“Yes. Actually, it’s quite straightforward. I think I’ll be fine.”
“Well, you’ve got my number if you need me.” And with that he saw himself out. They were on their own.
“Christ, it all sounds very complicated,” Clara said.
“No, it’s fine, I’ll be fine,” Virginia replied. ‘did you need to buy all this equipment, couldn’t we just hire it?”
“It’s about time we got into the computer age anyway,” Clara said, showing absolutely no interest in it. Virginia spent the rest of the evening experimenting with the equipment until she was satisfied she could do it.
***
By Thursday the nerves had returned. Clara had taken some cocaine to calm herself but it was having the opposite effect. She called Johnny again to confirm their meeting, she called Gavin, she called Oliver and she called Liam. Liam told her he had primed Johnny’s computer ready for tomorrow. He had also found the e-mail addresses of Johnny’s father and his uncle an extra insurance in the destruction of Johnny’s life. They were ready to go.
“Virginia, here’s the” Yellow Pages. Find a courier firm and book a bike for first thing tomorrow morning. Actually, book two. They pick up here and deliver two tapes. One to Liam Rice at SFH, and one to Johnny Rupfin at SFH. I want them delivered separately.”
Then, while Clara had her second bath of the day, Virginia took the telephone into her room and called James. “Can I speak to James, please?” she asked the female voice. Her heart was thumping.
“May I say who’s calling?”
“Virginia Bateman,” she replied. She was put on hold and had to endure some awful music for what seemed like for ever, until James was on the line.
“I thought you might have called before now,” he said accusingly.
“James, things have been manic. Ella’s ill and she’s gone away for a break. We’re about to finish the plans. The last one’s tonight. I wanted to call you before but—”
“Good. So when do I see you?”
“I don’t know. I can’t leave Clara until Ella’s back. But I do want to.”
“All right. But as soon as this is over we’re telling Clara. I don’t want to have to wait for you to call me and I don’t like never seeing you. It’s not the best way to start a relationship.”
“What?”
“Well, I had hoped we were having a relationship.”
“Really?”
“Virginia, would you stop saying that? Yes, really.”
By Thursday evening, Clara and Virginia were watching television, drinking coffee and waiting.
“Perhaps we should go to the bar,” Clara suggested.
“Are you mad?”
“Well, at least that way we could see if it was working. I’m fed up with waiting. We waited for Isabelle, we waited for Tim, and now we’re waiting again.”
“Clara, don’t you think Johnny would notice if we turned up?”
“We could go in disguise.”
“What as, for heaven’s sake?” Virginia was incredulous.
“Oh, I don’t know?”
“We’ll wait,” Virginia said firmly.
“I suppose we have to,” Clara replied, defeated.
Chapter Forty-six
Johnny was a few minutes late, but that didn’t worry him. He’d had a bad day at work: instead of giving him the respect he deserved the other traders were still giving him a hard time. Liam was the worst and the rest of the desk weren’t much better. Johnny resolved to go and talk to Jeff. They all needed to be put in their places, to know with whom they were dealing.
He walked into Frontline, noting that it was very trendy. He liked the fact that Clara knew where to go in London. He walked up to the bar to order a drink.
He didn’t notice a woman watching him from the other end of the bar. Gavin had known he was Johnny as soon as he walked in. He was exactly as Clara had described.
“He’s hideous,” Gavin thought to himself as he watched Johnny take a bottle of beer from the barman and hand over his credit card. It was a good job he was getting paid handsomely.
Gavin watched him for about ten minutes. He kept glancing at the door and then at his watch. After a while he pulled out his mobile phone, dialled a number and waited. His call went unanswered and Johnny looked annoyed. It was time for Gavin to go to work.
“Are you alone?” he asked as he went to stand next to Johnny.
“Yes, I’m supposed to be meeting a work contact. I don’t know where they could be,” Johnny lied.
“Well, I’ll keep you company until they turn up.” Gavin smiled seductively.
“I’m Crystal,” Gavin said, stretching out a perfectly manicured hand.
“Johnny. Pleased to meet you.” Johnny took Gavin’s hand gently and looked him up and down.
“Well Johnny, are you going to buy me a drink?”
“I could,” he replied with a wink. Then he turned to the barman. “Another Becks and a glass of champagne for the lady.”
By half past eight, Johnny had had three beers. Gavin had two glasses of champagne. Johnny had told him he was an important trader in the City. He said he didn’t really want to meet the boring person who was obviously not coming, and again he emphasised how important he was.
When Gavin spotted a free table he suggested that they should sit down. As Johnny carried the drinks, Gavin positioned himself so Johnny had a good view of his long legs, and he slumped down a little to show off his fake cleavage.
“Thank you Johnny, you’re a true gentleman,” Gavin said taking his drink. After a few minutes of listening to Johnny’s ramblings, he excused himself.
“Darling, I must go and powder my nose.” As he stood up, he gave Johnny his best seductive smile.
As he entered the ladies”, he decided he would make his move soon. Johnny was a bore and Gavin hated bores. He reapplied his lipstick and thought of the money as he made his way back to the table. Seeing Johnny as five thousand pounds made him look a lot more attractive.
“You have nice legs,” Johnny said.
“Thank you. There are lots of nice things about me.” Gavin giggled. He wished he could smoke, but Clara had told him not to.
“When you’re as important as I am, you get a lot of girls wanting to show off their nice bits,” Johnny slurred.
“I bet you do. But it’s not your importance I’m after.”
“Really?” Johnny was swaying slightly.
“No, I’m after your cock.” Gavin always liked the direct approach. He also wanted to get this business finished before he lost his nerve.
“Would you like to come back to my flat?” Johnny asked, as he felt himself go hard.
Gavin laid his hand in his crotch. “No, darling, but I’d like you to come back to mine.”
“OK.” Johnny stood up, swaying slightly.
Gavin got the door attendant to hail him a cab. Outside Johnny was propped against the wall. At this rate, Gavin thought, he wouldn’t need any sleeping pills, he’d just pass out.
They got into the taxi and started kissing. Gavin was an expert and could see that Johnny was aroused. When they arrived in Highgate, he had guessed something that Clara had missed. This will be the easiest money I’ve ever made, he said to himself, as he let them into the flat and led Johnny to the bedroom. Something had been bugging him all evening and now he knew what it was. Johnny was gay – or, if not gay, bisexual. Gavin knew the signs and he could have kicked himself for not realising it sooner. He had a sixth sense when it came to sexuality and he had never been wrong before. He would have put all of the five thousand pounds on Johnny being a closet homosexual.
When they got to the bedroom he kissed him again, and flicked on the video camera. He decided that if this worked he would ask Clara for another couple of grand. After all, he was actually going to have sex with him. The idea turned him on.
“Sit here a minute,” Gavin commanded, pushing Johnny on to the bed in full view of the camera. ‘there’s something I need to
tell you.”
“What?” Johnny asked impatiently, making a grab for him.
He ducked out of his grasp. He was wiggling around near him as he spoke, making sure that he became increasingly aroused. It was a gamble, but he knew he could afford to take it.
“Well, I’ve brought you here on false pretences. You see, oh, God, I’m sorry, but I so fancy you.”
“And I fancy you,” Johnny said, pulling at her cardigan.
Gavin pulled away. “Johnny, I’m a man.”
Johnny laughed. ‘don’t be absurd.”
“Let me show you.” Gavin stood in front of Johnny, just a little to the side so that he was still visible to the camera. Seductively he took off all his clothes to reveal his penis. Johnny stared. While most men would have been filled with revulsion and bolted out the flat, Gavin could see that Johnny wasn’t one of them. He had guessed correctly.
“I was right about you, wasn’t I?” Gavin said.
Johnny reached out his hand and started to stroke his penis with one hand and his chest with the other.
“If you mean will I have sex with you, then yes, I will. I love sex with men.” Johnny was breathless with desire.
“My God, Johnny, I knew it. I’m you’re perfect creature.”
Gavin thought he might start working in porno movies – he was so good on camera angles. He pulled out a condom and they had sex. All the time he made sure that Johnny’s face was as visible to the camera as what they were doing. He was all over him.
Afterwards he kissed him and held him in his arms. Gavin had really enjoyed it. “Johnny, are you gay?” he asked.
“Of course not – not in my profession.”
Gavin felt a bit sorry for him. He had to pretend to be straight. No wonder he hadn’t managed to service Clara properly. For a minute he felt bad about what he was about to do, then he told himself that he needed the money and Johnny was a self-important prick. He waited until he was asleep before he turned off the camera.
He smiled as he thought about what he was giving them. They would be so shocked! Clara had only wanted it to look like they’d slept together. Instead, she was getting the real thing. Gavin took the tape out of the machine quietly and went to the sitting room. He called Clara, who said she would be over in about half an hour. Gavin said the price had gone up, and asked for seven thousand pounds. He told Clara that he had actually slept with Johnny and that he had consented to it verbally on the tape.
Clara nearly screamed. She said immediately that she would bring a cheque with her.
When the cab arrived Virginia and Clara saw Gavin watching for them out of the window. He ran down to the street and gave Clara the tape in return for the cheque.
“You’re the best,” Clara said, hugging him.
“Actually, I quite enjoyed it. He’s not bad in the sack.”
“Maybe not with men but he was crap with me.”
“Oh, God,” Virginia said.
The taxi driver thought they were on a drug run, but he knew better than to ask questions.
***
When they got home, Clara put the tape into the machine.
“I’m not watching.” Virginia shuddered.
“Don’t then.” The tape was better than Clara could ever have hoped for. She couldn’t wait for Liam to see it. Johnny would never be able to show his face at SFH again.
Virginia stood staring out of the window. She could hear what was happening, but she still couldn’t bring herself to watch it.
“Clara, this is not good,” she said.
“What do you mean? It’s fucking fantastic.”
“I feel like a pornographer.”
“Well, we didn’t stand in the wardrobe taping it, did we?”
They made the copies, and Virginia was forced to see some of it. She felt sick and her legs buckled. Then Virginia put one into Liam’s envelope, another into Johnny’s.
“This is for Ella,” Clara said, as she sealed the envelopes. “Now, what about the e-mail?”
“This, I don’t know. How much should we put on it? I mean, I don’t think we should send the bit with them actually having sex.”
“OK, just put the first bit on, up to where they’re both naked and kissing. That should be enough,” Clara replied. Virginia got to work following her notes and although it took a while she succeeded. They checked it by sending an e-mail to themselves, as Peter had shown her, and it worked.
“Christ, you’re a genius,” Clara said, patting her on the back.
“This is for Ella,” Virginia said, and e-mailed the evidence to Johnny and Liam.
Chapter Forty-seven
The couriers had been ordered for seven the next morning. Virginia got up at six and waited. She had thought about it last night and the weirdness of the situation baffled her. How had Gavin known? What if Johnny had run? She was relieved it was over – she had been so worried about it. But Clara had pulled it off.
When the courier came, Virginia handed him the packages, then closed the door. She knew now they would have to wait again. This time until Liam called.
***
Liam was in the office earlier than usual. He went to Johnny’s computer and got into his mail box. He opened it and watched as it showed a sequence of events that made his hair curl. He quickly sent a ‘to all” e-mail to ensure that everyone on the floor received a copy. He also e-mailed it to Johnny’s family. He was shaking.
A bit later one of the trading assistants came over with a package for Liam and one for Johnny. Liam opened his. “Trevor. Keep watch for me, I’m just going into conference room four,” he said.
“What for?” Trevor asked.
“I’ll tell you in a minute. Just don’t let anyone else come in.”
Trevor sighed. Liam was such an idiot sometimes. He stood by the conference-room door, glad that the markets were quiet so Liam could play his games.
Liam put the tape in the video-recorder and pressed play. He sat down in disbelief and, finally, disgust at what he saw. “Christ,” he said. This was even more explicit than the e-mail had been. He rewound the tape, pulled it out of the player and left the room.
Already it seemed that everyone on the floor had seen the e-mail.
“Liam, you’ve got to look at this,” John called, as soon as he saw him. The office was in overdrive as everyone was discussing it.
“Let me see,” Trevor said, going over to the computer.
“I think you’ll find everyone’s got one.” Liam laughed.
“Well, who sent it? Johnny isn’t even here,” Trevor asked, watching with a mixture of fascination and revulsion.
“Maybe he sent it then legged it,” Liam suggested. “And look, someone’s sent me the whole show.”
“Well, let’s watch. I can’t wait to see Johnny.” John guffawed.
All the men on Johnny’s trading desk went into the conference room and Liam pressed play.
“Oh, my God.”
“Holy shit!”
“Fuck!” The men all watched in amazement.
Liam only played a few seconds of the tape. “Johnny Rupfin shags men. Either that or it’s a real porno movie. Johnny Rupfin is a porn star.” Liam laughed and the others did too.
“First the e-mail then this. Christ.” Trevor was in shock.
They returned to the desk, which was surrounded by people demanding to know why Johnny had sent everyone an e-mail of himself naked, kissing a man. Liam faked as much curiosity as everyone else. Then Jeff walked over and everyone dispersed.
“Have you seen that e-mail?” he asked.
“Yes, boss, unfortunately we did,” Liam replied.
“What is he playing at? Christ, this is unacceptable behaviour. What he does in his spare time is his business, but to send it round in an e-mail!”
“Well, there’s always the possibility that he didn’t send it,” Trevor pointed out.
“Who else did? It came from his computer. As soon as you see him, you’d better tell him to get into my of
fice.” Jeff was furious. What SFH needed at the moment was not another scandal. The press would have a field day.
***
Johnny had woken up to find that Gavin had disappeared. He looked at his Rolex. He was late. He pulled on his clothes without showering and ran outside. He hailed a cab and asked the driver to take him to work.
Total silence greeted him as he walked on to the trading floor. Everyone was staring at him. He wondered if he was wearing the wrong clothes, but he looked at his suit and saw it couldn’t be that. He walked to his desk and sat down. Then he picked up a package addressed to him.
“So, you like to shag men,” Liam said. The whole desk roared with laughter.
“What?” Johnny said, colour draining from his face.
“Your extra-curricular activities are the subject of the video in your package. For some reason I got one too. And not only that but you seem to have sent us all an e-mail with little snippets of the tape in it. The whole floor got it, including Jeff. Johnny, we don’t care about what you get up to in your personal life, but I don’t think you had to send us the highlights of your sex life. Jeff wants to see you by the way.”
“I don’t believe you,” Johnny said, clicking on his e-mail. The whole desk watched as his face turned white, red, purple, then green.
“Oh, no,” Johnny roared, and he ran off the trading floor faster than he’d ever run before.
Liam called Clara. “I’m not sure how you did that, but he’s gone.”
“Trade secret,” Clara told him.
“Well done. The bastard will never be back here.”
“Good. Liam, let me tell Ella, then I promise I’ll ask her to call you.”
‘do that. Tell her I want to buy her a slap-up meal to celebrate.”
Plan three was complete.
Chapter Forty-eight
They tried to call Ella, but her mobile was switched off. Clara was frustrated, and so was Virginia.
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