Digital Boy

There is this guy in Digital that I talk to almost everyday. I have to work with him on all of my digital marketing related projects, which is basically everything I do. He's one of those dorky guys who acts causal and jokes with you the day you meet him. For example he calls me "Working Girl One-ski" or by my last name. He writes lots of smileys in his emails and tells me that if I get a project to him on-time, we can be best friends. At first I thought he was creepy but I decided to just go with it. However, since I started working with him, I've always gotten this vibe that he's flirting with me. No big deal, some people are just always flirting.

Today, Digital Boy made a surprise visit to my floor. He called my extension from the lobby, "Hey WG1, It's Digital Boy"

"Are you stalking me? Do you really need the Project materials that bad?" I asked him.

"Haha, no. Are you busy?" He asked.

Of course I'm busy! Our biggest event of the year is next week and I haven't left the office before 7:30PM all week!!! "Uh, a little. Why?" I said.

"Oh nothing, just wanted to see how Project works? What's the hold up?" I should point out that Project materials were due to Digital Boy on Monday. Typically I get emails saying "Where is Project? I guess you hate me and we can be friends anymore." Today, I got a visitor. I should also point out that Digital Boy already knows the answers to these questions (Advertisers send materials, we design the project and send for their approval. The hold up is that they take forever to approve it. It's the same story every month).

"Uh, ok. I'll come let you in." I let Digital Boy onto the floor and he waltzes in and starts walking to my desk. Uh, ok?

We got to my desk and I teach Digital Boy Project 101. He makes weird jokes and small talk and all the while I feel like hes "office flirting" with me. My coworkers (who also work with him, think he's a little creepy and I've told that I get the flirting vibe from him) are at their desks, turning around and laughing to themselves. I get awkward very easily. I can feel myself turning red in embarrassment because my coworkers are laughing and I start to sweat. Then, I think "oh god, I hope he doesn't notice my blushing and think I like him!"

He asks me about a picture of a woman that I have on my desk and asks if it's a friend. Turns out it was an invite for an event. Damnit, I think, I should have said it was my girlfriend. I then realize that I don't have a single picture of my boyfriend on my desk. I'm note a horrible girlfriend, I did have a picture up but everyone kept asking if he was my brother. That's almost as awkward as this Digital Boy situation. Perhaps Digital Boy noticed that IM on the corner of my screen between Boyfriend and I. Boyfriend said, "I have to go, I love you!" I said, "I LOVE YOU TOO!"

More Project 101 and more awkward conversation about Project. Digital Boy leaves, finally, and he's barely 5 feet away before I IM a coworker and then start laughing out loud.

"What was he doing here!?!?!" she turned around and asked. I shrugged. "He likes you!!!!" My look of disgust summed up my feelings for him. However, we were more intrigued by him than ever before now. So we did what any tech-savvy Working Girl would do: we Googled him. His Linkedin profile was one of the first hits. No Facebook, which surprised me because my guess was that Digital Boy is in his early to mid-20's, like me.

Clicked the Linkedin link. Scrolled down to find his college graduation and determine his age. Digital Boy graduated COLLEGE in 1995. He. Is. Thirty. Five. Years. Old. 35!

Now, I do not think 35 is old at all. But I thought he was my age, 23. He looked young and ok his hairline is receding a little but so is my younger brother's. He acts like guys my age too.

It was just the most bizarre and awkward encounter ever.