Naked Lies

by Karen Botha

  I’m the smart one here. I don’t have a yacht. I don’t need to employ a crew nor fund huge maintenance bills. Yes, I’m the schmuk who hires one at the extortionate weekly rate, but then I’m done with it, and I’m not millions out of pocket. Being on the water is a break for me; I have no enjoyment in proving I can purchase one. Plus, I'm not tied to it. On the weeks where I'd prefer not to be on the water, I can holiday in the most amazing land-based accommodation.

  These corporate events can be dull. That’s why I like to organise my own; at least I can create a more interesting event than a predictable dinner in a magnolia hotel ballroom. Hopefully some guests will remember this, and Bright Nights alongside, but even if these affairs are dull, I love raising money. No-one should be homeless in this country, there’s simply no need for it. A little re-organisation goes a long way, but who am I to say? I’m just a lowly casino owner. So I do my bit the best way I can.

  Whilst the two whales converse across me, I enjoy a second to take in the event. The different elements of the day have been hosted in individual teepees. The functional spaces from earlier are unrecognisable at this dinner banquet, and I marvel at the transformation. Pink lighting adds warmth to the canvas walls, and a projector paints the grand Swan House from the movie on the wall behind the stage. To the right of the room - visible as guests enter - is a sweet table with vulgar delights of a million colour combinations. Much of it is hired from the film sets; I couldn’t bear the waste.

  My pork dinner arrives, and the two chumps on either side of me quit their competition in favour of filling their bellies. To be fair, it’s been a long day, and I’d like to see someone who isn’t famished by now. Dinner progresses, and I can’t take my eyes off Lucy. I had her seated so I’d be able to see her, but every time I glance away, an invisible wire drags my gaze back again. It’s most distracting. I’m agitated; she’s so near but still out of reach. I wonder whether employing her was a bad idea after all. I can’t see how I’ll manage to work with her in such close proximity. I feel her even though she’s metres away.

  Our eyes meet. She smiles and nods at her food as if to say it’s good. I’m pleased. It’s not easy catering for so many guests. Whilst the company I’ve chosen to organise this event is experienced in outdoor catering, you can never be sure they’ll deliver. Lucy continues her conversation with Judith, my corporate lawyer, but I’m sure I see a flush of pink in her cheeks. It could be the lighting, but I don’t think it was there earlier. I suppress a gurgle of excitement in my chest, push it aside, and return to my guests.

  Jack is seated opposite me; he’s an importer and spends a lot of time at airports. It took me a long while to learn that he sells flowers at New Covent Garden market. I’m not sure if perennials are the only product he imports. I know there’s considerable money in floristry but really, that much? I choose not to ask questions, as he’s one of the nice whales.

  ‘So, how’s business Jack?’ I ask.

  ‘Couldn’t be better. Still lots of early starts, but that’s part of the job.’ Jack often begins his working day at Heathrow well before any of us have even climbed into bed.

  We chat on until it’s time for the winners presentations. I stand, but my legs are dead. I shake them to free my trousers from where they’ve ridden up and stride towards the stage, head held high and wait until the applause quietens.

  ‘Hello everyone. Firstly, thank you all for coming. I’ll make this brief because I know you’re all keen to learn the winners of today’s challenges and Hana will come to that in a second. Firstly though, I wanted to furnish you with a little background on why I chose the Hunger Games as our theme today.

  Hana and I have each chosen a charity that is dear to our hearts.

  You’ve had to strategise to win today, like so many communities do just to survive every single day. Whether they’re in Hungary, fighting to make a better life for themselves with little or no support, or here in this country, cast onto the street, the individuals we’re supporting need to be smart simply to make it through each day. Both Hana and I know this from personal experience.

  Now, yes, you were hungry before you sat down to your feast. I apologise for making you wait beyond what you expected, but it was planned, I'm afraid. I wanted you to have a stark reminder of how lucky you are today. You are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy a fun day out in the name of business and raising money. But life isn’t all fun and in this arena we know more than many how easy it is for life to deal us a bad hand. We all work hard for what we achieve, of course we do, but people are out there whose employment is just as exhaustive, but they’re not catching that lucky break. They're starving, hungry at the end of their days. They don't get to enjoy a wonderful meal. And so, I wanted you to be reminded what the people we are raising money for today go through. They work hard, but every single day they are still famished.

  Please use today to help imagine what people go through who work just as hard as us for little reward, and to use it to further appreciate the luxuries we enjoy, and in so doing, please be generous.’

  My voice catches as I reach my last line, and the room is silent. And then a round of applause rings out. People are cheering, banging on tables, and scraping their chairs to stand. I nod, eyes full to the brim. I take a deep breath, in, then out.

  As I return to my seat, I dare to glance at Lucy. She’s cheering with the rest, her face streaked with tears.

  I ease back into my chair, pumped up at their reaction, but also somewhat embarrassed. It’s what I was hoping for, but you never get what you hope for - or at least that’s what I was brought up being taught as a child. I scan the tables where Lucy was located, but her seat is now empty. My eyes flash over to Paula’s seat. Hers is also vacant. I expect they took off to the toilet to sort out Lucy’s tear-streaked makeup.

  The auctions start and finish. We've done well. This has been our most successful auction to date. But Lucy still hasn’t returned. Agitation makes my joints stiff. If only I could get up and search for her. My meanderings are cut short.

  ‘Mister Rutherford?’ A hand rests on my shoulder.

  I turn, ‘Yes?’ I don’t recognise these characters; they're out of place. Their cheap suits and lack of style stand out amongst the elite riches.

  ‘We would like you to come with us, Mister Rutherford.’ The man on the right, the larger and darker one, produces a badge from his top left breast pocket.

  ‘What is this?’ My heart thuds like a rock dropping from up high.

  ‘Adam Rutherford, I am arresting you on suspicion of human trafficking and you do not have to say anything; but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say maybe given in evidence. Do you understand?’

  ‘No, I do not understand. What are you talking about?’

  ‘Sir, please come with us.’ That’s the larger of the two jokers.

  ‘I’m in the middle of a corporate fundraiser here, can’t you see?’ My volume is increasing. People are starting to stare. I catch Nuala out of the corner of my eye, her hand over her oval mouth, her other hand on Jonathan’s arm.

  The thinner one grabs at my elbow. I seethe through gritted teeth, ‘Don’t you touch me.’

  ‘Then please come with us as requested, otherwise we will cuff you,’ Skinny replies.

  You know when you watch those awful movies where the music stops, and everyone stands in a circle staring? I swear it was like that. The band were still playing, but I couldn’t hear the music over the ringing in my ears. My mind flips to Lucy. Where is she? Is she watching this?

  I scour the onlookers, I spot neither her nor Paula. I don’t know where they headed off to, but now rather than being frustrated, I feel nothing but relief. After all she’s been through, the last thing that she needs - that we need - is for her to witness this abomination.

  Judith scurries over, ‘I’ll meet you there.’

  Lucy

  It’s been a long d
ay and I'm drained. The evening began as the kind of tired that needs a good sleep, maybe a day off at a push. As the hours extend into night, fatigue transforms into a mental and physical exhaustion that demands respite rather than rest. I guess Adam knew this because instead of sending us home, late and inebriated, he reserved us a hotel.

  ‘It isn't as generous as it seems,’ he said when Paula commented on how considerate he was when we dropped our bags off earlier. ‘I get discounts with the chain because it’s where I put my good customers if they need a room.’

  ‘Well, this is no flea house, it's quite the posh hotel.’ Paula was right; our accommodation is grand. We’re in a full-on English country house. The floorboards are stripped and original glass doors open out onto a balcony overlooking fields. The rustic features in the room are offset with a grandiose gilt headboard which adds a touch of decadence to the traditional.

  ‘It’s delightful,’ I exclaimed.

  ‘Well I’m glad you approve,’ Adam said. ‘Now come on, we can have a drink later and enjoy it properly once the event is over. I’ll meet you here after the evening finishes up.’

  We returned to my room to sort out my streaked make-up, but it’s just such a gorgeous place, we decided to wait for Adam here.

  ‘It's such a shame to waste it,' says Paula. 'It’s not like we’ll win anything in the auction competing with that wealthy lot.’ She makes a valid point there.

  A nervous energy is tingling through every joint, to the ends of my fingers, the ends of my toes! Adam made a wonderful speech earlier, one which warmed my soul with respect and desire. It’s the most dangerous kind of wanting, with no harnessing of the force, no restraining order on even the finest emotion.

  Adam’s address was enlightening, and his earnest words helped me see I’m not making a mistake. It helped me see that Adam’s business personality is the same guy who turns up to my garage conversion in his gym shorts and casually chats through his issues. It helped me see that the corporate mask is no more than the trappings of convention, not the person I know, and that his wealth can increase the good he can offer the less fortunate.

  I have reached my decision. And so, here we are, Paula and I, preparing for later, for when Adam leaves his work guests and joins us for a drink. Once he arrives, Paula will depart for her room.

  Alone in my stunning hotel room with Adam.

  I’m wearing my most sexy lingerie. It’s black. And lacy. And expensive. And so not practical for a day of massaging in a field without the opportunity to change prior to the commencement of the evening. Although I didn’t realise it when I left home this morning, I was waiting for an excuse to give this relationship a chance. I just needed the last push over the edge that Adam delivered with superlative force.

  ‘They don’t include one shoddy bottle on this wine list.’ I say as we greedily run our fingers over the menu, oohing and ahhing before selecting our first.

  ‘We never do this anymore, just hang out in hotel rooms drinking,’ Paula says as my mouth waters in anticipation of the liquid she’s pouring. ‘It’s like the first time we met at that hen do, heading off early from the party.’

  I laugh at the memory. She’s right. I flop onto the enormous bed, being careful not to spill my Chablis.

  ‘It is going on a bit. I bet Adam is on tenterhooks waiting to get away,’ Paula says.

  ‘I’m on tenterhooks waiting for him to get away, I don’t know about him.’

  ‘Oh, trust me, the anticipation will be killing him.’

  ‘But he's not aware he’s on a promise.’ I say.

  ‘No, but he hopes he is, and where’s the fun in a sure thing? Have some faith, he’ll be desperate to leave. I don’t think he’ll turn up too late.’

  ‘I hope not,’ I say after a brief pause, then giggle. ‘I can’t wait to get my hands on him. Now I’ve decided I can’t settle.’

  ‘I remember that anticipation!’ she says. ‘I never had that with Andy, we sort of just ended up making out. It was amazing, don’t get me wrong, he’s an extra tender and considerate lover… what?’

  ‘Ugh, you’re making me barf!’

  ‘I’m sorry. But you’re lucky, that’s all I’m saying. I didn’t think the good men out there made you feel like this.’

  ‘Well they do!’ I laugh as I adjust the pretty but sharp lace of my panties so they’re not nipping such a deep slit between the top of my legs.

  Our second bottle of wine is the same grape, but a totally different flavour. We’re starting to yawn and there’s still no Adam.

  ‘If he walks in through our hotel room door now, you’ll perk up,’ Paula smiles through the back of her hand.

  That is in no doubt, but too much longer and I may well be past my best. ‘I guess this is what being with a successful billionaire is like,’ I say, concentrating on my words. I’m not slurring yet. But, to be safe, I stare into the mini-bar, searching for water.

  ‘Hmm, I suppose so. He won’t be able to walk out when it suits him; he did say he’s at the beck and call of his clients.’ Paula replies with another yawn.

  ‘It’s more tedious than you think, hanging around like a spare part, waiting.’ I uncrack the metal lid. It’s one of those posh brands in the glass bottles.

  ‘Yeah, the flashy cars and posh meals must be paid for, I suppose.’ Paula raises her eyebrow at me.

  I don’t answer. I finish the bottle in one gulp and lie back. Sleep is beckoning.

  Paula

  It’s 6AM, and I wake with a start. My neck is cricked, and my mouth needs a good wash out. Lucy is snoring, passed out on the bed next to me. I shake her.

  ‘Did Adam show?’

  She groans at me, turns over, and rolls off the mattress.

  ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help it,’ I proper belly laugh.

  Her head pops up above the bedstead, her hair stuck up in all directions, wide eyes shocked from a sudden wakeup call gone wrong.

  ‘Stop laughing.’ She shoves me, and the mattress depresses as she leans on the edge to aid her whilst she stands.

  ‘Did Adam show?’ I repeat.

  ‘No, I didn’t hear him, did you?’

  I shake my head. We’d both had quite a bit to drink, but we would have woken at someone entering our room.

  ‘I can’t face him.’ Lucy says.

  ‘Oh Lucy, it’s just one of those things, the event probably went on longer than he expected, and he wouldn’t have wanted to wake you. Arranging a drink is one thing, but turning up in the middle of the dark hours for a booty call, well, you’re just not at that stage, are you?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know…’ She flips her phone at me. ‘He hasn’t texted.’

  ‘Let’s play it by ear at breakfast.’

  Except Adam doesn’t show for breakfast. Hana is there though, all effortless glamour.

  ‘He had to leave last night, some urgent business needed his attention,’ she purrs.

  ‘Oh, it’s just we were supposed to be grabbing a lift back with him?’ Lucy’s voice is soft and light compared to Hana’s husky tones.

  ‘Oh, of course! Well, don’t worry about that, take a cab,’ she says.

  ‘Oh!’ we both say in unison. I did half expect her to offer to give us a lift herself, but she didn’t even seem to consider the option.

  ‘You may expense it, by all means.’ At least she throws us a bone as an afterthought.

  ‘Come on Lucy,’ I drag her towards reception. ‘We’re not sitting amongst a bunch of people we don’t know with you feeling like this, we’ll get breakfast at home in peace.’ She can do without making small talk with strangers.

  ‘So, Adam and I are over then, I’ve blown it.’ Lucy breaks the silence as we stare out of our opposite windows in the back of the Toyota Prius.

  ‘Not necessarily. Hana said something came up with work, it could be legitimate.’

  ‘Why did he not text me? Let me know?’

  She has a fair point. However, I don’t acknowledge it. Instead, I say, ‘L
isten, he knew you’d had a late one and wouldn’t want to wake you if your phone was on. Plus, let's face it, he didn't realise what you had in store for him! He doesn't get that you're in a relationship yet. Gotta cut the guy some slack.’

  ‘Hmm.’

  ‘Hey, I’m going to investigate this Graham character today, you fancy tagging along?’

  She nods. She doesn't say much for the rest of the journey, so I phone Jerome, my long standing computer hacker chappy and get him started. No point wasting time in kicking off my first interesting job in a looonng time.

  ‘Have you heard from Adam?’ I ask Lucy, when she arrives in time for us to make it over to Graham’s place before he returns home from work.

  ‘Nah, but I'm not going to call him either. It’s an omen, I shouldn’t be messing business and pleasure up again. I don’t have a great track record on that front as it is.’

  ‘You’re being silly.’ I say, fury rising. ‘Nothing worth having comes easy, Adam is worth fighting for.’

  ‘Let’s change the subject.’ Her eyes are downcast. I’m not going to make progress with her in this mood, so we spend several minutes discussing Graham and what I’ve discovered since this morning. Lucy isn’t surprised in the slightest that his address is way too posh for his official earnings. Nor that he has more than one bank account which Jerome is working through.

  ‘See, your barometer can’t be too far off. You got the measure of him.’

  ‘I guess I did.’ She straightens, proud.

  We pull up on a busy main road in Brentwell. This is a property area where you only live if you have money to burn on an overpriced house and generally have something to prove. I’m never sure if that’s to yourself or to others. I mull it over, whilst pulling out a futuristic looking contraption Jerome has lent me.

  ‘What on earth is that, I thought we were snooping?’ Lucy asks.

  ‘I should have taken notes when Jerome showed me what to do…’ I mumble, trying to remember the configuration which seemed so easy a few hours previously.