Looks Unimportant...Sense of Humour Essential

by Evie Evans

  Leander smiled. “That young man’s becoming more of a liability every day.”

  “He’s a teenager,” Lucy pointed out.

  “And don’t I know it.”

  “Will he follow you into the family business? Is it going to be Brooke and Sons?”

  “I can’t see it happening. He’s assured me he’s going to be a rockstar.”

  “Was it your choice to go into the family business?”

  “I wasn’t going to at first, I wanted to strike out on my own. But it’s a hard business to get started in and I had a few setbacks.” He faltered here and Lucy wondered if this was something to do with the mystery American woman. “Dad wanted to ease back on his workload so it made sense. Luckily he’s given me free rein to try whatever I want. Almost. So it’s worked out well.”

  “Your business certainly seems to be flourishing.”

  “I had to take some risks but they paid off. It took a lot of long days though, pounding on doors.”

  “I didn’t realise playboys worked so hard.”

  “Playboy?” He laughed. “Don’t believe the stuff you read in the papers. The company may be doing well now but it only just scraped by before. I was a comprehensive school kid and had a Saturday job like everyone else.”

  “Really? I’d assumed you’d had a wealthy upbringing. It’s your manner I guess.”

  “Ah, it’s all cleverly put on to get the punters in.” He fingered the lapels of his jacket. “Don’t be fooled by the trappings of wealth. Half of the people in this place never had any money till they were thirty either. They’re no better than you, you shouldn’t forget that.”

  “I’ve got a few years to go then, to make my first million.”

  “You just need a really big liability case don’t you? And don’t look at me,” he laughed.

  “There’s an idea, perhaps I’ll get the members of your harem together and bring a class action case against you.”

  “Having one legal case against me is enough at the moment, thanks. What about you? Why did you become a lawyer?”

  “No family business for me,” she told him before she could stop herself. That had been a bit rude. She waited for his response, biting her lip.

  “So?” he asked not sounding too upset.

  “I met a lawyer when I was a kid and I liked what they did. Thought it would be a good job, making a difference in people’s lives.”

  “And do you? Make a difference.”

  “Well the government haven’t been pulling in as much parking tax thanks to me but I don’t think they’d thank me. My clients are grateful. Some of them are on low incomes and it makes a difference to them.”

  “And now you’re dealing with corporate business. Not quite the same?” he asked.

  “No, not quite,” she conceded. “But we have to pay the bills somehow. The larger cases allow us to take on the smaller ones.”

  “You prefer to work on the smaller cases?”

  “I guess you get a greater sense of satisfaction with them, Even if it is over a small thing. Often it means a lot to the person involved. It’s standing up for the little people. There was a girl when I was a kid, Sue, used to pick on everyone including me.”

  “The local bully then?”

  “Yes, Sue. I never realised that’s a bit funny now I’m a lawyer isn’t it? That her name’s Sue. Anyway, I was never able to stand up to her. Now I like to think I stand up for other people against the bullies.” Was she going to tell him her whole life story this evening?

  “I’ve never thought of lawyers like that before. Puts my money grabbing to shame Lucy.” It was the first time he’d used her first name and she felt a small quiver of excitement run through her. “What cases are you working on now?”

  “Uh, pet custody,” she replied realising it sounded slightly ridiculous after the speech she’d just made.

  “What kind of pet?” he asked looking like he was trying to keep a straight face.

  This wasn’t going to get any better. “A rat. Going to court in the morning. My client is very attached to it, him,” she added a little defensively.

  Mr Brooke’s comment was lost as the orchestra chose that moment to strike up. The lights dimmed putting paid to any further conversation. Leander Brooke had been surprisingly easy to talk to so far, now they seem to have put their dating embarrassments behind them. Lucy hoped it would continue to flow as easily in the interval. She didn’t have a great seat so had to contend with watching the action through back of someone’s head. Although the sets were magnificent and the acting heartfelt, in the comfortable darkness the wine made her eyelids droop. It was only the volume of the singing at key moments that stopped her nodding off. When the interval came she decided to stretch her legs.

  Getting to her feet was somewhat of a struggle, her legs seemed to have stopped working properly. Hauling herself up she walked unsteadily to the door only now realising how much she’d drunk. Too much. She had to grab a couple of chair backs as she went past to steady herself. She really should have eaten something.

  Mr Brooke was behind her as she stumbled on the couple of steps that lead out of the box into the corridor.

  “Up-si-daisy,” he was calling, trying to pull her upright.

  She couldn’t help giggling. Then he was there, putting his arm round her, helping to lift her up. Leaning back against him she was surprised there was go give in his muscles at all, they were rock solid. He pulled her up but didn’t let go, his arms still encircling her. Looking down she could see her bosom was dangerously close to spilling out of the dress.

  “Oops.” She wriggled around in the dress trying to manoeuvre herself back in.

  “Are you trying to drive me insane?” a voice murmured hoarsely behind her.

  “What?” she asked, still struggling with the top of her dress.

  “Close your eyes,” he whispered.

  She did and felt herself being turned gently round before lips came hurtling down on hers.

  13 After kiss

  The suddenness of the kiss made her gasp. She couldn’t deny she wasn’t enjoying it, with the amount of practice he got she should have known Mr Brooke would be good. She felt his arms tighten around her, crushing her to him, and without thinking her hands went up to the back of his neck and caressed the soft hair there. She’d never had a kiss like this before, a liquid feeling started in her stomach as if her insides were starting to melt. This gorgeous, successful man was interested in her! Part of her couldn’t believe it. Part of her couldn’t believe she was doing this with a client, at a work do. His stubble was tickling her upper lip. She enjoyed the sensation right up until the moment she realised Mr Brooke had been clean shaved.

  She opened her eyes and saw she was kissing the waiter who’d been leering at her earlier. Mr Brooke was out in the corridor talking to someone. Aaargh! She pulled away quickly.

  “Who are you?” she gasped at him.

  “Brian,” he grinned at her. He was still holding her closely and Lucy pulled away.

  “What d’you think you’re doing?”

  “I was helping you up and well… Listen I get off at 11.30−”

  “Let go of my hand,” she told him pulling her hand away from his grip. She had really had too much to drink, snogging some random stranger she’d never even spoken to!

  “A-hem,” someone coughed behind them.

  Lucy jumped, frightened it was someone from the office but luckily it was only another waiter. Had he seen them?

  “You’re needed in the bar downstairs,” the waiter told Brian.

  “Come down and see me the bar later, okay?” Brian asked as he left with the other waiter.

  No, I certainly will not Lucy thought as she tried to pull herself together. She looked back at the box expecting to see the horror-stricken face of Mr Knowles looking back at her but luckily he was engrossed in conversation as everyone else was. It didn’t seem as if any of them had seen her snog a waiter. Please, don’t let anyone have seen me snog
a waiter, she prayed.

  She looked the other way at where Mr Brooke was standing. Had he seen? How could she have done such a thing? At that moment he looked her way and smiled. Was it a conspiratorial smile? She couldn’t tell if he was laughing at her or not. It looked like he was coming her way. She braced herself for what was coming next. A few steps away he was stopped by a couple of middle aged men coming the other way.

  “Why Leander, I didn’t know you were here tonight,” one exclaimed.

  “Good to see you my boy,” the other told him.

  “Thank you sir, you too.” Mr Brooke shook their hands and looked like he was going to talk to them for a few moments. He glanced over at Lucy a couple of times so she knew he was still going to be heading her way. It was some kind of torture test that she had to wait until he was free to find out if he’d seen her disaster. She watched him coolly run a hand through his hair and adjust his bow-tie as he talked to them and wondered what it was like to be in control of yourself and not to make mistakes. It seemed that she would never know.

  All too soon Mr Brooke was approaching her. She forced a smile.

  “Are you okay? You look liked you needed a hand earlier?”

  What was he saying? That he’d seen someone giving her a ‘hand’?

  “No, I’m fine thank you,” she told him stiffly. That was true drinkwise, she’d certainly sobered up quickly, like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over her.

  “Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked next.

  Now he must be trying to wind her up.

  “Well…” what to say to that? “…I think I’ve seen enough and I’m just on my way home.” Leaving as soon as possible seemed the best option all round.

  He looked a little disappointed. “Really? It’s only halfway through.”

  She hoped he wasn’t going to complain to Mr Knowles about her ducking out early. “You can have too much of a good thing though, can’t you,” she told him, trying to smile.

  “Look, why don’t we go to the bar and get a drink?”

  The bar where Brain is working? That would be perfect. “Thanks but I don’t want to take up any more of your time. I think I’ve drunk enough tonight anyway.”

  “Just one drink?”

  Wouldn’t anyone take no as an answer tonight? “No. If I didn’t know any better I’d think you’re trying to get me drunk for some ulterior motive.” She’d meant the last bit to come out as a joke but it had sounded harsher than she intended. Mr Brooke looked a little affronted by it.

  “Sorry, my mistake. It’s just that most women I know can drink more than three glasses of wine without falling all over the place.”

  Lucy flushed red. She knew she would never compare favourably with the women he dated. “I expect three glasses of wine is a morning pick me up to some of the women you know.” Oh my god, had she just said that? She needed to get out of there fast before she made things any worse.

  “Let me ring for my car, I’ll give you a lift.” Pulling his mobile phone from an inner pocket he started pressing the buttons.

  “Please, there’s no need for you to miss the rest of the performance. I can get a cab easily enough.”

  “I don’t really want to see anymore either, I’ll get my car.”

  “That’s not necessary. Sorry, I have a court case in the morning, I really must go,” she told him whilst starting to move away.

  Before he could say any more Mr Brooke was accosted again by someone he knew. This time Lucy took the chance to slip away, as much as anyone could slip out after what she’d drunk. She didn’t fancy being alone with him in the back of his car, lord knows what would happen. It was a relief when she got clear of the building and was standing on the pavement. What a mess she’d made of that evening, again.

  *

  Lucy was still cringing the next day. How had she managed to get in such a situation? Snogging a complete stranger at a work do. And after she’d thought it would be Mr Brooke chasing the waiting staff.

  What was almost as bad was the fact she’d thought it was her client kissing her at the time. What if someone from the office had seen that? Actually Mr Knowles probably wouldn’t mind if it kept the client happy.

  After her high hopes at the start of the week everything was turning into a disaster. She’d snogged two men this week, neither of whom she was in a relationship with. Despite thinking she was a modern woman, it didn’t make her feel good about herself. She didn’t know why, blokes seemed to do it all the time and women were starting to catch up with them if the t.v. was anything to go by. Lucy just wasn’t one of them.

  She wished she hadn’t drunk so much the night before. She’d made it to the office but getting ready for Winston’s custody case that morning was proving difficult with a pounding headache and dodgy tummy. She was trying to remember which files she needed to take and failing dismally. It wasn’t just the hangover. The fact that she’d been receptive to the idea of kissing Mr Brooke was a bit of a shock. Where had that come from?

  “How did it go then?”

  Lucy looked up slowly from her desk, not wanting to aggravate her headache further, to see Katherine leaning on her doorjamb. She’d been dreading seeing Katherine all morning.

  I snogged a waiter! was screaming in her brain but she gave her pre-prepared answer. “Okay, a bit boring. I wore your dress in the end, I kind of squeezed into it. It’s in the dry cleaners now but I should get it back in a few days. Thanks.” She smiled trying to give the impression she was fine and little men weren’t trying to drill a whole through her brain.

  “No problem, sorry to drop you in it at the last minute.”

  “Oh yes, how did your case go?” Lucy asked, hoping to change the subject.

  Katherine stopped leaning and, to Lucy’s disappointment, came in to perch on the chair in front of her desk. It looked frighteningly like Katherine was settling in for a chat. “He got sent down. Three years. Not surprising really with the evidence they had against him. Still we have to try don’t we?”

  “Yes,” Lucy smiled trying to think of a way to keep Katherine from mentioning last night again and get her out of her office as soon as possible before she let slip that she had snogged a waiter.

  “So he didn’t try anything then?” Katherine asked.

  Lucy laughed this suggestion off. Mr Brooke hadn’t been the problem last night. “No, no, nothing like that.”

  “Did the partners behave themselves?”

  “I think so, I didn’t see anything.” I was too drunk too notice myself.

  “So there’s no gossip then?”

  “No, why? What have you heard?” Lucy asked defensively.

  “Nothing, just wanted to check I hadn’t missed anything. Normally there’s always someone that gets drunk at this sort of thing and makes a fool of themselves, isn’t there?”

  “Is there?” Lucy asked trying to look innocent. “Actually I only stayed for the first half.” Heaven knows what state she’d be in if she’d stayed for the second half as well.

  “Well thanks anyway. I owe you one. I hope it wasn’t too much of an ordeal. Mr Knowles seems to think it went well.”

  Ordeal. That was a good word for it. “Yes, it seemed to go okay.”

  Much to Lucy’s relief Katherine nodded and left.

  So far so good. She’d been half expecting someone in the office to comment on her evening but nothing had come out as yet. Maybe she had gotten away with it and no one had seen them? Seeing the receptionists laughing about something when she went to get another coffee fix made her freeze. Were they laughing about her? Was that legal secretary giving her a funny look? She went back to her office feeling paranoid.

  Gingerly sitting back behind her desk she wondered if Mr Brooke had seen anything. He hadn’t mentioned it. Was he saving it for a maximum embarrassment moment? Where had the idea of kissing Mr Brooke come from? Perhaps that was what depression would do to you. He hadn’t been as bad as she’d feared though, surprisingly pleasant and easy go
ing in fact. She wondered if Sebastian had used that to describe him on the dating website.

  That reminded her, she hadn’t logged on that morning. Well, a little more humiliation wouldn’t go amiss. She signed in and checked for messages. Just as she thought, none from any interested men, just one from Sebastian. A tiny part of her was still hoping a miracle man might turn up at the last minute. She was pretty certain Sebastian wasn’t him though.

  “Hiya Lucy,” the message read, “hows things? On summer break now so no more exms or hmewrk for a while! Made up about that. Got lotz planned, hoping 2 go 2 a couple of festivals and meet sum ladeez. Wot u up 2? Sebbo.”

  As Lucy read it she hoped English language wasn’t one of the exams he’d just taken.

  “Work!” she replied. “I hate to break it to you but it doesn’t just stop when you leave school. No more homework but lots of long days at work! Anyway you should be okay as you’re going to be a rockstar, I hear they don’t do anything all day. Sounds like you’re perfect for it. Lucy.”

  Five minutes later there was a reply from him. It seemed a bit early in the morning for him to be up if he was on his summer break. Despite all his plans he must be feeling bored.

  “2 cruel!” he started. “R u round this weekend cos I want someone 2 get me into Leander’s bar? Sebbo”

  So that was the urgency, he wanted someone to help his underage drinking. “Sorry,” she replied, “I’m away this weekend, visiting my dad. Lucy”

  Within minutes another reply came from him. “Wot about next weekend?”

  Lucy wondered what was so great about the bar that made him so keen to get in, it hadn’t been anything special when she’d been there. “Next Friday is the wedding and I’m staying over again, sorry. Anyway, you’re not old enough! REALLY GOT TO DO SOME WORK NOW.”

  Just as she sent her reply an explosion suddenly went off in her office, the noise sending spikes of pain through her brain.

  “Aargh,” she cried rushing to grab her mobile phone, the instrument of her torture. She’d set the alarm on it to make sure in her hungover state she wasn’t late for the court case.