Wags To Riches (3 page)

“That’s true” I reply.

“And it’s not every day you go out for dinner with Adam Finchley is it?” Alex says grinning.  She’s like a little devil on my shoulder that one.

Oh sod it.  I’ll go and get those shoes.

Now I have shoes, courtesy of some money from my savings account, which I’ve no idea how I’m going to put back.  But by God, these shoes are fantastic.  I love them.  I can’t believe they are mine.  Alex and I took some flexi time this afternoon and went to buy them.  I was going to go on my own, but she insisted on accompanying me.  Poshest shop I’d ever been in in my life.  I thought the assistant was a bit snooty at first but they all smile when they see your cash.

And I also have a dress!  I remembered when I got back this afternoon about my black dress I’d worn to Alex’s New Year’s Eve party, so I’ve dug it out and put it on with my shoes to see how it looks.  I walk carefully downstairs to have a look in the hall mirror as my shoes are very high.  The dress is black, but the fabric glitters a little in the light.  It’s strapless and ends a little above the knee.  I think with the right underwear or if I sit and hold my stomach in all night, I should be fine.  And these shoes are amazing.  They look
great.
  I just need a bit of practice walking in them and I’ll be fine.  Yes – I think I look quite nice.  All I need to do now is get my hair done, my eyebrows done, my nails done, shave my legs, get some fake tan on and I’m good to go.  I need to straighten the living room up as well because it is a bit of a mess.  I need to put a shelf up for my DVD’s – I’ve been meaning to do that for ages and I’ll give everywhere a really good clean.  God - I feel nervous already and it’s only Tuesday.  By Saturday, I’ll probably have passed out with nerves or fear.

*****

Saturday arrives and I’m at the hairdressers at eight o’clock, having my highlights done and feeling very sick with nerves and excitement.  I also have a manicure which makes my nails look
fab
.  I keep tapping my fingers on every available surface.  I eat like a pig at lunchtime – again – nerves - tucking into a lovely chip butty from the chippy near the bus stop.  I wish I could be one of those people who can’t eat when they are nervous because I just eat more.  Wonder what we can talk about tonight?  We are so different.  I hope he doesn’t go on about the latest transfer deals as I won’t have a bloody clue what to say.  Still, at least I can sit and look at him and have lustful thoughts while I try and sound like I know what he’s talking about.

The afternoon flies by and I start getting ready early as the last thing I want is to be running about like an idiot when Adam arrives.  I manage to get my contact lenses in without too much trouble, which I am greatly relieved about.  I
so
don’t want to be sat opposite him looking like the Bride of Frankenstein.  Then I go downstairs and pour myself a glass of wine to drink while I get ready.  Alex and I drink the best part of a bottle before we go out, so I’m being very restrained tonight.  I think she’s just as excited about tonight as me, if that’s possible.  She’s been happily shacked up with Dave who works in our IT department for three years now, but we still have regular girly nights out.  I look at blokes and she criticises other women’s outfits, so it works quite well really.  God, I can’t believe this is happening!  I grin at myself in the mirror.  I’m so excited! 

Think I’ll need a little bit more wine.  I top up my glass and wander into the living room to laugh at
You’ve Been Framed!
for a few minutes before going back upstairs to change.  I put on my strapless bra and consider the tummy control knickers, but they are so hideous, I just
can’t
and put on a sexy black lacy pair instead and resolve to eat almost nothing and keep breathing in all evening.  I put my dressing gown on before applying copious amounts of make up to my face – foundation, Touche Éclat - thank
God
for Touche Éclat – hides a multitude of sins - sparkly eye shadow, mascara and eyeliner.  I’m going for the full works tonight!  After fluffing my hair up with my fingertips, I go downstairs carefully again – I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to these shoes – to inspect the finished result in the hall mirror.  I look quite glamorous, even if I do say so myself.  Thank God my fake tan hasn’t gone all streaky.  I bought one once that left my legs all covered in orange stripes.  It was awful.  I smelt biscuity for weeks.

Speaking of food, I’m starving.  I might just have a small piece of cake, purely to line my stomach of course, otherwise this wine is going to go straight to my head.  I kick off my shoes and go into the kitchen to cut myself a piece of chocolate cake before going back into the living room to eat it.  Mmmmm.  I take my plate back into the kitchen and go upstairs to brush my teeth and put some lip gloss on.  I bought a new one when I got my shoes – it’s called
Yummy Scrummy Lip Honey. 
Doesn’t look much like honey – it’s a cherry red colour, but it looks really nice on.  And now I’m
ready
with ten minutes to spare.  God - I feel sick now.

I put my shoes back on and go over to the window to have a look to see if I can see him.  No sign yet.
  I drink the rest of my wine, check my handbag to make sure I’ve got everything and then go back to the hall mirror to check my appearance once more.  Then I hear a car outside.  I charge into the living room and peep through the curtains.  A very expensive looking, sleek, black car has just pulled up outside my house.  Oh my God he’s here!  I see Adam get out of the car and I hastily move towards the living room door, whacking my knee against the coffee table in the process. Ow. Ow.  I limp into the hall, just as Adam rings the door bell.  Oh God this is it!

I smooth my dress down and smile, ignoring the pain in my leg as I open the door.  Adam is stood there and he looks absolutely gorgeous – serious upgrade from pub guy or what!  He is wearing a black suit with a crisp white shirt underneath, the top few buttons undone to show a glimpse of tanned skin.  Oh my God.  He smiles at me and my stomach flips over.  I can’t believe this is happening. 

“Hi!” we both say at the same time.

“Come in” I say, smiling back at him.  Adam steps into the hallway and he looks me up and down.  “You look great Gail” he says and smiles at me again.

“Thank you” I manage to say as I show him into the living room.  “So do you!”

“Thanks” Adam replies looking around, “This is a lovely room Gail” he says, “It’s a bit like mine.  We’ve obviously got similar tastes!”

“Must have” I reply, trying to calm my nerves.  “I’ve not lived here very long.  I moved in about three months ago.  I’ll just go and check I’ve locked the back door” I add as I go out of the room into the kitchen.  I take a few deep breaths to try and calm down.  How surreal is this?  Adam Finchley is in my living room! 

Suddenly I hear a loud CRASH.  God what was that?  It seemed to be coming from the direction of the living room!  I scuttle back there as fast as I can in my heels.  “Are you alright?” I call as I enter the room, terrified of what I might find.  Adam is stood near the far wall holding a DVD in his hand.  All the other DVDs are scattered round his feet and one end of the shelf that I put up earlier in the week is now hanging off the wall. 

“Gail – I’m so sorry!” Adam says looking scared, “I just took one off and the shelf literally just collapsed!”

“Don’t worry about the stupid shelf!” I say as I hurry over to him, “Are you all right?  That’s the important thing!”

“Yeah I’m fine” Adam says as he starts to pick up DVDs, “Like I say, it just suddenly went at one end!”

“There’s nothing worse!” I say and Adam laughs.  “It’s okay Adam” I reassure him as we pick up all the DVDs and pile them on the coffee table, “I put that shelf up a couple of days ago and DIY is not my strong point so it has done well to last this long really.  I’ll get it sorted, don’t worry about it.”

“Let me fix it.  It’s the least I can do.”

“No honestly, it’s fine” I say as I lift the shelf off the one bracket that is still in place and prop it against the wall. 

“Gail, I’d like to fix it” Adam says, “I’ll try and do it as soon as I can.”

“Well you don’t have to, but that would be very kind of you” I say.  God I’m so mortified.  What a great start to the evening.  I bet he’s hurt his foot and now I’ve ruined his career.  I can see the headline now and it would be all my fault:

‘Football stars career ruined by rogue DVD shelf!

Finchley speaks out: “When that Lord of the Rings extended edition box set hit my toe,

I knew that was it!”

“Seriously – are you okay?” I ask him, dreading the answer.  “It’s not hurt your foot or anything has it?”

“No – honestly Gail I’m fine” Adam says smiling.  “I’m ready for some food though.  Shall we go?”

“Yes” I reply and we go out to the car.

“Allow me” Adam says as I move towards the passenger door and he opens the door for me to get in.

“Thanks” I say, feeling slightly overawed.  Nobody has ever done that for me before.  All I’ve ever had is ‘You really need to bang the door love otherwise it won’t shut properly’ and ‘Don’t mind that newspaper in the floor – it’s nothing.’  I sink into a creamy soft leather seat which is as comfortable as any sofa and look round at the plush walnut interior.  Wow.

Adam walks round to the driver’s door and gets in, just as I feel my earring drop out.  Shit – where’s that gone?  “Oh God!” I say looking down and around the seat.

“You OK?” he asks as he gets into the car.

“I’ve dropped my earring” I explain.

“Let’s have a look – it can’t have gone far” Adam says and he looks around for a moment on the ground.  “Got it!” he says, picking up the earring and lifting his head.  His face is very close to mine and for a few heart stopping seconds he looks deeply into my eyes, not saying anything.  “Here” he says finally, giving me the earring.  I’m so overcome with a heady mixture of nerves and lust I can’t bloody speak.

“Thanks” I finally manage to squeak.

“No problem” Adam replies as he fastens his seatbelt and starts the engine.  As we set off, he looks over at me and smiles.

I smile back and then turn my head away, trying to cram my fist into my mouth to stop me screaming.  Come on Gail, get a grip!  It will not do to throw yourself at him – you’ve not even had a starter yet.

“Did you manage to find me okay?” I ask lightly after a moment.

“Yeah – no problem – the Sat Nav found you” Adam replies.

“You didn’t get sent via Gainsborough then?” I joke.

Adam smiles.  “No - thankfully” he says.

“This is a lovely car” I say “Bentley Continental isn’t it?”  Now I’m showing off.  It’s only because I heard that bloke say it in the car park.

Adam looks impressed.  “It most certainly is.  What sort of car do you have Gail?” he asks.

“I don’t have one” I reply, “I don’t drive.  I took my test a couple of times, but didn’t pass, so I thought I’d leave it for a bit.  It is expensive as well - learning to drive”.  Expensive is not the word.  I can’t believe one place I rang wanted to charge me twenty-four quid a lesson.  What a rip off.

“That is true” replies Adam.  “Hey” he adds, “maybe I could teach you!”  No bloody way!  In this car?  I would be so terrified of damaging it, plus just the thought of Adam seeing my pathetic attempts to parallel park is bringing me out in hives, so I just smile and don’t reply.  Best way.

“I just need to get some more petrol” Adam says, “I would have gone on the way here, but I didn’t want to be late.”

“Okay” I say smiling.  I’m so thrilled at the thought of him not wanting to be late for me that he could have said he was just calling at his ex girlfriends and I wouldn’t have minded.

Well – no actually, I would have been well annoyed.

Adam pulls into a petrol station and gets out of the car.  “I’ll be two minutes” he says and smiles at me.  I give him a really cheesy grin back.  Nice.  Why did I do that? I wonder to myself, cringing. 

We are soon on our way and after about twenty minutes we turn into a wide gravel drive.  “Here we are” Adam says as we pull up in front of a huge grey stone building with leaded windows, all ablaze with light.  A sign in front reads ‘Lambley Inn’.  It looks really posh.  Blimey.  “Wait there Gail – I’ll come round and open the door for you,” Adam says and gets out of the car.  I undo my seatbelt and gawp at some of the people going inside.  They all look very rich and successful – all the women in designer dresses and the men in suits.

Adam opens the door for me and I get out of the car before taking a deep breath.  “Shall we go in then?” he asks, offering me his arm and smiling.

“Yes lets” I say beaming and we walk towards the door.

Well –
he
walks and I teeter on my shoes.

“Good evening Mr Finchley – nice to see you back again!” the maitre d’ says as we step inside.  “Good evening Madam” he says to me and smiles then adds, “Your table is ready Mr Finchley – please follow me”.  He walks into the dining room, us following behind.  A pleasant hum of voices and laughter fills the air in a room that wouldn’t look out of place in a stately home.