With segments pre-filmed and being edited, Everitt had a day of meetings and scripting scheduled. He sat it on a few about fresh, new segment brainstorming, team members that were moving on, and The Nano Awards Nominations. That last meeting was the only one he was really paying attention to, as opposed to the others that he just spoke a bit in at the beginning to show that he had shown up and to keep the bosses happy.

The Nano Awards had a rotating board system to keep things as fair and above-board as possible. Aside from the founders, August Reed and Michelle Post, six of eight members of The Nomination Board were different from year-to-year. Experience and tenure in the broadcasting industry were usually of greatest import when it came to who got to be on the board. This year, one of Future’s own executive producers, Max Kumar, would be on the board. He had a few Nano nominations under his belt, and the shows he produced tended to be some of the best performing on cable TV. Max also happened to be a friend of Everitt’s.

Everyone in the meeting clapped for Max when his seat on The Nano Board was announced to the room, and he thanked the room before raising his hands to halt the applause. Max was a tall alpha, whose charm and charisma had gotten him very far in his career. Not that he wasn’t talented, but there was something about him that drew people to him, and once they were there his earnest character and loyalty kept them hooked.

“I’m honoured and excited to have been selected to take a seat on The Board for the awards this year. As you all know, this is when you want to show what you have to offer, put your best foot forward, and trust that your work will carry you to the finish line. Now, I know how tense and nerve-wracking it can get when it comes to these awards, but I do ask that you don’t come to me with speeches about why you deserve this award, if you’re someone that’s eligible for it. I know your work, and I will come to you if I have any questions,” he smiled at everyone like he hadn’t stomped on all their hearts just a little bit. Though the request was perfectly understandable, what he was asking for would be a tough pill for some of the more ambitious and power-hungry people at Future to swallow.

Everitt was adding the final touches to his segment proposal in his office on his laptop when there was a knock on his door. Without looking up, he waved the person into the already-open office. Their footsteps were slow, and stopped just shy of the chair across from Everitt. After a few moments, they sat down, and Ev glanced up from his work to see that it was Max who had sunk into the brown leather seat in front of him.

Max ran a hand over his brown skin and trimmed beard as he smiled at Everitt, “You busy?”

Ev clicked save, then downloaded his document and submitted it within a couple of minutes. “Not anymore,” he told Max. “What an honour to have an official member of the board grace my humble office. We must adjourn here and reconvene in your grand quarters.”

“That was painful,” Max grinned. He sat back into the seat and crossed one leg over the other.

“Well, you’ve shot right past me, I have to congratulate you,” Everitt said.

Max shook his head, “we just took different turns. You have all the clout and influence to make a name for yourself on my side of the job, as soon as you’re done getting all the glory. While I make the stars, you are the star. Viewers and consumers don’t know me, really.”

Everitt nodded, considering that. It was true that there were perks to being a face on TV, and he was aware of that before going in. But, he also witnessed how much of an impact people like Max could have, not only on broadcasting, but a wide array of media projects. A slight deviation in his life plan had been something Everitt considered more and more, though it was hard to imagine leaving reporting and anchoring behind.

He cleared his throat, “So, Maxie, here to catch up?”

The man loosened the top buttons of his sleeves, freeing his wrists, before he said, “yeah. I used to see you all the time, and I feel like you’re never here anymore.” He fixed Everitt with a knowing look and raised his eyebrows. “Though, from what I’ve heard, Visionary has been keeping you occupied. You’re spending a lot of time over there.”

Instead of denying it, Everitt offered a question. “Where exactly did you hear that from?”

Max smirked, “A little birdie. Also, I think you’re forgetting how much I love my bagels, and the fact that I’m the one that put you onto B’s Bagels in the first place. I’ve seen you in there getting chai tea lattes. I didn’t know you liked those. With your coffee.”

“Ugh,” Everitt groaned, burying his head in his hands. Just the fact that Max had been watching him from afar made him feel like this thing that he’d been keeping between him and Danai was being unravelled and exposed. Everitt doubted that Max had said anything to anyone at Visionary, but it still felt odd to have been unknowingly observed.

“I knew I sensed some sexual tension between you and that journalist. I like her show, by the way. Would you tell her I said that?” Max asked with a playful smile.

Everitt rolled his eyes, “That depends on who you’ve told about me and her.”

Max held his hands up in surrender, “Hey, I don’t know anything other than the fact that you bring her breakfast every morning. You could be best buds for all I know. But, I’m ready to listen if you wanna talk.”

“No thanks,” Everitt tossed back quickly.

“Alrighty.” Max looked around Everitt’s office while he touched one of the fingers on his left hand, and Everitt’s eyes went to the gold band that Max was twirling around absent-mindedly. He’d gotten married just over five years prior, and Everitt had been surprised to receive an invitation. Up until that point, he thought they were just pushing each other to excel at work, the kind of relationship that didn’t extend past the building’s entrances. He didn’t realise Max considered him a friend until he handed him a red envelope after work one evening, with wedding details in it.

Though he’d initially rejected his friend’s offer to talk, Everitt realised this might be the perfect opportunity to figure out how to smooth things over with Danai. As far as Ev knew, Max was happily married to his wife, Guinevere, so he must have been doing something right.

“How long did you and your wife date before you became official?”

Max raised his eyebrows, seeming surprised to hear Everitt asking about his marriage. They didn’t talk about relationship stuff often, well not Everitt’s relationship stuff because he usually kept things to himself until they were over. It was rare for him to ask questions; he usually listened while Max talked.

“A couple months,” Max said, looking off into the distance. There was an easy expression on his face, “would’ve been sooner, but Winnie wanted us to take our time and get to know each other.”

“Did you ask her to be your girlfriend, or did time just pass and the two of you just knew that you were a couple?” Everitt asked, genuinely curious.

“Hmm,” Max tapped his chin. “Well, Winnie has always appreciated action when it comes to our relationship and romance. So, I took her to an intimate spot, told her how I felt, and asked her to be my girlfriend.”

“I see.”

“But, I know of people that just let time pass, then one of them introduced the other as their girlfriend, boyfriend, partner, etc. Whatever works, you know? It helps when you understand the person you’re dating,” Max stated, happy to dish out dating and relationship wisdom.

Everitt nodded, thinking about what his next move would be while Max stood up. Though he and Danai were still ‘figuring things out,’ Everitt was having a hard time coming up with any reasons why they shouldn’t be together. He wasn’t sure what her goals were when it came to them, but he enjoyed her company. Actually, he loved being around her, and it was hard to remember what his life was like before she came into it. Everything about Danai, from her scent, to her quick wit and beautiful body excited Everitt.

Max coughed, jerking Everitt out of his trance. He looked up to see his friend smiling above him, and Max smiled down at Ev, “Just tell her how you feel. She’s put up with you for this long.”

He turned to leave, but Everitt had one more question. “Is it worth keeping up with your beard? It’s been a while since I had one.”

Max turned slightly, “I’d rather have this than shave everyday. Plus, Winnie loves it.” He winked before lifting a hand to Everitt as he walked out of the office.

Everitt stared at the open door for a while, then touched his chin as he considered the unexpected conversation. Seeing the look on Max’s face when he talked about Guinevere, it made Everitt consider that relationships really could change someone. It wasn’t just a shallow type of happiness. Max looked content, and in love. Everitt wondered if he, the guy who was practically married to his job, could ever get there. He finished up his work for the day before he took out his phone and brainstormed what the next day would hold for him and Danai.

                                                                                             ******

The next morning, armed with fresh breakfast and tea, Everitt felt confident as he stepped off the elevator and made his way to Danai’s office. He spent hours googling ideas for what to do for Danai, and what a good timeline was before making things official with someone. He’d stumbled upon articles about questions that needed to be asked before then, different ways to express affection, and ideas for dates. Everitt had a plan for the next few times he’d see her, as well as an idea for a date during which he’d tell her his intentions. He felt kind of like the lead in a cheesy romcom, but he knew what he wanted.

The first part of the plan was mixing it up with breakfast, which was why he’d gone to the brunch place near his condo instead of B’s that morning. Thanks to his and Nai’s shared love of the cooking channel, he knew exactly how she liked her eggs. He got her a mushroom, spinach, and jalapeno omelette with colby jack and salsa, as well as a side of cantaloupe. An earl grey tea was her drink for today. His eggs were just scrambled over-easy with some Italian sausage. Simple, just the way he liked it.

When Everitt stepped in front of Nai’s door, ready to push it open, he looked inside to find the lights off and the place empty. He looked for Danai at her desk, then checked her couch just in case she was taking one of her impromptu naps. As far as he could tell, she was nowhere to be found in her office. Though it was a rare occurrence for her to be elsewhere at this time in the morning--the woman was loyal to her routine--Everitt knew she could be doing other things. Maybe she was avoiding him after how things went the day before.

He walked back over to the reception desk to ask after Danai, and was glad to find Patrick standing there. Everitt smiled at Nai’s assistant, “Good morning. I didn’t see Danai in her office, is she in a meeting or something?”

Patrick looked at Everitt, then the receptionist, Kira, before he gave Everitt a concerned look. “I was about to head home, actually. Danai’s out sick. Did she not tell you?”

Everitt’s eyes widened, his ignorance and surprise on obvious display, before he schooled his expression and put a polite smile on his face. “No, but it’s early. I’m sure she’s sleeping or something.”

Patrick nodded, “Well, give her my regards. Tell her I hope she feels better soon. Kinda lucky, getting sick on a Friday?”

“What?” Everitt blinked at Patrick.

“You’re going to see her, right?” He asked in a way that suggested it was obvious, then waved goodbye to Everitt and Kira before getting on the elevator.

Going to Danai’s house to check on her was not an obvious next step for Everitt, especially when he wasn’t sure she even wanted to see him. Besides, he’d never nursed someone outside of his family back to health. He didn’t know if there was social etiquette to the whole thing that was widely-known, and didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of Danai by failing to perform these tasks. Did he need to buy soup or something? Everitt looked down at the things in his hands.

Could she eat cheese while she was sick? What was she sick with?

He shook his head, annoyed by the racing thoughts in his head. Everitt nodded at Kira, who gave him a smile, before he got on the next elevator that he’d pressed the button for. He could stand there wondering all he wanted, but nothing would be as good as going to Danai’s and seeing how she was for himself. And if she wouldn’t see him, so be it. He’d written up a Plan B for contingency, anyway. 

*********