“Hi, Martin. How are you? Are you my replacement here?” The answer was rather obvious based on the fact he was sitting at a desk.
“Yes, but I am a poor substitute for you. The legal lingo confuses me.” He offered her a half-smile. “But you’re here still,” he added confused.
“Yes, I am temping here, in accounts.” She was telling the truth essentially.
“Good, I mean I’m glad that you found something after Bakers. There were all kinds of rumours about your hasty exit from there, you and Rosie together.”
Steph felt a little uncomfortable as she considered whether Martin was up for sharing details or maybe he was just fishing.
“Rumours weren’t something there was ever a shortage of over there, were they?”
“Yeah, but if you are in over the next few Wednesdays would you be interested in catching up?” Martin sounded sincere.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll come down and see you sometime, when I’m free.”
She smiled as Steve appeared across the office. “When you’re ready, Miss Pryor,” he called sounding impatient and annoyed at her. She dashed across the office and as she reached Steve he explained his tone as he ushered her into his office, “Sorry, I didn’t want him to suspect that you were anything other than a lowly employee.”
“Which is exactly what I am, and a temp to boot.”
Four
Steph stifled yet another yawn at her desk, Dave’s desk, but persisted with the figures from Richards until Rosie appeared carrying a huge arrangement of flowers.
“For you,” she stated whilst grinning at Steph. “He could deliver them himself now he’s this close,” laughed Rosie. “But I assume a good weekend?”
“I am rather glad he hasn’t thought of that.” Steph removed the card and opened it whilst smiling at the arrangement of peach blooms. “But yes a good weekend, fabulous in fact. Maybe even better than that,” she admitted and then blushed at her own enthusiasm for possibly the best weekend of her life.
Thank you for a wonderful and
memorable weekend. We should do it
again very soon. Peach blooms for
your peachy arse. Sonia was right,
but I find that a bit weird.
Jon x
Steph smiledto herself as she threw the card into her bag and pulled out her phone.
Thank you for the unnecessary flowers. I had a wonderful and most memorable weekend too. Nothing weird about Sonia noticing my peachy arse. I don’t find it weird when your staff look at your arse as you enter and leave rooms or lifts. Steph x
Most memorable means that flowers were totally necessary darling. Everything weird about Sonia noticing your arse! Have you met her current partner? Which of my staff look at my arse? Maybe they are due a rise! Jon x
Not met Sonia’s partner, why is it weird?? Not telling you who looks at your arse! I hope you were suggesting a financial rise from you and nothing more personal!!! I am knackered and may need a few days away to recover. Steph x
I will introduce you to Sonia’s current significant other. You know that I have ways of extracting information from you don’t you? You are the only one that has been getting or will continue to get any other, ‘personal’ rises from me. I too am knackered, but don’t think a few days away will help either of us, do you? Jon x
Sonia’s partner works here? You extract information from me better than anyone know! Pleased to hear that your rises are exclusively mine. I was thinking a few days away, alone to recharge batteries. Steph x
Steph re-readtheir last two messages; ‘you are the only one that has been getting or will continue to get any other, ‘personal’ rises from me’. That’s what he’d said and she believed him, as she believed him that he and Lucy didn’t have sex and yet that confused her. Her own comment acknowledging his rises as exclusively hers confused her too because at some point that had to change, didn’t it? Jon’s next text arrived as she was wondering how she could be so desperate to know and understand the premise of Jon and Lucy’s relationship and be paralysed with fear at hearing it too. She made a decision with herself to not think about Lucy for now. She would face it, she knew she’d have to, but not yet, but soon, maybe. She would take some time to think about it and give herself, give them both a time frame.
Yes her partner works here. You are going nowhere alone, ever again. I am quite serious about that Stephanie. Will I see you tonight? Jon x
Why do you think I will allow you to dictate where I go and who with? I am quite serious too Jonathan! Tonight is not one of our nights. Steph x
She felt slightly irritated by his inferred tone, his tone and his marital status she conceded. She could go where she wanted and with whoever she chose and he had no right to try and imposerestrictions on her any more than she could impose them on him. Her phone bleeped and signalled his response causing her to look down at the handset cautiously.
