Tapping kept a rhythm to her sinking boredom. She wanted to sleep, but she was too bored to even do that. It was only when the phone rang that she snapped out of her episodic trance. She brought the phone to her ear and leaned forward on her desk, wondering how she would accomplish much of anything in her day with so little motivation.

"Hello, how can I help you?"

"I thought it was you."

Tina smiled out or sheer surprise, looking around with what view was provided in her narrow cubicle. It had been a woman’s voice, just deep enough to hint at a sexual confidence. "What?"

"Blond … slender … wild eyes."

Tina tried not to laugh into the receiver, combing her free hand through her hair. This was becoming mysterious, and from the sultry tone of this woman’s voice, she couldn’t help but feel its effect. "I … they’re uh … green."

"There’s more to it than that, though …" the woman insisted with a quiet nature that was quickly melting Tina’s resolve. "Isn’t there?"

She had no idea how to respond to such sexual energy, and especially at work. "Uh … how did you get this number? And how do you know what I look like?" She would have been threatened if she didn’t feel so incredibly at ease with the woman on the other end. There was something between them already, even without a physical connection. "Hello?" She was becoming nervous, but not out of fear. Tina didn’t want to lose the excitement that had been instantly injected into her otherwise boring afternoon.

"I have my ways."

Tina chuckled and hunched over her desk, afraid someone else might hear her, so she whispered. "Why are you calling me then?" Her heart was racing, in hope of a romantic response.

"Because you need me."

She swallowed hard and her ankles crossed with great excitement as she sat on the edge of her seat. She tried to remain calm and logical. "I don’t know what you mean." Her eyes were as wide as saucers, silently hoping that the call would continue. It was as hopeful as she had been at work in years. As alive.

Then the voice on the other end gave way to a hearty, and yet quiet laughter. "Sure you do."