Bombay Mixx (4 page)

Before I could answer her
,
Gabrielle decided to finish off the job description
.
‘
N
o she works in the accounts department at a stockbroker
’
s
,
’
she said
with a bitchy smile
.
‘I actually had a good day. It’s really interesting and the people are really nice
,
’ I replied whilst I got my own half drunk bottle of wine from the fridge and rooted for a clean glass
.
‘I bet the people are really nice!’ Amelia chuckled, ‘have you met Angus yet?’ she continued
.
‘
H
ow did she know Angus? I couldn’t see him at a fashion show or at any of her regular bars or clubs! Oh god, I hope she hasn’t slept with him or knows someone who has
.
’ I got anxious at the thought but tried to retain my nerves, ‘yep, I met him today. He seems quite nice. How do you know him?’ I asked the question not wanting to know the answer.

Gabrielle distracted her attention for a minute with her over the top flirting with one of the two men who seem
ed
to be enjoying our apartment
entertainment.
‘
P
robably some guys from a bar or work
,
’ I thought as I was also sidetracked with the giggles and playful leg and arm touching
.
‘I met him whilst his wife was sat next to me at a fashion show in
Milan
. Typical leggy blonde, with no fashion sense but had access to his wallet so a designer’s dream!’ she said then braking down into fits of giggles as the man sat next to her encouraged her to drink more wine.

I couldn’t believe he was married! Well actually I could
,
I just didn’t want to believe it. He did flirt with me though, or was it my imagination? Was he one of those married guys who is really committed to his wife but enjoys a little teasing and playful banter once in a while?

Before I could let any
more questions enter my mind, I needed more information and decided to probe Amelia before it was too late
.
‘
O
h, I didn’t know he was married. How long
h
as he been married for? All the ladies in the office seem to love him
.
’

The man who was more interested in her seemed very annoyed as
I continued the conversation, guiding her attention
away from him
,
but I didn’t care, I needed answers and fast, my heart was on the line here…and yes I realise I have only met him today but unfortunately I believe in love at first sight and you couldn’t mistake that chemistry, we could have started the great fire of London again if we didn’t have Ann acting as a major fire extinguisher!

Amelia put down her glass of wine and drunkenly turned to address me. With a slur in her words she replied, ‘he’s been married for about 3 years I tink but just cos he’s married doesn’t mean he doesn’t fuck around. He’s a real dog. He’s cheated on her loooooads of times and she knows it cos she had the pics to prove it but he’s her ATM so she’s staying there. Plus they have 2 kiddies. Anyway
,
come join us. Celebrate your first day with us Neeets
,
’ then she went back to entertain her wounded friend and I declined and retreated to my bedroom.

I felt too upset to try to socialise with the inebriated group so I recoiled to my pyjamas, got into bed, turned on the TV and preceded to down half a bottle of wine complimentary sobs included. I didn’t realise the time when I heard Anya knocking on my door
.
‘
W
hat time is it?’ I slurred as she entered the mess I called my bedroom
.
‘
I
t’s just
midnight
. Amelia told me she mentioned Angus and his situation. I knew you’d like him. Here’ she gave me another bottle of red and proclaimed, ‘this one is for the real emergency though
.
’ ‘
W
hat could be more of an emergency than knowing my heart was broken and now going to work was not going to be all happiness and harps playing but dog crap and banging migraines ringing throughout my head all day
.
’ I knew I could only think this as if I said it, I would get ripped to pieces by the hard heart, ice queen herself, Anya!

Anya doesn’t believe in love. When asked why she has never been in a committed relationship, she replied, with her strong Russian, superior accent, ‘I don’t believe in everlasting love. It is a myth. You get used to a person and accept the
ir
habits and ways because you don’t vont the loneliness this society says you will have if you don’t have someone in your life. I have everything I
vont
from men now. Money, no hassle over my time and sex when I vont it…what more can a woman vont
!
’

Anya settled into my bed and we spoke a little but ultimately she knew I just needed the company of someone strong who would stop me from wanting to cry
,
so she stayed with me until I fell asleep.

I always liked that about Anya; she appeared an ice queen but was always there for me in her own way when I needed her and I was thankful to her for that night because I woke up with a slight headache but more composure than I would have had if I was left to drink more wine and cry.

**********

I had to be at the office earlier this morning so I woke up at
6am
and started my routine
.
‘
E
ven if my heart was broken, it doesn’t mean I have to look as rough as a pop idol after one too many alcopops
,
’ I contemplated as I blasted the hair dryer after nearly 15 minutes in a beautiful, hot power
-
shower.

I proceeded to do
my
makeup, making sure it didn’t get onto the crisp, smart black skirt suit I had organised two nights before and made sure my hair had enough hair serum in it
that
you could probably see it sparkling from space!

I tried to avoid smudging my nude lip gloss with my cup of coffee and buttery toast before I set out to face the day ahead.

The walk to the tube station was surprisingly refreshing and left with me with my thoughts on how I was going to tackle the day knowing what I know about Angus.

The streets were quiet because it was so early
,
and there was a light mist in the air, at first I thought it was serene, then moments from horror movies came into my mind and my pace quickened!

The tube
journey was quiet
and I was grateful for the one other passenger in my carriage,
because
as just as we pulled into King Cross station a lady got on asking us if we had seen her husband but she had no wedding ring and smelt of alcohol.

As I pondered on how this lady became this way
,
we arrived at my station and I
skilfully
avoided her as she rocked herself back and forth near the doors.

Surprisingly, the receptionists were already at their posts and giving me the death stare as though t
hey were ready for round two as they
remembered how they were cheate
d out of their kill yesterday, but
they refrained from making any comments, or talking at all, as they pretended to be busy with some paperwork as I walked into the lift.

My desk looked anorexic compared it to everyone else’s. Photographs of lovers, husbands, children, one or two plants, birthday cards, etc, made my empty bureau look pitiful so I went about making it look more personal but still chic and professional.

A glass pen and pencil holder I stole from Gabrielle’s bedroom, good luck card from mum and dad for inspiration and a coffee cup from Selfridges to show a bit of panache and to show that even though that was the only thing I could afford, I could still shop in Selfridges…I know I’m shallow but I hate it when you walk in the expens
ive
shops and the shop assistances look at you with distaste, as though just your mere existence within their establishment makes it poorer by the second, even though their hourly wage is much less than yours!

‘Good morning Nita. I hope you had a good night’s rest?
T
oday will be very busy. At AG Cathal we believe that in order to learn the processes of the company it is better to let all new starters get underway with their work and tasks immediately
,
’ Ann was surprisingly cheerful (well for Ann!) as she continued to explain what type of week I
could expect
.

As she explained the work I would be doing in military order (including estimated times it would take me to do
it
!), I was able to escape to the departments kitchen to get a much needed coffee
.
‘
W
hy did I drink last night? I’m no longer unemployed and have the extra hours in the morning to let morning TV and loads of coffee help me sober up to look through the job sections of the paper…
I
need to be more responsible now!’ I thought as I viewed my bags in my reflection in the ultra modern silver fridge. I thought concealor was supposed to conceal all the areas that you don’t want daylight to highlight and the general public to be scared of?

I continued to inspect my huge sacks under my eyes,
but
I didn’t realise someone else came into the kitchen
.
‘
Y
ou shouldn’t bend over like th
at here
. You could give the men heart attacks
,
then what would I do?’
T
hat Irish accent could have melted my mascara off
.
‘
O
h god! You’re doing this on purpose aren’t you?’ I thought as I turned to see Angus stood there, leaning on the work top counter, looking like he could have been on the cover of Vogue!

‘I didn’t realise there was anyone else here. Sorry
.
’ I managed to utter as I restructured myself. There was this intense glare between us (more
a nervous stare on my part
) and just as I thought he could see that my crimson face was a signal that I was very embarrassed by this situation
,
he continued to tease, ‘I’m sorry I interrupted you then. I would have like
d
to have seen further without you knowing anyone else was here
.
’

‘Oh my gosh! Was this married man flirting with me? It sounded like he was! Ok Nita, catch your breath, try to regain some kind of stable skin colour and press him now
.
’

The kettle clicked off which allowed a moment of distraction then I got a shot of bravery…I was going for it! With a deep breath, I confidently said, ‘what would a married man
,
like
you, want
to have seen more of then?’ I couldn’t believe I said that! I’m never that forward but before I could even let another thought enter my head; I could see the mood had changed
.
‘Oh great! Back to the job listings for me tonight then!’ I
thought
as I refused to continue with the other questions I was thinking about asking with my new found self-assurance.

The silence felt like forever but after a few minutes, he closed the door and came a little closer. I realised I
had
sweaty palms and prayed he didn’t want to shake my hand anytime soon. His face was very solemn and I wondered if I
had
really hurt him
.
‘
J
ust because people are married it doesn’t mean they are happy
,
’ he sadly expressed. 

I was so surprised. Was this a confession?

He started to move closer, I started to get more anxious
.
‘
O
h! Are you not happy in your marriage then?’ I stuttered as I edged back slowly. He paused as though he could feel I was getting uncomfortable with his closeness. He looked at the floor and continued, ‘I love my wife but I’m not in love with her. We would have divorced last year if it wasn’t for the children.
She said if I leave her then she will take the kids and I’ll never see them again. I can’t let her take
my children so I have to stay there for them
.
’ ‘
W
ow! In a marriage he doesn’t want to be in but just staying for the children. I would have his children now!’ I contemplated as I stopped moving back.