One
“Come on, please, Steph, it won’t be the same without you,” pleaded Lindsay. “You’re my best friend and my maid of honour next week, you have to be at the hen night.”
“Okay.” Steph gave in easily, as they both knew she would because her friend was right, plus nobody liked to party quite like she did. “I will have to work late all week to get these bloody accounts sorted in time for the boss’ meeting with a new client.”
“Ooh, are you being entrusted with new clients now?” Lindsay faked enthusiasm and excitement.
“Prospective new client, a big multi conglomerate, but I think Jack is just lining up a scape goat if it goes tits up, but that’s my look out, not yours. So, is Charlie having his stag do on the same night as your hen party?” asked Steph, still surprised that Charlie hadn’t gone for the whole weekend abroad kind of affair.
“Yes, in fact we are going to meet up at the end of the night at that new club, The Pressure Cooker,” explained Lindsay, making Steph laugh.
“It’s called The Pressure Palace, Linds’, but it’s supposed to be really good there.”
“Are you bringing a plus one to the wedding? If you’re struggling I could ask Charlie if he has a friend . . .” started Lindsay.
“I will be coming alone, but do not set me up, please. I really am begging you. I am barely over the fact that I am single again, but I am glad to be without Simon and his stifling craziness,” she admitted honestly. “The truth is I was single for a lot longer than I realised, or at least Simon was.”
“Okay, I promise. I will see you at mine on Friday about seven o’clock and dress to party. Oh, and my mum has decided that she wants to wave us off, so keep the dicks, condoms and inflatable men under wraps until after she’s gone.”
Steph laughed at the effect a raucous hen night might have on her friend’s mum. “Maybe I have gone more highbrow than that.”
“Hardly. You may be Little Miss Respectable Accountant by day, but we both know you are Little Miss Sleazy by night.” Lindsay laughed, laughter Steph reciprocated, although her amusement was short lived when she suddenly wondered if her friend really viewed her that way.
Steph wasclock watching whilst sitting in her office, counting down the minutes until she could break up for a week. It was a hot, sweaty Friday afternoon, typical for the height of summer. She had Lindsay’s hen night that night and then a week off before Lindsay and Charlie’s wedding the following Saturday. Lindsay had lots planned for them to prepare for the wedding.
Her phone rang making her jump and she was surprised to hear Jack Baker’s voice at the end of the line.
“Miss Pryor, I believe you are on leave next week?”
“Yes,” she replied, wondering why the most senior partner in Baker, Ross and Riley solicitors was calling her direct. He hada P.A. to deal with such menial tasks, but here he was chatting with her, if that’s what he was doing.
“Hmmm, I am meeting with the CEO of Brooker Incorporated a week Monday and I will need all of the figures for the proposed contract with them no later than Wednesday,” he told her.
“I have them here, if you’d like them today I can email them now,” she told him.
“Oh, no, I just wanted to make sure you had completed them and I am not an expert on figures, well, not numerical ones anyway.” He laughed to himself while Steph rolled her eyes. “But can you email me a copy and the CEO’s P.A. at Brookers next Friday, late Friday? I would like to keep them on their toes,” he sniggered.
“Of course, if that’s what you want, just send me the email address for Brookers and I will do it from home next week or schedule it.” She thought Jack Baker was a slimy git, but his reputation as a hard-nosed, manipulative corporate lawyer was well deserved. However he made her nervous for very different reasons. He always looked at her tits, never her eyes and although their meetings were rare, she was now nervous that if they didn’t get the account to provide legal services to Brooker Incorporated he would blame her facts and figures and she would be demoted if not sacked.
“Thank you, Miss Pryor and enjoy your week off,” he said and was gone, hanging up with no warning.
She sat back in her chair and smiled as Rosie, her assistant, appeared in the open doorway.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, fine, just a bit nervous about this big contract with Brookers. I have barely got my feet under my new desk and I could be out on my ear if it doesn’t pan out,” she admitted.
“No way. Baker loves looking at your tits bouncing as you run past his office too much to sack you.”
“Thanks. Not because I am an incredible accountant, but because my tits bounce.” Steph’s outrage was only partially fake because she kind of agreed with Rosie.
“That as well. You wouldn’t have got the promotion to head of new business accounts if you weren’t good, Steph. Now go home and enjoy your holiday,” Rosie all but ordered.
Steph knockedat Lindsay’s door and was greeted warmly by Mrs Walters.
“Stephanie, how are you my dear? You look lovely, if a little under-dressed,” she said as Lindsay appeared behind her dressed in black slacks and a glittery boob tube.
“You look fab.” Lindsay hugged her friend and looked her up and down.
