Chapter 4: Steph - A Perfect Plan

Steph didn’t know about Linc’s uneventful date with Dany. She also didn’t know that when he chickened out again, he set the perfect stage for her plan.

Monday morning at work, Steph sought out Brad as soon as she could.

“Hey Stud!”

Brad blushed.

“Oh, hi Steph. Good weekend?”

“Yeah. It was good but always could have better!” She batted her eyes at him making him blush even more.

“Brad! I was thinking about that new guy—Linc, is it? Can you introduce us a little more formally than you did on his first day? You said he’s really skilled with program architecture and I’d like to pick his brain.”

“Yeah, sure! Come with me. He’s right down the hall.”

On the way towards Linc’s temporary office, Brad was desperate to be Steph’s hero.

“Steph, is your question something I could help you with?”

“Brad, I’m sure you could. The way you described Linc I just thought it would be good to have the input from more than one expert.”

They reached Linc’s office. Steph knew this was a make-or-break moment, but she was confident she could pull it off. She had to!

“Hey, Linc—got a minute?”

“Hey, Brad. What’s up?”

“Do you remember Steph? She works in the testing lab.”

Even Linc couldn’t forget the personified sexual perfection standing before him. All those insecurities hit his entire nervous system.

“Ah ... hu hi.”

Steph put on her best fake friendly look for this repulsive, stuttering fool. This was going to be easy.

“Linc, a pleasure to meet you! Stephany Picard ... but my friends call me Steph.”

“Nice to m ... meet you, S ... Stephany!”

“Ok come on, Linc! Any friend of Brad’s is my friend too. Call me Steph!” Her wide, friendly smile covered her evil intent and her distaste for her two companions.

Brad stepped into the conversation to Linc’s temporary relief.

“Steph wanted to meet with you when you get a chance. She has some programming questions for the expert.”

Steph jumped in. “Listen Linc, I know we caught you by surprise and you’re probably busy. Give me your email and I’ll send you a message to see if we can set a time to chat.” Her killer smile glowed at him.

“Uh, yeah ... sure. It’s here—on my cuh ... card.”

“Great!” Steph announced. “I’ll send you something later. Really great to meet you, Linc. See ya!”

As Steph and Brad left, she gave Brad a “thank you” peck on the cheek to keep his motor going. Steph wanted to start setting the trap, so she whispered loud enough that she knew Linc could hear.

“Brad, are all your friends as cute as Linc?”

Linc heard it alright. He needed the men’s room fast or he’d pee himself.

Steph needed the restroom too—to wash off her lips. Her immersion in the freak world left her feeling contaminated.

Steph emailed Linc to meet her for lunch at the Italian restaurant across the street – it would be her treat! She wasn’t sure he would, but he accepted her invitation. At least the dork didn’t stutter when he typed!

Steph walked into the restaurant a few minutes late hoping he had already arrived. He was seated waiting for her. She put on her best smile and walked over as he stood. ‘At least he’s a gentleman’ she thought. He extended his hand to shake, but Steph pulled him to her and kissed his cheek. ‘I’ve got to get lipstick with some strong geek shielding,’ she quipped to herself. She knew she would have to carry the conversation to get through this.