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I toss it out of the lift only just managing to get it through the gap as the doors shut—the visitor badge scuttling across the marble floors and hitting the opposite wall.
Jesus, never has an elevator journey seemed so fucking beautiful.
I’m never going to interview off the back of a random approach, ever again. I don’t care it came from his recruitment department. I don’t fucking care!
That was the last thing I expected today.
Today… of all days!
Chapter Two
Kallie and I have booked a table at Rules for a long, boozy lunch. She’s been filming a fashion shoot in the area on the Embankment and anyway, Rules is our favourite and when one of us is feeling down, we always come here. Well, two of us are feeling down, so…
The only way to describe the place is to say it’s a bit like a very posh pub, except it’s old meets new and then some. Rules has an Edwardian vibe with gaudy décor and vast amounts of foliage but it’s not too posh that there’s a strict dress code.
When I meet her outside, she’s shocked by my appearance because I’ve come straight from the job interview and she’s never really seen me dressed like this. I’m about a foot taller than her in heels too and she has to look up at me.
“Well, if I knew you were making an effort for me, lover…” She tips her head back dramatically, snorting with laughter. While I’m in a form-fitting dress with a white dress coat over the top to keep me warm, she’s in drainpipe black jeans, Docs, a black woollen overcoat and one of her trademark oversized sweaters. She isn’t a slob but her preferred daywear is slobwear, we always joke. Moving around with a camera in all weathers, she much prefers clothes that can be layered and will enable her to move around without her arse crack poking out. She does however look stunning with just a minimal amount of makeup, her black, pixie-cut hair totally her. I couldn’t get away with that, but hell, she does.
She hugs me briefly and catches the look in my eye. “How bad was it?”
“Two puddings and no main course for me today.”
“Oh.” Her big brown eyes bug. “Thought it’d just be me wallowing this once. Come on, let’s get the fuck inside and get wasted. It’s freezing out here!”
It is in fact so deliciously warm inside, I happily hand over my coat for them to hang up for me. We’re seated in the room with mustard paint on the walls and a domed ceiling; then there are accents of this being a traditional tavern serving game, sweet meats and such—which this place does.
After ordering pints of cider, she looks at me from across the table, eyeing me steadily. She’s kept her fingerless gloves on because she’s still cold, if her blue lips are anything to go by. I assume the camera equipment she was working with today is somewhere nearby or she has to go back to work later.
“In a nutshell,” I begin, laughing because as I play it back, it’s insane, “the bloke said the only reason he couldn’t employ me is because he fancies me.”
Now, Kallie has heard some shit the past few months, but this takes the biscuit, I know.
“How grown-up of him,” she laughs, not impressed.
Our drinks are delivered and I take a few gulps of mine. We’re handed our menus surreptitiously and pretend to consult them, though we have more pressing matters before the eating of food gets underway. The waiters in here know when patrons just want to be left to each other’s company.
“You should’ve heard me, Kal. Going on about why I left this job or that. I went on and on. He was probably saying whatever he thought would get rid of me quick.”
I stare around the room and notice it’s fairly empty for once. Maybe because everyone is dining later on, seeing as though it’s Valentine’s. I’m so glad we decided to have a meet-up now and not later. Two little saddos together with a load of romantic couples surrounding us.
“I really don’t think so,” she says, laughing. “This is a whole new look and I’m seeing it. Plus, if the action you’ve gotten lately is anything to go by…”
I hold my head in my hands. “I don’t know why I feel so shit about this.”
“He could’ve just said he’d be in touch, what a wanker!” she exclaims, and the waiter knowingly swerves us when he hears that, because obviously we’re not ready for our orders to be taken yet.
“You’re right,” I concede, “but he gave me his card with his personal number and said he’d love to take me on a date.”
She narrows her eyes. “So he doesn’t want to give you a job, but he’s rich as fuck and wants to date you?”
“I honestly got out of there and was like, ‘Did I interview to be his girlfriend, or what the fuck happened?’ Because now I’m out, I still don’t know.”
With nobody else in here and the waiter hovering like a starving seagull, we decide we’d better look at the menu. She orders oysters to start while I go for a light salad to ease myself in. We both order hefty pies for our main course and the waiter looks pleased we’re making the most of the occasion.
“Do we need to make sure the puddings we want will still be available once we’re done?” I ask the man.
He looks around the room. “I don’t think so. It’s freezing outside and we’re fully booked after six. Up until then, you’ve got free rein.”
