Corporate Lines

by Donna Jay

  Righteous anger bubbled up in Simone.

  How was it okay for Nadia to leave for work at the arse crack of dawn but not okay for Simone to work late? No matter how Nadia wanted to colour it, it was still called doing overtime. Simone punched out a text before slipping her dress over her head.

  Early start? Hypocrite much.

  Was that too harsh? Probably. Giving Nadia the benefit of the doubt, she deleted the last part before hitting send.

  The offer of a shower was nice, but the clothes she’d worn last night were hardly appropriate for the office. Plus, it didn’t feel right making herself at home without Nadia there, especially knowing her cousin and his girlfriend were asleep in the next room.

  After making the bed, Simone tiptoed down the hallway and found her shoes and jacket right where she’d left them.

  A piece of paper was sticking out of her jacket pocket. She plucked it out.

  Container on top shelf of fridge is for you. Please don’t let it go to waste.

  Having no idea what was going on, she crossed the kitchen.

  There, on the top shelf of the fridge, was a container with her name on it. She popped the lid and was assailed by the mouth-watering aroma of sweet and sour chicken. Feeling absurdly spoiled, her heart expanded in her chest.

  Just as she was about to let herself out, her phone pinged. Balancing the container in one hand, she thumbed her phone with the other.

  Yep, CrossFit class at five-thirty. Did you find your lunch?

  Simone’s heart raced. Thank fuck she’d deleted the last part of her message. Hypocrite much.

  She hadn’t pegged Nadia for a gym bunny, but at the same time, she wasn’t overly surprised. Nadia’s body was toned, defined, and unbelievably soft in all the right places.

  Once in her car, Simone put her handbag and the Tupperware container on the passenger’s seat and sent a quick reply to Nadia.

  Yes, got lunch, thank you.

  She felt like a tongue-tied teenager. What should she say next? Text me later. Call me. Can I see you tonight? Having no fucking idea, she put the car in gear. If she wasted any more time, she was definitely going to be late.

  At least she didn’t have to make lunch or buy it. The thought buoyed her. With an idiotic grin on her face, she drove across Hamilton.

  ***

  It wasn’t until mid-morning when she absently scratched her wrist, that it hit Simone she’d spilled her guts to Nadia, yet she still knew next to nothing about the woman.

  Did she have any skeletons in her closet? Evil ex’s Simone should know about? What was her favourite colour? Mauve?

  Simone chuckled and cursed herself at the same time. The little memento Nadia had left her was still tucked in the bottom of her handbag.

  Not only had she forgotten to return the underwear, but she could’ve made use of them that morning instead of recycling her own until she made it home.

  When her phone chirped with Leah’s ringtone, she could pretty much guess what the message said. She wasn’t wrong.

  Did you get laid?

  Simone typed yes and then deleted it. Leah was going to have to work harder than that.

  Nope. She hit send.

  In the next instant, her phone rang.

  She glanced out the office window before picking up. The last thing she needed was for Leisa or Alex to walk in while she was discussing her sex life.

  “Hello.”

  She plucked one of the roses from its stem, toying with the silky, soft petals. A pang of longing hit her. She’d barely laid a finger on Nadia. Would she feel just as soft and silky?

  “You’re kidding, right?” Leah’s voice pulled her out of her erotic daydream.

  “I am.” Simone sucked when it came to keeping things from Leah. Especially her love life, or lack thereof until now.

  “See, tart does suit. Go you, shagging on the first date.”

  Although Leah was joking, her words made Simone feel cheap. She normally had better restraint than that. “I didn’t mean to.”

  Laughter echoed down the line. “What? Do you expect me to believe you tripped and accidentally landed on her strap on?”

  “Oh my God. I don’t even know if she owns one,” Simone lied, thoughts of Nadia’s suitcase full of toys making her throb. And how inappropriate was that? She was at work for fuck’s sake. Talking to her best friend.

  “I was teasing, I’m happy for you. What are you up to tonight?”

  “No idea.” She hadn’t made any plans in the hopes Nadia would want to do something together.

  “Remember that rain check you took? How about you cash it in tonight?”

  The only excuse Simone could come up with was a pretty crappy one. It was far too early to brush off her best friend for a relationship that might not go anywhere.

  “Sure, sounds like fun.”

  “Geez, woman, with some enthusiasm, please. Anyone would think I just asked you to bungee jump. Bring your missus if you want.”

  “Will you interrogate her?” Simone wasn’t entirely joking, and she didn’t know if she was ready to put Nadia under the spotlight.

  “Of course, but I’ll make sure Brad and his mates behave.”

  “Mates?”

  “Yeah, he wants to try out his new barbecue. I think he’s invited half the rugby team.”

  Dread and resignation swirled in Simone’s belly. It wouldn’t be the worst night she’d ever spent, but it wasn’t how she’d envisioned spending her second date with Nadia.

  Simone forced some cheer into her voice. “I’ll pick up some steak.”

  ***

  At noon, she checked her phone wondering if she’d missed any messages. She hadn’t. Leaving her phone on the desk, she made her way to the staffroom.

  “Well, lookie who’s here.” Hamish gave her a boyish grin, sausage roll halfway to his mouth, pastry crumbs dropping onto the plate, a bottle of tomato sauce nearby.

  “Hey, boss,” Alex and Leisa said in unison.

  “Morning, crew.” Simone glanced at five guys sharing a table with Hamish.

  They all wore standard-issue green and black work shirts with KB Incorporated embroidered on one pocket, and their name on the other. Matt, Dave, Sam, Paul, Conrad.

  She’d seen each name on various pieces of paperwork; timecards, job sheets, leave applications, but if she was asked to recite their names—without name tags—she’d be stumped.

  The realisation rocked her to her core. She spent fifty-five hours a week at work, but barely knew the staff who did the grunt work.

  The microwave dinged and she retrieved her sweet and sour chicken. Rather than take it back to her office and eat at the desk, she dragged a chair over to their table.

  Hamish scooted sideways. “You all know Simone?”

  A couple nodded, a couple smiled, and a burly guy with ginger hair and a brassy beard saluted with his Coke bottle. “Hey, boss lady.”

  “Hi, Dave.”

  His face lit up. “See.” He nudged his workmate. “The lady knows my name.”

  The moniker made her think of Nadia. Only, it sounded a lot hotter rolling off her tongue.

  Paul shoved him back. “It’s on your shirt, idiot.”

  “See what I have to put up with?” Hamish dusted crumbs off his hands.

  “What? A team that keeps you in a job?” Simone asked.

  A resounding ‘Hell yeah,’ echoed around the room, drawing the attention of Alex and Leisa.

  “Can you keep it down?” Alex mock scowled.

  Enjoying the friendly banter, Simone tucked into her lunch.

  Back at her desk, she checked her phone. One missed call. Of course. Yet she’d bet her last dollar if she’d sat there for the last half hour, it wouldn’t have rung.

  She hit dial, disappointed when the call went to voicemail.

  “Hey, sorry I missed your call.” She smiled even though Nadia couldn’t see her. “I was enjoying the leftovers, thanks again. Anyway, when you get this, call me.” She hesitat
ed before adding, “Miss you.”

  Too much too soon? Probably, but it was too late now. She couldn’t delete a voice message.

  The next hour crawled by. Before Nadia, time meant nothing. Simone could go hours without looking at the clock. People moving about for breaks were often the only reminder she needed to take a breather.

  When her phone finally rang at three o’clock, she lunged for it like a woman starved of attention. “Hello.”

  “Hey, miss you too.”

  God, that voice, dark and husky. “Anyone ever told you you could be a phone sex worker?”

  “Anyone ever tell you I prefer a more hands-on approach?”

  The words sent an arrow of lust straight between Simone’s legs. “Nope, but I think you might’ve shown me last night.”

  “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Nadia chuckled.

  “Oh, really. Tell me more.” Simone rested her elbows on the desk.

  “I’d love to. What are you doing tonight?”

  The question was like a bucket of cold water tossed on a blazing fire. The heat between her legs fizzled and died.

  “I’ve been invited to my friend Leah’s.”

  “Oh.”

  Nadia sounded disappointed, and Simone hated and loved that at the same time.

  “That’s good, friends are important,” Nadia said.

  “You’re welcome to come, too.” Simone fiddled with a pen. “Her fiancé is having some of his rugby mates over.”

  “I love rugby.”

  “Really?” Simone wasn’t sure why that surprised her.

  “Sure. I used to get up at two in the morning with Dad to watch the All Blacks play live.”

  She sounded sad and Simone hated that. “I bet you got up to watch all those buff men doing the Haka.”

  Simone had to admit, she loved the Maori war dance. The cry to lift the team’s morale and their call on God to help them win moved her every time.

  “Where do you think I learned all that tongue action?” Nadia chuckled and it was a far more pleasant sound than the sadness filling her voice moments before.

  A tap on the door made Simone want to get up and close it, but that would hardly be professional. She covered the phone. “Give me five.”

  Hamish gave her a thumbs up and backed out again.

  “Sorry, I have to go soon. But how about tonight?”

  “I was actually phoning to see if you wanted to come with me, Darrin, and Rose to the spring slam at the Nivara Bar.”

  A cocktail of emotions flooded Simone. Disappointment, relief, and surprise.

  She was gutted she wouldn’t get to spend the night with Nadia, relieved her eardrums wouldn’t be subjected to four metal bands, and surprised it was Nadia’s thing. The more she thought about it, Darrin had probably roped her into it.

  “Seems like we both have plans.” Simone tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

  “Sounds like it.”

  “Aren’t you going to tell me to delegate?” Simone joked.

  “You can’t delegate friends. They’ll be there long after your job’s a distant memory.”

  “True,” Simone conceded.

  “In fact, I’m spending Saturday night with my best friend.”

  “Oh.” Simone’s heart plummeted again.

  She didn’t have a hope in hell of seeing Nadia before Sunday, and that was only if she was free.

  “Actually,” Nadia said. “We’re having a family lunch at my uncle’s on Sunday. In Morrinsville. Would you like to come?”

  The invitation put a smile back on Simone’s face. “Darrin’s father?”

  “Good guess. They’re a little bit crazy and a whole lot of fun. Please say you’ll come.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Great,” Nadia said, “Because you’re beautiful when you come.”

  Simone blushed from the tips of her ears to the tips of her toes. “Are we talking about the same thing?”

  “I believe we are.” Nadia’s voice was a seductive purr. Sexy.

  When Hamish knocked on the door again, Simone wanted to throw a pen at it and tell him to go away, but she had put him off long enough.

  “I have to go.”

  “Think of me when you masturbate tonight.”

  “Who said—”

  The phone went dead.

  Infuriating bloody woman!

  The second Simone tossed her phone aside, Hamish tiptoed in like a ballerina wearing steel-capped boots. He looked so ridiculous, Simone laughed despite herself.

  “Trouble in paradise?” He nodded toward her cell phone perched precariously on the edge of her desk.

  “Depends what you mean by paradise.”

  He looked at the flowers. “Admirer?”

  Fuck it.

  If he wanted the dirt she could give it to him. God knew, she needed to tell one of her work colleagues and Hamish was the perfect person.

  A smile split her face as thoughts of Nadia filled her mind. Oh, this was going to be good.

  “Remember the cleaner…” she trailed off, waiting for recognition to light up Hamish’s face.

  It didn’t.

  “Not really, I’m normally gone by the time she turns up. Soccer Tuesdays, date night Thursday.”

  “Really? You came back to work to get your phone on a date night?”

  “Gotcha!” He pointed a finger. “Of course I remember her, legs that go on forever. Nice rack.” He cupped his chest.

  Simone glared at him. Now that Nadia was hers…if that’s what she was, she didn’t want anyone else undressing her with their eyes.

  “Firstly, remember your place.” Simone held Hamish’s gaze.

  It was okay to be chummy, but they still had a working relationship to maintain. Hamish’s girlfriend was gorgeous, but you wouldn’t hear Simone describing her the same way Hamish had just described Nadia.

  “Sorry.” He slumped into the chair in front of her desk. “You were saying?”

  “The flowers are from her.”

  “No way.” He sat up straighter.

  “Yes way.”

  “That’s fantastic.”

  “Shh.” She pressed a finger to her lips, motioning toward Alex and Leisa on the way back to their desks. “I haven’t told them.”

  “Oh my God. Can you imagine when they find out you’re screwing the cleaner?”

  She narrowed her eyes.

  “Sorry.” He held up his hands in a placating gesture. “Wait.” He snapped his fingers. “She’s not a cleaner.”

  She nodded slowly, watching the pieces fall into place. “She came in here. Last week. She runs the titty shop.”

  Simone narrowed her eyes.

  He held up a hand. “She works at Carson’s Boutique.”

  “Owns.”

  “Wow.” He pulled on the tuft of hair on his chin. “Impressive.”

  The office phone blared to life. She held up a finger, the ringtone letting her know it was an internal call. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Simone. It’s Dave. Sorry to interrupt, but a customer’s looking for Hamish. Can I tell him how long he’ll be?”

  “He’ll be right there.” Customers always came first. Without them, they’d all be out of a job. Gossip could wait, and so could whatever Hamish had come to see her about.

  “You’re needed downstairs.”

  “On it.” He was out the door in a flash.

  Chapter 12

  Simone

  The night at Leah’s went exactly how she expected. Boys on barbeque duty, girls on salads, dishing up and cleaning up. Simone didn’t mind. It meant she drank less, and, she had to admit, a number of the guys from Brad’s rugby team were a lot of fun.

  After her walk with Leah on Saturday, Simone did her weekly grocery shopping, cleaned the house, and filled her time doing anything she could to while away the day.

  Sunday finally dawned, bright and early. Thoughts of the day ahead filled her with joy and worry. She couldn’t wait to see Nadia, but the
prospect of meeting her relatives made her stomach tight.

  What if they didn’t like her?

  All she could do was be herself, and if they didn’t, she couldn’t do much about it. At least she’d met Darrin and Rose, and they were friendly enough. Funny even.

  Smiling, she climbed out of bed and pulled open the drapes. A frost blanketed the lawn but the forecast was for a warm, spring day.

  Right on eleven, as prearranged, Nadia pulled into the driveway. It was the first time Simone had seen her car and it suited her; shiny and sleek.

  It was also the first time Nadia had been to her house. Would she like it? She glanced around, making sure everything was in its place.

  Smiling like a lovesick fool, she yanked open the back door. Nadia wore dark blue jeans that matched the colour of her eyes, a long-sleeved tee, and black ankle boots.

  “Hi.” Simone wrung her hands together, feeling like she was five.

  Eyeing her like a hungry animal, Nadia stood on the top step. Their lips met and Simone’s knees went weak. God, she could kiss. All luscious lips, tongue probing, breath fruity.

  After what felt like forever, Nadia let her come up for air. “Hi to you, too.”

  “You said it better than me.” Simone clutched her chest, catching her breath.

  “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

  “Of course.” She stepped aside. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

  Her house wasn’t exactly The Ritz, but it wasn’t a dive either. After breaking up with Renee, she considered buying something a little more upmarket but that would’ve meant taking in a boarder to afford the payments, and at the time she needed to find herself.

  “Nice kitchen.” Nadia wandered around the centre island separating the kitchen from the living room.

  The open plan layout had been one of the selling points. On the odd occasion Simone cooked for herself, she could create a meal and watch the evening news at the same time.

  “Want a tour?” Simone asked.

  Nadia glanced at her watch.

  “It won’t take long,” Simone reassured her. They had plenty of time. If traffic was light it would only take half an hour to get from Hamilton to Morrinsville.