Just then you heard a knock on the door, and looked around to see a shortish man with close-cropped blond hair in a white shirt and tie standing outside the office door, holding some papers.
"Uh, sorry to interrupt, Joan," he said, sticking his head in. "But I just got the new proofs back from the printers. Thought you might wanna take a look..."
Randall seemed to know who he was anyway, and what he was wanting, beckoning him in then and telling him, "Thanks, Cole. I really need to sign off on these things pronto if we're gonna meet the deadline."
Cole...? That name rings a bell... you thought. Certain you'd heard Randall mention it before...
Heading inside, he handed the documents to Randall, who then introduced you. Telling him, "This is my nephew Tim by the way", as he quickly began checking through what he'd been given.
"Hey," you smiled.
"Nice to meet you, buddy," Cole replied, giving you a quick wave, before turning his attention immediately back to Randall. His eyes seemingly making a bee line directly for the gap in Randall's blouse. It being totally obvious that he was checking out his cleavage.
Wait a minute... Cole... Isn't that the dude who's always creeping on him? It seemed pretty obvious that it was. The guy being so blatant about it. Even in front of you.
"Okay. These look good," Randall told him, looking up again and handing them back. Having seemingly failed to notice. "Just take them over to Gregg first and get him to sign off on them. Then we can proceed."
It was certainly strange to witness this interaction. Having become somewhat use to the whole 'Aunt' stuff, as well as seeing Randall interact with his new friends. This, seeing him talk business and order people around was quite a bit different, and you were really having trouble right now identifying your best friend in there.
"Will do," Cole replied, turning then to walk away, but stopping himself before he did. "Oh... by the way, Joan. I was meaning to ask," he began, presumably being on an more even footing with Randall than the receptionist was (calling him "Joan"), "are you going to this thing over at Windham's next week? Gregg wants me to go and try and do a little schmoozing. Could really use some back up though."
"I... uh... I dunno," Randall told him. It being obvious by his expression that his brain was screaming "No way", but that his mouth was trying to at least be civil. "I'll have to get back to you on that one."
Not that Cole seemed to bothered, throwing him back a creepy little smirk. "No worries. I just thought with your good looks and charm, there's no way in hell Windham would even think of going to anyone else with their next campaign."
Oh Jesus... You felt like you'd just thrown up a bit in your mouth. That being one of the sleaziest displays you'd ever witnessed.
Randall once again just smiled, keeping remarkably calm considering.
Thanking him again for bringing in the proofs (whatever they were), Cole then took this as his queue to leave. Heading back out the door with a smug little smile on his face. Presumably under the delusion that that had actually gone well. That his flirting had been successful.
Almost as soon as the door had closed however, Randall's facade suddenly dropped, and he looked more than a little displeased. "Can you believe that fucking guy? He's always saying shit like that to me. Can't keep his eyes off my tits either!" This indicating that he had indeed noticed his staring, and had simply gotten rather good at ignoring it.
"Is that the one you were talking about? Who's always perving on you all the time?"
"One of them, yeah," he told you. "There's a pretty big queue forming, but I'd put him right at the top. Slimy bastard..."
"Geeze." He'd of couse told you about this kind of thing happening, but actually seeing it in front of you, with your own eyes... How the hell did he put up with it? And did your Auntie have to go through all this as well?
Getting the conversation back on track then, he asked, "Anyway, what was I saying...?"
It took you a moment to actually remember. Being still rather amazed at just how pervy that guy had been. You were his 'nephew' for God sake and he'd been checking him out right in front of you!
"Uhm, Halloween, I think. Something you were gonna tell me..."
"Oh yeah. Shit. Bad news I'm afraid," he said, looking rather guilty. "Some friends of Aisha are throwing a party that night and the three of us have all been invited. I tried to get out of it, but it was no good. Mads has already started making the costumes, and Aisha wasn't taking no for an answer."
"Seriously?" you said. Justifiably upset. Halloween was bad movie night. It had been for years!
"Yeah. Apparently they do it every year. Like a tradition or something. I'm really sorry, dude. I was really looking forward to movie night too..."
Obviously not enough, you felt like saying, but managed to hold your tongue.
"I'm really sorry, dude. What'll you do instead?"
"Nothing I guess," you angrily sighed, being unable to hide your disappointment. "There's the dance a the school... but I dunno if I want to go to that."
What other options did you really have though? It was either that or sit on your own at home. David and Tabitha would both be out, so that would just leave you and your parents. Standing by the door handing out candy to trick or treaters, wasn't exactly the night you'd had planned.
Trying to lift your spirits, Randall shrugged, "You never know, it might be good."
"A school dance, good? You remember the last one we went to don't you?" This was the very same dance where Randall first bust out his limp fish dance moves and the two of you spent pretty much the entire night standing around bored out of your skulls. Having no luck whatsoever with any women, and cringing watching a few of your more outgoing teachers make complete fools out of themselves in the name of so called 'entertainment'.
"Yeah. That was pretty lame," he agreed. Not giving up though. "But on the bright side, Allison'll probably be there."
"I suppose... Just sort of sucks. Movie night was like a tradition for us too."
"Sorry. If I could get out of it I would."
It did sound from his voice that he was once again being railroaded by the girls - just as he had been on their last girly night out - and letting some of your anger and frustration go, you tried your best not to hold it against him. After all, there would be other nights and other chances for you to do stuff together. Halloween was only one night.
This of course brought to mind what he might be wearing for this party. Reckoning that Randall's choice of outfit might be a little different this year to the ones he'd worn in the past. Having a very different shape to clothe.
"So Madelyn is making the costumes, huh?" you prodded. Rather curious about this.
"Yeah. Well she's a designer so that shit is right up her alley."
"What you going as?"
Unable to keep himself from letting out an excited little giggle, Randall replied, "That's the pretty cool part. They came over last night to get ideas and shit. And seeing as I'm a woman now I finally get the chance to go as my all time favorite sexy comic book character..."
He didn't even have to finish the sentence and you knew immediately who he was talking about. Having had a large poster of her hanging on his old bedroom wall, and the two of you often arguing with you why she was so much more of a babe than Wonder Woman or Power Girl. And that comic book character was "...Zatanna. Am I right?"
"You bet your ass, dude!" he grinned, totally geeking out over this. Causing you to wonder what some of the other employees milling about outside might think if they saw how excited their 'boss' was getting over a cartoon magician. A cartoon magician that just happened to dress like a playboy pinup - all corsets, fishnets and heels. Not the kind of one you'd take your kids too.
"Apparently Mads already has a white corset and the jacket lying around and she can easily put together the rest. Mind you, I had to show them both who she actually was. Neither of them had a freaking clue." This was hardly surprising, and you had to wonder what excuse he had used as to how come he knew who she was (probably blaming it on you and the comics you 'left' lying around again). "But I'm gonna look so hot! Just imagine this body in the fishnets and tails. It's gonna be awesome."
You didn't doubt that for a moment. Feeling rather jealous at the fact that you wouldn't be there to see it.
Assuring you that he would send you some pics, not wanting to leave you out, you told him that he'd "better", adding for him to take some pictures of Aisha and Madelyn as well. Curious to see what they'd be wearing. They might not be as hot or have as insane an hourglass figure as your Auntie, but that didn't mean they wouldn't look good all dressed up too.
Agreeing to this, Stephanie then appeared with his lunch (some sort of pasta dish), and while he quickly ate it before returning again to work, the two of you continued to discuss each others plans. Still feeling bad about ditching you, Randall did his best to talk you into going to the school dance. Telling you that it may not be so bad this time with Danny and Chris there, and that you needed a social life away from him anyway. Just as he now had one away from you. The two of you not being able to live in each others pockets forever, just as your father had warned you.
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