In reality, the situation was rapidly spinning beyond her control. Rachel only had so much energy, and staying cheerful about Anna’s upcoming nuptials – not to mention keeping her emotions in check as she worked on the Lighthouse account – was exhausting. Rachel couldn’t fight on all fronts, and pushing Jack away required resolution. Industry. It always had, and right now she didn’t have the stamina for it.
Falling into friendship with him had been easy – effortless – because she didn’t have todoanything. Rachel and Jack ate lunch together, stayed late at the office and shared Jaffa Cakes during meetings. It was like being back at uni except that the spectre of Rachel’s fake boyfriend put a different perspective on things, shifting the balance of power in her favour.
My Deed Detector’s bleeping, Kemi said via IM one morning. When Rachel didn’t respond, she clarified:Are you and HH doing it?– ever dismissive of the possibility that someone from IT might be monitoring her messages.
Rachel Ryan
NO. We’re just friends. Colleagues.
Kemi Percival
He looks at you the way I look at my Nanna’s jollof rice.
Put the poor man out of his misery. He’s way too hot to leave idle and unshagged.
Rachel Ryan
Nothing’s going on between me and Jack.
I don’t know what more I can say, Kem.
Kemi Percival
Youcouldsay, Yes, Kemi, I’ll have a really good go on him and report back in detail
Rachel Ryan
FFS. No.
I have work to do.
On Thursday evening, Greg tackled her about what was happening with the two of them. Since the last time Rachel had told him to stop bringing it up, he’d said very little – instead restricting himself to the pulling of pert, significant faces. Tonight, however, over post-yoga donburi bowls and bubble tea, he was determined to push for answers.
‘Things seem to have kicked up a gear, Ray,’ he said. ‘I can feel the sexual tension from the other side of the office. I can practicallyseeit, like a heat haze.’
‘You’re imagining things, Greg,’ she replied, fully aware that he wasn’t.
‘I amnot. And I overheard a conversation by the coffee machine the other day, during which someone claimed you’d been seen pashing him by the recycling bins.’
‘What?’
‘You heard. Is it true?’
‘Obviously it’s not true.’
Evidently, someone had seen Rachel take Jack into Dustbin Alley for the purpose of berating him about the Lighthouse account. Whoever had noticed them had either seriously misinterpreted the situation or twisted what they’d seen into some Mills & Boon-style tryst.
Greg persisted, ignoring the incredulous expression on her face.
‘Have you slept with him? Recently, I mean.’
‘For heaven’ssake,’ Rachel hissed. ‘What do you think?’
‘Honestly? I don’t know what to think. That’s why I’m asking.’
‘I. Have. Not. Slept. With. Him,’ she said, too loud and grinding her teeth. ‘Notrecently, anyway.’
