Part 27 (1/2)
”Yeah. Comes across as such a 'nice guy but underneath beats a heart of appalling meanness,” he said with considerable force.
”Ive always liked him,” I remarked, not absolutely sure how I felt about him now.
”Yeah! He behaves great to his favourites or women he fancies. Get on the wrong side of him and youll discover just what a b.a.s.t.a.r.d he can be.”
I recalled how Dave had been suspicious of Mike. Clearly the feelings were reciprocated.
”He asked me to find out about you.”
”Did he really?” said Mike with a sarcastic knowing laugh.
”Did pretty well, didnt I?” I quipped.
”Very well indeed,” he answered seductively as his hand moved under my blouse, around my waist and started to caress the small of my back.
”Hmmm. Nice. Do that some more,” I said.
Mike obliged but kept talking at the same time.
”Dave and I go back a long way,” he continued. ”We joined IC at roughly the same time. I was his boss back then.”
”What happened?” I asked.
”We fell out over Sally,” he said.
”Sally?” I responded with some surprise.
”Oh yes. Whenever there is s.h.i.+t in the workplace, there is usually a man and woman involved!”
”Cynic!” I joked.
”Only half the time...” he answered.
I began to realise that his wit was considerably drier than Johns.
”What about the other half?”
”Optimist!” he said without missing a beat, smiling or wavering for an instant.
”Youre teasing me!” I answered.
”You like being teased,” he a.s.serted.
Where did he get these insights from, I wondered.
”Get on with your story,” I said with mock impatience.
”Sally used to be related to Dave.”
He paused, as if waiting for me to ask a question.
”Are you going to ask how?” he continued.
”Okay. How?”
”She was Daves sister-in-law.”
I suddenly pretended to be stupid.
”Oh, Mike. You know how dim women can be. Please explain it for me.”
”Doesnt work!” he suddenly said.
”What?”
”Doesnt work!” he said again.
”What doesnt work?”
”The 'can you explain it to me coz Im a stupid woman routine,” he replied.
He did not play the way that John played so I tried another approach.
”Just get on with the b.l.o.o.d.y story, will you?” I said briskly.
”That works!” he said with a laugh.
It was beginning to dawn on me that Mike liked to play things straight. He might not make me laugh as much as John, but his a.s.sertive and commanding manner turned me on. With only a moments hesitation, he continued and finished the story.
”Sally used to be married to Daves brother. Daves brother used to beat her. Youve had this story from John so Im not sure what else to tell you.”
I sat up straight and suddenly the pieces dropped into place.
”Say again?” I asked.
”Sally used to.....”
”Its okay I was being rhetorical!” I said.
There was just a hint of smile on his face.
”What?” I asked.
He gave a gesture to indicate that he did not understand.
”What are you smiling for?” I asked.