I Want Candy (2 page)

To: Candy Benet

From: Quentin Evans

Date: July 6

Subject: Just had you on my mind

Cee-Luv,

I was just thinking about you. I think about you a lot lately. I tried to call you, but I guess you’ve changed your number. Give me a call when you get this.

- Q

Candy bit her bottom lip as unsavory memories drowned her mind in a tidal wave of emotions. ‘Quentin – what nerve!’ she thought. Her mind could not help but revert to a time that once was.

Candy met Quentin at a company function held in Toronto a few years back. It was rare for her to be invited to such lavish events since there was never justification for the Director of Finance to attend marketing and sales outings. This time, however, was an exception. Candy laughed playfully with a small group of her coworkers as they sashayed next to the open bar, dipping their olives, lime wedges, and candied cherries seductively in their mouths as they flirted shamelessly with attractive men from other divisions.

Blue Sun, Inc., which specialized in the production and sales of high-end writing instruments, had several divisions all over the world. It was the largest company of its kind in Toronto. Everyone was slightly tipsy during the celebration of a fantastic fiscal year. Candy, dressed in a platinum pantsuit with a dipping V-neckline, wore her hair elegantly pulled back, exposing her high cheekbones. Her pantsuit appeared dramatic against her smooth, honey-colored skin. Her large, almond-shaped eyes and full, glossy lips resembled those of a doll. It was only a matter of time before she captivated the eye of Mr. Quentin Evans, the company’s Information Technology director.

Standing 6’3” with mocha skin and dimples a mile deep, he cracked a smile and held his beer bottle high for her to see before placing it onto his lips. His hair was cut low, showing off his natural waves. His crisp, white dress shirt was tailored to accentuate his toned upper body and narrow waist. Candy smiled nervously at him before returning slowly to her seat as Gabriel Justice, the president and CEO of the company approached the podium and began to speak.

“Dedicated employees of Blue Sun, this is a momentous occasion. This year, due to your dedication and hard work, we’ve accomplished record-breaking sales. It was a difficult journey. We faced major budget cuts, and the prevailing idea was, ‘Why would people purchase ink pens, mechanical pencils, specialty markers, and dry erasers when they can’t even pay their mortgages?’ We found out that people still want to give the beloved geek in the family, the graduating student, and even that special someone a writing instrument or accessory. It’s an investment towards that person’s dreams and aspirations. Engraved with their names, these gifts last the test of time. Astronauts have our products, as do professors and everyday ‘Joes’ who appreciate quality over quantity. We met the market demands, even in these challenging times. We became more competitively priced, we offered smaller-end products, and we stamped it with our seal of approval. One person who helped us achieve this success is Candace Benet, our Director of Finance. Candy met with our HR Department day-after-day, finding ways to ensure there would be no layoffs. What was the solution? – innovative ideas. The way to meet our new challenges wasn’t to let go of hardworking, dedicated employees; it was to have everyone understand that we had to face the challenges head on. We put our trust in Candy as she helped the Sales and Marketing Department release new products. Her unconventional suggestions turned out to be just what Blue Sun needed. By redistributing available funds, Candy provided a new path. We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the results.”

The CEO then smiled and lifted a plaque into the air. It glistened in bronze and ebony, like freshly minted pennies on black licorice. Candy rubbed her eyes in disbelief as many at her table patted her back and cheered. Gabriel leaned back and waited for her, crossing his arms and bending his knees with swagger. There was a running joke that though he was obviously white, he would stand as if he had all the soul in the world, full of confidence and style.

“Candy, please come accept this small token of appreciation for all of your hard work. You deserve it!” Candy slowly stood up, blushing ten different shades of red. She approached the stage and hugged Gabriel, thanking him for speaking so beautifully of her accomplishments. She held the plaque close and was silent for a few seconds.

“I want to thank you, Mr. Justice, for this award. I also want to thank all of you here for believing in me even when my suggestions seemed impossible to implement. I can’t blame anyone who was concerned. It was a difficult time for all of us, but I knew if we continued what we had been doing, we would not prevail. When times change, you have to change. You have to meet those challenges head on with something different, something unexpected – a difficult task for the Finance Department, which is never supposed to be creative.”

“Unless you’re Enron!” someone shouted. Everyone laughed. Candy joined in the laughter as she continued.

“Exactly! You’re all very talented, charismatic, and goal-oriented. I knew it was essential for you to have incentive to pull us out of this rut, and not only did you meet the challenge, you exceeded my expectations. You’re the reason people know Blue Sun, Inc. You’re the reason that our products are chosen time and time again over our competitors. I want to thank everyone that encouraged me, even when it looked bleak. I knew I had gone out on a limb, but Blue Sun is very important to me. We’re not just a company, we’re a family. Thank you,” Candy concluded as she wiped a tear from her eye and took her seat. People stood and clapped. She could feel Quentin’s eyes on her. She glanced his way out the corner of her eye and saw him clapping. She watched him purse his lips and whistle. She blushed again, making sure he didn’t see her looking his way.

 She picked up her cocktail and listened to the remaining speeches that evening, watching gleefully as some of her uncoordinated coworkers and managers tried to cut a rug to the tunes of an eclectic jazz trio. Occasionally she glanced down at the fading mark on her left ring finger, a steady reminder that a “Mr. Right” once existed, but now the only trace of him was her two-tone finger. Still drizzled in the freshly laid praise she had received, her appetite was tempered. Waiters floated past carrying beautifully presented layers of Kobe beef with fresh mint, shrimp rolls, slices of white cake drowned in fudge, and lady fingers with whipped cream, but she didn’t bat an eye. She looked down at her purse, then her shoes, and yawned. Suddenly someone was standing next to her. She looked up, and there was Quentin, still nursing a beer.

“Do you mind if I sit here?” he asked.

“Uh, no. I don’t suppose Mandy will be back soon. She seems to be having too much fun dancing right now,” Candy said as she pointed to a rail-thin woman dancing almost robotically as the alcohol in her body made her do things she would not recall in the morning.

“Wonderful,” Quentin said as he pulled out the chair. “My name is Quentin – Quentin Evans. I’m from the Illinois branch office. I designed our global website.”

“Oh, it’s nice to meet you! It’s good to put a face with a name. I see your name in company announcements sometimes and hear people say, ‘Call Quentin!’ regarding the website.” Candy laughed.

Quentin smiled. “Yeah, ‘Call Quentin’ is said more than I’d like to hear. I’m bombarded with messages about what needs to be added and deleted – you name it. I love it, though. A lot of people don’t understand how much work goes into it.”

“I bet!” Candy acknowledged.

“I think what you achieved this year is fantastic, Candy. You’re an innovative thinker. I like that. I’ve always professed that the way to get money is to give money, and you seem to understand that concept completely. The first thing people want to do during a recession is pinch their pennies. That’s the wrong thing to do. This is the time to use what you have and make it grow. Invest in people during hard times, and you’ll see results, as long as they’re the right people. This is the time to buy stock and start that small business. We have an incredible opportunity in the midst of this crisis.” Quentin smiled, then finished off the rest of his beer.

“I totally agree. I didn’t feel that the Sales & Marketing team was motivated anymore because there wasn’t anything new to put a pulse in their veins. They hadn’t been reasonably compensated either. We needed them to sell in order for us to get out of this, and I’m glad they didn’t make a fool of me!” Candy laughed.

“No they didn’t – but enough about business. I want to know a little about you.” Quentin leaned in closer. Candy smelled the mild, soapy fragrance of his skin, his musky cologne, and subtle aftershave.

“Well,” Candy smiled, “what would you like to know?”

“What do you like to do? What are some of your favorite things? May I take you out for dinner sometime?” Quentin grinned. Candy smiled, then laughed.

“What?” Quentin smiled, “Too forward?” he asked, his dimples digging deep.

“No, no. Well – I like to cook. I like to read. I love to travel, so coming here was nice. I’ve never been to Canada before.” Candy crossed her legs and took a sip of her dirty martini.

“And what about my last question? You probably have a man, right?” Quentin asked, feigning a sad expression. Candy shook her head “no.”

“No, you don’t have a man or no, you won’t go out with me?” he asked.

“No, I’m not in a relationship right now,” Candy clarified, grinning.

“OK then. So unless you find me repulsive, can we arrange this?” Quentin urged, sliding his arm along the back of her chair as he chuckled.

Candy laughed. “OK, I think I can do that.” Quentin grinned and pulled out his Android phone.

“May I have the best number to reach you?” he asked as he entered her name. “I’m in Chicago, you’re in Cincinnati. That’s not terribly far. I can probably swing out your way in a week or so. Is your schedule open next Saturday.”

“I don’t have my planner with me, so I can’t recall really. I’m gonna have to follow up with you,” Candy answered, with her lip slightly turned up.

“You mean to tell me that they don’t keep you plugged in at all times? Well, aren’t you lucky!” he teased. “OK, if you don’t call me though, I’m gonna call you. I’m persistent,” he laughed.

“I’ll call you. I promise. Your number is in the directory,” Candy added.

“Well, take this. This is my personal number.” Quentin grabbed a cocktail napkin and wrote down his personal cell and home numbers, handing them to Candy. He stood abruptly, then leaned down and whispered in her ear, “You’re brains
and
beauty, the ultimate catch. I can’t wait to get to know you better.” He walked away and joined a group of IT professionals on the other side of the room. Candy exhaled, his scent still lingering in the air as she polished off her martini. Gabriel stood and waved to her from across the room. Candy smiled and waved back. She then drifted back to her thoughts of Quentin.

‘Damn, he’s fine!’ she thought with a smirk. Feeling her sleepiness creep in again, she returned to her cushy hotel room and slept with an Egyptian cotton pillow securely between her thick, brown sugar thighs.

* * *

‘What the hell does he want?’ Candy thought, slamming her laptop shut as she snapped out of her daydream. She reached across the table for the hot cup of Starbucks coffee, took a few sips, and exhaled as she let her head fall back. She sighed then gathered a folder from her desk and headed to the Accounting Department for her morning meeting. Her thoughts drifted in and out as papers were shuffled, presentations were given, and changes to the new 401k program were discussed. She tried desperately to concentrate but was unable. She doodled hearts and 3-D boxes and prayed no one would ask her to speak. Her curiosity was getting the best of her though she tried to push Quentin out of her thoughts.