Swindled

by Mayes, June

  It was great to have good friends and family but it was times like these that she missed having a partner. The last year had been so busy she hadn’t had time to meet anyone let alone miss having someone. The biggest problem she decided was that she had plenty of company. It made her lazy. Finding someone to fit in with everyone seemed too much work. It was only now that Beth really wished she had done something different. She shook her head; there was no use worrying about it. Goodness knows Beth had enough to stress to deal with about the business. There had to be a way forward, they had to succeed.

  By the third meeting Beth decided she was ready for anything. She had stopped for a rejuvenating cup of coffee and was feeling strong enough to take on the next challenge. Unfortunately for her, if possible, the third meeting of the day was turning out to be even worse then the first and second. A sure sign Beth felt that fate was upset with her for something. The plus side however, as far as Beth was concerned, was that the meeting looked like it wasn’t going to last longer then a few minutes.

  She was following the Head of Purchasing into a quiet meeting room at the end of a long corridor. So far it was not going well. The man had greeted her with a ‘So are you the gal I’m meeting?’ as he openly leered down her top. The room he led her into was made up of temporary partitions held together with what looked like wood coloured masking tape. Hmm classy Beth thought with a quiet snicker to herself. She wondered what accountant had thought it was a good idea to cut costs by removing normal nice boardrooms with, gasp, windows.

  Throwing himself into a chair as he arrived, the Head of Purchasing put his hands behind his chair and said,

  “All right then show it to me.” Arrogant little man Beth thought as she tried to calmly count to a hundred while she shut the door and started unpacking their sample case. Swallowing her pride would be a small price to pay if this guy actually bought some of the range. He was the Head of Purchasing for one of the major department stores. Just one order from him would solve all their problems.

  Beth cleared her throat and plugged in their laptop with the presentation. Just as the logo appeared on the screen, the Head of Purchasing leaned forward to snag a particularly sexy number in beaded velvet and silk piped straps.

  “Start with this one,” he said and sent another leering look at Beth’s cleavage. She looked at him and at the bra in his hand.

  “Okay,” Beth replied as she accepted the piece he handed her. “This is a winter style with hand piped adjustable straps and the beading has been …”

  “No, no,” he said waiving his hand interrupting her. “Just put it on would you?”

  “Pardon me?” Beth asked raising her eyebrows. Fate really couldn’t be that angry with her could it?

  “You don’t have to bother with all that business stuff. I’ll buy some of the range just as soon as you demonstrate how user-friendly the items are. Convince me, know what I mean?” he asked putting enough intonation on the words ‘convince me’ that a rock would have understood what he meant. Yup it looked like fate really was not happy with Beth at the moment. Beth gave the guy an uneasy look as he stood up.

  “What the hell,” he said. “Why don’t we just get down to negotiations?” As he reached out a hand and tweaked her breast Beth slammed her knee between his legs. It was an automatic reaction – honest it was, she told herself as he doubled up on the floor.

  By the time the department store security arrived to escort her out of the building, Beth had packed up her samples and was more then ready to leave. She barely had to explain to the security guard why she had kneed his boss in the balls. The guy was laughing so hard he could barely hear her. Apparently the Head of Purchasing was known for these kinds of negotiations. So much so in fact that the office staff took bets on how potential victims would react. From what Beth could figure out, standing by the elevator doors next to the guard who was wiping tears of laugher from his eyes, she had managed to make the CEO’s secretary a rather wealthy woman today. Honestly there was no such thing as ethical business anymore Beth decided as she left the building.

  What was even more frightening was that she had probably just been introduced to an accurate cross-section of the retail sales force – the cheap, the greedy and the sex craved. Now all she had to do was find that small percentage of ‘normal’ and ‘honest’ and they just might get a sale. Was it possible in business that that small percentage still existed?

  Chapter 23

  *

  “He’s WHAT?” David asked. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. It had taken days to pin Thomas down and actually find time in all their schedules to sit face to face. David wasn’t sure it was worth it.

  “Dead,” Thomas replied almost cheerfully as he shoved another forkful of food into his mouth, apparently unconcerned. He kept his eyes on David who sat across from him and David didn’t miss the small smile that quirked on Thomas’s lips. The reprobate was enjoying this, David thought. No doubt he thought it was funny. David could feel his jaw had dropped, it just seemed so unbelievable and he had to admit sort of amusing. The guy David had been hell bent on tracking down, the guy he had looked everywhere for but couldn’t find was dead. That would explain, at least, why he couldn’t find him, David thought.

  “He’s dead?” he said watching his friend take a swallow of his pint. David still wasn’t quite sure that Thomas was being completely straight with him. He could believe this was some elaborate hoax cooked up by overactive imaginations but he couldn’t believe it was actually true. It just didn’t seem possible.

  “Yup,” Thomas sounded positively cheerful this time around. He really was enjoying this. David couldn’t help himself, he laughed. He just couldn’t get his head around it. It seemed so off the wall. Dead? The guy was actually dead? Between them Pete was convulsed in his chair with laughter. He knew the entire story of the missing funds from David and had been instrumental in helping track Thomas down. Now though he seemed as gleeful as Thomas watching David’s reaction to the news that his thief was dead. So much so that David briefly wondered somewhat sourly if Pete had been in on it as well.

  They were sitting in the gastro pub around the corner from the new offices having lunch. It was a pub David had been assured by his new secretary where they served ‘real food’. David figured anything would be an improvement from the pie shaped cardboard with a congealed gravy type liquid poured on top he remembered being the usual fare. Things had changed while he had been travelling. This was one change he could get use to as he looked down at his plate of fish and chips, gourmet style. He looked back up at his companions.

  “So how sure are we that this guy is actually dead? A guy who managed to convince half the investors in town that he was legit and above board,” David asked somewhat dryly. He had a great deal of satisfaction in watching Thomas turn an unhealthy purple colour as he choked down his food. Thomas despite appearances was still feeling bruised that his company had believed in BG investments long enough to actually invest any money with them. Thomas took it as a personal affront to his profession. Pete who had been struggling to regain his breath went into another fit of laughter.

  “No the guy is really dead,” Thomas assured David after taking a minute to think about it. “He was murdered and it was on the news. How could he fake it?”

  “It just seems too neat and easy,” David wasn’t satisfied. “This guy sounds like he could have convinced his own mother he was dead and buried.” David admitted to himself that he had been looking forward to finding the weasel and destroying his company. It had been so long since he had the time to even think about business that it was almost a relief to be in the midsts of it again. And now the guy had gone and gotten himself murdered. How many people were murdered a week in London these days, he thought? No it was all just too neat and easy.

  He was going to follow up and if this guy was faking it, he would take great delight in exposing the criminal and getting on with his own life. David smiled. He had a feeling that getting on with his
life would entail meeting a particular lady again. ‘Watch out Beth, I’m coming’ he thought smiling at the view in front of him.

  *

  After the morning of let downs, Beth was pleased to be meeting up with Bee, Karin and Charlotte. Deep down she had known she would need the pick-me-up after her forage into industry and she was not wrong. With a sigh of relief Beth pushed open the glass door to the trendy bar where they had arranged to meet. It was a new arrival to the Covent Gardens collection of eateries and so far none of the friends had tried it. Rated as one of the best restaurants around, there had been no debate about meeting within its hallowed walls.

  By the time she arrived, Bee and Charlotte were already there having a chat over cocktails. Both were dressed in their usual business attire. Bee’s red brushed leather jacket set off her looks and added a dramatic flare to the black dress she wore underneath. Around her neck she had tied a scarf and she looked every inch the professional successful financial consultant. Charlotte in her more creative role as editor was wearing an elegant trouser suit in pale violet with bangles, bracelets and necklaces layered on. With her hair swept back into a bun, she gave off the look of a stylish gypsy that could easily fit into polite society. Only an ex-model could achieve that without looking decidedly worse for wear Beth thought as she smiled at her friends.

  “I see neither of you are planning on returning to your respective jobs today,” Beth laughed as she sat down at the table. She had just placed an order for a pink frothy alcoholic beverage when Karin came swinging in. Karin, true to moving style, was wearing jeans and a white Chinese collar shirt. She had made no concessions to her outfit despite the fact they were in one of the trendiest places around. A thick chocker strung with trading beads and simple single beaded earrings completed the outfit. Her effortless outfit suited Karin down to the tee. As she wandered over to their table more then one ‘working’ lunch watched her progress.

  “Another for me,” Karin said breathlessly to the waiter as she dropped into the chair. The friends all chatted for a few minutes just catching up on all the gossip. Charlotte was seeing a new man. He had swept into her life about a week before bearing wine and chocolates. Apparently he had tapped into some cosmic guide that told him exactly what to say and what to do in order to convince a woman that he was the ideal partner. Of course, Charlotte therefore thought he was just shining perfection.

  “He wants us to go to Switzerland this winter to go skiing,” Charlotte explained glowing with satisfaction.

  Everyone else around the table just laughed. Every boyfriend Charlotte went out with tapped into that cosmic guide and each one was perfect for the first week. Next month the sagas would begin and they could look forward to some juicy gossip about the poor guy’s personal habits.

  “I’ve had an offer on my flat,” Karin told them which caused a great deal more excitement.

  “What! Already?” Bee asked delighted. “You haven’t even finished moving in!”

  “Let alone finished fixing it up,” Beth said with a smile on her face. Karin was really a victim of her own success.

  “Oh no, does this mean we’re going to be boxing everything and moving you again?” Charlotte groaned suddenly.

  “No, no. The buyers haven’t even seen the place yet and they don’t want to move in until I’ve finished doing it up,” Karin explained after sticking her tongue out at Charlotte. It was a mark on how well respected Karin was as a designer that people were willing to buy sight unseen. “Its kind of a relief to be honest,” she continued. “It means I can actually take my time. They aren’t going to be ready to move in until summer so until then I can actually live in the place for a while before moving on.” Beth was pleased and she could tell from the expressions on everyone else’s faces that they were as well. With Karin being able to take her time it meant more lunches with all the friends together and less conference calls because Karin would be able to lead a more normal life. It was good news.

  Bee added to the excitement. She had decided with the wedding only three weeks away that it was time to treat them all to a spa day.

  “I just think that we all deserve a few mud baths, facials, hot stone massages. You guys know the type of thing,” she said with a grin waving her hand in the air. It was always fun to take some time out and have fun with friends Beth decided as they all got excited over the prospect of the treat.

  “Actually it was Ken who came up with the idea and its kind of a gift from him to all of you,” Bee admitted shyly. Her soon-to-be husband, Ken, was just the kind of guy who would think of doing something like this Beth thought.

  “What do you see in that man?” Charlotte asked sarcastically raising her eyebrow at Bee. They had all considered Ken almost too good to be true from the moment they met him. So far he had not failed them. Kind, considerate, handsome and gentle, he wasn’t jealous of Bee’s friends or frustrated by their antics. In fact he seemed to enjoy the tales Bee brought home to him almost as much as Scott, Vickie’s husband did. Without a doubt it was a perfect match.

  “I just see myself growing old with him,” Bee said with a smile. Bee always glowed when she talked about Ken, Beth realised. Together they made a strong and incredibly happy team. One day Beth thought it might be nice to have that as well. Someone she could everything with, someone who could make her glow.

  “I guess it just goes to show that the right one is out there for everyone,” Karin laughed as they toasted their blushing friend. Bee was so happy and it rubbed off on the rest of them. They smiled together.

  “Yes and speaking of which,” Bee replied shooting a look at Beth. “Have you heard from David recently?” It was a rather pointed question from the one person who usually eased gently into potentially tricky situations. It just goes to show that Bee was as convinced as Karin that David just might be something interesting for Beth.

  “No I haven’t heard from him since that terrible phone call. Think he is very much out of the picture.” Even as Beth said it she could feel her inner romantic self whimpering. It would have been nice to at least see him again. Okay she had to be honest it would have been nice to have another roll in the hay with him. That man definitely knew his way around a woman’s body. He could certainly make her glow. And she wasn’t going to see him again. Damn it!

  “I’m sure he will call again,” Karin said with a smug grin. “Or you could call him.” She had shot a quiet glance at Beth after making the pointed comment about there being a man for everyone. There was no subtle tact as far as Karin was concerned. He was a guy, Beth was a girl, what more was there to discuss?

  “Yeah don’t worry about it, he will call,” Charlotte agreed. At that moment Charlotte was flagging down the waiter to get them more drinks. He responded as if her every wish was his command. For a trendy bar this sort of treatment was virtually unheard of and Beth watched in awe as Charlotte worked her magic. Usually in places like these the staff tended to be more aloof then the patrons but in this case it was probably an acceptable lapse of cultured behaviour. Charlotte had after all beckoned him over. No man yet had managed to stand up against the crock of that particular finger. Charlotte was just one of those women who had men falling at her feet. The rest of them could only watch and learn.

  “Listen guys I’m really not bothered,” Beth lied. She was bothered but she was too much of a wimp to admit it. She said, “Its fine,” just as her mobile rang. “No, this was not going to be him. Really it isn’t,” she reassured them looking at the amused expressions on her friends faces. Karin, Bee and Charlotte stayed quiet and looked back at Beth with speculative eyebrows raised.

  “Right,” said Charlotte. “I believe you. Now answer that phone,” Beth picked up.

  “Hi, it’s me,” Vickie’s breathless voice came over the phone. Beth tried to tell herself that she was relieved but inside the romantic side of her heart was breaking down. It would have been nice. Okay it would never have actually happened but it was always nice to dream. Beth smiled listening to her
sister’s laboured breathing. As the pregnancy advanced even getting up to make a phone call was the equivalent to running a sprint for Vickie.

  “Hi. I’m with the girls – we’re having lunch. Can I call you back?” she replied to her sister’s voice. No doubt Vickie wanted her to pick up something on the way home.

  “It’s not important. I just wanted to tell you that David rang,” Vickie said smugly. She sounded like a ten year old again who knew something her sister didn’t. Beth was surprised that she wasn’t blowing raspberries down the phone at her.

  “What!” Beth exclaimed realising what Vickie had just said. Her sister started giggling quietly over the phone. Bee, Charlotte and Karin were watching the conversation with eyes wide. A fresh range of drinks had arrived and they were all partaking with grins watching as Beth’s face turned redder with each passing second.

  “And I gave him your mobile number,” Vickie continued. This time she sounded truly gleeful over the phone. She was enjoying having her sister at tenterhooks far too much Beth decided.

  “Why?” Beth exploded again. Panic set in as her stomach started to flutter. David was looking for her? He wanted to talk to her again.

  “He said it was important so expect his call.” Vickie gave one last laugh as she hung up.

  Beth stared at the phone feeling the eyes of her three friends on her back. What a coincidence. They looked amused and far to interested in what was going on. She really was going to have to stop being their resident soap opera drama queen before they became addicted. Before she could even hope to escape their focused attention the phone in her hand rang again. She gave Bee, Charlotte and Karin a weak smile and glanced down. Private number. Didn’t this kind of thing only happen in the movies?

  Chapter 24

  Beth took a deep breath and stared at her phone. He was calling her. After the disastrous call and being woken up by the police it seemed inconceivable. She thought he would have gone running for cover. The phone gave a second ring. Her whole body felt warm and her heart started to beat wildly at the thought of speaking to him again.