by Kaylie Kay
‘Who are you trying to convince?’
Ok, now her friend was annoying her. Why was she feeding her doubt? She needed her to talk her out of it, tell her she had nothing to worry about.
‘Claire, I don’t need to convince anyone, it’s a fact, I know how he feels.’
‘Oh hon, I know you do,’ her tone changed, sensing Olivia’s need for reassurance, ‘and I know Tom is a good guy, I just want you to be careful. Nick was a good guy too, but he still couldn’t help himself when Little Miss Sluttypants threw herself at him.’
Olivia chuckled at her friend’s pet name for the girl who had stolen her last man.
‘All I’m saying,’ she continued, ‘is that men are weak. Hopefully Tom is different, but just be careful and keep an eye on her, and if you think she is getting ideas then do something about it before it’s too late.’
Olivia heard what she was saying but didn’t really know how to process it. Do something? Like what? As for Tom, yes he was different, she wasn’t stupid, it wasn’t like she was blind to how men could be, she had kissed enough frogs before she found her prince.
‘I hear you, but don’t worry, I have it under control.’
Did she? It was nearly 8pm and Tom was still at work, probably with Sarah, but she hadn’t dared to
ask him. She couldn’t turn up every night he worked late in sexy underwear, carrying a takeaway, could she? So she had had to accept it and pass the time until he got in, choosing to phone her friend rather than sitting alone letting her imagination run wild. Only this phone call wasn’t really helping, it was just making her worse!
‘Anyway, can we change the subject?’ she pleaded, drained. ‘What else is happening?’
Claire took her cue to talk about something different; she hoped her warning was enough to open Olivia’s eyes to the danger, but she knew her friend well enough to know not to push things.
‘Hong Kong,’ she declared cheerfully.
Ugh, another subject Olivia didn’t really want to talk about.
‘Hong Kong?’ she asked, confused, unable to relate the subject to anything other than her last flight there. She still hadn’t told anyone about that, she probably never would, so she couldn’t fathom why her friend was bringing it up.
‘Requests have got to be in end of the week!’
‘Ohhh.’
‘Everyone is up for it. Nicola can’t do the 11th so we were thinking either third or fourth weekend in October, what do you reckon?’
It was still only August but requests had to be submitted so far in advance they had to plan ahead if they all wanted to fly together.
‘October, jeez we’ll be requesting Christmas trips soon.’ She was shocked at how quickly the year was going. ‘I’m easy, I don’t think we have any plans in October.’ It was highly unlikely that Tom would take time off work anytime soon anyway.
‘Fab, well let’s say the 24th and I’ll let the others know.’
‘Great, sounds like a plan.’ Olivia was sure that another two months would be enough to blur the memories of Jez enough for her to look forward to the trip with her friends. She had given him little thought in the past week or so as it was.
Just as she was saying goodbye Olivia heard the sound of Tom’s keys in the front door. She put down her glass, and ran her fingers quickly through her hair, putting on her best welcome-home smile. She was ready for the conversation, she thought determinedly.
Chapter 21
Tom was horizontal on the sofa when Olivia came out of the kitchen with a glass for his wine. He looked tired but happy, and she squeezed herself into her usual position at the bottom of his legs.
‘So how was work? I thought you were never coming home tonight,’ she teased him, massaging his feet just how he liked it. He groaned in pleasure.
‘Oh, babe, it’s crazy. There’s so much to do to set up this new contract. We need to hire more men, sort out schedules.’ He stopped abruptly and looked at her apologetically. ‘Anyway, I won’t bore you with work stuff, how was your day yesterday?’
‘Yeah, it was really good, everyone sends their love, and Issy loved her present.’
‘I bet she did. Was it bigger than her?’ The bear had been sat in the armchair since Olivia had bought it a few weeks back. ‘I’m gonna miss the big fella watching the footie with me.’
‘Yes, she loved it,’ Olivia laughed, noticing that the chair did seem rather large and empty now.
Tom had been asleep by the time she had got back from Southampton the night before, and gone again when she had woken up this morning. She would have to make sure they had some quality time together before she was back at work on Sunday; the week was going quickly and it felt like she had barely seen him.
Olivia noticed how quickly Tom had stopped talking about work and felt guilty that he thought he was boring her about it. She really should have tried harder to be more interested before now, to have paid more attention when he had told her things, but he had never seemed bothered. He had never seemed to need her to listen to him talk about himself, had always been happy just for her to talk about her trips and whatever else she had going on. It was his time now, she thought, time for her to start being more supportive, to grow up and start listening. Perhaps she would see more of him if he didn’t discount her so readily from having any input into his business.
‘I really do actually want to hear about work, Tom. I know I may not have always seemed interested but I like to know what is happening with you, you know, especially since it is keeping you away from me.’
She smiled and looked at him intently, focussing her mind to try and absorb any information he may want to share with her.
With that he proceeded to give her a brief summary of what had been happening at work. Olivia flinched inwardly each time he mentioned Sarah’s name, although her resolve to broach the commitment subject strengthened every time she heard it. She had to admit that he lost her at points, but she didn’t want to seem stupid by asking him to put things in terms she could understand too often. As hard as she tried she struggled to have anything to input to the conversation so she did her best to listen and pay attention, or at least look as if she was.
‘Can I do anything to help? I’m home for the rest of the week.’
Not for a moment did she expect Tom to accept her offer, she actually expected him to laugh. What on earth could she do?
‘You know, that would be amazing, babe. I think the girls could really do with a hand in the office.’
Oh! Olivia, unsure of quite how she felt or how to react, smiled as if pleased with his acceptance and took a large sip of her wine, putting the glass back down on the table. She wondered what she had just let herself in for, or if Tom knew she had no office skills whatsoever!
Tom reached up and pulled her down to cuddle him, kissing the top of her head affectionately. ‘Thanks babe, I can’t believe you’d do this for me. Are you sure you haven’t got better things to do?’
She knew this was her chance to retract her offer, that he would forgive her flakiness as he often did.
‘Nothing that is more important than helping you.’ She looked up and kissed him on the lips. She felt Tom’s body respond to her and decided she had said enough for this evening. She was going to help him, be his partner in work and at home, be the strong woman that was behind every man. When the time was right and she had helped him to get where he was going the next step in their relationship would be inevitable. She stood up slowly and took his hand, leading him up to the bedroom; no more talking was necessary tonight.
Chapter 22
Olivia woke to the shrill tones of Tom’s alarm, and turned over as she usually did, to continue her sleep. She heard Tom go to the bathroom and was just about to drift off again when she remembered her offer from the night before. She rubbed her eyes and pushed the covers back wearily, determined not to let him down on her first day.
‘Good morning,’ she greeted him cheerily as she strode past him, naked, to get into
the shower. She tried not to laugh at the shocked look on his face as he brushed his teeth, he had obviously not expected her to be quite so committed from day one!
She took great pleasure in choosing a knockout outfit for the office – slim Capri pants paired with a pussy bow blouse and killer heels. She would not be outdone, at least in the wardrobe department! She felt the butterflies in her stomach that reminded her that this wasn’t just a fun day out, but chose to ignore them and enjoy the moment.
As they drove to work in Tom’s car they both remarked on how strange but nice it was to be in this together, or rather she had remarked and he had agreed, and as they pulled into the car park Olivia checked her face in the mirror to make sure she was the best prepared she could be.
It was a little after 8am when they arrived; nobody else was there yet and Olivia enjoyed the last few moments of her roleplay as the competent secretary. She forgot for a moment that she was actually at the office to work, remembering abruptly when she heard the sound of wheels turning into the car park. Quickly adjusting her hair in the mirror behind his door she poised herself as naturally as she could at the end of Tom’s desk.
‘Olivia!’ exclaimed a heavily pregnant Keira as she opened Tom’s office door.
Olivia jumped up and skipped across the room to hug her.
‘Mind the baby,’ laughed Keira.
The girls had known each other since Tom first employed Keira three years ago. Although not best friends they shared a similar sense of humour and would always have a good catch up on the phone if Olivia called the office, or sit together at the annual Christmas drinks. With the lack of other girls in the company, and there were only ten people in total as it were, they were bonded by default, despite not seeing each other very often.
‘How’s work?’
‘Oh, same old, same old.’
‘Tom says you’ve just been to Jamaica with your friends, I’m sooo jealous.’ Keira rubbed her swollen stomach.
‘Oh, don’t be jealous, you’ve got a baby in there, you lucky thing. You must be so excited.’
‘Oh, we are, but I have to admit I’m a little scared about the birth.’
The girls looked at each other with mock horror, they both knew that childbirth was no walk in the park.
‘I’ll survive,’ sighed Keira dramatically. ‘Anyway, what the heck are you doing here at this time in the morning?’
‘I’ve come to help.’ Olivia stood up straight and smiled widely.
‘Oh!’
‘You don’t have to sound so surprised, I have many skills other than serving people on aeroplanes you know! Perhaps I could point out the exits to people?’ Olivia looked at Keira and behind her at Tom, who had been watching the two of them, and then did her best safety-demonstration arms to point out the exit, just as it opened and Sarah walked in.
Sarah looked confused but tried to smile despite herself, wondering why Olivia was pointing at her with both arms. They were obviously all sharing a joke that she had missed. Olivia and Keira tried to suppress their giggles, but failed and were unable to communicate any further without becoming hysterical.
‘Forgive them, Sarah, they have clearly both been on the sherry!’ called Tom from behind them. The girls looked at each other and laughed some more as Sarah walked unsurely to her desk.
‘Sorry Sarah,’ apologised Olivia as she composed herself, smoothing down her blouse as if that would help with her lack of control. ‘It wasn’t even that funny.’ She looked over at Keira who was still struggling to stop laughing.
‘Anyway, girls, I’m here to help. Where do you want me?’ she proclaimed, and looked from Sarah to Keira eagerly.
Chapter 23
Olivia loved her first day as a receptionist, that being the role that Keira had assigned her. Being that no one, including herself, knew whether this was a one off, she had trained her in the easiest job and let her share her own desk so that she could concentrate on showing Sarah the more complicated things she needed to learn.
‘Right, I’m off to grab a bite.’
Olivia looked up from filing her nails at Sarah, who was readying herself at her desk. The morning had dragged ever so slightly and she was glad to know it was lunchtime.
‘I’ll just see if Tom wants anything,’ she said, walking towards his door.
‘It’s ok, Sarah, I’ll take care of my man’s lunch today,’ Olivia said quickly, stopping her in her tracks.
Sarah looked at her, affronted. Know your place, thought Olivia.
As it was, Tom declined Olivia’s offer of going out
for lunch; he was holed up in his office most of the day with Pete interviewing new staff, and the three girls had been treated to a steady flow of gorgeous young men, with the odd exception, waiting in their office all afternoon.
‘Good afternoon, TJ Construction,’ Olivia answered the phone for at least the twentieth time that day, amusing herself with the different secretary voices she could use. She had inadvertently used an Australian accent earlier, much to Keira’s amusement, but thought she may have offended Sarah somewhat. Oh well, she wasn’t being deliberately mean to the girl, but today was having a good effect on her own confidence and insecurities.
Suddenly a scream erupted from nowhere and the tranquillity of the office was thrown into panic.
Looking around for the source of the noise Olivia saw Sarah pinned against the wall behind her desk, still screaming and looking wildly at the floor underneath it.
The young lad who had been waiting for his interview jumped out of his seat and dashed over to her rescue, in true hero fashion, looking around the floor for the source of her horror. Sarah had stopped screaming now and was pointing at something, which he bent down and picked up, stifling a laugh.
‘What the hell is happening?’ Tom’s door opened and he and Pete appeared, looking very concerned.
They both looked over at the lad, who opened his hand slightly to reveal a spider, and not even a very big one.
Sarah didn’t seem to care that everyone was laughing at her, she was just relieved that the beast was thrown outside, and she sank back into her chair.
‘I hate critters,’ she explained. ‘They all want to kill your back in Oz.’
‘Crikey, girl, you gave us all a fright,’ said Pete, looking a little shocked by her performance. He and Tom turned and went back into their office, leaving her sat with her head in her hands trying to compose herself.
Olivia was speechless, and looked at Keira, who sat at her desk with her mouth still agape. She caught Olivia’s look and rolled her eyes.
As they drove home that evening Olivia couldn’t help herself from bringing up Sarah to Tom.
‘Have you ever heard anyone scream that much
over a spider? Silly girl.’
‘I know, scared the life out of me and Pete, we thought one of you were being attacked.’
‘Anyway, I’m coming in again tomorrow. Keira says she could do with me answering the phones again so she can concentrate on training Screamer, sorry I mean Sarah, up.’ She chuckled at her own joke and looked to see if Tom’s had found it funny too.
‘No need to be mean, Olivia.’ He looked at her as though he was disappointed with her cattiness and Olivia felt ashamed of herself momentarily.
‘Sorry,’ she said, giving him the most innocent look she could muster. He couldn’t help but smile.
‘That would be great if you can come in tomorrow, babe, thanks. What’s your daily rate?’
‘Oh. you can’t afford me, sir. I’m priceless.’
‘You sure are,’ he responded, and rested his hand on her knee.
Chapter 24
‘Sarah, can you come in here for a moment? I need to pick your brains on something,’ Tom called, leaning through the door between the offices. Sarah looked up from her computer.
‘Of course.’ She pushed back her chair and walked as if on a catwalk over to Tom’s office, going in and closing the door behind her. Olivia looked at the closed doo
r and tried not to let it annoy her as it always did.
It was September now and Olivia had become a regular fixture in the office, helping out on her days off. Keira was due to leave for maternity at the end of the week and Sarah was filling her shoes nicely, which irritated Olivia somewhat. She wondered what Tom needed with her now; he was always calling her in, or asking her opinion on things, and Olivia couldn’t help feeling left out, and stupid, if she was honest with herself. She couldn’t seem to get her head around this Australian airhead, on the outside, being so bloody competent and knowledgeable in the business. The more the new contracts bedded in the more Tom was relying on Sarah; she was pretty much his personal assistant now, and Olivia hadn’t been promoted past answering the telephones. Of course Tom would reassure her that he was grateful for her help, but she still didn’t understand much about how the business ran, and besides, she had a full-time job, and didn’t need or want another one. Had Sarah not been Sarah no doubt she would have been quite content with her current position, if there at all.
The only thing that kept her going through their days together was she and Keira’s mutual dislike for her. Of course they were astute enough not to make it too obvious, but Olivia was grateful that someone else found her annoying, although Keira obviously didn’t have the added worry of her trying to steal her boyfriend.
The door opened and Tom came out. Sarah followed him and walked over to her desk, taking her jacket from the back of her seat.
‘Ladies, we are just going out,’ said Tom, looking over to the desk where Olivia and Keira sat. ‘I’ve got a meeting at the council and I’m taking Sarah with me since she’s met them before. We’ll probably get lunch out so won’t be back till this afternoon. Hold the fort for us.’ The two of them headed for the door and as they walked out Sarah turned and gave them a cheerful wave.
