The dominos effect

Mark has always been a workaholic. He believed that the principles of life were based on how much work a person can do and not the relationship the person kept. It was on this note that Mark abstained from every form of social embracement, rather, he chose to be keen and devoted to his work. He had no wife and he certainly didn't have a girlfriend, all he had was Betty, his dog.

It was time for a lunch break and his team had earlier planned to hang out at a nearby restaurant and eat together. Mark was still on his desk, with his head buried in paperwork.

"Hey, Mark, it's lunch break already." Lucy, a colleague of his said to him on her way out for lunch.

"Yeah, I know. Thanks for the reminder though." Mark responded.

Soon, one of his team workers came up to his desk and called out to him.
"We're having lunch at Golden's. Won't you come with us?" He asked Mark.

"No, thanks. I'll have coffee at Becky's and that'll be all." Mark replied to him.

"Come on Mark, one spoonful of a well cooked meal won't do you any harm. How can you have coffee for lunch? Just hang out with us, it'll only be for a few minutes." The man insisted.

Mark dropped the pen he had been holding and raised his head so his eyes could meet with the man's eyes.
"Josh, I appreciate you looking out for me, but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done. As this team's leader, if anything goes wrong, I'll be held accountable for it. So, I think there's more to do other than having a well-cooked meal at Golden's. I'll go over to Becky's and have coffee with a hamburger if need be. At least, I can also work while I eat there." Mark responded to him.

There was a stern look in his eyes but he still held a fake tight smile and this forced Josh to leave with the other workers. After they had left, Mark took a few documents and crossed over the street to Becky's coffee shop. He chose a table at the far end of the shop with a clear view of his office and the restaurant his team workers had gone to. He smiled as he watched them eating and chatting noisily in the restaurant.

"You should've joined them, it would've been more fun." A voice said from behind him, jolting him back to his environs.

"Hi, I was carried away but I'd rather be here." Mark responded, smiling.

"A tough choice. What do I get you?" The lady asked him.

"A cup of creamy coffee." Mark said.

"Would that be all?" She asked him again.

"Well, I think a hamburger would be required as well." Mark responded to her.

"Alright, a cup of creamy coffee and hamburger coming up." The lady said and turned away.

Mark stared after her and thought of what she had said. He wondered if he was being too tough on his team, but as the team leader, he needed to ensure that all the work was perfectly done before reporting, to avoid complaints. Though there hadn't been any bad report on their work, he still didn't think slacking off would be nice to keep his reputation.
He smiled again as the shopkeeper approached his table with a tray.

"Here you go, sir. Enjoy your lunch." The lady said and set the tray on the table.

"It's Mark, please. Mark Elvis." Mark corrected.

"Okay Mark, it turns out that you're not too rigid after all. Well, since you're Mark, I'm Becky." The lady responded.

"Becky, as in Becky's shop?" Mark asked her.

"Yes, I run here so it's Becky as the name implies." Becky replied.
Mark nodded her a smile and she turned and walked away.

'Why did I tell her my name? I've never done that before.' Mark rebuked himself. The sound of her voice kept echoing in his head and he wondered why he couldn't get his mind off her and concentrate on the paperwork in his front. He hurriedly ate his lunch and rushed back to the office but that didn't help matters. Her smiling face kept appearing on anything he touched and after a few hours without being able to effectively do his work, Mark packed up and stood to leave.

En route to the door, Josh walked in on him.
"Are you heading out already?" He asked Mark.

"Yeah, I'm having an early break today. The rest of you can finish up before heading home." Mark replied and walked past him to the door.
Josh exchanged glances with Lucy and she shrugged her shoulder at him.

"I need a drink." Mark muttered to himself and stopped his car in front of a bar.
He walked into the bar and sat on a stole in front of the bar stand. He ordered a glass of Martini mixed with vodka and he slurped it down in one gulp and asked for a refill.

"Drinking that way won't take the problem away. Would it?" A voice asked him.
Mark froze at the sound of the voice. It sounded so familiar to the sweet voice that had been echoing in his head all day. He turned to see Becky taking a stool close to his. She was looking more gorgeous than when he had seen her in the afternoon. Mark swallowed hard and gave out a loud sigh.

"Do you always hang out here?" He asked her.

"Yeah, I've been here a couple of times. Work can be strenuous sometimes, so I come here to ease off after I close from work." Becky responded and ordered a glass of a Lavender gin fizz cocktail. Mark watched her with intent eyes.

"Wouldn't it be too hard for you to handle? I mean the drink." Mark asked her.
He was trying so hard to piece his words together and he failed terribly. Never in his life has he ever been so careful with his words. He has never been scared of saying whatever to anyone but here he was, trying to piece together the right things to say.

"I can handle this much. It's not too alcoholic." Becky replied. "How about you, is this your first time here? I would've remembered if I had seen you here before." Becky asked him.

"Well...well..., it's my first time here." Mark stuttered a response. "I heard the drinks are great here." He added.

"You're right on that. You're so sweaty on his forehead. Do you feel ill?" Becky asked and gently touched his face to feel his temperature.

Mark's chest tightened as her hand touched his face.
' Oh my God, what am I going to do?' He asked himself.

"I'm good, I just feel hot." He responded to her.

"Well, the weather is rather cold but I guess it's the Martini." Becky said and chuckled. Mark grabbed the glass and raised it to take a gulp.
"Would you like to hang out someplace else with me?" Becky asked him and Mark did a spit out, spilling half of the drink he had in his mouth in shock.

"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" Becky asked him, wide-eyed.

"No, not at all. I'm so sorry about this but I need to head out now." Mark stammered and rushed out of the bar, leaving Becky bewildered.

He drove nervously to his apartment and rushed into the shower. His mind was messed up.
"How could she ask me that?" He spoke aloud to himself.

After taking a cold shower, he sat on his bed and rubbed his dog, wondering if he had been right to rush out the way he did. The spark he had felt when she touched him was too unbearable for him. He had never felt such a connection with anyone before.
Filled with guilt, he dialed her number.

"I'm sorry, I stole your number from your social handle." He said as she answered the call.

"Mark? It's you, right?" Becky asked.

"Yes, it's me. I'm sorry for rushing out that way. Have you gone back home?" He asked her.

"No, I'm still here for a couple of hours, I guess." She responded.

"I could come back out, right?" Mark blurted before he could stop himself. He wished she'd turn him down.

"That'll be nice. It's a lovely evening, a little fun won't be bad." Becky replied.

"Oh, whoa." He breathed out. "I'll be out there soon." He responded and ended the call.

He turned to his dog. "Betty, I think I'm falling for this person, what should I do?" He asked the dog and it wagged its tail.

He hurriedly dressed and drove back to the bar where she was sitting, waiting patiently for him.
As they talked, Mark couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was, her perfectly lined lips and her crystal eyes.

He was captivated by her beauty and when she laughed, his heart sank.
' Could I be falling for someone I had just met?' He wondered.
After the drink and chatter, Mark was reluctant to let go. He suggested another spot where they could hang out, and Becky readily agreed.

' The dominos effect seems to work on everyone after all.' He thought to himself as he drove her to the next spot.