by Sorell Oates
‘It wasn’t merely your balance you lost. Sadly your dignity disappeared as well,’ updated Oscar. ‘I was glad to see the red French knickers matched the bra.’
‘I was sure I read somewhere the English gentry seek to behave properly. A lady’s reputation the forefront of their actions.’
‘Goodness gracious me. What antiquated book did you dig that out from?’
‘You represent a new breed of English gent then?’
‘Not at all. Put me in the company of a lady and I’ll show you the exact type of cardboard, bland, British millionaire you’re online to find.’
‘I don’t like the implication I’m not a lady,’ snarled Katy, tearing a hole in her toast as she vented her anger buttering it with a knife.
‘And I don’t like being pigeon-holed,’ retorted Oscar humorously.
‘You’re very annoying.’
‘You’re very outspoken.’
Sulking, Katy waited for him to beg her pardon. Subdued, he ate his sausages and bacon, occasionally dipping his fried bread in the egg yolk.
‘I thought you said you were glad I stayed for breakfast?’
‘I am,’ he said placidly.
‘Even though I’m outspoken?’
‘I like outspoken.’
‘I’d rather be outspoken than annoying,’ she said huffily.
Trying to goad him, Katy hoped to find a space in their conversation to get a step up on him.
‘There are those, not including myself, that find outspoken people annoying,’ he notified her.
He had her beat. She hated it. She respected it. She loved it. It was schoolyard behavior—a boy pulling a girl’s pigtails to make her cry if he fancied her. Was Oscar essentially a child trapped in a man’s body?
‘Are you going to enlighten me as to how I ended up in your t-shirt?’
‘You can’t piece together what may have happened?’ queried Oscar vaguely.
‘I can guess.’
‘You’re no Nancy Drew, are you? I’m certain you’re on TV now. Investigative journalism clearly isn’t your field.’
If only he knew, thought Katy. Investigative journalism was her specialty, but right now she wanted the answers to come easily. She cleared her throat.
‘Don’t make me work for it. I had a long night and I’m not feeling brilliant.’
Oscar’s entire body language transformed.
‘Is there anything I can get you? Are you still unwell?’
‘No the medication worked fine. To be honest, I feel embarrassed about last night. I’ve hardly recovered any ground with this morning’s antics.’
Her smile was pitiful, as if his opinion of her mattered. Oscar was glad. He wanted it to matter. More and more he was beginning to feel as if he wanted to matter to her.
‘Do you not remember this from early this morning? I got you in my car. You told me you had medication to take for the headache and that you’d be sleepy afterward but it was effective. With your permission I brought you here. The dress would’ve been uncomfortable in bed. You wouldn’t have had clothes to wear home.
I offered you my shirt. I helped undress you—zips and buttons only—and you threw on the shirt and went to bed. Woke up a few hours later took the other tablet. Now here we are.’
‘Do I want to know how my bra ended up on the floor?’
‘Apparently it was a specific bra with a specific function.’
‘They’re called Wonder-Bras’
‘Yes. Evidently they’re quite uncomfortable. You insisted showing me your trick of how you could remove your bra without removing your shirt. It ranks right up there in my top three impressive feats.’
Katy scoffed at the sarcasm.
‘I take it you’ve not experienced a lot of magicians and illusionists in the course of entertainment.’
‘I might have made more of an effort to if I knew the climax was going to be discarding a bra from the t-shirt. Sadly. the majority of magicians I’m familiar with from TV don’t have your cleavage to warrant performing that treat,’ he said ruefully.
‘It’s a male-dominated industry. It’s why my bra trick is a show stopper.’
‘I won’t disagree with you there.’
‘Makes a change,’ she replied flippantly.
‘I am glad you stayed for breakfast,’ said Oscar seriously. ‘I had an inkling you’d be excellent company. I’d intended to take you on to dinner. I hope this compensates somewhat given your illness last night.’
Swallowing hard, Katy found herself not wanting his talk to be idle or insincere. Responding with thought and sincerity, she took a minute to compose herself. Irrespective of his boyish charm and youthful looks he was twelve years her senior. His hazardous sleep, the stubble shadowing his jaw line only accentuated his masculinity and age. Thanks to his wealth, opening doors Katy would never have the key to, she knew he was eons ahead of her in terms of life experience.
The conversation was flowing. She hoped the attraction was mutual, but with vastly differing lifestyles did they have any realistic chance of actually becoming a couple? Could a connection overcome the polar opposite lives they led? Remnants of the date flashed through her mind. In particular she was struck by her decision to make Oscar her training date, because she hadn’t perfected her story or ability to blend with the upper classes. Joking or not, his comment alluding that she wasn’t a ‘lady’ alerted her to the fact that Oscar could see through any facade she presented.
‘I’m glad you changed your mind. I could’ve sworn you were a man on death row preparing to walk the final mile to the electric chair, when I plonked down in the armchair by the fireplace.’
‘That’s not a million miles from the truth,’ he admitted.
‘I felt the same, but I’m glad you didn’t judge me on first impressions. Breakfast with you has been a wonderful start to a day, given the sudden halt in proceedings yesterday. We can both walk away knowing our meeting wasn’t a complete waste.’
‘Don’t judge me too harshly, Katherine. I might have put my foot in my mouth for the main part, but I’m not a bad guy. I thought I wanted someone frivolous and disposable, I was honest about that. If you meet someone you click with I think it’d be a huge mistake to let pride or prior plans prevent you from following up on that someone, if they’re right for you.’
‘Haven’t you ever heard the saying right person, wrong time?’
‘I have but I don’t buy it. If it really is the right person, you’ll make it the right time,’ insisted Oscar.
Without hesitation or invitation, leaning in he caught her lips. Putting her hands to his chest in a pathetic attempt to refuse the kiss, his soft lips melded with hers rendering her unable to even pretend to struggle. Katy wasn’t sure whether time stopped or sped up. Lost in the lingering kiss, somewhere between Oscar’s hands cupping her face and raking through her hair, she found herself carried to bed by him.
Placing her on the virginal sheets, he positioned himself atop her. As the heat intensified, Katy found her legs parting involuntarily allowing Oscar to shift between them. The kisses increasing at a feverish rush, she felt his hardness grinding into the crotch of her panties. Katy moaned, wanting him.
Torn from his roguish, rampant behavior, Oscar heard the faint sound of a cell phone. The ringtone became louder, drawing Katy’s attention to it. Acknowledging her phone, she wriggled out from under Oscar searching for her handbag. As she grabbed the strap of her handbag, the ringing stopped.
They swore in unison. Oscar for the interruption, knowing he’d missed his shot. Katy, because she knew who it was. Seeing her editor’s name flash up on her missed calls, she kicked herself for not reaching the device earlier.
‘I didn’t realize how late it was,’ she said, fetching her bra from the floor and flinging off her t-shirt to put it on.
‘Disappointed,’ said Oscar.
‘What?’ Katy was half listening.
‘Disappointed you couldn’t put the bra on while wearing the t-shi
rt. It’s like sawing someone in half and not putting them back together at the end of the show. It wouldn’t go down well in Vegas.’
‘You’re disappointed I did half a magic trick?’
‘I thought it might sound preferable to me saying I’m disappointed because I didn’t get to...’
‘Get to what?’ she asked, twirling round as she threw her dress on.
‘You know.’
‘I’m sure I don’t. You think because I’m not a lady, I’ll put out without any effort?’
‘Katherine, you’re becoming prickly.’
‘It’s not Katherine, it’s Katy.’
‘Oh.’
The silence between them had a deafening volume as she finished dressing.
‘It said Katherine on your profile,’ said Oscar gingerly.
‘I know, but everyone calls me Katy. It’s odd hearing someone call me Katherine.’
‘You should’ve corrected me when we met.’
‘Probably, but I wasn’t in fantastic form,’ she muttered
‘No.’
On his back, half propped up by his elbows, his eyes looked little boy lost.
‘Anyway, you’re so darn certain I’m not a lady, the abbreviation shouldn’t be this shocking to you.’
‘I was teasing. Why must you take everything so personally?’
‘Well, I’m glad you’ve got the day to tease, Oscar. I don’t. I have a job to go to, and thanks to you I’m late.’
‘Can I lend you my driver?’
‘No, I’ll catch a cab,’ she replied brusquely.
Catch a cab to the train station. Take the long train trek back to the office. Start repairing this whole sordid ordeal to progress the article. The thought was exhausting, but actually doing it would be harder. Plodding to the front door, she was stunned but weirdly happy Oscar’s hand was on the door intercepting her exit.
‘Don’t do it like this, Katy. Not after what we’ve said, what we nearly did.’
‘We were only kissing.’
‘I know. I liked kissing you and I think you liked kissing me.’
‘You are so arrogant. You’re so used to women falling at your feet you can’t see me for who I am.’
‘This is absurd. If you stopped and listened to yourself, you’d see that you’re behaving ridiculously and irrationally.’
Katy ripped the door handle. As the lock clicked Oscar slammed it shut.
‘If you want to walk out that door right now and leave like none of this matters, it will be our last goodbye,’ warned Oscar.
Her hand tightened on the handle.
‘I’m hoping you’ll take a deep breath, Katy, count to ten and look me in the eye before making that decision.’
Staring up at him, Katy opened the door. Oscar made no move to stop her. Stepping out she faintly closed it. Oscar clenched his fist wanting to punch the wall in frustration. There was a knock at the door. He opened it.
‘Only kidding,’ winked Katy, pecking him on the mouth. ‘Call me later!’
Chapter Seven
Walking into the office, Katy checked her watch noting it was early afternoon. Whether it was her absence from the courts or tardy time management, John’s temper was alight.
‘Seriously Katy, are you looking for ways to make me fire you?’
Her boss was not issuing an empty threat.
‘No, of course not. When have you ever known me to be late or call in sick?’ she challenged.
Understandably, he was annoyed she was missing work, but it wasn’t as if it was regular behavior. It strayed greatly from her norm.
‘A call might have been helpful.’
‘I know and I’m sorry.’
‘What happened, then?’
If ever there was a juncture to bring up embarking on Exclusive Love dating it was now. Katy refrained. She didn’t want John knowing about Oscar.
‘I was out last night. I had a migraine come on. They take a while to recover from if I don’t get my medication on time.’
‘I take it you didn’t.’
‘As a matter of fact I did. A severe migraine used to have me off school for three to five days. That I’m a only few hours late is relatively inconsequential.’
‘To you it may be, but you’ve had two quiet days at court. Nothing published. Given your absence today, we’ve had a bare judiciary section in the paper thus far.’
‘It’s not like it matters.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong, Katy, and demonstrate a poor grasp of our demographic. We’re a small town rag, and small town folk love small town talk. Our readers want to know who lost their license for drunk driving and which family reared the delinquent who was in court two months ago for hurling firecrackers into unsuspecting cars and has since been caught siphoning petrol from the mall.’
‘They do?’
‘Yes, they do.’
‘Toby Miller.’
‘Marie and Cliff’s son. What a surprise.’
Katy shook her head as John leant back in the chair, salivating like a dog given a juicy bone.
‘On that note, I should get—”
‘You are not getting off anywhere, young lady. We write for our readers, because the more readers we have, the more advertising we generate, the more...’
As a chastised child, Katy waited for the end of the sentence.
‘The more...’
John nodded for Katy to finish it for him.
‘The more revenue we generate.’
‘Give the girl a gold star!’
‘John, I’m having a rough day.’
‘You said your extra-curricular project wouldn’t interfere with work.’
‘It hasn’t.’
‘No because you haven’t started it. Trouble is Katy, you seem to be struggling to keep up. Few stories from the courts. If you can’t manage that role, I can hardly support you with the other piece. Perhaps we should pass it to Shauna.’
‘You can’t. I’ve done the ground work.’
‘Give her your login and password. She’ll do the research. You’ll have your turn another time, when you’re older with more experience.’
‘You can’t. I’m already dating someone. I’ve taken the maiden steps so it has to be me following up.’
‘When? Why didn’t you tell me? How’d it go? What was he like?’ interrogated John.
‘Last night. It was sudden, I couldn’t consult you but I managed all right.’
‘Just one date?’
‘Yes.’
‘Shauna could pick it up. It’s early days.’
Desperately wanting to spare Oscar from this, at that precise moment with her article on the line, Katy resorted to using her only draw card.
‘I have to do it. I’ve already been invited to spend the weekend at the Hamptons with him. It’s like an ‘access all areas’ pass to the rich and the richest. Think of the wealth of information I can gain. It’s me that’s created a strong impression. I’ve already acquired a weekend break after one date. Do you honestly think Shauna could pull that off as quickly?’
‘Clever as you think you are Katy, don’t ever forget there’s a reason why I got to the position of Editor. I know what’s involved. I admire your drive and determination, but I won’t be manipulated.’
‘That isn’t what I was—’
‘The point is,’ interjected John, ignoring Katy’s objections. ‘You went on a date without briefing me. I told you my reservations relating your placement on this project. You chose to flagrantly disregard them.’
‘John, I get it. I discovered I was out of my depth. It’s why I’m here asking for your help now. I made a mistake and nearly botched it up. I won’t be doing it again, but at least progress was made.’
It was a complete untruth on Katy’s part, but it did at least stop John ranting.
‘What’s the deal then?’
‘I’ve been invited to the Hamptons for the weekend. Drive down Friday evening and back, if you agree, on Monday. I know I was sla
ck today and it’s a big ask, but it’s not as though it’ll be a holiday for me. It’ll be working wherever I’m based. Besides, it would look unusual if someone of my status, couldn’t get a day off.’
‘It would indeed. Clothes?’
‘John, my personal budget was blown at the Gramercy Hotel. The bars and clubs this British billionaire frequents are out of my earning capacity. It was $40 for two cocktails.’
‘Does he insist on splitting bills?
‘Can’t say for certain. I insisted doing it last night, but he’s a traditionalist at heart.’
‘That should keep your spending minimal over the weekend. If he offers to pay, accept it. If he’s a tightwad, eat and drink cheap,’ John directed, passing her a credit card.
The platinum piece of plastic had Katy’s eyes lighting up. John could’ve sworn he saw dollar signs flash in her eyes.
‘Katy, you haven’t won the jackpot. It’s for expenses. It has a limit and we’re going to need receipts. Don’t go getting any spendthrift ideas.’
‘I won’t, I won’t,’ she murmured.
‘This dress you’re wearing?’
‘Borrowed it from a friend.’
His eyebrows shot up as his eyes narrowed.
‘Borrowed it from a friend’s mother,’ she clarified.
‘Maternal and out of date.’
‘It’s Coco Chanel. A classic never goes out of style.’
‘All the same, for appearances’ sake you need an extensive wardrobe. Make sure that dress doesn’t have a comeback over the weekend.’
Katy hated his catty comments. Looking her up and down as if he were her fairy godmother working wonders for what was almost certainly a lost cause.
‘If you’re going to take that attitude, I’m going to need four day outfits and three evening dresses for the Hamptons.’
‘And at least two items of swimwear. I’ll ring through to accounts and organize for them to sign over some petty cash for you to exercise the art of shopping frugally. Given I need you at court tomorrow and Friday, I’d suggest you use the remainder of your day to sort out your designer wardrobe. Go vintage as you suggested.’
