‘Premium lines.’
I laughed down the line, before quickly smothering the cough with a sloosh of water.
‘Is that advice in your professional capacity as my accountant? Earn a bit of extra cash by answering sex-chat lines?’
‘Obviously it’s your decision. I’m just advising you of all the options. Laying things out there for you to decide.’
I did a laugh-cough thing and tried again. ‘So, did you ring for something, other than to offer me dodgy career advice?’
‘No, just saying hello. I’ve ordered dinner so thought I’d see how you were doing whilst I was waiting.’
‘How’s the weather over there?’
‘Bloody scorching. I went out to the park earlier and there were people dancing in and out of the fountains, just trying to cool down.’
‘There’s a park near the hotel? That’s nice. Not all just skyscrapers, then.’
‘Umm, it’s Central Park. The hotel is just off it.’
‘Oh, wow, OK. Listen to you, all Mr Local, calling it “the park”,’ I teased.
Charlie didn’t reply. After a short pause he instead asked how I was feeling.
‘Much better, thanks. Really. The voice isn’t as bad as it sounds. I think it’s all heading off into the distance now, thank goodness. Just need plenty of concealer on my bright red nose at the moment from all the blowing, but, apart from that, I’m getting there. I think someone giving me a good start on Saturday helped enormously.’
‘My pleasure.’
‘What, seeing me suffering and looking like I’d just shipped in from Scary Town?’
He laughed. ‘Of course not. I just meant that I was glad to be able to help. And there was nothing Scary Town about you.’
‘Charlie, I have mirrors. I was not sporting a good look.’
‘You were sick.’
‘I know. Which can be the only explanation for the fact that I even opened the door to you in the first place.’
‘What, because you didn’t have your make-up and hair done for the first time since I met you?’
‘Something like that.’
‘So? You still looked fine to me. I mean, not fine, obviously. It was clear you weren’t well, but you didn’t look hideous or anything, just because you didn’t have any make-up on.’
‘Gosh. Not hideous. Thanks.’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘I do. And next time I’m just going to send you down the hall to Rula.’
‘You wouldn’t do that to me.’
‘Wouldn’t I?’
‘No. You value my financial skills too much.’
‘There is that. But luckily I think Rula’s only after your body, and not your mind. I, on the other hand, need the latter. Perhaps she and I could work out some sort of deal.’
‘You realise you’re saying all this out loud, don’t you?’
