SUNSET VALLEY STORIES: THE GADDIS LEGACY

"I forgot my number. Can I put yours?"

Tori's expression remained neutral as she replied "leave it blank if you don't have a number."

"Oof." Salvatore winced. Either she was that offended by his comical attempt at a pickup line or...

"Oh Sweet Nancy, Tori!" Tamara Donner chuckled in amusement. Both women were listed as Ballot Counters at City Hall, although Tamara was Tori's immediate supervisor. They both worked under Local Representative Vita Alto. "He was trying to hit on you and it went right over your head." Tamara shook her head and took the completed paperwork from Salvatore Gaddis. "Thank you, sir, and welcome to Sunset Valley." It's too bad you're not rich, she thought. I'd give you my number if you were.

Salvatore walked towards the exit, stopping long enough to drop a few simoleons in a jar for charity., then headed around the corner to the library.

A few hours later, after he had finished reading Game of Thorns, he noticed the woman in green from City Hall working at the computer. He put the book away and then approached her.

"Ma'am, about earlier, I'd like to apologize if my joke was inappropriate."

Tori shook her head. "Don't worry, sometimes I just don't get jokes. My friends tell me I don't have a sense of humor."

Salvatore nodded. "I see." He started to turn away but then he stopped. "Is that for your job?" he asked, noticing what she was doing on the computer.

"Yes, I take my work home. Or, to the library, in this case."

"A spreadsheet." Salvatore glanced at it then began to take some notes.

"Sir, you can't...."

"Look." He reached across and entered a few codes and the data started to compile faster.

"Oh, wow! How did you...?"

"I'm somewhat of a computer whiz," he explained. "It's just something I am good at."

"I see!" She began to feed more data into the new spreadsheet Salvatore had created. "Thank you!"

Salvatore smiled. "You're an incredibly hard worker. I bet City Hall is happy to have you."

Tori's face lit up. "That's the kind of compliment that could get you my phone number."