Oh, God no. ‘If you will excuse me, Leon, I need to powder my nose.’
As she spoke, the bell for everyone to enter the Great Hall sounded. Gwen went with the crowd then ducked into the ladies toilets. She paced up and down, muttering, hoping that Leon hadn’t managed to move her without her being there to approve it. She knew the table she should be sitting on. She would go there, see who she was sitting with and if she had been moved, or she didn’t like the look of them, she would leave. If Barry asked why, she only had to mention menstrual cramps and she’d be forgiven everything.
So she’d walked down to the table and was delighted to find that a) Leon hadn’t managed to move her and b) she was sitting next to an absolutely gorgeous guy. Dark hair, pale skin, quite Gothic and hot.
So she’d sat, introduced herself and when he said he was John Worthing, Gwen had known without a doubt that staying here was going to be the best thing she had done in a long while.
Glasses clinked and she took a sip.
‘So, what has that miscreant said about me?’ John Worthing said.
‘Nothing of consequence.’ Gwen smiled at him. She was buzzing, every part of her tingling. Right now, it felt great to be alive.
‘Nothing Alec says is of consequence. I hope you’ve been with him long enough to realise that.’
‘I cannot say anything against my boss,’ Gwen said, then twisted her lips so John would get the unspoken message.
‘I value loyalty.’
‘I value truth.’
‘Ah.’ He leant a little closer and Gwen took a deep breath. He smelled wonderful. Musky and male and totally perfect. ‘And the truth is?’
‘You are the least implausible figure in the building.’
John laughed. ‘High praise indeed. I wonder what he would say about you?’
‘That I don’t listen to him enough.’
‘I hope you don’t. I wouldn’t want him to spoil you.’
‘I’m a big girl. I can only be spoiled when I want to be.’
John’s smile turned wolfish and Gwen curled her toes to control the want that surged through her. Having an affair with the chief of staff of a government member would be a bad, bad idea.
Delicious, wonderful, enticing, hot, but bad.
‘Let me see if I can convince you,’ John said, and Gwen really, really wanted him too.
‘Gwendolen Fairford. What a delight to see you here.’
The female voice cut across the fog of desire that was swirling. Gwen blinked then turned around to see Jan Oderron, a staffer for one of the minor party MPs. ‘Jan. Good evening. Lovely, isn’t it?’
‘Absolutely.’ Jan looked at John and frowned. ‘Worthing.’
‘Good evening, Jan. You look wonderful.’
Jan gave John a withering stare and then smiled at Gwen. ‘Might I have a word?’
‘Of course.’
Jan took a step away, then stopped to frown at Gwen, who hadn’t moved. ‘In private?’
Gwen put on a fake smile, stood and followed the other staffer. Jan spun when they were standing under the giant tapestry and hissed, ‘That’s John Worthing. He works for the government. You can’t be seen with him.’
It was, Gwen reflected, quite Romeo and Juliet. ‘I know who he is and who he works for. I have a plan.’
Jan frowned, then her face lit up. ‘Alec has put you onto something. That’s fantastic. What is he planning?’
It really was remarkable how no one in the building knew that Alec and John were friends. ‘I really can’t say.’
‘I am sure it will be brilliant. Alec is a political genius. Say, I’ve been trying to have a chat with him about a mutually beneficial arrangement for some time. Can you help me meet with him?’
This made the third request for a meeting with Alec tonight. Gwen had no doubt that if Alec had any interest in hearing what these people had planned, he would have met with them already. ‘Alec is his own man, Jan. But I will mention to him how kind you were to me tonight and see if I can’t finesse him around.’
‘Thank you, Gwen. And I really do mean the best by making sure you aren’t getting in too deep with a Government staffer. You need to keep to your side, Gwen.’
That was part of the problem with politics at the moment, Gwen thought as she made her way back to the table. People weren’t talking to others enough.
‘Trouble?’ John said as she sat.
‘Yes, another person wanting me to get them a meeting with Alec.’ Gwen took a sip of the wine. ‘Even when he’s not here, he manages to make my life miserable.’
‘There’s been a few people requesting meetings?’
‘That was the third so far.’
‘Did you mean what you said by making tonight fabulous?’
Gwen looked at him. The smile was open and daring. ‘What are you thinking?’
‘I’m thinking it would serve Alec right for not coming if he found himself with a whole string of meetings he can’t get out of.’
Gwen started to smile, but stopped. ‘Wonderful idea, but I don’t have access to Alec’s calendar.’
‘It will be on his computer. Talk to everyone. Line them all up at lunch time—you know how Alec will be furious to lose his lunches to meetings. Then we go back to the office, you put them in the system, send out the invites, they will all be accepted tonight and when Alec comes in tomorrow morning, he will have no option but to attend.’
‘Alec will wiggle his way out. Somehow.’
‘Possibly. Probably. But that will require effort, and he may have to make other promises he doesn’t want to make, and all in all he will have to work to get his lunch times back, and if there’s one thing Alec hates, it’s work.’
Gwen shook her head. ‘No wonder you and Alec are friends.’
John bowed. ‘I try.’
Gwen went searching for the three people who had asked her to organise a meeting for Alec. Each of them happily bought the lie that she had let Alec know about their interest and he’d been happy to organise a lunch meeting with each. So Wednesday, Thursday and Friday lunch were all locked away.
Gwen returned to the table and raised a glass to John. ‘To my mentor, for teaching me to be totally Machiavellian. Shall we adjourn to the office?’
‘Not yet.’ John grinned as he clinked his glass against hers. ‘Let’s stay an hour. I bet once news gets out that Alec Moncrieff is actually prepared to meet with people, there will be a lot more requests. Besides, I’m hungry.’
Entrée was served and they ate and talked.
‘So where were we before revenge against Alec took the focus away,’ John mused. ‘Ah, that’s right. I was going to have a go at spoiling you.’
Gwen smiled, glad the silliness over Alec hadn’t ended John’s obvious attraction to her, because she was just as attracted to him. ‘I should warn you—I am notoriously difficult to impress.’
‘I’m a political staffer. It’s my job to impress the notoriously difficult. Unfortunately, I need to start by stating the obvious—you are the most beautiful woman here tonight.’
It wasn’t inventive or clever but still, warmth spread over Gwen. ‘Thank you.’
‘And I decided that was the case even before I saw your face. I caught a glimpse of the back of you in the crowd and I knew I had to meet you.’
‘My back is that attractive?’
‘Your back. Your front. I haven’t had a chance to judge your sides yet, but I am sure they are equally lovely.’
Gwen laughed. ‘I only show my sides to the very select.’
‘Then I hope I earn the opportunity. As lovely as you are physically, what I am finding most enchanting right now is how clever you are. I don’t think there is anything sexier than trading quips and barbs with a clever woman.’
Gwen bowed her head to the compliment. ‘Thank you. The physical I cannot really help—I am what I am. But I work hard to be clever.’
‘And I appreciate it. It’s wonderful to know that after we’ve delighted
each other in bed, the pillow talk won’t be boring.’
‘It’s a little early to talk about us being in bed together, don’t you think?’
John leant close and his eyes captured her. ‘I am not taking it for granted. I know I must win you. But I cannot hold back my desires. We are truthful with each other, remember?’
His voice was like dark syrup, sliding over her and setting her body on fire. Gwen wanted to kiss him, taste him, indulge in the dangerous heat. ‘You are definitely on the right track to win me.’
John took a deep breath. ‘Thank you for the boon, my lady. I shall treasure it.’
‘Um, excuse me.’
The voice was like cold water across her shoulders. Gwen shuddered, pulled away from the web John was weaving and turned to see a tall, skinny man by her side.
‘You’re Gwendolen Fairford, right? Work for Alec Moncrieff?’
Ah, the revenge. ‘Yes, I am.’
By the time dinner was served, five more people had come to organise meetings with Alec. He wasn’t going to be free for lunch for nearly two weeks.
‘He’ll be furious,’ Gwen said. Maybe they had gone too far?
‘Nothing more than he deserves,’ John said. ‘Would you like to try some of my chicken? It is delicious.’
Gwen cut herself a portion. It was wonderful. ‘It’s easy for you to say he deserves it. You won’t be the one he blames.’
‘Of course I will be. He would never suspect you would do such a thing, whereas he knows I’m planning a way to get back at him for being stuck in a boring dinner while he is out having an adventure. Not that a burlesque reimagining of the Howard Government is my idea of fun, but Alec will be having a whale of a time. He will automatically believe it’s me, so while you’ll have to deal with him raging a bit, you won’t get the full force of his anger. He’ll leave that to me.’
‘Does Alec get angry?’
‘Rarely but when he does, it is a sight to behold. Now, eat up, and then we’ll head back to the office.’
They left separately. Gwen went first. She hurried through the quiet corridors of the building to the office, there turning on lights. She stood in the doorway of Alec’s office, shaking. It was one thing to take these meetings, another to actually put them into his calendar. But then, if she didn’t, it would be she who looked bad. This was the thing about revenge, she decided—once begun, you couldn’t pull out. You had to go all the way.
She sat down at the computer and immediately came across a problem. She didn’t know Alec’s password. It hadn’t occurred to her she’d need it—she had been on his computer several times during the work day, but it wasn’t locked then.
By the time Jack arrived, Gwen was pacing up and down Alec’s office. ‘It’s locked. I can’t get in. I organised those meetings for nothing. I’m such an idiot.’
‘You’re certainly acting like one.’ John sat on the lounge placed against the wall. Gwen stopped her pacing.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘That’s better. Stop panicking and think. Losing your cool in the midst of a plot is a sure-fire way to failure.’
Gwen took a deep breath. ‘I can’t call Alec and ask him.’
‘Absolutely you cannot. But I am willing to bet that I know his password.’
Gwen frowned. ‘How?’
‘Once you get to know Alec, you understand that he will make life as easy as possible for himself because he really doesn’t like to work hard. Try Bunbury.’
Gwen typed it in. ‘No.’
‘Hmm.’ John tapped his chin and Gwen wondered how a man could look seriously thoughtful and seriously sexy at the same time. ‘Try Poor Bunbury. No space, capital P and B.’
The computer screen flicked to the desktop. ‘You clever thing.’
‘Cleverer than Alec.’
Gwen opened Alec’s calendar and plugged in each of the lunches that had been planned. She sent the invites out and then closed everything down.
‘Done.’ She pushed back her chair. ‘I can’t believe I did that.’
‘I think that deserves a drink.’ John turned and walked out into the main part of the office, where her desk sat. Gwen followed and was astonished to see him lift a bottle of champagne, open it and pour it into two glasses.
‘I am going to have to learn you are capable of anything, aren’t I?’ She said as she accepted a glass from him.
‘When there is something I want—absolutely.’ John held his glass up for a toast. ‘Here’s to making this a fabulous evening. Part one has been amazing. May the second half be even better.’
Gwen had absolutely no doubt it would be.
Alec
Alec had a routine to his days. He would arrive at the office at seven, before anyone else. He’d already scanned the papers, television, radio and the internet for the hot stories and spent his first half an hour writing notes for Barry. He then spent the next half an hour making notes of what everyone else, especially the opposition leader, should say and then storing them in a file so he could look at them later and truly curse how stupid they were.
Then he got coffee and a bacon and egg roll for Barry. The boss always worked better with food in his belly. It would be sitting on his desk when Barry walked in at 8.30. They would meet, discuss the day with Gwen and Hamish, and then they’d all get on with their duties.
For the rest of the day, Alec would trawl the corridors, talking to people, finding out what was going on, planting little seeds of wisdom to those who deserved it. He’d keep track of where Barry was and ensure if he wasn’t in the office when the big man returned, he was there not long after. As long as he was around, Barry was happy. Keeping Barry happy was paramount.
The only break he gave himself was lunch. He considered lunch vitally important. Refuelling his body meant everything. If he could, he would lunch with John Worthing, who when he wanted to be was great fun. Otherwise, he’d go find a café in suburban Canberra, surround himself with the people and find out what was really happening in the world.
At night, alone in his apartment (which had a view over Parliament House) he would plot and plan how they were going to get back into government. When he wasn’t out eating or fucking.
The night after the burlesque, Alec almost skipped into the office. While moments of last night had been disturbing, and one particular image had caused nightmares, he did not doubt for a moment that he’d had a much better time than John. He was looking forward to crowing to his friend about it.
He began his day as he always did—notes for Barry, notes for himself. The main issue this morning was media reports once again that the prime minister was in danger of being rolled by his party. Political life in Australia had become an endless season of do unto Caesar. Alec was grateful Barry was the type of man to not get involved in such shenanigans. It would be so much work to keep track of all the plots, the numbers, who we supported today.
However, he didn’t need to go get Barry his coffee and roll—the boss was meeting Harry Chasuble from the Doctor’s Association. Note—remind Gwen to warn him when she was adding appointments to the boss’s diary.
Instead, Alec fetched himself a latte and sitting at his desk, texted John.
‘How was last night, old man?’
‘How was yours? I know you want to crow,’ came back the reply.
Alec grinned. ‘I spent a couple of enjoyable hours staring at some of the most beautiful breasts God has created. You?’
‘I think most of the breasts presented to me were man-made.’
Alec chortled. He could almost hear John’s suffering. ‘Tell me. Was it terribly heinous?’
John’s reply was a long time coming and when it came, it floored him. ‘One of the most enjoyable nights I’ve spent in a long time.’
It took Alec a moment to realise John was lying. ‘Then you won’t mind going to some more. I hear there’s another on next week.’
‘Delighted.’
The little liar. ‘Say what you like, John Worthin
g, I know who had the better night of it last night.’
‘So do I.’ And then a damned smiley face.
What the hell was the man doing, sending him a smiley face? Alec wanted to march right over and find out what was going on, but it suited both his and John’s ambitions that no one know of their friendship.
‘I’ll tell you more at lunch. You’ll be green with envy.’
‘One of us will be ill at lunch, but it won’t be me.’
Challenge accepted, Alec thought. He went online and found the best pictures of the burlesque, downloading them onto his phone so he could show John.
Barry arrived at nine and the staff gathered for a meeting. Gwendolen seemed a little quiet, but then she had had a late night at the blasted dinner last night. Barry went through the day’s plan quickly, then sent Hamish (the policy advisor) and Gwen away.
‘You need to tell Gwen that she can’t just make appointments for me,’ Barry said. ‘I went this morning because I didn’t want her to look bad, but next time I will just dump her in it. Make sure she knows.’
‘I will,’ Alec said.
When Alec went to tell Gwen, she was away from her desk. Shrugging, he went into his office. He’d tell her later.
He was playing a fabulous game of Doodle Jump on his computer when Hamish put his head in the office. ‘Lobelia Prism here for you.’
‘Excellent. Send her in.’
Lobelia came in, sat in the chair in front of his desk and said, ‘Why am I here?’
‘Good morning. Don’t you look ravishing. You obviously didn’t party too hard last night.’
Lobelia rolled her eyes. ‘Good morning. It was a good night. Things happened. Many, many things.’
Alec leant forward. ‘Such as?’
Lobelia smiled. ‘You tell me yours, I’ll tell you mine.’
‘Oh, mine is really simple. I’m calling in that favour I owe you over the delay over the plain tobacco packaging.’
‘Of course you are. You know, I would have owed you much more if you’d been able to scotch it all together.’
‘Lobelia, you and I both know that it was inevitable. I gave your clients an extra six months to plan and line their deadly pockets. Don’t underestimate that.’
The Importance of Ernestine Page 6
