Click: An Online Love Story
by
Lisa Becker
Copyright 2011 Lisa Becker,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-0166-9
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.
This is a work of fiction. All names, places and incidents, other than those which are in the public domain, are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
For SJB, my soul mate, and OJB and MJB, the loves of my life
With gratitude to JR and GSD, for without you,
life as I know it would not exist
With gratitude to mom and dad, for without you, I would not exist
Special thanks to TMZ and LA for their professional expertise
CHAPTER ONE – PRETTY PLEASE!!!!
From: Mark Finlay – January 2, 2011 – 9:03 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Pretty Please!!!!
Thanks for staying late to help me clean up yesterday. You know I just can’t go to sleep with dirty dishes in the sink, streamers on the walls, empty champagne bottles that need recycling, dirt tracked onto the hard wood floors, etc. You know me. ;) You’re a real pal. Oh, Ralph really liked Shelley. He plans to give her a call this week. He really thinks she could be “the one,” but don’t tell her I told you.
Okay. Now to the subject of this email. I know you will think I’m a major loser and a dork – not that you already don’t ;) – but my New Year’s resolution is to try an online dating service and I don’t want to do it alone. I know this year will be a busy one for me, trying to develop the cell phone game sequel, but I also feel like it’s the right time to meet the right girl. Hence, Pretty Please!!!! Come on – it will be a great way to meet new people and you never know, the man of your dreams may be hooked up to a UNIX system right now. Pretty Please!!!!
From: Renee Greene – January 3, 2011 – 9:16 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Fwd: Pretty Please!!!!
Have I really gotten this desperate? I know I promised myself that I would try anything if I wasn’t married, engaged, seriously dating, had a prospect or at least a house full of cats, by my 30th birthday. Well, with 25 days to go, do I dive in this way? Help?
Oh, by the way. Ralph seems to think you are “the one.” One night stand is more like it…Tee Hee! ;)
From: Shelley Manning – January 3, 2011 – 9:38 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Fwd: Pretty Please!!!!
Poor Ralphie. Poor stupid Ralphie. Well despite the raging hangover and Finlay’s anal retentive tendencies, it was a great party. But, it’s a party for Christ’s sake. Every time I put my drink down on the table, he was either throwing the cup in the trash or shooting me dirty looks for not using a coaster. That boy has got to light-en up! Talk about panties in a wad. What he needs is a good screw. Which leads me to your question. (Nice segue, huh?) As far as the online dating thing goes…Yes, you are that desperate. ;) I say give it a try. No harm. No foul. Finlay’s right. (Don’t tell him those words uttered from my lips – or in this case from my fingertips! He would never let me live it down!) You never know what might happen. At the very least, you’ll have eligible men taking you to swank restaurants. Hmmm. A whole host of hot and horny single men that I can review, chat with, judge and mock – all while sitting in my office looking very busy. Maybe I should give it a try myself. Lunch tomorrow?
From: Renee Greene – January 3, 2011 – 9:43 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Fwd: Pretty Please!!!!
Thank you for your generous contribution to the “Flatter Renee Greene’s Ego Foundation.” Next time, don’t be such a tight wad. Okay, I’ll give it a whirl. But you have to promise – I mean promise on a box of cupcakes and a jar of anti-wrinkle cream – that you won’t tell anyone. Not a soul.
Lunch tomorrow is great. Meet you at Mel’s at 12:30.
From: Shelley Manning – January 3, 2011 – 9:58 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Fwd: Pretty Please!!!!
Of course I agree to keep the secret. If I couldn’t keep a secret, then everyone would already know about that time you danced topless on a Cancun tabletop during spring break. I even have the pictures to prove it. Oh yes, there are photos. Multiple photos. They are tucked safely away in a Swiss safe deposit vault. Only two people known to man have the keys. So, you are forever at my mercy. Mwah ha ha ha ha! (Picture me looking really evil with a maniacal tone in my voice as I say that. Much better in person. Trust me.) Now of course if my emails from work are being monitored, I can’t accept responsibility for spilling the beans. But, I think the evil corporate trolls here have better things to do than worry about your dating life. Right? Okay. Gotta go. There is a really hot new senior manager that just transferred here from the New York office. Too bad he’s not in the HR department. I wouldn’t mind being assigned under him…or over him. Whatever his pleasure. ;) Good thing I work in HR and understand the importance of not making harassing, disparaging or inappropriate comments in the workplace. :) Regardless, I’ve got to go through some paperwork with him. Mwah! Mwah!
From: Renee Greene – January 3, 2011 – 11:59 AM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Pretty Please!!!!
Sorry so late in responding. Didn’t check my work email over the weekend. My response: Ugh! I’m not certain I want to be with a man that even knows what a UNIX system is. But, I guess UNIX is better than Eunuchs. Ha! Ha! Okay, obviously this situation is making me a bit uncomfortable and as a result I’ve resorted to homonym humor. But I do crack myself up. Okay. I apologize. Please disregard. Okay, I’m in. Feeling a bit desperate, but willing to give it a shot. What do I need to do?
From: Shelley Manning – January 3, 2011 – 2:02 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Fwd: Pretty Please!!!!
Okay, so the new guy isn't as
