Cocotte

by David Manoa

  “What did she say?”

  “She said that it was an admirable thing, to give me a chance and that you’re not like the assholes at her work.”

  I paused. To give some time for Emily to calm down. If she told Sherry her past that’s how she knew. Sherry played Emily like a fiddle, confiding in her, then siphoning information out.

  She was still looking down to the ground.

  “Look at me. What happened next?”

  “She asked about Marc and I told her I hated him. I told her how he came to the Showgirls and how he’s a regular customer.”

  I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. “Emily…”

  “What? Tell me! What did I do wrong?”

  There was this numbing sensation in my head, the conflict in my mind between anger and disappointment. It felt like the anger was bubbling I was trying so hard to control it.

  “Emily, because of what you disclosed to Sherry, she threatened Marc that she would tell his wife about his cheating if he didn’t sign the document. We have lost everything.”

  Everything began to click for Emily when she realised she was responsible. “I’m so sorry Oliver.” She stood up to wipe her eyes when I gave her the folder with a copy, signing the account managers over and our roles as consultants.

  “Emily… You let me down.”

  ***

  The next afternoon Marc was slouched over my chair while we prepared for next week’s meeting. He just stared at me, waiting for me to spill the story on what happened yesterday.

  “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  “Did you give her a good spanking for being naughty?”

  “Jeez Marc, you can be such a clown.”

  He started laughing.

  In my mind, he was lucky to still keep his bloody marriage intact. “I hope you take some steps to repair your marriage Marc. You can’t keep living like this forever.”

  Marc’s grin soon smoothed out when I asked, “It’s what you still want, right?”

  “Of course. I still love them both.”

  “So what are you gonna do about it? Because I will kick your ass if I see you at Showgirls again.”

  We both had a chuckle before Marc went all silent. I hoped what I said would sink into that thick skull of his.

  “I sat down with Emily and she explained everything. It turned out that Sherry’s probing led her to spill the beans on you.”

  Marc sat up “Then you should definitely fire her! Who knows what other secrets she’s been leaking.”

  I shook my head and buttoned up my suit. “Look, it's all sorted now. She understood her mistake and she’s moving on with it.

  And so should you.”

  Marc bit his tongue and got up to leave. Oliver, I have seen the way you look at her...”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You have a thing for her.”

  Before he shut the door behind him, Emily walked in with a piece of paper. The brisk noise of her approaching had me surprised.

  “I quit!” she said.

  “Why?”

  “I can’t do this anymore…”

  “Emily… don’t do this to me…” I sighed.

  I shook my head and sat on my desk. I was eye level with her and I put my hands firmly on her waist. Emily moved in closer.

  “When I held you like this, what did I say when we first met?”

  She paused while I remembered, the tingling sensation her body gave me.

  She took her time. “You needed someone to rely on…”

  “And I still do.”

  “I’m not that person anymore, Oliver…” Her eyes began to well up.

  “Do you remember what else I said?”

  Emily blinked a number of times and she tried to remember. I moved my hands up to hold the sides of her face.

  “I know you…”

  “Emily, what we went through is all part of the experience. You move on from that and learn. I can’t afford to lose you now, especially with the workload ahead of us. Do you understand?”

  She lifted her hands and held them on my forearms and nodded. I kissed her gently on the forehead and walked to the door to let her out.

  “Emily, we can talk over dinner, I’ll pick you up, ok?”

  ***

  It was another humid night and I dressed in blue jeans and a crisp, white cotton, collared shirt. I started up the Lamborghini and headed out to pick up Emily. Driving on the motorway my mind kept replaying what Marc said. It kept ringing in my head.

  “I have seen the way you look at her…”

  I arrived to see Emily again waiting for me at the bus stop. She was wearing her corporate attire, white blouse, black skirt and her glasses. She looked gorgeous. I pulled up beside her and smiled because she remembered.

  She frowned when she saw me, dressed so casual.

  “Oliver was this a business dinner?”

  “Get in.” I said, still smiling.

  I said nothing more but indicated right to head out. I listened when Emily went over the detail of the work I'd asked her do. From arranging the meeting with the sales team next week to the final appointment with Sherry.

  The place I chose was the Sake bar. A Japanese, tepanaki bar and restaurant. I pointed to it when we passed and we pulled up to the side of the building and walked.

  “Have you been here before?” I said.

  “No, I’m assuming, it’s all sushi, right?”

  “They do a variety of dishes. "You will pretty much, get a taste of Japan with the food they bring out.”

  “Good, because I’m starving…” she said, rubbing her tummy.

  The Sake bar had the Japanese lanterns and the traditional style door. I opened it to let Emily in, when she caught fright at the sound of the gong that they smashed. I laughed when she adjusted her glasses to raise her eyebrow at me.

  The entrance had three sets of wooden pews and tables, and with groups of people chatting away, the place was packed and noisy. I'd reserved the upstairs area for ourselves, which was quiet and more intimate. Our table was a low one surrounded with cushions. There was a lantern above us, its warm light emitting on the table and the red glow from the surround which illuminated the white walls. Emily tried to sit down, but I tapped her on the shoulder to remove her shoes. The Japanese blinds or Sudare added to the environment. Tight space made us think we were in Japan.

  She had her elbows on the table with her head in her palms. Soaking in the atmosphere, I gave her the Grill and tepanyaki menu. She was cute trying to pronounce some of the dishes, but got overwhelmed with the choices, so I made a call to get all of them.

  “Oliver, I wasn’t that hungry!”

  “We can share. I haven’t had a chance to try all of the dishes myself. Another experience, huh?” I added.

  Emily smiled and put the menu down.

  The waiter took our order and served our sake. I poured a cup for her and I laughed when she was grossed out by its taste. She'd opened up her notebook and taken her pen out when I put my hand on hers.

  “Put it away, I want to talk about you.”

  She blinked a number of times and put it aside.

  I glanced at my watch and I looked up. “Tell me about your family…”

  Emily paused and straightened up. “My mother lives in Australia, she stays in Sydney with my younger sister Stephanie.”

  “So you moved here from Sydney?”

  She shook her head. “No, they moved there, I stayed. We don’t talk, it’s kind of complicated.”

  The waiter brought in the first dish, grilled salmon wings. The salmon had a thin coating of batter and was fried lightly to give it a golden coat. My mouth watered as I gave Emily chopsticks to use. “Do you know how to use these?” I asked, holding mine and clicking them together like a crab. I watched as Emily tried but kept dropping them. She tried once more then gave up. I reached over and held her hand and guided her.

  “I think you might have to spoon feed me” she laughed.
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  “You mean chopstick feed you,” I corrected. “Can I ask you something Emily?”

  “Sure,” she said, using the fork from the table to eat.

  “Where does your father fit in all this?”

  She placed her fork down and picked up the serviette to wipe her mouth. “My father died when I was eight… Cancer.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Do you remember much of him?”

  She smiled when the memories of him seemingly came to mind. “I remember everything…”

  “I understand why you slapped me when we first met.” I said smoothing my face.

  “It’s ok. You didn’t know.”

  “What were your fondest memories of him?”

  Emily inhaled and I saw emotion envelop her.

  “My fondest memory was when my father taught me how to ride a bike, before he died. I remember being so scared because he took off the training wheels. I didn’t want to get on the bike, but he stood from a little distance and was encouraging me. I was scared, nervous and excited.”

  “Did you fall?”

  “Almost, but my father caught me. He held the frame and he said to me to never be afraid of falling and just pedal.” She smiled. “He pushed me forward by surprise and soon I was pedalling on the bike. I never fell.”

  Emily blinked a number of times to clear her eyes. “Apart from the mistake I made, how am I going, Oliver?”

  “I’m happy with your work. You have taken so much load off Marc and me. We appreciate the effort you put in. We really do.”

  Emily smiled and thanked me for the praise. “I love working for you. You’re a good boss. Can I ask something about you?”

  “Sure.” I said.

  “Why aren’t you attached?”

  “Attached?”

  “You know, a girlfriend? Wife?”

  I noticed Emily put her hands on the table with that stare to see how I would react. And she asked a very good question that I hesitated in answering. I couldn’t say anything and I felt like she had me.

  I paused.

  “Oliver, are you disgusted about what I used to do. The number of men I have slept with?”

  My head angled down and I closed my eyes, trying not to think about that question.

  She put her hand on mine. “I heard what Marc said, the moment I walked into your office. I just want to know what your reservations about me are.”

  She stroked my hand with her finger and the moment went quiet. She damn near made my eyes water but I could only say what was on my heart. “Emily… please understand. You know how complicated the situation is. It’s not appropriate to go there... I’m your boss, for god's sake.”

  Her eyes shifted side to side. She was hurt.

  “Calm down Emily…”

  “Why? I can’t help the way I feel about you,” she blurted. “And I’m upset. You can’t be honest with me about the way you feel.”

  I intertwined my hand with hers and said, “I’m proud of you. To watch you progress in these last couple of months and to see the complete change in you. To see you now in this new life, I know you are happy now...”

  Emily nodded and sniffled.

  “I am Oliver – I am happy when I’m with you…”

  ***

  The next day Marc burst in on Emily and me. He threw a folder on my table. Then was pacing to and fro trying to calm down, making a racket with his shoes. “Shit, I knew it!” he shouted.

  “Knew what?”

  “Read it! I met with Sherry, she’s out to take the shirts of our backs!”

  The file was thick as my thumb so I handed it to Emily to read. Marc went over to my cupboard to get a bottle of scotch out, but it was empty.

  “Marc, I want the executive summary.”

  “I sat down with Sherry, to give her the signed documents, approving the redundancy packages for all the sales force. Then the bitch gives me another document for me to sign to forfeit all the intellectual property!”

  My mind went into processing mode. So that was her game all along. Take the accounts, dump all personnel and take the rest of our assets. Now with Sherry exploiting that info on Marc the situation became complicated. “What’s the deadline for us to sign?”

  “Twenty-eight days. She wants to meet with you as well. Oliver, signing over the sales force and our names was tough, but I don’t expect you to do the same, not for this. We both worked hard to have full control of the I.P. If it means, it costs me my daughter and our marriage…then so be it.”

  A distance voice spoke. “There’s another way… I have an idea.”

  We both turned to Emily, who was circling segments on the page. “You’ve done enough damage!” Marc growled.

  “Drop it! Will ya?" I said. "Let’s hear what she has to say.”

  Emily shrugged it off and continued. “What if we stage another meeting with Sherry?" She added,

  “You guys signed the acquisition based on eighty percent, of the Intellectual property, right?

  Marc and I both thought deeply about it.

  “Yeah.”

  “So if I was to confide in Sherry that twenty percent of the assets are worth nothing she might waiver the latest agreement.”

  I turned to Marc since was always the critical thinker in our partnership. He does this thing with his fingers, tugging on his beard when he is deep in thought.

  “She might be on to something… My concern is the due diligence.”

  “The process of due diligence was up, the moment we signed the first agreement.”

  “Sherry could take us to court under false information.”

  “She won’t have a leg to stand on. All the financial information on the eighty percent is correct. That last twenty percent, she won’t have any info on, as it wasn’t part of the initial agreement.”

  We both paused, deep in thought. Emily's idea built up momentum in our minds.

  Emily got curious to why we were so protective of the information. “If you don’t mind me asking, what is all this intellectual property you keep talking about?”

  Marc eyeballed me and put his index finger on his lips. I lifted my hand up to quell his reservation. We had to trust Emily, she was part of the team now.

  “Cerberus petroleum are only interested, in our advances in hybrid electric engine designs. When Marc and I started, we patented our designs and sold them to commercial manufacturers. We got a good roll but then we caught the interest of global car manufacturers.”

  “You became a threat to them so they are buying you out,” she said.

  “Exactly. Cerberus petroleum is the biggest oil conglomerate so when they caught wind of the prototype we had, they swooped in and offered the acquisition.”

  “So why did you take it?”

  “Money.” Marc continued on. “Our prototypes needed a serious cash injection to be deemed worthy by the car manufacturers but the rumours were circulating already of our progress when the government gave us funding to continue our research."

  “Emily," I said. "Our engine designs create an average fuel efficiency of forty to fifty-five percent. Could you imagine if our technology was adopted across the board?”

  “I get it, their turnover gets slashed by half. Their stock prices would plummet.”

  “Marc and I knew they weren’t interested in advancing our designs so we only allowed them access to some of it.”

  “So what now, Oliver?" Marc asked. "I hate to say this, but Emily is our only hope.”

  I folded my arms stared at her. “Sherry will still want to have our heads on a platter if we go through this.”

  “I know, I’ll gladly take that hit.” Marc said.

  “You up for this, Emily?”

  She nodded with enthusiasm.

  “Organise the reservations at Garrisons," I said. "You and I have a dinner date with Sherry.”

  Marc's ears pricked up and he grinned. Emily started blushing and smiled. “Dinner date?”

  “I mean, business meeting. Can you meet me at m
y place at seven p.m.? We will taxi in.”

  Marc’s eyebrows raised, “You sure you don’t need me there? It sounds like you two are gonna have a party afterwards.”

  He got up to leave, but I laughed and said. “If Emily brings this home for us, we will.”

  ***

  Emily made the reservations and I headed home to get ready. There were a few things lingering in my mind, about what she said. Am I disgusted with her past as a prostitute? Do I have feelings for her? The second question I knew. It was obvious what her feelings were for me. I couldn’t help but blink multiple times when she said it.

  “I’m happy, when I’m with you…”

  I arrived home to walk past my water feature. Two rectangular ponds, each side of my entranceway to the door. It had blue LED lights that illuminated the glass panes while water trickled down it like a waterfall. The panels were five metres long and I designed that so it could help me separate work from home, my tranquil sanctuary. I stood in the middle to listen to the trickle and drops of the water, before going inside.

  I glanced at my watch, it was now six p.m. I left the door open for Emily and jumped in the shower to get ready. I took out my single breasted matt grey, three-piece suit. Then another thought entered my mind. I went out into the lounge and placed the vest and the jacket on the sofa. I buttoned up my grey shirt. I replayed the events, where I first met Emily, and remembered the attraction.

  “I see you are deep in thought…” Emily said, leaning against the door.

  I smiled when she walked in. She was wearing a black one-piece dress that clung to her beautiful body. I watched whilst doing the knot of my tie, the way she slowly approached, holding her matching black purse. It had a wet sheen on it. The elegant pair of heels she wore were glossy.

  I swallowed when Emily leaned in, to put her purse on the leather sofa. Her perfectly formed rear was a like a silhouette etched in my mind.

  She was desirable.

  Smoking hot.

  I wished that things were different. I wished I wasn’t her boss. I wanted her…

  “I was thinking about you…” I whispered.

  “What?”