‘I told you it was myfirst timein Turkey.’Christ, I’m doing quotation marks at him.‘Why didn’t you tell me you were here to work with LoveIt Holidays?’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ he says in an incredulous tone. ‘Otherwise, I’d never have encouraged…’
Like it’s all my fault!
‘Thanks a lot.’
‘You must know what I mean?’ He looks nervously around to check no one is watching us.
‘Enlighten me.’
He runs a hand through his hair, clearly agitated at my presence here. ‘Why did you act like a holidaymaker? You even suggested a holiday fling.’
‘Well, if we’re playing twenty questions, why did you bring me to a screaming orgasm in the middle of the Aegean Sea and ask me to run away with you?’
This conversation seems to be escalating too quickly for my liking.
Jackson’s face drops. He looks from side to side, his voice almost harsh. ‘Keep your voice down.’
Such a stab in the heart.
‘I don’t care for your tone.’ I fold my arms forcefully. A sudden flashback of Jackson elbowing me in the eye while we were sitting on the dancefloor pretending to row each other like boats pops into my head. I’d leaned around to tell him he had lovely long thigh bones. I wish I’d never bothered. ‘You haven’t even apologised for giving me a black eye.’
Jackson’s face goes white. ‘I what?’
I point to my eye, hoping I’m pointing at the correct one. It doesn’t even hurt. He immediately backtracks. ‘I’m so sorry. I have absolutely no recollection. In fact, most of last night is a complete blur.’ He briefly closes his eyes as he rubs his forehead.
No recollection of our life-changing, soulful union. No recollection of my almost French-like sexual allure.Charming.‘Forget it,’ I say, gloomily. ‘I suppose we were pretty wasted.’
I can’t believe he doesn’t remember. I feel so deflated. It reminds me of some depressing statistics.Most humans will be regularly disappointed on average five times a day.
‘Hey,’ he utters gently. ‘I didn’t mean it like that. Of course I remember… some bits.’ He gives me an intense look. He has dark circles underneath his eyes. Like me, he’ll be exhausted and hungover. And this has been a shock for both of us.
I suppose if we are going to be working together, and he is technically my boss, then we should clear the air. ‘Do you remember tap dancing on the bar while juggling tequila bottles?’ I say out of the side of my mouth.
He waits for me to elaborate, a worrying crease forming on his brow.
‘We should really go back and offer to pay for the damage. How’s your back? That was quite a nasty fall.’
Jackson tips his head back with a groan. Various expressions career across his face before he lets out a depressed moan.
‘Don’t worry,’ I say, reassuringly. One of us needs to be mature about this whole affair. ‘Your secret is safe with me.’
‘What secret?’ His eyes grow wide. ‘What did I say? What else did I do?’
I hold my hands up. ‘I just meant your Turkish spoon dancing routine. It’s a forgotten art form. Oh, and the fact we were buying illegal substances, of course. Just as well we were in it together so you can’t report me.’ I lower my voice, grinning nervously. ‘Best keep quiet about that I think, seeing as we’ll be working together at head office.’
‘What do you mean working together? You’re joking, right?’
Ah. Awkward.
‘I’m the new account manager. I’ve come to work at head office.’
Jackson pulls his hands roughly down his face. ‘Fuck me. What have I done?’
Eh? How rude.
‘Erm, excuse me,’ I say rather too loudly. ‘Sorry for giving you the best night of your entire life. Or have you forgotten you said that already?’
