Pinstripes

by Faith Bleasdale

  Clara returned and sat down. She lit a cigarette.

  “We thought we might get a takeaway,” Virginia said.

  “Oh, what fun. I guess this is probably the social highlight of your year. I’ll get the menus.” Clara stalked off again. Virginia went red.

  “Ignore her,” Ella said. Virginia shrugged.

  “The sad thing is she’s right,” she said, in a small voice.

  Ella wasn’t sure she was ready to handle these two, Clara with her fictional sex addiction, Virginia with no life. What had she done to deserve this? But she knew the answer to that.

  They decided on Chinese and Clara rang through the order. When it arrived, they all dug in and ate it, although Clara had ordered the oddest things. Four portions of rice, sweet and sour pork and prawn crackers. Virginia ate a lot, Ella ate as much as she could stomach, and Clara ate hardly anything.

  “So, do any of you two have any stories to tell?” Clara asked, bored again.

  “Not really,” Ella said.

  “I guess not. You’re not terribly interesting are you?” Clara said.

  “No.” Ella said.

  “Well, I wish I could have got stuck with two more interesting people.”

  “I wish you could too,” Ella retorted.

  Virginia was drunk. She decided she wanted to be interesting. “I’m a virgin,” she said.

  “We’d worked that out,” Clara said, but she smiled almost kindly.

  “I had a boyfriend. He was a Christian. He left to study in America. I never heard from him again.”

  “Sounds like the best place for him,” Clara said.

  “Yes, but I wish I’d, you know, done it before he left me.” The others giggled.

  “He wouldn’t have been any good. Christians never are,” Clara said.

  “You’ve slept with one?” Virginia asked.

  “I have no idea, I don’t expect so. If they don’t believe in sex before marriage, they’re hardly going to sleep with a sex addict,” Clara pointed out.

  “I just wish I wasn’t such a freak.” Virginia looked sad.

  “You’re not. Sex isn’t everything,” Ella said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

  “It is to me,” Clara said, before breaking into hysterical laughter.

  They left at nine, because Virginia was drunk and Ella needed to get out. Ella gave them Jackie’s address and telephone number, telling them they could contact her there. They had arranged to take Sunday off and meet again on Monday.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The telephone woke Clara. She crawled out of bed to answer it, fighting the panic that engulfed her every morning.

  “Hello.” She hoped she didn’t sound as bad as she felt. She had stayed up late, taking cocaine and drinking until she passed out. Her flat was a mess and she had a monster headache.

  “Clive, it’s Toby.”

  Clara sighed. “Hi,” she said.

  “Listen, sorry I didn’t call you on Friday, but I think we should meet. Can we have a drink?”

  ‘sure, but why?”

  “I’ll tell you later. I thought you should know what a certain person said at that meeting we had.”

  “OK. Why don’t you meet me in Oriel’s, next to Sloane Square tube?”

  “Fine, I know it. About seven tonight?”

  “I’ll see you there.” Clara hung up. Then she telephoned Ella and Virginia and told them she had to go out that evening, so they should come round at two.

  ***

  Virginia had spent Sunday hungover. She was getting used to hangovers. They were the only thing in her life that made her normal. She spent the day in bed. Monday morning she went to the library and borrowed a novel about insider trading. She took it home and lay in bed, reading.

  By the afternoon, she had an idea of how they could make the plan work. Virginia almost felt proud of herself.

  ***

  Ella had breakfast with Jackie, who was delighted with the progress they were making.

  “What a riot. These girls sound priceless.”

  “Bloody hard work, more like. Jackie, what have I let myself in for?”

  “Have you got any ideas for the first revenge?”

  “Actually I have a great idea. I’m just clueless as to how to make it work.” Ella sipped her tea.

  “OK. Here’s what you should do. You outline your idea, let the others do the same, if they have any, then watch as it all comes together.” Jackie smiled.

  “You really think it will?”

  “Of course. Ella, there’s a bigger reason why you and those two met. I don’t know what it is, but I do know that until you get the plans actioned you won’t know either.”

  “Is this more hippie shit, Jack?”

  “Of course it is. But it is bloody good hippie shit. So do as I say.”

  “Where would I be without you?”

  “Your life would be so much worse,” Jackie replied.

  “Christ, you really think it could get any worse than this?”

  ***

  Virginia arrived early again. Instead of facing time alone with Clara, she walked around the lush grounds of the flats. It would indeed be a wonderful place to live. When she saw Ella drive up she went to meet her. “Hi,” she said. “Hello. I guess we’d better go in.”

  Clara opened the door wearing a skimpy top and incredibly tight trousers.

  “Nice of you to dress up for us,” Ella said, as she walked in.

  “Good God, it’s not for you two. I told you, I’m going out later.” Clara smiled, “How are you Virginia?”

  “Fine,” Virginia said, red-faced. Clara shrugged and sat down. She was jittery because she had taken more cocaine than she had intended today. She was worried about her rapidly depleting stock and about seeing Josh.

  “You remember telling us on Saturday you were a virgin?” Clara teased.

  “Yes,” Virginia replied, blushing.

  “Oh, well to be honest, it didn’t come as a surprise.” Clara was bitchy again. Ella decided to change the subject and get on with the business they were there for.

  “I’ve had an idea,” Ella said.

  “Really?” Virginia felt excited. “So have I.”

  “Well, I haven’t so why don’t you tell us yours?” Clara said, fiddling with her pen.

  “The problem was how we could set up a fake deal and get Isabelle to fall for it, right?” Ella began. The others nodded. She continued, “Well, I was thinking about a function I attended last month, a women-in-the-City thing, and Isabelle was there. Anyway, I met this woman who was a lawyer, involved in company takeovers and she said to me that the information they were privy to would make your hair curl. So there we have it. First we find a company, then we find a lawyer to plant the idea in Isabelle’s mind. It doesn’t even have to be a real lawyer, just a convincing actor. We could pay someone.”

  “Not bad. In fact I like it”, Clara mused. “So we set her up to meet this lawyer, who lets some information slip and she falls for it.”

  “But lawyers aren’t allowed to talk and Isabelle isn’t stupid,” Virginia spoke, turning tomato red. “I was thinking we could produce a document that said X company was being taken over by Y company and arrange somehow for Isabelle to see it. The lawyer would fit in. But we need to get a document. The thing is, money. I don’t have much.”

  “Virginia, I think you have something there. Christ, yes! Instead of someone giving her the tip, we make it more official and get a document. But the problem is still the lawyer. We need to make sure she really believes it. Don’t worry about the money, we’ll keep it minimal.” Ella was getting excited.

  “God, don’t worry about money,” Clara put in. “I’ve got plenty. Good idea, Virginia. And I have a contribution to make, but I can’t tell you until I’ve checked it out. It’ll have to wait for tomorrow. I suggest that you two work out how we’re going to get a company and how to get the document to look official. I will figure out how we’re going to get the information to
Isabelle.” Clara stood up. She wanted to get the others out of her flat so that she could have a large vodka and another line of cocaine without having to sneak into the bathroom.

  “But how do we find a company?” Virginia asked.

  “There are loads of companies,” Clara said.

  “But Virginia’s right. We need to find a company that’s going to go bankrupt. We need a company that’s traded on the stock exchange, which means that no one will know if it’s going to go bankrupt or not. Christ, every time we get somewhere there’s another hurdle.”

  “Maybe we should rethink the whole thing,” Virginia said unwillingly.

  Clara felt angry. A couple of good ideas were all they had between them. She might have to fill in all the blanks herself, with Josh’s help, though he would probably think she was mad.

  “Listen, girls, I’ll sort out the lawyer and the company. OK?”

  “How?” Virginia asked.

  “Does it matter? Give me a day or two and I’ll fill in the details. I’ll call you tomorrow if I have any news so wait in, OK? I guess you know how to get a document forged, Ella.”

  “Yes, I do,” Ella said. Clara really was a first-class bitch.

  “Then leave it with me. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “OK.” Ella didn’t feel confident. They had come up with such a rough framework and Clara was going to fill in the details. Left to her, it might turn out to be a huge mess. She got into her car, waved goodbye to Virginia, and, for the first time since she had been sacked, she made her way to her own flat.

  Virginia was equally doubtful. The plan had seemed so easy in her head, but now it seemed impossible. She went home to her lonely bedsit and found a letter waiting on her doorstep. It was from her French teacher, reminding her she had missed the last couple of lessons. Virginia threw it into the bin. She couldn’t think about the future right now and she didn’t need to speak French. She decided that she would never go again.

  Clara had a line of cocaine and a vodka. She knew the others would be pleased with her when she outlined her plan. Josh Lambert, the man who would ensure that she never had a problem getting cocaine, was also a corporate lawyer. As the plan formed in her head, she knew she had been right. Sex was always necessary as part of any plan.

  ***

  Ella walked into her flat and felt as if she didn’t belong there. In fact she had never felt at home there. Her life felt empty; she was empty. She called Jackie. “Jack, could you use an extra pair of hands tonight?”

  “You want to work in the restaurant again?”

  “Just tonight. I fancy being busy.”

  “Sure, come over. A couple of really cute waiters are starting tonight.”

  “I’m there.”

  Ella put on a skirt and a pretty top. She looked OK, not great but OK. She brushed her hair, applied makeup and left the house. She took a bus to the restaurant, not wanting to drive. She hadn’t told Jackie that she had started to hate her own company.

  She waited tables all night, the job she had done when she first moved to London. The restaurant was busy and she was glad of the distraction. After she had cleared the last table, she flopped down opposite Jackie.

  “Christ, I’d forgotten how tiring this is.”

  “Good, so you won’t be asking for a job,” Jackie said.

  “Why? Aren’t I the best waitress you’ve ever had?”

  “Of course, But it’s not for you. Come over if you’re lonely, but don’t work here, just eat.”

  “Deal. Hey, how’s the arrangements for college going?”

  “Well, the course doesn’t start for months so I’m going to start looking for someone to manage this place full-time for me.”

  “I could do it,” Ella teased.

  “Or you could start college with me.” Jackie got up and went to get a bottle of brandy.

  ***

  That evening Virginia’s mother called her.

  “Virginia?”

  “Yes, Mother?”

  “Where have you been? You haven’t phoned us for ages and we were worried.”

  “I have some new friends. I’ve been out a lot.”

  “Oh, really? I suppose they’re unsuitable types.”

  “No.”

  “Well, you were never a good judge of character. Anyway, I don’t suppose you’ve got any news so I won’t keep you. We do appreciate a call every now and then, you know.”

  “Yes, mother. Bye.”

  Virginia felt angry as she hung up. Everyone treated her like dirt and she let them. Maybe she was as worthless as they all thought. She turned the lights off and sat in the dark, thinking about nothing and panicking about everything.

  ***

  Clara was twenty minutes late to meet Toby. She had drunk too much, taken more cocaine and couldn’t find her keys. She was trying so hard to hold it together but she was nervous about seeing Josh. Especially now that she needed so much from him. Toby was sitting at a table, looking from the door to his watch and nursing a bottle of beer.

  “Toby, I’m so sorry I’m late.” Clara kissed him on both cheeks before Toby had a chance to stand up. ‘do you want a drink? Oh, I’ll get you one anyway.” Before Toby had a chance to say a word, she had gone to the bar. Returning with a bottle of beer and a vodka and tonic, she sat down opposite him. “What’s up?” she asked.

  “Well, it’s a bit embarrassing, but Tim claims you slept with Stephen Lock and that’s why you were sacked.” He looked hurt and confused. Clara’s anger with Tim grew: why did he have to tell the rest of her desk that? Now they all thought she was a slut. Two could play at his game.

  ‘toby, if I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone else?”

  “Of course.”

  “Well, I didn’t sleep with Stephen Lock. I went to dinner with him when Tim couldn’t make it a normal client dinner. But, well, the problem is Tim. When I started working for him he flirted with me. At first it was just fun, nothing serious, but then he became suggestive, kept touching me. He said if I didn’t sleep with him my job would be in jeopardy. And, well, it was, wasn’t it? He made the whole Stephen thing up but, you see, it was his word against mine. And he threatened to tell my family and, God, they would believe him and there would be a huge scandal, and I just couldn’t cope with it. So I left quietly.” A tear ran down her cheek.

  Toby had clenched his fists. “There must be something we can do. He can’t get away with that.”

  “Toby there isn’t and I don’t want you to jeopardise your job for this. I’m OK. I mean, I miss the job, but I won’t be destitute or anything. I want to forget about Tim and the whole mess. I just don’t want you to think I’m some sort of tart.”

  “I’d never think that. But if there’s anything I can do, let me know.”

  “I will, Toby, you’re a good friend.” Clara wondered if she could use him in any of their plans, and filed him in her head.

  They finished their drinks, chatted, and Clara went off to meet Josh.

  He was already waiting for her at the Collection, and Clara kissed him warmly. Josh was another man her parents would’ve been happy for her to marry. In this case, she would have agreed with them. He was divine to look at, tall, well-muscled, dark hair and eyes. Delicious eyes. He was also well spoken, well mannered, successful, friendly, warm and funny. What they didn’t know was that he was a serial womaniser but, then, they didn’t know about Clara either.

  The families had been friends for ages and, for a long time, Josh had seen Clara as an irritating younger sister. When they met again after she left finishing-school, his view of her changed and he pursued her vigorously. They ended up in bed, and embarked on a fling. Clara was ensconced in the life of a party girl and tried not to mind that he worked long hours, hardly had time to see her and still went out with other girls. She did mind terribly, but she always brushed it off by going to another party. It lasted only a month, then Josh stopped calling her and Clara didn’t chase him. She didn’t feel sad fo
r long: she had a number of other men in tow, including Matt, and she had discovered the joys of cocaine – to which Josh had introduced her.

  When Clara saw him, her heart flipped. She would never admit it to herself, but Josh was the love of her life.

  “Clara, you look fantastic. How are you, darling?” Josh asked.

  Clara sat down. “Fine. You look fantastic yourself.” Clara decided she needed to flirt as she had never flirted before. It was the only way she could keep the butterflies at bay.

  “How’s James? I haven’t seen him in ages, but he works so hard. God, he never has any time to play. Tell him to call me,” Josh said.

  “He’s fine, but you’re right, he does work hard and he wouldn’t be pleased if he knew I was with you. He thinks you broke my heart.” Clara giggled.

  “And did I?” Josh’s eyes twinkled.

  “No one breaks my heart.” They both laughed. Josh summoned the waiter and asked for a bottle of champagne. When it arrived, they toasted to ‘old friends’.

  “God, Clara, you are so gorgeous. I should never have let you go.”

  “No, you shouldn’t.” Clara had seen Josh at a couple of parties recently with a tall, skinny, blonde woman. She wondered if he had anyone special.

  “I know. My mother always asks after you. Anyway, I was a bit too much of a playboy for you. You deserved better. Is there anyone in your life?” His voice was calm but his eyes betrayed his interest.

  “No one special, although I’m not short of admirers. Anyway, I did deserve someone better, although no one came along.” Clara smiled. She felt thirteen again – and told herself to pull herself together: she needed Josh for her other tasks. He had hurt her once, he wouldn’t hurt her again.

  “I bet. Anyway, what was the emergency situation you needed me for?” Josh looked and acted like a lawyer now.