly busy.
I found a few things
confusing, but everyone seems more than willing to
help me.
"Any questions about the machine shop?"
"Not that I can think of.
Are there any goals you
would like to see met for that area?"
"A few; would you like to discuss them over dinner,"
asked James.
Alex pressed herself further into the back of her
chair at that question.
She had seen the wedding
ring on James' hand when they met previously, now
it was removed.
Alex heard the rumors of James'
pending divorce, but with his