Part 22 (2/2)
”I know we see each other infrequently, Penny, but Im a.s.sured by Dave that youve made quite a mark here.”
”Thank you. Thats good to hear,” I responded. Today was turning into a very good day indeed.
”Dont be afraid to drop in from time to time.”
I swallowed quite hard when I heard this. Until now, I had only met Harry formally, but he was inviting me to be more informal with him. The flattery that I felt was considerable and I duly made the promise. He signed off the contract to rent the flat to Mike and called Legal to approve the pay settlement. I thanked him for his help and left his office feeling as though I had just grown wings and could fly.
My detour took me near to Jos office. I felt I should touch base with her over the comment Elona had made. I did not want gossip or rumour to spread. As I walked into her office I heard a voice that was familiar. A strange feeling came over me. Surely it could not be? But as I walked up to the door the voice was unmistakable. As I entered the room, presentation in full flow, John was outlining his thoughts on male and female consumer behaviour.
John noticed me at the back of the room and his face beamed.
”h.e.l.lo there!” he said with just a trace of a smile.
Everybody turned around to look at me and for a moment I felt quite embarra.s.sed.
”You know each other?” asked Jo.
I was not sure whether to admit to a close friends.h.i.+p in front of all the others, but if I had denied it then it would surely have shown in my face. My att.i.tude to mixing business and personal relations.h.i.+ps was momentarily compromised.
”Yes,” I answered, ”We are good friends.”
I could see Sally looking both pleased and surprised as she whispered something in the ear of a colleague. As I looked at John, our eyes connected just long enough for others to register that we were more than acquaintances. Tongues would probably wag, but there was little I could do.
”You are Jos new consultant, then?”
John looked at Jo.
”Jo and I are good friends too...,” he replied, continuing the charade.
In my mind I wondered ”how good?” but I resisted the temptation to ask. I imagine she was asking herself the same question about me.
”....weve worked on projects together and had some interesting results!”
The way he said 'interesting made both Jo and him laugh out loud.
”Okay everyone. Thats more or less it for today. See you all next Wednesday. Remember to bring in lots of magazines. Guys, youll need to bring some in yourself if you dont buy them normally, buy some this week. We are going to learn where different products are advertised and you are going to do some serious research about men and women! And dont forget to ask yourself 'what is the most s.e.xist thing about the army? Well touch on that again next time.”
With these words, he shut down his laptop to signal the end of the meeting and walked over to greet me. Without batting an eyelid, he put his hand on my shoulders and kissed me on the cheek. For a second I wondered whether to chide him for creating the impression we were close, but his manner was so open and unaffected that he disarmed me. Mixed with surface irritation, however, was a deep pride that he acknowledged me so warmly. Not only did it make me feel special, it would probably do my social standing amongst the staff no harm at all.
”Well, this is a turn up, isnt it?”
”I guess it is,” I responded.
”How are you fixed later?” asked John.
I thought for a moment and remembered my commitment to Mike.
”Helping Sally and Mike move him into a company flat!”
He turned to them both, smiled, and gave a thumbs-up sign.
”Things worked out, then?”
”Sure did!” and he immediately sensed the glint in my eye.
John leaned over and whispered into my ear.
”Watch out! h.e.l.l charm the pants off you before you know it!”
I laughed out loud, but John did not understand.
”Someone else said the same thing earlier!”
”Must be true then,” he quipped. ”Problem is that hes far too devoted to his wife!”
”Can a man be too devoted?” I joked.
”Sure if it leads him to deny himself the company of other interesting people.”
”Arent you devoted to your wife?” I asked, with just a hint of playfulness.
”Yes, I am, but not so much that I would avoid your company, Penny.”
His eyes had that glorious warmth that I had come to adore. I could have deliberately misunderstood him and read more into his words than was there, but an instinct told me not to. Sure he wanted to be close to me, but I was beginning to realise the limits of his commitment. I felt that his marriage, indeed his life, must be an endless juggling act. Reluctantly, I felt myself giving up any aspirations I had to seduce John and I comforted myself by looking forward to more fantasies.
”So whats going down with Mike, then?” I asked.
John took one look at me and twigged.
”You interested?”
I blushed. d.a.m.n it, why do I do that! His remark caught me so off-guard that for a moment I was angry with him. He immediately sensed this, and his tone changed in an instant.
”Penny,” he said in a low voice and drawing me towards the corner of the room. ”I would normally not say such a thing, but Mike is not just a nice man, hes a very nice man. Treat him well.”
”I intend to,” I said.
John smiled.
”I believe you will,” he said with more confidence than I felt.
”What about Sally?” I asked. I thought there was no harm seeing if she was compet.i.tion.
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