Until You Believe Me Read Free Page A

anticipated. The roar of a bulldozer is heard in the distance no doubt clearing land for another monstrous structure. I give the building a slight shrug of acceptance and start walking towards the office building.

    My hand reaches the handle and suddenly I feel a stinging pain go through my middle finger into my wrist. I shuffle back, slightly losing my balance. Only falling for a split second before I feel hands steadying my waist.

    "Holy shit, what the hell." I look up bewildered and find myself looking at blackness. A split second passes where I wonder if I have fainted or had a heart attack. I suddenly struggle against the hands to get them off of me.

    "Woah, watch where you're going little lady. I nearly took you out with the door. Are you ok?"

    I don't say anything for a second, trying to get my barrings. The pain in my hand slowly starts to dull as I survey the man in front of me. He is in worn jeans and a gray T-shirt. Both articles of clothing are covered in dust and dirt and who knows what else.

    "I just..the door...jammed my hand...almost fell." Once my mind registers the ridiculous stutter I have developed I snap out of it.

    "I mean, I'm ok...sorry I was just trying to get to my office. Excuse me, sorry." We do the awkward, you go left, I'll go right, but we both go left dance until I feel hands on both of my upper arms. My feet shuffle awkwardly as the man who maimed me moves me to one side.

    "I'm the one who is sorry, please don't apologize. Are you sure you're ok? Do you need some ice?"

    I swallow in a loud, cliched gulp. Towering over me is probably the biggest man I've ever seen. I nearly look completely straight up to make eye contact. I catch slight curls of brownish red hair, light green eyes, a concerned face that looks like it has been tanned perfectly by the sun, followed by the most perfectly filled shirt I've ever seen. I blush as I realize I haven't responded and have clearly been looking him up and down.

    I give myself a slight smack on the forehead. "Yes, I mean I'm fine. I don't need ice. Sorry. Thank you though. I just was just trying to get to my office."

    Bright white teeth nearly blind me. "Yes, you've said as much. However I am not convinced that you are ok. I will repeat the question once more before I take you to seek medical attention. Did I hurt you at all?"

    I feel my cheeks go three different shades of crimson. "I'm sorry, my hand hurts but I'm ok. This is just not part of my normal routine. Just shook me for a minute. I'm really ok though, thank you, I'm sorry, I need to go. I'm sorry." I give a small wave and nearly run into the building.

    I exhale a big breath I hadn't remembered holding in and nearly sprint into my office. I close my door behind me and set down my bags. What the hell was that? When did I turn int a stumbling, bmbling fool? I take inventory of the parts of body that could have been impacted by the collision and notice that my hands is throbbing along with my accelerated heart beat.

    "Shit, that hurts."

    "Oh baby, what do you have going on in here?"

    I roll my eyes as Ben comes sauntering into my office.

    "What the hell did you do?" He drops his bags as well and comes over  to examine my left hand which is clutched in my right.

    "I am ok. It just stings. I was reaching to open the door to the building and some construction guy was coming out and banged the door into my hand. It just jammed my finger back, but goodness gracious does it hurt right now. I almost fell, but he caught me." I shook my head to clear out the cobwebs that have seemed to form in the past 10 minutes.

    "You should ice it, it looks like your finger is swelling up a little. He caught you? Like cliche save the damsel from falling caught you?" Ben picks up his bag, seeing as he has now assessed the situation and clearly given me a positive prognosis.

    "The building looks awesome doesn't it? I can't believe they got so far on it." I hear Ben call as he is walking to his own