Masters And Lovers 1-4
Chapter 80
At Haswell Building I head straight through the lobby for the elevator, pressing the button to bring it down.
And then, in the way of life, stand gazing into nothing as I wait.
The girl on the desk….
Familiar….
“Sorry to seem rude, but do we know each other?”
Her face should be pale against dark hair, but she’s crimson. “Um…. yes. We met two or three years ago. You were with your friend, James.”
Three years ago?
With James?
Ah….
“Debbie. That was it, wasn’t it?”
The blush, if anything, grows brighter as she displays her name badge. I walk over to take closer look, then chuckle.
Poor girl….
Must be excruciating….
“Ah, Kirstie. I see. Nice to meet you Kirstie.” I tap my nose. “Kirstie. I’ll remember that.”
She’s trying hard to maintain a professional air and not really succeeding. “Um, do I need to check with anyone if you have an appointment or something?”
Of course, you wouldn’t know….
“Sorry, of course, you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know me here. I’m just going to find my wife upstairs.”
“Yes, your friend said that you’d got married.”
“James? You’ve met him here?”
“Yes, just the other day.”
Oh, god what did he say to the poor girl?
“Was he polite?”
“Oh, yes. He was a gentleman.”
Thank God for that….
“Glad to hear it. He’s a good man; one of the best, but sometimes…. um… empathy’s not his strong point.”
She bursts out laughing and the bubble of tension bursts. “He’s a Dom isn’t he. If you cut him in half, it’d say ‘Dom’ running right through the middle.”
That’s our James….
“You’re not wrong there. Gotta go, Kirstie. See you around.” The elevator pings and the doors swish open. As I head for them, I turn quickly back to her. “I’m Michael by the way. Nice to meet you again.”
Wonder why James didn’t mention he’d met her?
*****
Charlotte
check my watch and it’s right on time. I grin. With
for lunch. He’s discovered a new restaurant that just opened just around the corner and he wants to give it a try. Snagging my jacket, I
as I leave the offices, over the road, sitting in the window in the
Mmm….
you mind a change of plan for
*****
hover over her until she notices me. She’s staring out
mind if I join
next to her, shunting up a bit to make room for
across the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get
face falls. “Sure….
happy
What did I say?
“Something wrong?” I ask.
“Look, take this the right way. I know Ben’s your brother-in-law, but
Really?
He’s not shut up about
“Charlotte, I’ve met him half a dozen times and had
Oh, dear….
He’s done it again….
don’t think it’s my impression that you
shouldn’t have
I can stop
“Hi.”
Too late….
it’s aimed at Kirstie. “Hello again, Kirstie. I didn’t realise you two knew
They’ve met?
When did that happen?
girlfriend,” I say. “We were just having a
takes a seat opposite, and he blinks a little. “So, you’re the same Kirstie who is dating
sits back. “Ben’s
What’s that about?
is.” He leans forward over the table. “Can I ask you something, Kirstie? Are you still going
What the hell?
to the
And she’s dating Ben?
yes,”
grit in his voice.
plate but seems to have lost her appetite for it. “He seems a
mind
They know each other….
an old
one woman. He sees the world through a narrower lens than we do. If he’s got any
“I was already thinking the same thing. And
heaving a sigh. “So, you’re planning on breaking
pokes the half-sandwich around the plate. “Erm…. I hadn’t really gotten that far. But I think
Things like exclusivity…
you’re not
“Yes.”
and is now just
appeal and I sit pushing lasagne around the plate with no urge to eat it. Michael runs fingers through his hair,