Looks Unimportant...Sense of Humour Essential

by Evie Evans

  Lucy felt pretty stupid that she’d ever thought Leander was having a relationship with that woman. It was pretty clear to hear him talking how he felt about her.

  “Mr Brooke.” Katherine grabbed him by the arm. “Please don’t go off and do something you’ll regret. From what you say, that’s the kind of response she’d love you to make.”

  “Yes, yes,” Leander agreed running his hand through his hair. “I just can’t believe I’ve been set up like this.”

  “This is only a theory though remember. We don’t have any proof,” Katherine pointed out.

  “No. I suppose I can’t go to her hotel and beat it out of her?” he asked.

  “Do you think your clients would be impressed with that?”

  “I know she’s behind it,” Leander persisted, showing his frustration. “How can we stop her? Can we offer the husband more money than she’s paying him, now that we know that’s how he works?”

  “I’ll get in touch with his lawyer and see if we can find a solution,” Katherine told him. “Why don’t you concentrate on convincing your clients you’re not leaving?”

  “Good idea. Lucy, have you got a minute?” Leander asked.

  She’d been waiting for this moment to arrive. Now it was here she was feeling jittery again. They’d pretty much established this Golding woman was lying so what happened now? How would he feel about her not believing him? Katherine tactfully busied herself packing her things away.

  “Sure.”

  He led her away from the table to the back of the court.

  “So, do you believe me now? There isn’t anything between this woman and me, it’s just a story she’s made up for the press. We were an item once but it was over a long time ago. I have kept my promise to you and not dated anyone since we got back.”

  Lucy looked into the chocolate eyes and saw pleading in them. “Yes I believe you,” she said automatically without having to think about it. “But what about the photo of the two of you, you were looking pretty cosy.”

  “She must have had someone hidden outside the hotel. I got a message to meet one of Young’s people in the hotel bar but when I got there she was waiting. It wasn’t a nice surprise, I was hoping never to see her again.”

  Lucy was surprised at the depth of feeling when he said this. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you,” she told him. “It just looked so convincing.”

  “Well you never realise how easy it is to set someone up until it happens to you. I would have believed it myself.”

  “Lucy?” Katherine called, ready to go.

  “It sounds like you might have the case wrapped up soon anyway,” Leander told her. “We’ll see after that shall we?”

  “Yes, bye.” Lucy told him and joined Katherine. ‘We’ll see’? What did that mean?

  23 Finale

  I’ll never understand men, that’s what it is, Lucy was telling herself on the taxi ride back to the office. I should have just asked him right out where we stood.

  “Did you say something?” Katherine asked.

  “No. Just thinking things over.”

  “Have you two made it up?”

  “Er, yes.” Lucy told her a little unconvincingly. They’d made it up enough for work purposes at least.

  “That was a good idea about the divorce case. What made you think of it?”

  “I don’t know, something just clicked when he mentioned the woman had ripped him off before. I’d already heard that from one of his dates.”

  “Well it was a good call. I feel pretty sure she’s behind it.”

  “Thanks. What d’you think we should do next?”

  “I might let slip to Mr Lincoln’s lawyer that we’ve heard a rumour a criminal case is underway, get his client worried he might be about to receive a visit from the police. See how he likes that.”

  “Do you think we should get the police involved anyway?”

  “Let’s try the threat first, see if that scares them off.”

  *

  That gave Lucy the whole weekend to stew things over. Events had forced to look at her relationship with Leander a bit more closely. How did she really feel about him? It was a bit early in the relationship to know for sure. Was she ever going to be able to trust him though? Would she ever feel good enough for him? When she thought of the women she’d interviewed about him she felt inadequate, immature. He’d said that’s what he’d liked about her but could she get over her insecurities?

  He may not be interested any more anyway, after she hadn’t taken his word. Surely Leander would see that faced with the evidence anyone else would have reached the same conclusion? The woman had answered the phone in the hotel room and there was that photo of them. Maybe dealing with legal cases had made her cynical to people’s pleas but you wouldn’t get anywhere as a lawyer if you believed people. She hoped he would see that and not dwell on her lack of trust. His track record with women didn’t make it easy to trust him. Perhaps this incident just highlighted the problems they would have faced if their relationship had continued.

  The weekend gave her plenty of time to think it over. The last month had provided some surprising ups and downs. The online dating had been tumultuous, humiliating at times, but ultimately it had forced her to evaluate her life and realise too much of it was slipping away. She’d spent too long just existing instead of living.

  When her doorbell rang Sunday afternoon Lucy was sitting brooding on her sofa, still in her dressing gown, with the remains of a breakfast cum lunch scattered on the coffee table in front of her. She had a moment of panic, what if it was Leander? She wouldn’t want him to see her like this. But he didn’t have her address.

  Reaching the front door only took five paces. She looked through the peephole and saw Mrs Franklin. She swung the door open.

  “Only me, I just wondered… Oh dear.” Mrs Franklin looked at her in concern. “You don’t look too good, are you ill?”

  “No, no, I’m fine.” Lucy responded listlessly. She still hadn’t come to any decisions about Leander.

  “You don’t sound like it if you don’t mind me saying. What’s happened?”

  “Well, it’s this guy I met…”

  “Right, I think I’d better put the kettle on,” her neighbour told her. “Come on, you sit down while I make a cup of tea. I don’t suppose you’ve got a teapot?”

  After Mrs Franklin had retrieved her own teapot from her flat, Lucy found herself telling her everything. Talking it through with someone made things a little clearer.

  “Are you in love with him dear?” Mrs Franklin asked at the end.

  Lucy caught her breath. The last few days had opened her eyes to her real feelings but she hadn’t admitted them up to that point. “I don’t know, it’s too early to say. I like him a lot, maybe I am falling for him.”

  “It’ll all work out in the end,” Mrs Franklin told her, patting her hand. “You’ll see, these things always do.”

  Lucy tried to give her a smile but was finding it hard to feel as optimistic.

  “Why don’t I put the telly on?” Mrs Franklin suggested. “There’s a great film on this afternoon, one of my favourites.” She switched Lucy’s t.v. on and found her channel. An ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ had just started.

  “Ooh, Richard Gere. Isn’t he wonderful?” she asked and settled back on the sofa to watch.

  Lucy settled back next to her. Some mindless television fitted the bill and Mrs Franklin was kind to stay with her. She was rapidly becoming Lucy’s best friend.

  *

  On Monday Lucy and Katherine were waiting to hear if the other side were going to drop the divorce case. There was nothing to say the answer would come any time soon and the waiting was a killer.

  Lucy had sat drumming her fingers on her desk for a while before realising she had a power of attorney to draft for a client and rushing to get the file. It was a straightforward enough piece of work but she couldn’t seem to get the wording right. She’d just misspelt ‘revocation’ wrong for the
third time when the phone rang. Looking at the caller id, it was an unknown mobile phone number. It didn’t seem like she’d be hearing from Leander until his case had been resolved so who was this? It was David.

  “Hi, I just wanted to check how you were,” he told her. “I would have rung you at the weekend but I don’t have your home phone number.”

  “I’m okay, thanks. It’s good to hear from you. Sorry about the other day, I don’t normally go to pieces like that.”

  “It was no problem. Have you sorted things out? I hope that guy hasn’t caused you any more trouble.”

  “No, it’s been sorted out, thank you. How’s your granddad?”

  “Oh, he’s still plodding on thanks.”

  “Any new birds appear next door?”

  David laughed. “No, it’s all quiet on the western front. At the moment. So I was planning on going to Hyde Park today. Why don’t you join me at lunchtime, the weather’s lovely?”

  Lucy wished she could, she wanted to talk to him. He’d seemed quite keen on her when they’d met the other day. She didn’t just want him to go home without seeing him first but she had to get this document finished before the client arrived. “Thanks but I can’t. I have a couple of meetings.”

  “How about another day?”

  “Yes, it would be good to have a chat about something.”

  “Sure, when?”

  Lucy arranged a day to meet him and felt a lot better.

  *

  To Lucy’s relief the news about Leander’s libel case came through the next day.

  “Mrs Lake? Tony Reeves here. Just wanted to let you know my client, Mr Lincoln is dropping the divorce case.”

  “Really?” Katherine asked in mock surprise, folding up the newspaper she’d been reading. “Well I never.”

  “Shall I inform him that this will mean Mr Brooke will be dropping his libel action?”

  “Not just yet,” Katherine told him haughtily. “My client may want to pursue damages. We’ll let you know shall we?”

  Katherine raced down to Lucy’s office as soon as she’d put the phone down. “Just heard from the lawyers. We’ve had the official all clear.”

  “Well about time seeing it’s already in today’s newspapers,” Lucy commented. A newspaper was still lying on her desk open at a story of Torey Lincoln’s rediscovered love for her husband and her joy at having his baby. “I don’t know where the story about Leander Brooke came from,” she was quoted as saying. “It was all a big misunderstanding, there’s never been anything between us.”

  “Will he go for compensation do you reckon?” Lucy asked Katherine.

  “Well he had the right to sue for costs but I doubt he will. He’ll probably decide it’s not worth the hassle. It’s not like he needs the money. You can ask him when you let him know the case is finished.”

  “Me?”

  Katherine smiled at her. “Don’t you have some unfinished business?”

  Lucy grabbed the phone decisively, it was time for action. Katherine left her alone to make the phone call. She speed dialled his number.

  “Leander Brooke.”

  “Hi. It’s me, Lucy.”

  “Hi. I guess you’re ringing to tell me the divorce is off?”

  “You saw it in the paper?”

  “Yes, I’ve been paying close attention to them lately,” Leander told her, his voice sounding grim.

  “Well we’ve heard from Mr Lincoln’s lawyer as well. It’s officially over.”

  “I can’t deny that’s a big relief.”

  “I’m sure it must be. How’s business? Have you managed to persuade everyone you’re not leaving?”

  “Most I think. There are probably a few that will see this as the time to look round and place their business elsewhere. That’s business I guess.”

  “Glad to hear you can be so philosophical about it,” she said surprised.

  “You have to be. Besides there is some compensation. We signed the Young’s last night so I find I no longer mind if we lose a few others.”

  “Your big deal went through? Congratulations, that’s great news.”

  “Yes, it was a bit touch and go at one point but we managed to persuade them I wasn’t a homewrecker. Once they believed me, Melanie and her company were sunk. They were never going to sign with someone who would use a smear campaign.”

  “So do you want to bring a case against her, or against the Lincolns? Katherine told me to ask.”

  “Hmm. Word already seems to be out that Melanie tried a dirty tricks campaign, can’t imagine who started that rumour. It might ruin a few deals for her. That’s compensation enough for me. I’ve wasted enough time on her.”

  “Fair enough, I’ll let Katherine know. So that seems to conclude our business Mr Brooke.”

  “Not quite,” Leander told her. Lucy licked her lips nervously waiting to hear what he would say next. “We’re having a party to celebrate the deal. You and Katherine must come. Tomorrow night, I’m sending a couple of invites over.”

  “That’s great,” she told him. “I’ll let Katherine know.”

  “Great, see you then.”

  “Yes, bye.” That was it. She guessed she’d have to tell him how she felt at the party. She took the news of the party to Katherine and tried to look happy.

  *

  Getting into the dress was a bit of a struggle. She hadn’t worn it much because it was a bit tight which made her feel body conscious. It was as close as she got to a party dress though so tonight it was coming out of the back of her wardrobe. She was going to look good at this party, it would give her some confidence for what she needed to do. That or it would just make her look a bit tarty.

  Lucy slipped on some sandals with heels and felt pleased with the effect. She’d added more makeup than usual and bouffed her hair up. She barely recognised herself. Picking up her comb she ran it through her hair to calm it down a bit, you could have too much of a good thing. One last look in the mirror. Fairly irresistible. But it would probably be better if she didn’t stand for too long on any street corners.

  Katherine was meeting her at the office then they were going to travel to the Brooke offices together by taxi. Safety in numbers. Lucy was glad Katherine was going along, if the party was a disaster at least she’d have someone to talk to.

  Perhaps taking the tube hadn’t been a great idea, she was getting a few glances from the other passengers. Pulling her cardigan closer she wondered if she’d overdone the makeup a bit. She could tell by Katherine’s face when she walked into the foyer that she had.

  “Going for a new look?” Katherine asked her.

  “Too much?”

  “Maybe a little bit. It depends if you’re going to a goth night afterwards.”

  “Oh my god, is it that bad?” Lucy asked trying to see her reflection in the glass of one of the doors.

  Katherine pulled a handy mirror out of her handbag. “Here, let me just smudge your eye makeup a little bit.” She worked around Lucy’s eyes with a tissue. “There, that’s better. What d’you think?”

  Lucy peered into her mirror. “Yes, thanks. Must have been a bit heavy handed. I was trying to look a bit more sophisticated.”

  “You already look it, you don’t need all that makeup.”

  “Thanks. You look good too,” Lucy told her. Katherine was wearing her hair down for once and looked years younger. She hadn’t been able to break her suit habit although this one was more fitted than her usual office ones.

  “Right Cinderella,” Katherine told her, “shall we go to the ball?”

  *

  “Great party,” Sebastian shouted over as he danced with one of the secretaries. Leander noticed a bottle of beer in his hand and was sure it wasn’t his first. He shouldn’t have let Sebastian come but he’d actually looked like he was going to cry when he’d thought Leander was leaving for New York. It’d been quite touching. Right up to the point where Sebastian had tried to milk it for driving lessons. He’ll be asking for a car next, Le
ander thought, I can almost hear him already.

  “Don’t let him drink anymore,” he told his account manager who seemed to have taken on the role of bartender.

  “Right-ho chief,” Milo agreed looking a little worse for wear himself.

  At least everyone seemed to be having a good time. It had been a tough few weeks working on this deal and having the libel case to cope with and he knew he’d been hard to live with. Hopefully this party would be some compensation for his bad moods lately.

  The dancing looked to be getting a little boisterous. As he watched Sebastian jumped up onto one of the desks and began stomping on it in what to him was dancing. The desk looked like it could collapse at any moment. Time to intervene, he thought.

  “Come on twinkle-toes,” he told him, reaching up and grabbing Sebastian by the arm.

  “Hey bro, get up here!” Sebastian shouted excitedly, waving his free arm around.

  “Get down here,” Leander told him firmly and pulled him off the desk. Sebastian managed to land on his feet and Leander’s also.

  “Ow, you great oaf.” Having the full weight of his size eights land on him reminded Leander how big Sebastian was getting, he wasn’t really a kid anymore. “I think we should go get some coffee”.

  “Great, but now you’re not leaving there’s no rush is there. Let’s stay here, with the ladies,” Sebastian told him, winking at a woman standing nearby who Leander recognised as one of his accounts team and easily twice Sebastian’s age. He pulled him away sharply.

  “You promised to behave,” he berated him when they got clear of the pounding throb of the dance area.

  “And I am. Hello gorgeous.”

  Leander turned to see who he was leering at now and saw it was Lucy.

  “Oh, hello,” he told her. “Ignore him, he’s been drinking.”

  “Is this your brother?” she asked seeing Leander’s arm round him.