‘Well. Obviously. I am fabulous. Totally understandable. But what I mean is you’re going to love me even more!’
‘Not possible, but tell me anyway.’
‘I am going to help prevent you going to prison.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Really! Some people are so judgemental. You should have seen some of the looks I just got!’ Her voice faded a little as she turned away from the handset. ‘It’s all right. It’s only the one body,’ she called to her colleagues.
I grinned, imagining Amy now doing the same. Most definitely not the shy type; if she could get a reaction out of someone with a bit of harmless fun, she was having a good day. Her corporate career was going well, but her latest position had also landed her in an office with some people best described as ‘a little stuffy’.
‘So? Why the love fest?’
‘Because, dear heart, I was chatting to Marcus in the staff kitchen today—’
‘Is this Marcus-that-has-been-asking-you-out-forever-Marcus?’ I interrupted.
‘The very same.’
I made a ‘hmm, interesting’ noise. Amy ignored me and continued.
‘He was asking what I’d been up to lately, and I mentioned that, among other things, I had been drinking wine as a sign of comradery with my best friend, who was stressing over having to do her first-year business accounts.’
‘Comradery? I believe the wine was your suggestion.’
‘Semantics. Anyway, the upshot is that Marcus’ brother, Charlie, is some sort of Risk Manager in London, but lives down here.’
‘Right,’ I said, not entirely following.
‘But, he started off as an accountant before moving into Risk Management,’ Amy clarified.
‘Oh.’
‘Marcus already had a chat with him and Charlie’s agreed to pop round next weekend and take a look at your books.’
‘What? Here? Aren’t I supposed to make an appointment or something?’
‘Yes, there. It’s a favour to his brother. He was hoping to be able to do it this weekend but he’s about to jet off to New York or somewhere equally glitzy for work.’
‘Nice.’
‘Quite.’
We both reflected for a moment on the glamour of jetting around the world on business before I pulled myself back to the subject at hand.
‘Oh, Amy. I’m not sure.’
‘Too late. It’s arranged. And poor Marcus would be crushed if it fell apart now.’
I paused.
‘Amy?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why is Marcus pulling in favours for you?’
‘Umm…’
‘Seriously? You’re finally going on a date with him?’
She lowered her voice. ‘It wasn’t that I was averse to him before. I just had to make sure I was over the whole John thing. Marcus is too nice to be used as rebound fodder.’
