A Bid for Love & A Chance of Happiness

by J. B. Sherrard

  Pippa's head was pounding. For the first time she realised how the Incredible Hulk must feel as anger inflates his body. Pippa felt as if every blood vessel was about to burst. It was all so horribly unfair.

  "Are you OK?" Diana asked as she came out of Hubert's office.

  Pippa shook her head. She wanted to speak but she couldn't.

  "What on earth's the matter?"

  Pippa took a deep breath and began to explain.

  "What can I say?" Diana asked helplessly.

  "It's so ridiculous!" Outrage was beginning to give way to self-pity, and Pippa's voice was cracking with emotion as the tears started to well behind her eyes.

  "Have a good cry. It'll make you feel better."

  Although Pippa felt a little calmer after a swift weep, she was still incredibly angry, not only with Hubert but also with Fabian. After she had left the gallery she walked back to her flat through Hyde Park, mulling over her predicament. What irritated her particularly was that Fabian seemed intent on embarrassing her at work. He could have sent the snuffbox to her flat—likewise the gorilla—but he hadn't. Not for the first time was she beginning to wish that she had never set eyes on him—though that was no solution to her present muddle. She made herself a mug of coffee but her head was aching and she decided to lie down for a few minutes. Desmond, her loyal one-eyed teddy bear, looked at her sympathetically, and she spoke to him as she always did when she was unhappy.

  "It's not fair, Desmond!" she muttered. "It's just not fair! What am I going to do?"

  But if Desmond knew, he wasn't telling.

  Chapter Six

  Pippa had just dozed off when she was woken by the sound of the telephone. As she was in no mood to speak to anybody, she let it ring, hoping whoever it was would hang up. But the shrill bleep continued relentlessly and she realised she would have to answer it.

  "Hello! It's me!" said Fabian chirpily.

  "Oh, it's you!" she said accusingly. "Haven't you caused enough trouble for one day?"

  Fabian was silent for a moment. "Oh, didn't you like my little surprise, then?" He sounded hurt.

  "It wasn't exactly what I wanted in front of Hubert. Do you realise I'm not allowed to go to work now because of you?"

  "Oh dear! Wasn't Hubert impressed?"

  "No!"

  "Oh," Fabian said glumly. "I thought you'd be enchanted. I was only trying to sweep you off your feet."

  "Well, you've very nearly swept me out of a job."

  "You are cross, aren't you?" Fabian said apprehensively.

  "I am!"

  "I'll obviously have to make amends."

  "Well, don't do anything. Just leave me alone, Fabian."

  "I'm sorry. I only did it because I love you," he said in a matter-of-fact way.

  But Pippa was in no mood to be sweet-talked. "Don't be ridiculous, you hardly know me," she snapped.

  "But I still love you. Isn't there anything I can say?" he asked helplessly.

  "Nothing!"

  "Well, then I'll just have to make you believe that I love you," he said lightly. "And I will. Just you wait and see." And before she could say anything he'd put the phone down.

  Pippa was hopping mad. Who on earth did Fabian Naughton think he was? She wondered whether Hubert was right about him, after all. Maybe she had made a terrible error of judgment. And to think that she had described him as fabulous less than two hours ago! Fabian Naughton seemed to be systematically ruining her life. Not only had he made her working life intolerable, he was now disturbing her at home.

  "Maybe he does love you," Karen suggested over the phone that evening.

  "Well, I positively hate him!" Pippa hissed.

  "Love and hate are very close emotions, you know," Karen said sagely, but that was something Pippa had no wish to consider.

  "So what are you going to do?" Karen enquired.

  "I haven't a clue. I'm not going back to work for the moment, that's for sure. I'll tell you what, I'll cook you both dinner on Friday. How about that?"

  "Smashing!" said Karen.

  "And I shall have all the time in the world to prepare it, too!" For the first time Pippa was beginning to see the advantages of not going to work.

  After a good night's sleep, she was rather more controlled about the situation and she wondered if she had possibly over-reacted to Fabian. She couldn't help wondering whether he genuinely meant to persuade her of his love or whether he had been teasing her all along. Certainly she wasn't going to do anything to encourage him. She needed time to think, and in a way she was quite grateful to Hubert for giving her some time off—even if it had happened a little acrimoniously. Her enforced holiday was also well-timed for collecting the car which had finally been repaired. Being out in the country for the day helped relax her, though she was still preoccupied with thoughts of Fabian and somewhat disconcerted that she had heard nothing more from him.

  "Either he's had second thoughts and has decided not to bother you, or he's planning something so outrageous he needs time to plan it out," Karen observed over dinner on Friday night.

  "But the question is," Mark interjected, "do you really want anything to happen? Do you love him?"

  "All I know is that he's had an incredible effect on me. I've never had such strong feelings—good or bad—for anybody. Hubert obviously doesn't trust him an inch but we seem to get on perfectly."

  "I think he sounds very dangerous," Mark said. "I think you should give him a wide berth. Even if he genuinely fancies you, you've got to be careful. And don't forget Hubert in all this. He's been absolutely wonderful to you and I'm not happy at the thought of you alienating him. I mean, let's face it, you hardly know this Fabian Naughton character, and to blow everything with Hubert on the basis of such a very short acquaintance is a bit rash."

  "I know," said Pippa.

  "And there's something else," Mark continued. "If he's twenty-seven and not married or attached, it suggests he plays the field. You don't want to become one of his amorous statistics."

  "She might enjoy it!" Karen interjected saucily.

  "I'm serious. He's a very bad bet," Mark said gravely.

  "You're probably right." Pippa sighed.

  "I wouldn't see him again if I were you," Mark added.

  "He may not want to see me."

  "I doubt it. I know that type. He'll be in touch. As far as he's concerned, he's invested too much to drop you now."

  "Secrets of the male mind!" Karen said mischievously.

  "I mean it. You be careful," he concluded gravely.

  "I don't think he'll be in touch at all," Pippa said. "Can we talk about something else, please?"

  And so the subject was dropped for the evening, although it was the first thing to cross her mind when the telephone awoke her at eight-thirty the following morning.

  "Hello," said Pippa blearily, but at first only heard the pips from a call-box.

  "Hi there!" said a man with a phoney American accent. "This is your early morning call. Tune into Capital Radio at quarter to nine and you could hear a message just for you." The phone went dead.

  She was sure it was Fabian and, despite the fact that she had been fast asleep, she was now wide awake and tingling with excitement. Battle was about to commence. She looked at her radio alarm. There were thirteen minutes to go but she wasn't taking any chances and she turned the radio on immediately and called Karen and Mark.

  "For heaven's sake, Pippa, what's the matter?" Mark asked her grumpily.

  "I'm sorry to wake you," Pippa began apologetically. "I've just had a strange phone call. I think it was from Fabian."

  "Tell Karen! I'm going back to sleep," Mark said with exasperation and handed the phone to his wife.

  "I'll turn the radio on immediately," Karen said. "Speak to you later."

  They sat through a couple of records and a string of advertisements until eight forty-five.

  "And here's a late Valentine for Pippa Gibson of Notting Hill Gate. Somebody somewhere loves you, Pippa. Sounds
fab to me! And this is just for you—a special request from you-know-who…"

  "I just called to say I love you," sang Stevie Wonder, a split second later.

  Although she was by herself, Pippa blushed a deep scarlet. But her embarrassment wasn't over because at the end of the record there was another message for her.

  "Give him a break, Pippa!"

  Karen called her as soon as the next record started playing.

  "How hysterical!" she yelled gleefully.

  "I've never been so embarrassed!"

  "I think he's serious."

  "I don't know what he is—" But before she could say any more, the buzzer went.

  "Oh, no! There's somebody at the door. Look, can I call you back?"

  "Sure."

  Pippa went to her entryphone and picked up the receiver.

  "Special delivery for Miss Gibson," said a cockney voice at the other end. "Gotta sign…"

  "I'll be down in a second."

  She grabbed a dressing-gown and tramped downstairs, but when she opened the front door there was nobody there. Sitting on the doorstep, though, was a small parcel in exquisite wrapping-paper covered in hearts, addressed to her. She ran upstairs and opened it. Inside were a whole lot of white jigsaw pieces with parts of words scrawled on them in red felt-tip. The only thing to do was to complete the jigsaw which took her a couple of minutes. The message was short and sweet: "If you want a lovely surprise come out and see your car. It's a gas!"

  Pippa ran to the window to look at the car, but she had parked a little way up the road and it was out of her line of vision. She slipped some jeans and a pullover on and rushed outside. Even from the doorstep she could see that the car had undergone a certain transformation. The strings of a dozen bright silver helium-filled balloons had been tied to the back and front bumpers of the car and were straining in the light breeze. On closer inspection, she discovered a single red rose tucked beneath the windscreen wiper. And in yellow foam right across the windscreen he had written, "I'm serious".

  The car was already attracting a small crowd of amused onlookers, who were all rather touched by the romance of the gesture. Pippa wondered what on earth Fabian was going to do next. She hurried back to the flat and called Karen, who said she was coming round to see for herself.

  "Presumably he is serious," Karen said when she arrived half-an-hour later.

  "So what do I do?"

  But before Karen could answer the buzzer went again.

  "What now?" Pippa asked incredulously.

  "I'll see… Hello?" Karen said down the entryphone.

  "Interflora delivery for Miss Gibson."

  "Hang on a sec." And Karen turned to Pippa. "Flowers for you."

  "Oh, no! This is absurd!"

  The two girls went downstairs and opened the door. The young delivery man smiled broadly as he looked at the label on the bouquet of red and pink roses.

  "Miss Pippa Gibson. Who's the lucky lady?"

  "Me," Pippa said dubiously.

  "Here you are then," and he handed her the flowers. "Somebody loves you! See yer!"

  "There are dozens! Shall I read the card?" Karen asked.

  "I think I can guess who they're from."

  "Let's see what he says." And Karen opened the small envelope. " 'Darling Pippa. I'm even more serious. Love Fabian'."

  They took the flowers upstairs and counted two dozen of each colour.

  "Do you think he might send some vases next?" Karen asked as they dumped half the roses unceremoniously in Pippa's kitchen bucket. "How do you feel about him now you know he's serious?" Karen asked pertinently.

  "I feel happier—or at least my ego does—but Mark was right last night: the stakes are high and I don't want to make the situation with Hubert any worse. It's a terrible dilemma."

  They were still discussing Pippa's unusual problem fifteen minutes later when the phone rang. They both looked at it as if it was about to explode.

  "I know it's him," Pippa said. "What am I going to say?"

  "Tell him the truth," Karen suggested.

  Nervously, Pippa picked up the phone.

  "Three guesses!" said a very chirpy Fabian. "Just phoned to say hello." He was doing his best to sound casual.

  "Hello, Fabian." Pippa was lost for words.

  "Tell me about your wonderful day."

  "It's been incredible. I don't know what to say…"

  "You could say you feel the same about me," he suggested.

  Pippa's brief silence suggested the reverse. She knew she had to be utterly frank.

  "Fabian, it's not as easy as that. For a start I hardly know you."

  "I hardly know you," he countered, "but I know you're incredibly special, and that being with you is wonderful, and that kissing you is sublime. I know I want to know you better. And if only you'd spend more time with me you'd know it too—if you don't know it already. Think about it, Pippa. I won't give up, you know." And then his tone lightened. "Anyway, I like thinking up surprises for you. Each one's a bid for love."

  "Fabian, please! It's crazy. It's terribly sweet of you, and very flattering, but it's not necessary. I've got the message. I know how you feel."

  "Then give me a chance. That's all I ask. Look, maybe I'm wrong, but I'm sure we have something. It's crazy not to find out. You owe it to yourself, Pippa. Can you honestly say you didn't enjoy being with me last week?"

  "It was a lovely evening." Pippa's heart was pounding.

  "It was more than that! It was stupendous and you know it. I'm not playing games, Pippa. I bet it's Hubert. He's told you to steer well clear of me, hasn't he? Well, what right has he to keep us apart?"

  "It's not just Hubert. It's me, Fabian, and because you scarcely know me you don't know the dilemma I'm in at the moment. I told you at Claridges, I think, that Hubert was a great friend of my grandmother's and that he'd been very kind to me since she died. Well, that may not have sounded terribly important but what I didn't tell you was that my parents died when I was seven and that Mark and I were brought up by my grandmother pretty well single-handed. Hubert's always looked upon us as family. I'm not simply an employee: he feels responsible for me and I owe it to him not to betray him."

  "But seeing me isn't a betrayal," Fabian said.

  "He thinks it is. You're a business rival and, after Aspley and the kissogram, he's paranoid about your behaviour. He doesn't believe you're interested in me for any reason except as a way to get at him."

  "That's absurd. You believe I'm genuine, don't you?"

  "I do," Pippa replied without hesitation.

  "Then tell him!"

  "I have. Why do you think I haven't been at work this week? He knows precisely how I feel about you but he doesn't trust my judgment. And just suppose I'm wrong. I mean, we've both admitted that we scarcely know each other. I could end up hurting you, Hubert and myself."

  "So does that mean you're never going to see me again?"

  "I don't know."

  "Well, I'm telling you—you are. I'm not prepared to give you up—not without one hell of a fight. And I mean that, Pippa. Maybe we're made for each other and maybe we're not, but I'm not going through the rest of my life wondering. I've got to know, Pippa. And if you're half the girl I think you are, you'll need to know, too."

  "Please, Fabian, don't make it harder than it already is," Pippa pleaded with him.

  "But I want you! I need you. Will you at least see me and we can talk it over?"

  "We are talking it over."

  "But this is on the telephone," he explained. "You wouldn't be speaking like this if we were face to face."

  She knew he was right and she was immensely grateful for Alexander Bell's invention. Pippa had to be firm. "I don't want to see you, Fabian."

  "Well, I think it's the least you can do and I'm going to see you whether you like it or not. And soon!" With which he put the phone down.

  Pippa looked at Karen. "I think he's coming round."

  "We'd better scarper."

 
; But Pippa knew Fabian Naughton was the sort of man who would track her down to the end of the earth if necessary.

  "It's probably better to get it over and done with. I guarantee that if we go out all day, all week or even all year, he'll still be on the doorstep when we get back."

  "Do you want me to hang around for moral support?" Karen asked.

  "I think it's probably better if I'm on my own. I don't think it would really be fair to see him in company."

  "You're probably right. I'll go as soon as he comes. I'm dying to see what he looks like."

  "I think you'll be impressed," Pippa said, with a certain pride that she couldn't disguise.

  Fabian arrived with a screech of brakes and a couple of honks on his horn. The two girls watched him jump out of his car and bound up the steps to the doorbell. He was wearing navy cords and a green Barbour jacket.

  "Nice," Karen said with approval as the entryphone buzzed. "I'll see myself out. Keep me posted."

  "I will!" And the entryphone buzzed again. "I think he wants to come in," said Pippa picking up the receiver. "Hello?"

  "Pippa, it's me. Please let me in."

  "OK. I'm on the top floor." She pressed the buzzer and could hear the front door opening.

  He looked thoroughly shamefaced when she first caught sight of him. There was something irritatingly doleful about him. His eyes were sad and his long curly hair made him look like an errant spaniel.

  "I really don't know what to say. The whole thing has gone horribly wrong, Pippa. I wanted to enchant you. The last thing I wanted was to upset you."

  "But why did you embarrass me in front of Hubert?"

  "That was quite deliberate," Fabian admitted. "For a start, I thought you might find it amusing. But I also wanted Hubert to know that I was serious—if that doesn't sound crazy. And I didn't want you feeling that you had to hide our friendship from him, although I realise you might have thought that it wasn't worth the trouble. If I'd known that he'd react so adversely I'd never have done it. The idea was to brighten your day not make it miserable. I'm not kidding when I say I love you. We may not know each other very well yet, but when I'm with you it's just wonderful. Does that sound silly? I think about you all the time, believe it or not. I know I've behaved stupidly, but will you give me another chance? I promise I won't do anything to embarrass you. I'm even going to call Hubert to apologise. It's time we cleared the air. I'll be as good as gold, and if you decide I'm wrong, I'll leave you in peace. All I want is a chance, Pippa. What is it they say? 'To err is human, to forgive divine'?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I think you're divine."