Disclaimer: I do not own Trixie or the Bob-Whites. No profit is being made from their use.

A Chance Meeting

Trixie Belden furiously ran the four blocks from her dorm room to Wheeler-Frayne International. Oh, woe, she grimaced, I'm going to be late on my first day. Trixie had been so excited when she had been selected to be part of the CAP program designed to give financially struggling college students employment. If Trixie could impress the folks at Wheeler-Frayne International, she might win one of the three coveted scholarships they gave out each year to those selected for the work program. She knew her parents were worried about paying for the various colleges with Mart attending Cornell, Brian applying for med schools, and now her attending the university.

Breathless, she ran into the foyer of the huge office building, straight into a solid wall, the solid wall of a handsome redhead. He tried to catch her as she started to fall, tried as his briefcase scattered its contents all over the floor. He tried to grab her arms as her now scattered belongings mixed with his, and tried as her soda spewed all over the papers thrown from his briefcase. Trixie gasped in horror as she fell, pulling him along with her. She could feel the peanut butter sandwich she had brought for lunch being crushed beneath her. When Trixie rolled over, she saw that the peanut butter had smeared all over his important looking papers.

"Gleeps," she cried, her face flaming with embarrassment, "I am so sorry. Gosh, I'm such a klutz. I was in a hurry. I'm starting in the CAP. Today's my first day, and I'm already late. I'll help you clean this up." Trixie sat back on her heels and she paused to take a breath, she looked apprehensively at the redhead. When she saw his amused glance, her worry turned to irritation, and she continued a little stiffly, "I guess I'm rambling, aren't I?"

The redhead smiled, and Trixie's heart skipped a beat. Handsome redhead that thinks you're an idiot, her inner voice warned her.

Calmly, from his seat on the floor, the redhead offered her his hand. "My name's Jim. What's yours?"

"Trixie, Trixie Belden. I'm from Crabapple Farm near Sleepyside," Trixie answered as she accepted his hand. He didn't ask that, dummy.

Pulling her off the floor with a strength that surprised Trixie, Jim gave her an appraising look. "Are you okay? You didn't break any bones when you so gracefully slalomed to the floor, did you?"

Flushed with quite a bit of embarrassment and a teeny bit of indignation, Trixie shook her head, "No, I'm quite alright. My brother, Mart, would say it's a common occurrence."

Shut up, Trixie. She fought the urge to smack her forehead.

Jim chuckled as he retrieved her purse from the floor. "Your brother?"

"Yes, I have three of them, horrid creatures all three."

With that Jim couldn't stifle his laughter so he turned his attention to the mess on the floor. He gave the pretty blonde an intent look, before continuing, "I can clean this up. You don't want to be late for your first day, do you?"

"Is it okay?" Trixie asked, frantically. She didn't want to leave the redhead with this mess, but she was desperate to make a good impression.

"I would be honored," Jim assured her, "but I don't think your lunch is going with you." He motioned to the sticky mess on the floor.

"I can skip lunch today," Trixie smiled her appreciation. "I'm too excited to eat anyway." Pausing, she added, "I'm really sorry about all your papers."

"I can get more copies," Jim shrugged and gave her a lopsided grin. "It's not like they let a lowly intern carry around company secrets."

"I...I better go now," Trixie stammered, a little stunned by the effect his smile was causing.

"Hey, Trixie," he called to her when she turned around on the elevator, "it's on the second floor."

Grateful that the doors closed just then, Trixie pushed the button for the second floor. That went well. Angry with herself, Trixie realized he knew she was so flustered that she had forgotten just where she was supposed to go.

Exiting the elevator, Trixie was relieved to see the other college students still waiting for their assignments. She gave the receptionist her name and took her place with the group.

A tall, slender girl gave her a welcoming smile and whispered, "You haven't missed anything. No one's here just yet."

Relaxed, Trixie smiled back and confided with relief, "That's good. My morning has been a bit hectic."

Grinning, the pretty girl took in the disheveled appearance and flushed cheeks. Trying to reassure Trixie, she added, "I hear it's a marvelous place to work. They are supposed to be very encouraging."

Grinning back at her, Trixie felt an immediate bond with the girl.

"My name's Trixie," she offered, "I'm glad to meet you."

"Mad…just call me Honey," she answered. "Everyone does, the curse of a childhood nickname."

"Okay, Honey it is," Trixie grinned cheekily at her new friend.

Honey Wheeler smiled happily at Trixie. Her father was right, it was best to keep her connection to the company a secret for now. Honey had dreaded the starting the program, afraid that she would be treated differently from the others if they knew who she was. Jim Frayne had participated two years ago and had kept his connection quiet among the other attendees.

Just where is Jim? Honey thought anxiously. It was not like Jim to be late for anything and it was his job to provide orientation for the college employees.

Honey gasped when she saw her father get off the elevator and made his way toward the group. Looking hesitantly at him, she was relieved when he gave her a calm glance. Seeing the twinkle in his eyes, Honey relaxed but in turn gave her father a questioning look.

He ignored her curious glance and addressed the group. "There's been a small change in plans," Mr. Wheeler grinned. "I've been elected to give your orientation today. For those of you that don't know me, my name is Matt Wheeler."

Trixie's eyes, along with the rest of the group, grew big. Matt Wheeler was not only CEO, but part owner and co-founder of Wheeler-Frayne International. A hush settled among the group.

Seeing their reaction, Mr. Wheeler grinned conspiratorially, "Don't let anyone know our secret, but I'm sure I'm going to have much more fun today than those suits I left in the office."

Chuckling amongst themselves, the group noticeably relaxed.

"Wow," Trixie whispered to Honey, "he seems like an alright guy."

Giggling, Honey nodded in agreement.

"I suggest everyone pair up," Mr. Wheeler told them. "You will be eventually working in groups of twos with no splitting up later. Compromise and communication are two of the valuable lessons that you'll learn here."

"Partners?" Honey asked shyly.

"Partners," Trixie agreed quickly.

Most of the morning the group had been busy filling out paperwork and taking placement tests. The department they would be working in depended on the results of these tests. Trixie seriously doubted that she would be placed in any financial department. Math was definitely not her strong point. As the morning progressed though, so did Trixie's hunger. In her hurry to get to orientation on time, Trixie had failed to eat breakfast. As lunch approached, she was debating whether or not to get a snack from the vending machine.

Finally finished for the morning, Honey pushed back her long golden hair and sighed, "Are you about ready for lunch, Trixie? I think it's way past time."

Trixie bit her lip in consternation. With a bit of dismay, she explained to Honey, "I think my lunch is in the trash somewhere, but I can grab a bite from the vending machine."

Honey gave her a sympathetic smile, and was about to offer to share hers when she spied Jim getting off the elevator.

"Jim," she acknowledged with a warning glance toward Trixie, "what are you doing here?"

Trixie looked up at Jim in surprise. Although she was delighted to see him, it was the last thing she had expected and he seemed to know Honey quite well.

"Just bringing a little backup," Jim grinned as he waved a bag of hot food and cold drinks in front of the girls. "Hello, Trixie."

"Hi, Jim," Trixie answered shyly.

"You two know each other," Honey asked with surprise.

"We kind of met this morning," Jim answered with a warning glance of his own.

Interesting, thought Honey as she made plans to interrogate her friend later.

"I'm really sorry about this morning, Jim," Trixie apologized as she felt a flush creep up her cheeks. "I hope it didn't mess up your whole day."

"My fault entirely, Trixie," Jim grinned, trying to put her at ease. "I should have been paying more attention."

Jim was intrigued with the attractive blush upon Trixie's face. Pleased that maybe she might be attracted to him, he handed her the bag of food.

"Peace offering," he suggested hopefully.

Feeling the blush deepen, Trixie merely nodded and smiled as she took the bag from Jim.

Honey stood up and walked to the elevator with Jim. Giving him a hug, she whispered in his ear, "What's going on?"

Instead of answering her question, he whispered back, "Just don't tell her who I am, okay? For some reason, I want to make sure she likes me, not James Frayne."

"Ditto, Jim," Honey said as she looked wide-eyed at him. Giving him another hug, she waved him off.

Trixie quietly followed Honey to the employee lounge designated for the college students. She looked at Honey speculatively as they took their seats.

As she took out their lunch of burgers and fries, Trixie tried to ask as nonchalantly as possible, "So, you and Jim are pretty good friends?"

"The best," Honey answered truthfully. "We grew up together and now we both attend NYU."

"I'm a sophomore there as well," Trixie informed her. "What about you?"

"I'm a sophomore and Jim is working on his masters," Honey told her. "He's so smart he could do two years in one, but his dad insisted he slow down."

"Maybe we'll have some classes together," Trixie said hopefully. "You'll have to meet my roommate, Diana Lynch, also. She's really sweet, although she's a little gaga over my brother."

"Your brother?" Honey asked wistfully. "I don't have any brothers or sisters, for that matter."

"I have three of them," Trixie snorted, "two older and one younger. Anytime you need one, feel free to borrow one of mine. Especially Brian, he's so overprotective."

"Jim's the closet thing I have to a brother," Honey grinned when Trixie blushed at the mention of Jim's name.

"Oh, I thought maybe you and Jim were more than friends," Trixie mentioned casually.

"No, just friends," Honey assured her. "It would be too weird to date Jim. We grew up together. Our parents are best friends."

"Does he date a lot?" Trixie blurted out before she could stop. Mentally kicking herself, Trixie added, "I mean, I'm sure he's got tons of girlfriends."

"Nothing serious," Honey smiled knowingly at Trixie.

"Just curious," Trixie said as she stood to toss her garbage in the trash. Unexpectedly, Trixie's heart began to pound and she could feel the butterflies growing in her stomach. None of the guys that Trixie had dated had ever caused butterflies. Trixie wasn't sure if she liked this feeling or not.

"I think Jim just hasn't found the right girl," Honey surmised, "but when he does, look out. I have a feeling he would fall hard and fast."

"What makes you say that?" Trixie asked, trying to sound casual.

"He's very loyal and honorable," she answered, "but he keeps a tight rein on his emotions, especially when it comes to dating. When he meets that special girl everything he's been holding back will come pouring out."

"He must be awfully busy," commented Trixie, "with his studies and work here."

"He is busy," agreed Honey, "although I suspect he'd make lots of time for the right girl."

Trixie pulled a piece of imaginary lint from her blouse. "I'll have to thank him for lunch."

"I'm sure he doesn't expect you to."

"Yeah, we'll probably be so busy here and with school that we'll not see much of him anyway," Trixie concluded. "Not that it matters."

You just keep thinking that, Trixie Belden, Honey smiled. She hadn't been fooled by the subtle looks they had been trying to hide. Honey couldn't wait to ask Jim what he thought about Trixie.

Thanks to Karen for being my beta reader.

Any resemblances to the original books are intentional. I do hope you catch them.