Part 21 (2/2)

”Well, he said hed leave you to fill in the details.”

Mike smiled when he heard me say this and glanced at Sally to check that she was not going to scold him. Sally continued the riposte.

”From what hes been telling me, it doesnt sound like he left details out!”

”Then you can get your own back by telling me all his secrets!”

I felt an instant rapport. It was like that with John, and I hoped it would be the same with Sally.

Sally looked playfully at Mike.

”Good idea. There are plenty to tell,” and then, as she looked back at me she added, ”Are you interested in them?”

Linguistically speaking, she had just speared me and I realised she was checking me out on Mikes behalf. My confidence was high, however, and I continued to joust.

”Only the particularly wicked ones!”

She laughed out loud and then turned to Mike.

”Watch this one, Mike! Shes got her eye on you.”

Mike gave me a wry smile. Today I stood my ground much better and did not look away.

”And very nice eyes they are too,” he complimented.

Sally laughed and managed to divert attention from the colour that was flus.h.i.+ng through my cheeks.

”Well, I have to familiarise myself with this new SHARE experience!” blurted Sally. I laughed out loud and it caused both of them to look at me enquiringly. At that moment I felt just a touch of embarra.s.sment.

”What?” I asked.

They both paused momentarily, and then Mike spoke.

”Are you going to share it?” he said, with a chuckle.

I caught his dark and s.e.xual humour, but it went over Sallys head. I wondered how I could respond without being too explicit.

”Im already familiar with the SHARE experience. Sally, youre in for a treat particularly if they give you a product sample.”

Sally and Mike looked at each other in a puzzled way, and then Mike turned and winked at me out of Sallys line of sight. I actually felt b.u.t.terflies. He was definitely flirting with me. To my relief Sally did not ask any further questions.

”See you after work, then?” asked Sally.

”Ill come by your office around 5-ish,” answered Mike.

”You definitely in?” asked Sally, directing the question at me.

I nodded and then Sally lent over and whispered into my ear.

”Be careful! h.e.l.l charm the pants off you and before you know it youll be deeply in love with him.”

Her remark cleared up many loose ends. The story that Phil had uncovered, and that Dave had hinted at, suddenly made sense. Sally realised that she would never have a hold over Mike the way that she wanted to and had accepted the next best thing. I realised that she was talking from experience and while I was grateful for the advice, it also brought home to me that the issue was not whether he could charm the pants off me, but whether I could charm the pants off him.

Chapter 34.

Back at my desk, I asked Phil to come into my office. As my mind went back over events, I realised that Dave had fuelled my concerns about Mike and this had directly motivated me to ask Phil to investigate Mikes private life. Given the way that events had turned out, I wondered why Dave had done this.

”How are you feeling?” I asked.

Phil looked quite relaxed so I felt it may be a good time to gather his thoughts on the outcome of the investigation.

”Okay. Quite a turn of events, wasnt it?”

”Yes it certainly was. When did you think something wasnt right?” I asked.

Phil sat back in his chair and became quite animated. He clearly appreciated his views being taken seriously and was keen to express them.

”Quite a while ago. When I sat in the canteen with Mikes colleagues nothing seemed to fit. When Mike lost his temper with you in that meeting, I think my suspicions were confirmed.”

I wondered how much I should tell Phil. I was going to need his help again and involving him would be risky. I decided to come clean.

”I was not particularly clever over this,” I said.

”You seemed pretty sharp to me,” he replied.

I gave him a smile and shrugged my shoulders.

”Id love to take the credit,” I said, ”but that would be dishonest. Someone outside work a good friend suggested to me that maybe I was looking at things the wrong way.”

”I see,” mused Phil.

”You were not entirely wrong when you asked if someone had influenced my thinking.”

It was Phils turn to smile at me.

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