In Focus (2009) (3 page)

He woke to the sound of the alarm beeping in the next bedroom and went to drag his cousin out of bed then put on some coffee.

By the time it was ready, Pete had dressed and joined him. He poured a cup of black coffee and took a long gulp, hot as it was. ‘Thanks.’

‘Considering how drunk you were when you arrived here, you look amazingly fresh and alert.’

‘Yeah. I never get that morning-after stuff.’

He gave Pete money for the taxi and breathed a sigh of relief when he had the place to himself again. It was still too early to go into the office, so after clearing up the kitchen, he went down to the excellent basement gym that went with these prestigious apartments.

He doubted Fran would have kept Pete locked out for more than a few minutes last night. She knew which side her bread was buttered on.

And Pete knew that too. So what sort of statement was he making to her by spending the night elsewhere? The games those two played lately did Edward’s head in.

He got on the treadmill and started his exercise programme. Other people were working out but to his relief no one wanted to chat.

Two

The following week Beth had to fill in again for the same cleaner.

There was no one in the IT suite this time, so presumably the computer program had been fixed and they’d gone home like everyone else. She wondered what the software would be used for that was so hush-hush. Pete Newbury’s show was very popular. The problem of what they’d do with all those faces niggled away at her as she cleaned that floor of the building.

Jo would have said, ‘Get a life, Mum.’ Her daughter had certainly gone after a life more to her taste, but it wasn’t the sort of life Beth would have wanted. She enjoyed her peace and quiet. Well, she usually enjoyed it.

Tonight she felt restless. Tired, of course, but not ready to fall into bed yet. She switched on her computer and her heart did a flip when she saw a message from Jo. They always upset her and yet she needed to see them regularly, yearned for them.

Tears filled Beth’s eyes. Couldn’t Jo send longer messages than this? But it was the first time her daughter had ever hinted at them seeing one another again. Scrubbing her eyes, she told herself not to be stupid. This was good news, wasn’t it? Of course Jo would come back to see her one day. She had to believe that. She sent a message straight back.

Beth wanted to write more, but couldn’t think of anything else to say. Anxiously she re-read her message. Was it all right to say ‘longing to see you’? Would that worry Jo? She had to be so careful.

As she clicked on the send button, she suddenly realized why Jo’s messages were so short. Her daughter must also be treading warily. That was a good sign – wasn’t it?

The rest of the emails were mainly to do with business. The only other one she really welcomed was from her friend Renée. Smiling, she opened it.

Beth had forgotten about it, because it’d been a hell of a week, but she was more than ready for a bit of socializing. Renée threw great dinner parties and knew some interesting people. And her partner Sergio was an excellent cook. Of course, there was always the risk that Renée might try to pair Beth up with some guy, which had happened a few times, but Beth was more than capable of saying no.

She had to go into the office on Saturday morning, but spent the afternoon pampering herself. Renée wouldn’t have called a hasty manicure and hair wash ‘pampering’ but that, together with a bit of eye make-up and a dab of lipstick was as far as Beth usually went in the beauty stakes these days.

She frowned at her reflection in the mirror when she was ready. She should do something about her hair, have it cut at least. And the dress which had been a perfect fit last year now hung loosely. She’d known she’d lost some more weight but hadn’t realized how much. Renée would tell her off for that. Her friend had marked views about what magazine pictures of scrawny girls were doing to the female body image, and how women owed it to the younger generation to stay looking like real women rather than prepubescent teenagers.

But Beth had the opposite problem to most women she knew: she found it difficult to keep her weight up, and she’d got even thinner since Jo had left home.

Oh, what the hell! This was what she was like – scrawny – and other people could like it or lump it. She was her own person these days, not dependent on anyone, and she intended to keep it that way.

The dinner party was fun. Beth could feel herself relaxing, not because of the alcohol that was flowing freely, but because of the pleasant company. She enjoyed a drink, two if the wine was a good one, but that was it. She didn’t have much tolerance for alcohol and hated feeling hungover the next day.

Renée had tried to match-make, but the guy was better than usual, not good-looking and slightly shorter than Beth, but fun to talk to. She guessed Daniel was a little younger than her, but he was old enough to be of interest. She found herself agreeing to have dinner with him the following week.

But she didn’t let him take her home after the dinner party and would only give him her mobile number, arranging to meet him at the restaurant.

‘Are you always this cautious?’ he asked with a smile.

‘Yes, I am.’

‘Should I provide references?’

‘How long have you known Renée?’

‘A few months.’

‘That’ll do. And it’s not you. I’m always cautious with new people, while Renée sees the best in everyone.’

‘And do you always see the worst, Beth?’

She frowned, not sure what to say to that, then shrugged. ‘I’m not good at choosing men to date. I’ve had a couple of bad experiences since my husband and I divorced.’ She smiled suddenly. ‘But you don’t need to worry. It was an amicable split in the end and I won’t bore you with tales of how rotten my ex was.’

He inclined his head. ‘Neither will I because I’ve never actually got as far as marriage.’

She was surprised at that. Was he gay? He didn’t seem gay, just very relaxed in his skin, as Jo would have said.

Daniel walked her out to her car without needing to be asked, which was another mark in his favour.

By the time she got home, she was wondering if she really wanted to bother dating anyone but knew if she backed out now, Renée would kill her. Anyway, she’d probably have a pleasant evening with Daniel and it could end there if she chose, which she probably would.

She backed into her parking bay, checked there was no one else around and hurried to the lift, relieved as always when it arrived quickly. This was supposed to be a safe area, accessible only by residents who had the remotes that controlled the wire mesh barrier gate, but you never knew who could break the code and get in.

It irked her that she was always so nervous after dark, but she wasn’t going to any counsellor over something so minor, whatever Renée said. She was doing all right – more than all right – and didn’t intend to rock the boat. She had a good job, a nice flat and a few close friends she really cared about.

It was enough.

Edward took Pete along to a demonstration of the finished computer program the following week. Al and Debbie had prepared regressions of themselves to start off with, then one of Edward.

‘Do one of me now!’ Pete said. ‘We could start off with that on the show.’

They watched as the photo of Pete the man was regressed into a teenager.

‘That’s me!’ he crowed. ‘That’s just what I was like! Go on. Make me younger.’

They obligingly turned him into a child of about eight.

‘Can you turn me into a baby?’

‘It’s not very accurate with babies. They change too much. The lowest we can get with any accuracy is about two or three, and even at that age the success rate is markedly lower.’

‘Do a three-year-old, then.’

He studied the resultant photo, head on one side. ‘That’s great! It’s actually very like me. We’ll use it on the first show to give people a taste of what your software can do.’

Edward watched the two youngsters – well, they seemed young to him – nudge one another and exchange quick, delighted glances.

‘Do you want to see what you’ll look like when you’re older?’ Al asked.

‘Hell, no! I don’t even want to think about that.’ Pete glanced at his watch. ‘Got to go now. Fran will kill me if I’m late. Edward, will you see to all this?’ He waved one hand at the computer screen.

‘Yes.’ Naturally Pete didn’t pick up on his annoyed tone of voice. Lately his cousin only seemed to see himself – a self-image more influenced by his publicity than by reality – and he’d always been a bit lazy about details like the legalities and financial arrangements for using the program.

To Edward’s surprise, the two developers would only agree to lease the software, not sell it to him. They were more business savvy than he’d expected, for all they looked like refugees from a Sixties hippy commune. He didn’t want to cheat them but he did want to make sure no one else in the entertainment industry could use their software while Pete wanted it, because if things went well, the new segment might have the potential to be franchised across the world, which would benefit all of them.

It took a while to sort everything out, and of course it then had to go to the various lawyers, but he was happy with the ground rules they’d established.

Since he’d come in Pete’s car, Edward decided to stroll back to the office to pick up his own vehicle. He’d welcome a brisk walk after a day spent mainly in meetings.

He took a roundabout route and when he got there saw the cleaners going in. It wasn’t Sherbright Cleaning, though.

Why did he keep thinking about the woman he’d escorted to her car? Was she any less tired this week? She must be really short of money to take on extra work in the evenings. She had the sort of face it was hard to forget – not pretty, she’d never be pretty, but strong. And she looked at you directly with those beautiful eyes, had an honest gaze, if there was such a thing. He was a sucker for eyes.

His ex had beautiful eyes. He was still fond of her but she’d hated the long hours he worked. When they’d spent two years trying in vain for a baby, they’d found he could never get her pregnant due to a childhood illness.

A year later she’d left him for a guy who already had two children and worked regular hours, even if he didn’t bring home nearly as much money. She’d had a baby within the year and another two years later, and seemed much happier now. Edward rang her sometimes or she rang him, just to catch up.

It didn’t worry him that he had no children – well, most of the time it didn’t – but he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life alone.

Tonight his flat seemed to echo around him. He frowned as he studied it. As far as he was concerned, minimalism sucked big time as a decorating style. The place had been like this when he bought it two years ago and he’d intended to have it redecorated, but hadn’t got around to it. Maybe it was time to take that in hand. He’d prefer something more cosy, with big comfortable armchairs.

But achieving that would mean a lot of fuss and upheaval. It would have to wait until he wasn’t as busy, until the rest of his life was more to his liking.

He hadn’t said a word to Pete, but he didn’t intend to work as his cousin’s business manager for more than another year at most. He needed new challenges, was tired of the role of minder. In fact, he’d been feeling restless for a while now.

The dinner date with Daniel was pleasant enough but there was no chemistry between them, even though Beth once again enjoyed his company.

He smiled at her as they sat over their final cups of coffee at the restaurant. ‘No sparks flying between us, eh?’

She blushed. Just what she’d been thinking, though she’d not have put it so bluntly.

He patted her arm. ‘I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m simply not highly sexed. I’m not gay, definitely not. But I don’t seem to rouse that special feeling in women, and they don’t go for me big time, either. I do make a good friend, though, if you’re interested.’

‘You’re very frank.’

He shrugged. ‘I’m comfortable with myself. I find you interesting to talk to and one can’t have too many friends. We could meet occasionally for the pleasure of a chat. You may need an escort to a function or I may. You know what it’s like when you’re single and everyone else has a partner. Or you may just fancy going out for dinner, seeing a movie. What do you think?’

‘Sounds good to me.’ She could definitely do with an occasional escort to formal functions and she didn’t want a permanent relationship. She had enough on her plate without that.

‘I’ll drive you home.’

‘I live on the other side of town. It’d be more sensible for me to take a taxi.’

He pulled out a card and presented it to her Japanese-style, in both hands. ‘As you wish, but take this. It has my details and you can check me out, if you’re still nervous.’

She glanced down at it and couldn’t help laughing. ‘Sherbright has just won a cleaning contract with your company.’

‘There you are. My references are in order, then.’

He hailed a taxi, saw her into it and waved as the taxi drew away.

She leaned back, smiling. Daniel was right. There was no spark, but she’d enjoyed his company. It was good to get out every now and then. Maybe she’d invite him round to dinner with some other friends. She owed Renée, for a start.

Her friend would no doubt ring up tomorrow to find out how the date had gone, and once she found out the truth, would start producing other single guys. Well-meaning friends could be a pain sometimes. Just because they were happily partnered, they thought everyone else wanted to be.