Jon laughed at her fear of the genre, laughter she joined in with for a single, short laugh and then stopped quite sharply as she realised that Simon had only ever chosen horror films despite her objections. There was more to it than that though; she knew that on the face of it, her affair with Jon, would be viewed as wrong and yet she had no doubt that he would respect her words about the film and wouldn’t force her to sit through the best part of two hours feeling scared stiff in the dark. She had faith in him that he would never do anything against her will orto deliberately hurt her. More faith in him in a few weeks than she’d ever had in Simon.
They were sittingin an Italian style grill and bar at the multiplex after watching some action movie about a gang land killer from the future coming back to the present. They’d also spent an hour or so in the bowling alley, which she now knew was something Jon was very good at. She was relieved that she hadn’t entered into anymore wagers with him over the bowling as she had only managed to win one game and suspected he may have let her have that one, unlike their previous bowling challenge.
“How do you see this working?” Jon pointed between the two of them after the waitress left them alone with their dinner.
“I don’t know because I didn’t anticipate quite so many dates and being seen out in public,” she admitted honestly.
“You thought it would be a relationship conducted purely behind closed doors?”
“Yes, I think I probably did and the bedroom door at that.”
“Is that what you want? Because I like to take you out and to function beyond closed doors. This is not a casual fling for me,” he told her, staring across the table.
She swallowed hard. “I have never had an affair or been the other woman and I know that I may have somehow brokered this deal by stipulating what I wouldn’t be to you, but it doesn’t feel like a casual fling to me either. I am confused by the premise of it all and I do like the idea of dating you and not just being hidden away, but I don’t want to compromise you or be viewed as the ambitious woman who will screw her way up the career ladder.”
“I think we are both thinking the same way, darling. So, we continue as we are, with a degree of discretion in order to protectourselves and each other, but without you becoming my dirty secret, well the secret bit anyway.” He grinned.
“Agreed.” She resisted the temptation to ask, ‘what if we are seen?’ or ‘what if your wife finds out about us?’ She really didn’t think she was ready for the reality of that.
“So, when do we see each other? Do you want to play it by ear or have set nights where we definitely see each other or what?” He refilled their wine glasses.
“Maybe a bit of both; I like the idea of set nights because it allows each of us to still have our own lives and interests, our own friends, but the flexibility to change plans appeals to me too. I do understand that flexibility may not be as easy for you though.” She was rather pleased with herself, thinking she might have managed to saybecause of your wifewithout actually uttering the words.
“Okay, which nights?” he asked and immediately began to answer. “I would like to see you on Wednesdays because I can’t imagine seeing you in the day but knowing that I won’t see and touch you after work. Fridays work for the same reason and then we could see each other over the weekend.” He sounded as though he had this schedule planned all along.
“Wednesdays and Fridays are good for me too, but we can’t spend all weekend every weekend together, can we?”
“Flexibility.” He grinned before saying, “And that goes for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday too.”
“Sounds like we have a deal then,” she agreed as her phone rang. Pulling it from her bag, she sighed. “Simon.”
Jon stared at her as he pieced together the other side of the conversation.
“No, I didn’t tell my dad to un-invite you to lunch and I didn’t agree to meet you last night. You’re at my flat now? I’m not. That’s none of your business and neither is that. Just leave me alone, we are over.” She sounded and felt exasperated but wasstill shocked when Jon reached over and grabbed her phone and disconnected the call.
“He really is beginning to be a pain in the arse!”
“Sorry.” Her apology seemed to add to Jon’s annoyance judging by the frown he wore.
“Now that we have a deal that includes some flexibility we can meet tomorrow night at mine. There’s something I want to run past you,” he said with an air of mystery.
Steph opened her mouth to object, but the look on Jon’s face was enough to indicate that this would be futile, so she closed her mouth and said nothing at all, just nodded.
Steph was compilinga report for the senior accountants on Monday afternoon when Jack Baker appeared at her door.
“Steph, could I have a word? If you’re free?” He closed the door behind him.
“Of course.” She couldn’t exactly say no, could she? “Take a seat. Tea, coffee?”
“No, I’m fine.” He took a seat opposite her.
“What can I do for you?” she asked nervously, wondering why he was even there. After all, since the day in Jon’s building when he’d been happy to throw her under the bus, she had barely seen him.
“I have heard rumours that your role over at Brookers is working very well and that Mr Brooker may be about to make you a very attractive offer to lure you away from us.”
Steph resisted the temptation to point out that the only offer he’d made her was to become his mistress meaning they were in bed together on a purely personal basis but was slightly taken aback at what he was saying. Jon had offered to hire her when Jack had said he was sacking her and he’d suggested, albeittongue in cheek, that he needed her to work for him full time but there had been no serious offers, had there?
“That’s news to me, Jack, but I am very happy here and you have allowed me to build my knowledge and rewarded me very generously,” she said sincerely.
