by S M Mala
‘What!’ she snapped seeing he recoiled for a moment as her heart reverberated in her chest. ‘They want to close the place!’
‘He needs some focus and I want to get better.’
Sylvie looked at Piers’s sheepish expression.
‘How’s tap?’ he asked.
‘Don’t change the bloody subject but I’m still the worst in a class where the average age is seventy two!’
She sat there, realising she had it in her head Finlay would be going at the end of the year whether she wanted it or not. It was her preparation to know the affair would end and she’d be able to get over him.
‘You don’t look too happy,’ he said gently. ‘He’s not my flesh and blood but I love that boy as a son and he has perked up since coming back to London.’
‘Oh I bet he has,’ she said gesturing to the waiter and composing her erratic breathing. ‘Can I have the steak, medium rare, and chips and he can have a chicken Caesar but hold off on the dressing.’
‘You’re taking this badly,’ Piers whispered handing the menu to the waiter.
‘And I’ll have a large glass of rose wine,’ she said defiantly. ‘He’ll have a glass of tap water.’
Sylvie sat with her arms folded and didn’t know what to say.
‘He’ll end up going back to her so prolonging it won’t help regardless of what you think,’ she said quietly, before glancing at the people walking outside. ‘If he really loves her then he’ll support her through this silly mistake. It’s a baby at the end of the day and he wants to be a dad.’
‘What if it was Roo, what would you do?’
‘Finlay asked me this already and I told him, as I wouldn’t be parentally linked, I’d shaft the fucker and his woman regardless. I told him I wasn’t a nice person.’
Piers started to laugh as Sylvie shrugged and eyed the glass of wine coming towards her.
‘I didn’t know Finlay went to the same school at Rupert,’ she said quietly, seeing Piers smile for a moment as she got nervous about asking her next question. ‘Would they have known each other?’
‘You’ve not told him?’ he said, a little surprised. ‘I would have thought it would give you something in common.’
‘He came to a conclusion about me way before he started being more amicable. He has never asked me about what my husband did, how we met because he probably thinks he was a normal working class man. How do you think he’s going to feel knowing Rupert was probably head boy at his school when he was there? Finlay will probably think the man had a seizure.’ She waited for a moment. ‘And he’ll know about me taking Rupert away from his fiancé, forcing him into marriage and eventually giving him a treacherous life.’
‘That’s not true.’
‘You know what Piers?’ she said, sipping her drink. ‘I’ve not told anyone this, other than Nalini, but if I could do it all again I would have settled to be Rupert’s secret mistress because if I had, he’d have been alive now. I should have forced him to be with her, made him forget about me but I was in love. I wanted him and at what cost to that man?’
‘Are you telling me if you fell in love with someone again, and you were faced with the same dilemma of upsetting the man’s family or being with the person you love, you’d let them go?’
‘Yes, without a moment’s doubt, I would. I’d keep my mouth shut on how I felt and let them walk away or let his family win… all to keep everyone happy.’
‘Then Sylvie, I can safely say,’ Piers said, kissing her hand. ‘You’re a bloody idiot.’
Thirty six
‘They look like tarts!’ laughed out Stephen as the ladies, one by one, walked out of the toilets all dressed in red. ‘Big strawberry ones!’
‘I think they look beautiful,’ Toby sniffed as the two men peered from the office window down to the ground floor. ‘Your woman coming tonight?’
‘She doesn’t like the people at this company,’ replied Stephen and Finlay smiled while working on his lap top.
‘So you’re on a free night?’ smiled Toby before pulling a face behind Stephen’s back. ‘Which of the ravishing beauties from work are you after, as if I didn’t know?’
‘What time is Sylvie coming?’ piped up Stephen walking towards the window, peering out in anticipation as Toby rolled his eyes.
‘I don’t know,’ replied Finlay.
He hadn’t seen her since Wednesday night and, since the conversation when she was half asleep the day before, he felt anxious, wondering if she was mad with him or he was with her.
Usually there would have been a few texts or emails but she sent nothing.
‘Daddio saw her for lunch today and said she was sorting out the cards and vouchers,’ replied Toby, walking towards Finlay.
‘What cards and vouchers?’ he asked as Toby half smiled and glanced at Stephen for a moment.
‘Ah, well,’ began Stephen. ‘It’s nothing to do with me but each year Piers and Sylvie give everyone a little present and it’s usually a voucher.’
‘And daddio signs the cards because he is the boss, sort of, and Sylvie hands them out at the night of the party, making sure everyone puts them away safely. Actually, she usually ends up keeping a majority of them as everyone gets slaughtered,’ laughed Toby as Finlay tried not to scowl. ‘Don’t spoil it. Don’t be mean to her because you don’t like her. They’re just trying to do something nice.’
‘You don’t like Sylvie?’ he heard Stephen say behind him and noticed he quickly walked towards his desk. ‘I suppose she’s not to everyone’s taste, is she? I’m sure you’re used to society girls and all that.’
‘Where does this money come from?’ Finlay continued, ignoring Stephen as Toby shrugged.
‘Sylvie puts a little bit of money aside to cover for the vouchers,’ Stephen said nervously. ‘I don’t get one as I am senior management but the others do and-.’
‘Dad says he wishes he could give them like a week’s pay but we can’t afford it, just yet, and everyone’s happy. Even I get one!’ he said cheerfully. ‘It’s not much but at least it’s something.’
‘But we’re paying for a night out with free food and booze plus they can bring a guest,’ he shrugged and decided to send Sylvie an email.
‘What’s this about vouchers for all the employees? How comes no one told me?’
She pinged back immediately.
‘Don’t tell me you don’t reward your other personnel? I know for a fact they get bonuses and we have never asked the head company for any contributions towards this.’
Then another message came.
‘Just pretend you think it’s a great idea… actually you can hand them out and give and little speech to each person on how you really appreciate their help. You are the major shareholder.’
Finlay realised Stephen was trying to look at what he was doing and glared at him.
‘I think we should take them for a drink on the way to the restaurant,’ Finlay sighed for a moment, seeing she was back to her bitch mode.
‘It’s a waste of money all this, they’d prefer Nandos,’ said Stephen with authority.
Finlay opened his wallet and took out two fifty pound notes, handing them to Toby.
‘Go buy drinks and I’ll lock up here,’ he said, not wanting to leave his desk.
He heard the noise of people leaving, Samina abusing everyone and Gillian’s raucous laughter.
He emailed Sylvie again.
‘What time are you turning up? They’re going for a drink in a pub beforehand.’
Finlay noticed she pinged back quickly.
‘I’m just going to put child, mother and myself in a cab as they’re having a Christmas do at her place then I’ll go straight there.’
He smiled and then decided to ask her, instead of presuming what he wanted.
‘Can we spend the night together?’
There was no reply and he worried she wasn’t going to want to meet.
Fifteen minutes later he was walking down the road and still she hadn
’t responded. He started to think about the things he told her the previous night and her correct assumption they were only together based on a mistake.
Slowly he strolled down the road then took a short cut via the green.
‘Fancy a leg over for a fiver?’ he heard someone with a rough cockney accent say behind him and realised it was Sylvie.
Something strange happened when he saw her, Finlay couldn’t breathe.
She was smiling at him and the street light made her look alluring.
‘Have you been following me?’ he asked seriously.
‘Only for a few minutes and you looked miserable so I left well alone.’
‘Why haven’t you contacted me for the last couple of days?’ he blurted out and noticed Sylvie’s smile faded. ‘I was worried something was wrong.’
‘And why didn’t you contact me?’ she replied. ‘See teenage behaviour.’
Finlay smiled, seeing her point then let out an impromptu sigh.
‘Will you spend the night with me?’ he quietly asked, stepping closer. ‘I’d love to just wrap you up in my arms.’
‘And that’s it!’ she laughed out. ‘I expect more than that!’
‘Will you?’ he said, feeling the anxiousness he only experienced with her.
‘I have my key card and so have you. We’ll meet later on but how you’re going to get out of taking Toby home is another thing all together.’ He watched her hesitate for a moment. ‘You know you can get a flight back to France before Christmas. I think you should go and see your wife. Promise me you will.’
Finlay scratched his head, not wanting to think about it.
‘Can I just think about here and now?’ he said, stepping forward. ‘Let me just think I’m with you and no one else.’
Sylvie nodded and walked up to him, putting her arm in his, as they walked down the road.
‘This is very civil,’ he laughed. ‘Have you grown?’
‘Wearing heels to make me look thinner especially when wearing red which only makes me look rounder.’
Following her into the restaurant, there was a massive amount of noise in the corner and he realised where it was coming from. Gillian walked up to them.
‘I found her loitering on the streets so I brought her in,’ he smiled, taking off Sylvie’s coat and stopped when he realised she looked absolutely beautiful.
‘Sylvie, you look gorgeous!’ exclaimed Gillian.
‘So do you,’ replied Sylvie and he noticed she’d got embarrassed as Toby got up and bolted towards her.
‘Lady in red, you’re dancing with me, cheek to… well I don’t care what it is, but you look like a beauty!’ he laughed and Finlay watched his brother grab her and walk away.
Finlay handed the coat over and noticed it was girl boy, give or take whether people had dates or not. He was sat in between Gillian and Pria as he noticed Sylvie sandwiched between Matthew and Krystof.
Everyone had brought someone along other than Toby, Stephen, surprisingly Wanda who seemed toned down in make-up, Sylvie and him. Glancing at the group, he realised they were as diverse as you could get anywhere and smiled, when he noticed Sylvie grinning.
They were noisy and chatty. Now and again he could hear Sylvie’s loud laugh and smiled for a moment, inwardly knowing he’d hear it intimately and for him only, very soon. He could see some table jumping, mostly Samina trying to get closer to Matthew who had brought along with him a very pretty plump Chinese lady, who Finlay could only presume was his girlfriend based on the questioning.
‘You been together long?’ Samina grinned sweetly at the woman. ‘He a good man!’
‘We met on the internet,’ the woman replied as Samina let out a little sniff. ‘Didn’t we Mattie?’
‘Who this Mattie?’ asked Samina pretending to look around. ‘Oh it you!’ She laughed and Finlay knew the woman was up to mischief. ‘You and he do it?’
‘Samina!’ said Sylvie in earshot, turning away from speaking to Krystof’s petite wife. ‘Don’t be so rude! We have guests.’
‘I ask question about sex because sex is important.’
‘Not tonight, please?’ Sylvie asked sweetly as Samina rolled her eyes then spotted Finlay looking over at her.
He tried to look away and then caught Stephen staring at Sylvie, which made him twitch for a moment, before seeing Wanda was on a mission to chat up a confused looking Toby.
‘I’ll save you from the mad woman,’ Pria said, dragging her friend’s hand to shake Finlay’s. ‘This is my girlfriend Ingrid.’
‘Nice to meet you,’ the young woman said, who was identical in stature to Pria but white and blonde.
‘We met on holiday,’ grinned Pria. ‘She was with her parents but they’re very liberal minded.’
‘She was with her man,’ scowled Ingrid for a moment. ‘But she preferred me.’
‘You had a boyfriend?’ Finlay asked, not trying to show how unfamiliar he was with lesbians. He’d watched many a porn movie but never really had any in his close circle of friends. ‘Was he upset when he realised you preferred girls?’
‘He was my husband,’ she replied with half a smile. ‘Now we’re divorced and I’ve been sort of been made an outcast by some of my family but I don’t care. My mum and dad love me and that’s what’s important, innit?’
‘Have you a wife?’ Ingrid asked, smiling in anticipation.
‘I’m married.’
‘Any children?’
‘Not yet,’ he said and realised Sylvie was standing behind him. He closed his eyes for a moment feeling uncomfortable. ‘Time will tell.’
‘And talking of time, I need to borrow Finlay,’ Sylvie said and grabbed his arm, taking him in to the corner as she put her hand in her bag.
‘This is fun,’ he said quietly as she smiled up at him for a second before pulling a package out. ‘You look edible.’
‘Thank you,’ she replied and he noticed she was being a little cold as he composed himself for a moment. ‘Here are the cards and vouchers. You should hand them out to each person as a thank you.’
‘You were serious?’
‘Deadly. I’ll order some more drinks and check on the bill,’ she cheerfully replied, walking away as he watched her.
‘She’s so organised,’ he heard Stephen whisper in his ear. ‘Did she say what time she was leaving?’
‘It’s only ten,’ Finlay laughed. ‘Why’d you want to know?’
‘I thought I might take her for a drink somewhere afterwards and apologise for what happened with the police,’ he said with a sigh. ‘I really like her you know, I really do.’
‘Thing is Stephen,’ Finlay replied, turning around to face the man. ‘She likes you but not in the same way plus you have a girlfriend. Why can’t you be friends?’
‘You don’t understand,’ he said glumly and for a moment, Finlay felt sorry for him. ‘I really like her.’
‘Just give her some space, okay?’
Sylvie walked back towards the pair of them and was on the phone.
‘Just checking on the cabs,’ she said happily. ‘They’ll be turning up at eleven thirty and we’ll usher them out. In the meantime let them have some fun!’
‘And what time are you leaving?’ Stephen asked and Finlay noticed the over eagerness. ‘I could escort you home.’
‘No need for that,’ she smiled, taking Finlay’s arm and stopping for a moment trying to get everyone’s attention. ‘Now everyone as Piers isn’t here, Finlay is going to hand out your Christmas cards. Don’t lose them please or I can look after them until I see you again.’
‘Which is when?’ asked Marianne, who was hugging her diminutive boyfriend.
‘We all know the rotas for over Christmas so I’ll be popping in and out,’ she smiled. ‘Everyone take your seats as we can test Finlay Chambers on whether he actually knows your names.’
‘He know mine!’ said Samina as her friend rolled her eyes and shook her head.
‘Who doesn’t!’ laughed Gillian, looking ver
y merry as her husband put a comforting arm around her.
‘Okay, let me see here,’ he said, looking at the envelopes. ‘In no particular order, there you go Dan.’
Finlay walked up to Dan handed the envelope and then proceeded to call the names, walking to each one.
‘Marianne, Krystof, Pria, Elizbieta, not forgetting Gillian, Matthew, Della.’ He noticed she scowled and Finlay smiled at her date, a nice looking man with grey hair. ‘Stephen.’
‘For me?’ he said, a little startled. ‘Why thanks!’
‘Samina,’ continued Finlay.
‘I get kiss too,’ said Samina, grabbing the envelope out of his hand as he bent down and smelt the scent of cardamom before placing a gentle kiss on her cheeks.
‘Nice lips,’ she said, eagerly opening her envelope.
‘Toby,’ grinned Finlay as his brother got up and reached for his envelope.
‘Thanks Sylvie,’ Toby replied, waving it in the air.
‘Wanda there’s one for you too,’ Finlay said, handing it over.
‘Thank you. No need to share it with the two timing boyfriend,’ she said with a painted smile on her face though it looked like she was on the verge of tears.
‘Oh no what happened?’ asked Sylvie before putting her hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry!’
‘It’s fine! He’s not what I want and I told him before I found out he was cheating with a tart!’ she said defiantly. ‘And I don’t have to dress up like a prostitute now to please him!’
‘I don’t know what you said,’ said Toby sincerely, sitting next to Wanda. ‘You do look much prettier.’
‘Toby! You’re so rude!’ laughed Finlay then realised there was one envelope left with his name on. He double blinked for a moment before glancing at Sylvie then put it in his jacket pocket. ‘Now I’ll give a little speech as you’ll be more receptive.’
‘Doubt it!’ laughed Pria.
‘I know my arrival hasn’t been the best but I do hope the company can continue and-.’
‘You shut us down. You give us party next year? P45 in envelope not present!’ said Samina, knocking back a small drink.
‘That’s not my intention but you have to do well, which I think you’ll achieve as you’re a great team. You look like you enjoy working together and that’s a good thing.’