Leigh sat at her desk pondering over the past two months of her life. She had just moved to Florida, and with the help of Max, an old family friend, she had a place to live and a job at Maxs' video production company. God she was glad to get out of Elkhart.
"Not too bad for a girl from Indiana", she thought to herself. As she looked around the office, she saw several pictures on the wall of artists Max had worked with. Not bad for a young video director.

Leigh focused her attention back at her desk and began rifling through the papers. She didn't even notice that Max had walked up to her desk. Leigh jumped slightly with surprise.

"Didn't you hear me calling for you Leigh?"

"Oh Max, I'm sorry, I guess I was lost in thought."

Max chuckled.
"Well snap out of it. I need you to take this video treatment over to Jive Records for me. I can't go myself because I have a dinner with the wife, and if I miss this one, she's going to kill me!"

Leigh laughed and replied, "Sure Max, just lemmie finish up this paperwork."

"Nevermind about that, this needs to make it there by 8:30, and it's nearing 7 now, you've got a bit of a drive ahead of you. You can finish that up tomorrow. I called already to let them know you were coming, there should be a secretary there when you arrive."

"Ok Max", she giggled at the thought of Irene hell bent on Max for missing dinner."Guess you knew I'd say yes, huh?"

"Of course I did, I've known you a long time, haven't I ?" Max winked. "The treatment and directions are on my desk, get going girl!"

"OK Max, I'm going already!" Leigh smiled to herself as she collected her things and headed to his office to grab the treatment.

She grabbed the treatment and set off for Jive. As she drove along, she began humming with the radio. 'I Want It That Way' was on, one of her favorites. Time seemed to fly as she drove down the coast and with Maxs' directions, she soon found herself at the parking lot for Jive. It was a large buliding, the dark windows reflecting the last of the orange sunset. She picked up her purse and the piece of paper Max left for her, looking for the office she was supposed to go to. Suite 617. She went inside and got into the elevator, pressing the button for the sixth floor.

Leigh shortly arrived at the sixth floor, seeing that most of the employees had gone. She was wandering through the halls, looking for the suite, when she heard a voice singing down the hall. Curious, she followed the singing, only to find herself at the door she needed.
The door was partly opened so she let herself in. It was seemingly empty, aside from the voice coming from a room in the back. She quietly walked to another semi-closed door, the voice captivating her more with every step. Unpon her approach, Leigh knocked on the door before opening it further. No sound came from within aside from that voice. She opened the door to see a young man turned facing the windows sitting in a chair wearing headphones. He looked strangely familiar to her, his blonde hair looking like silk with the faint light of the lamp hitting it, his profile, that voice!

Leigh didn't even notice she was staring at him until his eyes fluttered open and he spun the chair in her direction.

"God, you scared the shit out of me!" he exclaimed as he took the headphones off. "You really should announce to someone that you're in the room instead of just standing there!"

"I...I'm sorry," Leigh stammered, "I did knock you know, you were just so engrossed in your singing you didn't notice."

He blushed.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. Please, have a seat. You're Leigh, right? Max called to say you were on your way." He ran his hands through his hair, pushing it out of his eyes. "You've had a long drive, you thirsty?"

"Yeah, actually I am." She glanced at her watch and saw that it was almost 8:15. She hadn't had dinner yet and was pretty thirsty to boot.

He got up and went to the small refrigerator near the window. "Is Pepsi ok?" He leaned in and grabbed two cans, turning for her response.

"Yeah, perfect", she smiled.

He walked back over and handed her the soda and sat back down. "I'm sorry, my manners are great, I'm Nick". As he reached his hand over the desk to shake her hand, he studied her more closely. "Quite a beauty", he thought to himself, "those large brown eyes, her long reddish brown hair, that tailored suit, damn, everything!"

She took his hand shook it. "Pleasure."
Nick seemed to be lost in thought, because after a few seconds he didn't let go. "Nick? Hel-oo?"

He snapped to attention suddenly. "Sorry, guess I spaced out there for a sec." He cleared his throat and continued on, raising an eyebrow at her, a cocky smile played across his face. "Max didn't mention how beautiful you were when he called." Leigh's cheeks reddened at his comment and he quickly changed the subject. "He also told me you just moved here from, uh...erm..."

"Indiana" she finished for him.

"Yeah, that's it. Sorry, I've had quite a day, with the recording studio and promotions and all. I was here for a meeting when Max called. He said it'd be a while, so I sent Carol home and put the headphones on to relax."

"Your way of relaxing is doing what you've done all day? Singing?"

"Uh, yeah, kind of strange, I know, but what can I say? I love to sing."

"I can tell, I heard you all the way down the hall on my way in. Lucky for me, or I might never have found the office in this huge place!"

"I guess it is kinda a big joint, I never paid attention before. You must not be used to that being a small town girl, huh?"

Chapter2