Skinny Dipping (41 page)

“What’s this?” Sophie asked.

“Carrot and coriander soup, because you are supposed to be sick.” Gloria gave Sophie a knowing look and then wandered into the kitchen, making all the right sounds as she opened the cupboards, the pantry, and looked at the stove. She placed a plastic bag on the bench then opened the back door. Gloria looked around the garden. “I love your place,” she enthused.

“Thanks, I love your soup, it’s my favourite.”

“Your father made it. He’s been helping out a lot more round the place, before he….” Gloria shot Roger a sharp look.

“Before I start work,” Roger said, a grin on his face. “I got a job.”

Sophie threw her arms around his neck. “You got a job,” she shrieked, jumping up and down on the spot. “You got a job!”

“I got a job! Starting the week after we come back from the cruise. There’s only one hitch.”

“What’s that?”

“Sign off. I’ve got it, if they get the final sign off.”

“It will come through,” Gloria insisted.

“Yeah Dad, it will come through.”

“Well I can’t do anything about it if it doesn’t so I better make the most of my redundancy time. Your mother and I are going to have an amazing cruise.” He grabbed the plastic bag Gloria placed on the table and searched for something inside.

“Dumping things all over the place,” Sophie murmured. He held a cheque book in his hand, and began scribbling on it. “Now please don’t bank this yet. Wait until next month. But I wanted to pay you back. Thanks Soph.”

She looked at the check. The money she’d loaned him. She supposed she did need it after all, since now she was the redundant one.

Her parents left, heading off for their cruise, looking so happy together.

After they were gone, Sophie opened the freezer, pulled out a tub of ice cream and scooped some into her mouth. Everyone was so happy. She could choose to be happy, too. She should probably try to at least do something rather than just mope around. She should go to the wrap party. Might as well. And maybe, while she was there, she might just try to get her job back.

Chapter 30

“I was so worried you weren’t going to come,” Jessica said when Sophie and Carol arrived at the party. “You look absolutely fabulous, considering you’ve been sick for the last three days,” Jessica mused.

Sophie shot Jessica a steely look. “Makeup works wonders. You remember Carol, don’t you?” Sophie said, introducing Carol to Jessica.

“Oh yes,” Jessica said. “I was at the filming with Carol. Everyone was so great out at Brighton,” Jessica gushed. A man hovered behind Jessica. “Oh, Sophie, I want you to meet someone,” Jessica said, suddenly shy. She stepped back, revealing the tall, dark, and incredibly handsome man. “This is John. My fiancée.”

“Pleased to meet you, John,” Sophie said, shaking his hand firmly.

“I’ve heard all about you, Sophie. I hear you’re very talented, and have really been great about showing Jessica the ropes. She’s so thankful.”

Sophie beamed. “Jessica’s a natural.”

“Yes, and she passed all her exams.”

“Shhh….” Jessica hissed. “This isn’t my night.”

“Congratulations, Jess!” Sophie gushed, taking her into a hug. “You should have said something. This is a team party and should include everyone’s success, right?”

“You’re so sweet, Soph. But it’s a wrap party – for our project,” Jessica said.

Then out of the corner of her eye Sophie saw Matthew, in a tuxedo, looking incredibly handsome. Kelly was hanging off his sleeve, holding a glass of champagne.

“Did you hear we got Barney’s?” Sophie commented, watching Kelly pull Matthew away.

“Yes, I did,
I
told
you
that,” Jessica said. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

Sophie nodded, but Matthew was flirting with Kelly. Suddenly she felt physically, painfully sick. “I got made redundant.”

“No! You didn’t! Did you, really, Soph? You couldn’t because you’ve brought in the
Silver Chain
, the whole lot, not just the hotels.”

Sophie shrugged. “It doesn’t matter anymore does it? That’s why Bradley took me to The Dorchester. To give me the boot.”

“Oh, Soph, I’m sure he’ll change his mind,” Jessica said with concern on her face.

“I’m going to get a drink,” Sophie excused herself. She couldn’t talk about being made redundant. Thinking this was her last wrap party. She loved the job so much. What was she going to do for work? “I’ll catch you both in a bit.”

Getting a drink from the bar she decided to look round the boat. She walked to the back of the boat, passing Desmond and Bradley. She refused to make eye contact as Bradley tried to wave her over.
Bastard.
Why on earth would she want to talk to Bradley? He’d fired her and rehired Kelly.
Bastard. Slimy. Untrustworthy bastard.

She sighed. She might actually have to be nice to Bradley, hold her tongue for a moment, if she was going to get her job back. It was a recession. Look how long it had taken her Dad to get a job. She might have to swallow her pride. She shuddered at the thought and tossed back her drink, forcing the alcohol down. Hard. If she found a bit of false confidence then she’d be all right.

The boat’s engine roared into life, and Sophie brought a hand to her ear to block the noise. She had a headache. She didn’t want to be there. She really shouldn’t have come. Maybe she really was sick? Maybe she needed a real break from advertising?

She walked to the back of the boat almost in a haze, and noticed a set of steps going back down at the back of the boat. Maybe she could go down there and hide for a few hours. Get drunk on her own?

As she descended the steps, she heard a muffled conversation. A blonde figure was leaning over the edge of the boat, pointing at something. Her snorting laughter was unmistakeable. Kelly. Jesus. Would this girl ever leave her alone?

Sophie almost turned around, wanting to walk back up the steps. But she paused, overcome with curiosity. Kelly wasn’t still with Matthew, was she? She had to know.

Kelly stood up from her position hanging over the boat and talked with animation to someone. Yes, it was Matthew.

Kelly then moved in toward him. Positioned both arms around his neck, and flirtatiously played with the lapels of his tuxedo.

He simply tittered, didn’t seem to mind at all as Kelly leaned dangerously close to him. God, Kelly was going to kiss him. This girl got everything didn’t she? Although Sophie didn’t want to watch, she was unable to look away.

Kelly tilted her head, noticed Sophie, standing backstage, in the wings of the Kelly show. A slow, sly smile spread across Kelly’s face.

“Hi Sophie,” Kelly drawled. “I’m assuming you’ve met Matthew before?”
Of course she had, he was her bloody client.
“We’ve become very close.”

Sophie felt her knees go out from under her like they were someone else’s. They didn’t belong to her. Her legs turned to jelly. She grabbed the stair rail, almost collapsing on the steps. What a fool she’d been. First Derek and now Matthew…she had really trusted Matthew. Thought he was in love with his ex. Not for one instant had she thought he was a player. But here he was, with Kelly, right in front of her eyes.

“Ah, Sophie,” Matthew said, alarm in his voice. “It’s not what it seems.”

“Isn’t it?”

Matthew raced to her, crouched down in front of her to where she sat on the steps. “Sophie,” he laughed lightly. “Honest, please just listen.” His face searched hers, eyes wide and smiling. Her stomach turned, all handsome men were such salesmen weren’t they?

“Please just go, this is a work function.” She put her head in her hands, wiped away a wisp of hair, trying desperately to control her expression. He didn’t move from where he was crouched in front of her. “Would you mind leaving me, so I can keep it together?”

“Sophie, please listen, just for a second.” He reached out, touched her wrist.

She flicked him off like an insect. “Spare me the details. All men are the same, and you’re in love with someone else. I know exactly what you wanted.” Her voice was savage.

Matthew stood up. “Is that what you really think?”

She swallowed, face blank. “I don’t know what to think.”

He pushed past her. His sandalwood aftershave floated after him, up the steps, away from her, gone forever. His shoulders were pressed back but he didn’t turn round, offer a last glance.

Sophie felt an overwhelming sadness, because surely if nothing had happened with Kelly he would have insisted on explaining, insisted that she should have listened? But he had just walked away, didn’t even put up too much of a fight. He didn’t care about her that much. Not really.

She swallowed, clutching her hands tightly, pressing them together. She wouldn’t cry. Matthew had never been hers to cry over.

With puzzled expression on her face, Kelly turned from the scene, and faced the sea, sipping her champagne. Didn’t she have the decency to leave with Matthew at least? Why did she always have to rub it in? She’d been reinstated in her job – wasn’t it enough?

The engine revved, Kelly dropped her glass, she whooped with joy, making Sophie’s stomach turn; how could Kelly simply laugh when her heart felt like it had just been ripped out? Kelly reached for the glass, stupid girl. She climbed over the boat rail and stood on the edge of the boat.

“What are you doing?” Sophie asked, calling out to her.

“I’m doing the scene out of
Titanic
.”

“Don’t Kelly, it’s not safe,” Sophie urged.

Kelly stepped out up onto the rail at the end of the boat, extended her arms. “Just because you’re a big scaredy-cat doesn’t mean I am. I got my job back. Did you Sophie?” Kelly ribbed. She thrust her hands out, like she was flying. “I’m the King of the world. The Queen of advertising.”

Sophie couldn’t help but snicker a bit. Kelly was extremely drunk. “Kelly, you should come back from there.”

Kelly shrugged, standing up at the back of the boat. Her hair flew in the wind, a golden-headed goddess, hair flowing. She looked mesmerising, beautiful. No wonder Matthew went for her. Any guy surely would.

The boat lurched.

The force pushed Kelly who lost her footing, falling forward. Stupid girl. She wasn’t even holding the rail.

It happened so suddenly. Kelly flew off the back of the boat. Sophie jumped up from the step, head darting around. Did anyone else see Kelly tumble off the back? The boat was still moving. Away from Kelly.

“Girl overboard!” Sophie yelled, pointing at Kelly bobbing in the water.

No one seemed to have heard her. The bloody engine, it was much too loud. Kelly’s figure was getting further away as the boat sped further away along the Thames.

“Help! Someone’s overboard!” Sophie shrieked. She couldn’t just leave Kelly there. She needed to get someone, find some help; but by the time she did, Kelly might be miles away in the water.

She looked around, frantic. Where was Matthew? Where was the team of lifeguards and expert swimmers who had all invited to the bloody wrap party? Where were they, now when they were needed? For an emergency?

Swimming was for living
, wasn’t it, and she could actually swim. “Jeezzzzzzzuss,” she whispered, snapping into action, throwing off her heels.

She grabbed the life ring from the side of the deck and ran to the edge of the boat, contemplating her next move. She couldn’t exactly just jump on in, and rescue Kelly, could she? She really wasn’t a deep sea swimmer, or even a Thames river swimmer? She was merely a beginner. Intermediate if she stretched it.

“Girl overboard,” she screamed at the top of her lungs. She stood on the edge of the boat, still hopeful someone else would come as she clutched the life ring. There was no one else. Sophie closed her eyes. “Girl overboard,” she screamed again. How many times did she have to shout before someone else would come?

Her heart was beating rapidly. Could she do this, plunge into the murky black depths of the Thames? Could she, Sophie Smart conjure enough magic, be brave and courageous like someone else. Anything was possible. She couldn’t let Kelly drown.

She exhaled. She jumped. “Girls overboard,” she screamed, hoping someone, anyone, would hear. Otherwise, they’d both be wading in their finery up the muddy bank of the Thames.

The water was cold. Icy. Sophie felt her ribcage contract and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. As her head bobbed in the water, she exhaled like she’d been instructed. She tried to shake off the fear, and the next breath seemed to come quite quickly, quite naturally. Holding the life ring in front of her like she practised with her kickboard, she eyed Kelly, thrashing toward her.

Bloody Kelly, if she was going to get hyperthermia or Weil’s disease from the dirty river water of the Thames, couldn’t she at least be rescuing someone else, someone she liked? What if there were sharks lurking beneath this water? Goodness, death-by-shark, or eel, quite an unexpected turn of events.

Sophie pushed the thoughts from her mind. “Positive thoughts. Positive thoughts,” she said to herself.
Do not think about the frightfully low water temperature, the possible drop in body heat, the low circulation.

“Kick,” she whispered. Her legs were not going to get cramps, not here and not now. “Kick harder.” Sophie and her red life ring reached Kelly. “You okay?” Sophie panted, as Kelly’s manicured hand clutched at the ring. Kelly’s eyes shone wide with fear, lips blue and her hair hung bedraggled. “Kick your legs, keep warm.”

A speedboat flew past, waves rising, coming in their direction. “Hold tight,” Sophie said, trying to sound calm and in control. What had possessed her to think she could be the heroine in a crisis? And why wasn’t the bloody speedboat stopping to pick them up instead of sailing on past? She was waving, after all.

Terror filled Sophie’s body as the waves from the speedboat approached. Sophie thrashed her legs, remembering the safety skills she was taught. She needed to relax and feel the rhythm of the waves, rise and fall. Rise and fall.

Kelly clutched at the life ring, pulling plastic with a jolt, and the ring suddenly slipped from Sophie’s grasp.