Brad realized he'd arrived at his desk without any memory of how he got there. He sat down wondering how he was going to focus on the emails and projects he had going on with the stunning revelation his sweet, innocent wife was not sweet nor innocent. He was sure had he been a different kind of man he would have gotten hold of a gun somehow, but that was never his style. He picked up the phone.
"Hey Jim...good, I mean actually not so good. Look, can you go through our assets and let me know how easy everything would be to split...I know, I don't want to get into it right now, but Ashley has...I guess changed. She has different priorities now and I want to explore moving on...You're right, we've never really had a fight, but...Sure, I'll have my cell on me. Thanks."
Brad tried to drive the last 12 hours out of his head and focus on work and actually felt it was easier having called his lawyer.
At noon, Sherrie came in with a Visio diagram for one of the projects and slid it on the desk, "Hey Brad, you look down. Any issues? Isn't IT responding?" She asked leaning over him with her hand on his shoulder.
"No, everything is great. What's this? Is this for Perkins?" Brad pulled the diagram over.
Sherrie leaned farther over pressing her right breast against his shoulder while pointing out the flow and where the project stands.
Brad was impressed with the project she'd made. "You got all the team not only to buy in, but actually get their parts done? Seriously? This is the best news I've had all day. How did you do it, these guy are stubborn as hell." Brad asked.
"Remember the last part of Erin Brockovich when they asked her how she got all the signatures? I'm really quite tired." Sherrie said with a grin.
Brad was surprised when he laughed. He looked at Sherrie and realized she was always upbeat and funny and even though she rubbed against him, she never actually suggested anything outside of work, not even lunch. "Sherrie you made my day, I really owe you lunch or something. What are you doing for lunch? Can I take you out?"
Sherrie stood up and looked at him. Brad had asked her to join him and the guys from receiving for beers, but she never liked them...there was always a leer or a suggestive remark...strangely, she always felt like she'd forgotten to wear panties and they knew it. He'd never asked her to lunch before. "I um, I brought a sandwich. I suppose I could have it for dinner, sure, I'd love to. Now?"
"Yeah. Let's head downtown and find something. I want to go somewhere I've never been before. What are you in the mood for - it's your choice since you earned it." Brad said standing up.
Driving back, Sherrie looked at Brad and wondered at the change in him. He seemed more relaxed as if a weight was lifted from his shoulders. He normally was fairly funny, but mostly business. Lunch was fun with jokes about work, the people there and baffling memos, though he changed the subject when she brought up the guys on the dock. They pulled into the back of the building to avoid a traffic jam in the front and as they drove around the lot and she suddenly blurted out, "Hey, isn't that your other car? The black Mini Cooper?"
Brad slowed down and looked, sure enough Ashley's car was parked back by the loading dock. Groaning he shook his head and drove back to the front of the building and pulled into his spot.
"What's wrong, is everything Ok?" Sherrie asked seeing the look of anger on Brad's face. When Brad jumped out looking pissed, she grabbed his arm. "Tell me, is that your wife's car? Is there something going on? Tell me."
"Look, I'm sorry Sherrie, but this is something I have to work out. That is her car and I'm pretty sure I know why. I'll meet you inside." Brad started to walk back to the loading dock.
"Hey! Stop!" Sherrie yelled at Brad. "Listen, I might have an idea."
Brad stopped and looked at her with a look of pain of his face, "What, what can you do? You're really great, and a good friend, but I just need to deal with this."
"I have an idea, so before you go back to the dock and perhaps do something stupid, come with me." Sherrie said firmly.
Brad stared at her and realized he really had no plan and what he was thinking would probably put him in the hospital. "Ok, sure, yeah...what's your idea?"
"You know Larry in security? They have cameras all over the building and perhaps..." Sherrie replied as she led Brad inside.
"I know - they have cameras monitoring the entries, the dock area, but not anywhere else."
Sherrie winked at him, "Just wait." She knocked at the Security room door. "Hey Larry, you know Brad, right?"
"Sure, Hey Brad, what brings you guys here? Lose your keys or something?"
"We thought we saw someone enter Receiving who didn't sign in and wondered about it. Do you have the video for the last hour or two? Just wanted to be sure." Sherrie asked. "I wouldn't bother you, but with the inventory issues we've had over the last few months...you know. I'm sure it's nothing."
Larry laughed, "Please, bother me. This job needs something to liven it up...let's see, that's camera 7." Larry hit some keys and the main screen showed the outside of the dock with 11:12:45 AM along the bottom. "This good place to start?"
Sherrie looked at Brad, "What do you think?"
Brad thought a minute, "Can you go back to 10:30 and start there?"
Larry swept the mouse on the screen and stopped at 10:23:34 AM.