by M.R. Anglin
Celeste opened the door to Max's office and halted. Max sat hunched over his desk, scribbling his signature furiously on one piece of paper after another. His eyes and mouth were narrowed in slits and his ears were plastered against his head.
Celeste blinked and gave him the once-over. “What’s wrong with you, Max?”
“Nothin’,” he muttered. “Just too much to do.”
“Aww, Maxie!” Celeste said walking over to him. “You’re always so stressed out. You need to calm down. Just relax, Max.” She paused a moment and then giggled. “Hey, that rhymed.”
“Clever,” Max stated.
Celeste put her arms around his neck and caressed his head. “You poor thing. You nerves are just like jumping jacks, Max.” She giggled again. “I’m pretty good at that.”
Max put down his pen. “Please just stop.”
“I sowwy,” she said in a baby voice. “I just want you to calm yourself. Have you listened to your heart?”
“No.”
“You heart is thumpin’ with a crazy sound,” Celeste said and put his hand on his chest. “Hear it pound.” She smirked and said in a sing-songy voice, “bumpin’, bumpin’, bumpin’, jumpin’ up and down.”
“Are you quite finished?” Max asked.
“I think so,” Celeste said. “I don’t think I have anymore in me.”
“You're doing this on purpose,” Max said.
“Admit it, I bring fun into your life,” Celeste said, rubbing her cheek against his.
Max nodded. “You know that’s a song, don’t you? A song I don’t particularly like.”
“Is it?” Celeste asked.
Max leaned back in his chair and looked into her eyes. “They’re using it on those Double Branch hotel commercials.”
Celeste nodded. “I see. That‘s where I must have heard it.” She giggled. “And here I thought I was being poetic.“ She cuddled his head a moment. “It’s appropriate, though.”
“How do you mean?” Max asked.
“That they would use your name in that song,” Celeste said. “Because you really do need to relax, Max.” She kissed his temple and walked to the door. “The whole world isn’t going to fall apart if you don’t sign off on everything.” She winked at him and walked out.
She waited outside the door for a few seconds and then cracked the door and looked at her man. He was looking at the papers on his desk and thumping his pen on top of them. He suddenly smirked, snickered, shook his head and went back to work with a smile on his face.
Celeste smiled, closed the door, and went about her business.


















Cha chah cha!