by Michelle Day
“Suzanne’s getting married.” He stated.
“That usually follows after an engagement.” Tessa rolled her eyes at him. “I’m maid of honour.”
“Congratulations.”
Tessa tapped his arm as she bounced on the balls of her feet, suddenly excited. “Oh, I know, we can have her hen party at the club.”
Paul’s head thought yeah you could, his mouth however, had other ideas, “No.” Even he was surprised at the brusqueness of his tone.
“What? Why not? You must own three quarters of the place by now therefore you have the majority say of what goes on there.”
“I do but you are not holding Suzanne’s hen party at the club. We don’t cater for that kind of thing.” Ok, that was an outright lie; hen parties were usually riotous and shit loads of fun.
“But Paul!” Tessa whined.
“No Tessa. Drop it.” He snarled at her. Thankfully the lift chose that moment to reach their floor and he bolted for his office to avoid further confrontation with his persistent sister. His outburst resulted in Tessa refusing to speak to him and he felt himself beginning to soften towards the idea of letting her have her way.
Standing in the store room, trying to locate an archived file, he weighed up the pros and cons of it all. He knew it would be good for the club but knew he’d never be able to stomach seeing Suzie prepare to commit herself to another man. Their brief, frantic fuck in the bathroom told him she was about as ready for the commitment as he was. No. There would be no hen night at Jokers for her.
Bending, he searched through a box for the file he needed, his pen fell from behind his ear. Stretching over the box, scrabbling between dusty cabinets and loose files, his hand found something, it certainly wasn’t his pen. He pulled a few boxes out of the way and stepped in to the gap between filing cabinets where he found a large window overlooking the city. Looking toward the floor he saw electrical and telephone sockets.
He spent a good hour re-arranging the archive boxes in order to reach the other outside wall of the room. Pulling a cabinet forward, he found another window, this one from floor to ceiling and further electrical outlets. The idea that this room would make an excellent corner office began to form. It was larger than the one he currently occupied and it has windows, something his current one lacked.
Taking the bull by the horns, he sauntered to his father’s office and asked if he would have any objections to Paul taking over the store room as his office and turning his current office into the store room. His father’s initial silence was a little unnerving so he threw in that he would do all the work himself and would re-route the telephone cabling to ensure his extension remained the same, he’d even destroy all of the old, out of date files that were no longer needed and buy his own office furniture.
Not entirely convinced of Paul’s reason of needing more space for filing cabinets and therefore a larger office, Michael agreed in principle but told Paul he’d make a final decision once he had looked over the store room himself.
Paul made sure to put everything back the way he had found it before returning to his broom cupboard of an office and making it look as cluttered as humanly possible.
Michael waited until Paul had left for the day before he took the short walk to the store room. He hadn’t been in here for a good ten years himself, that’s what he had staff for. The room was dark even when lit by the overhead fluorescent lights, it was dusty and filled to bursting with filing cabinets and archive boxes but yes, it was marginally bigger than the office Paul currently had. Although he had no desire to have his youngest son physically closer to him, the fact that Paul would sort out this horrendous mess was too good to pass up.
Paul’s evenings began to consist of shredding and heaving cabinets out of the old store room. He put boarding over the windows so that anyone who happened to wonder in here through the day would not know they were there and minimise his chances of completely securing this space for himself. He had already ordered his desk and new chairs. He managed to persuade Eve to come with him on the nights she stayed with him; he even got her shredding old files to speed things up.
Watching him work as she fed papers into the shredder, she began to see why he was in so much demand. He was methodical, forward planning every move and extremely hard working. She had seen him work at the club of course but this side of him was something completely different. She began to see that his work at the club was really just an extension of his personality whereas the physical exertion seemed to satisfy him immensely and at the end of each night he would stand for a few moments and survey what he had done with pride.
“What’s this?” Paul pondered aloud as he pulled the only remaining filing cabinet forward. He’d revealed a door and squeezing behind the cabinet, pushed it open. “No way!” He sputtered, “Eve, come and look at this.”
Trying and failing not to get covered in dust and cobwebs, Eve stepped into the space he’d discovered. “You didn’t know this was here?” She asked.
“No.” His voice echoed in the white tiled bathroom. Sink toilet and full size shower. He lifted the lid of the toilet and quickly dropped it. “I don’t think the previous occupant flushed.” He murmured and pressed his hand onto the flush. He hadn’t expected it to work but it did so he reached for a tap and twisted it, after some initial spluttering, water began to flow. “I think I just struck gold.” He grinned at her and shooed her out of the room, shutting the door behind him, he pushed the filing cabinet back in place. “I think that can stay hidden for a little while longer.” He winked at her.
The following night he ran the cables for his telephone extension and took detailed measurements of the walls and sugar soaped them. The night after that he set to work painting. The third night, he was there alone. Eve having decided she’d had quite enough of that thank you very much.
Pulling the only remaining filing cabinet forward, he stepped into the bathroom. It was in serious need of a deep clean. Where the fuck would he start? He was saved from his dilemma by the office cleaners. He had become quite friendly with them during his office excavations and as they now peered around the cabinet and into the bathroom with about the same look of amazement on their faces as he imagined he’d had on his he figured he may as well capitalize on their curiosity. Pulling two fifty pound notes out of his wallet, he handed them to the supervisor and asked if the bathroom could be cleaned but that it would have to be kept quiet.
With the arrival of his desk, chairs, a large, dark chocolate brown leather couch and cabinets to match his desk, Paul made a concerted effort to get to the office before everyone else and get himself settled. He couldn’t stop smiling as he stroked the smooth surface of his desk but limited his pleasure; he still had one more thing to do before everyone started work.
Stripping off his jacket and hanging it on the Bentwood coat stand, he made short work of the boards covering the windows before washing up in his own personal bathroom and looking the picture of efficiency as the office staff began to arrive. The only thing he needed now was blinds for the windows.
As the ladies of the typing pool arrived, they were greeted by a wall of glass between them and what used to be the store room and to the sight of Paul behind a large desk at one end of a huge office. He was universally loved by them and they welcomed having better access to his charming ways and sense of humour. Several of them went in to his newly acquired office to bid him good morning and admire the view. A few of the older ones warned him his father probably wouldn’t be too happy that he’d been hoodwinked. Paul grinned, shrugged and told them he’d look forward to the reaction.
Michael paused as he stepped out of the elevator. As always, his secretary greeted him there with messages and a cup of coffee. His typing pool ladies were all diligently working and there was Paul in his office, shirtsleeves rolled up and making notes as he talked on the telephone. He went to take a step forward but stopped to work out what was wrong with this picture. Having quickly worked it out, he strode towards what
looked to be the largest office in the place and it certainly had the best view. He didn’t knock; he just walked right in and stopped dead.
Paul had seen Michael’s arrival in his peripheral vision. His telephone conversation had nothing whatsoever to do with work. He was arranging for someone to come and measure for blinds but as he saw Michael approach, he told the woman on the other end of the line to humour him for a moment.
Spewing legal and technical terms into the handset as Michael entered his plush new office; Paul speared the older man with a look that said what the fuck are you doing in here that stopped him dead in his tracks. Asking his caller to hold for a moment, Paul gestured for his father to leave and really put the boot in by telling him to shut the door on the way out.
As the door closed with a little more force than was strictly necessary, Paul continued his conversation while keeping an eye on the typing pool ladies. They all sat rigid as Michael passed them but relaxed as soon as his office door shut. The ones closest to him turned to stare at him, smiling and clapping at his show of bravado, making him laugh as he jotted down the time of his appointment with the blind company.
Chapter Twenty Five
Sitting at the long table in the cocktail bar Tessa had found, Suzanne was quite relieved that her best friend hadn’t done what she’d thought she would do and simply throw her a hen party at Jokers.
She had nothing against the place but honestly hadn’t wanted to face Paul for an entire evening when the following weekend, she would become another man’s wife. She began to giggle as feather boas and pink, glittery cowboy hats were handed out. She was presented with a bride to be sash to wear and the bar manager had told her it was tradition for her to try every cocktail on the menu at least once.
Slowly but surely becoming happily inebriated, she thought she had nothing to hide when Tessa spun a bottle in the centre of the table as they began to play truth or dare. Laughing at her luck as the bottle bypassed her again, she encouraged one of her bridesmaids to chug a sickly sweet cocktail, cheering as she managed it and the bottle was spun again.
By law of averages, it had to land on her sometime or other. They all clapped as she finally fell victim to the dreaded bottle. Tessa flipped through the cards of prepared questions she had brought with her and pierced Suzanne with her steely gaze.
Clearing her throat, Tessa raised her voice as she asked “Who is the best you’ve ever had?”
The table fell silent as all eyes turned to her. “Cameron of course.” She answered but her deep blush gave her away.
Calls of “Bullshit” and “Liar” echoed out and Tessa asked the question again.
Taking a large mouthful of her drink, Suzanne set the almost empty glass down. “Alright, that was a blatant lie. The best I’ve ever had is an easy question to answer. Paul is by far the best lay going.”
Faye leant forward so she could make eye contact “I have to agree with you on that one.” She grinned and fist bumped her friend.
“Paul?” Tessa asked. “I hope you don’t mean my brother Paul.”
Suzanne and Faye exchanged looks, both shrugged and looked across the table at Tessa. Nodding at the same time, it was Suzanne who answered. “We absolutely mean your brother.” She confirmed.
“You fucked my brother?” Tessa’s voice was becoming shrill.
Faye laughed out “Actually, it was more like we were thoroughly and repeatedly fucked by him.” Which had Suzanne bent over laughing as she nodded in agreement.
“What she said.” She managed through her laughter.
Tessa blustered for a few moments, turning puce, “What the hell? He’s my baby brother.”
“Tessa, trust me when I tell you there is nothing babyish about your brother.” Suzanne had sobered a little but she was still grinning broadly.
“Nothing small either.” Faye added for good measure which had Suzanne cracking up again.
Tapping the table with her nails, Tessa regarded all the ladies present. “Ok, who else?” She was relieved and a little surprised when the others all shook their heads. “Just you two then?” She asked.
“Yes. Tessa, how on earth didn’t you know?” Suzanne asked.
“How would I know? Did you expect Paul to come home and say hi sis, by the way, I just fucked your best friend?”
“Honestly wouldn’t put it past him.” Suzanne answered, “Sounds like something he would say.”
Shaking her head, knowing she should be outraged, Tessa found herself trying not to laugh. “The dirty little shit.” She half laughed. “It’s not even as if he struggles to find women but he has to prey on my friends. How does he do it?” She hadn’t expected an answer, the question being rhetorical.
Faye reached across the table, covering her friends’ hands with hers. “He is very subtle but somehow you just know what he wants and that you are the one he wants it from even before he opens his mouth.”
It took Tessa the rest of the week before she plucked up the courage to confront her brother. Walking in to his plush new office and closing the door, she had sat in the incredibly comfortable client chair before he’d even noticed she was there. She watched him as he worked. He had his left hand pushed into his hair and supporting his head while he scribbled notes in a file. He looked up when she cleared her throat.
Closing the file he was working on, Paul sat back and smiled at his sister. “Sorry, have you been there long?”
“Just a few moments.” Tessa returned his smile. “Nice office.”
“Thanks. I think Dad is a bit pissed about it but as I’ve done all the work and own everything in here, there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.”
Shaking her head, Tessa regarded her brother. “Will you ever stop doing things for the sole purpose of getting at Dad?” She asked.
“I didn’t do it with that intention, that’s just an added bonus. I wanted windows and a view; it’s not my problem that no one took the time to investigate this room properly.”
“That’s a fair point.” She conceded. “All these years I thought it was a store room.” She mused before abruptly changing the subject. “Suzanne’s hen night went well.”
“Why would I be interested in a bunch of women getting drunk and misbehaving?” He asked then laughed. “Ok, I would totally be interested in that. Continue.”
“You are so wrong sometimes.” Tessa shook her head. “We played truth or dare; it brought about some interesting confessions.”
Leaning forward, arms resting on his desk, he asked “Are they secrets or can you spill the beans.”
“It seems two of my very best friends have been hiding things from me, namely that they’ve taken a tour around your naked form.”
He sat back abruptly. “Ah, about that....”
“Why Paul?”
“Well,” He paused, knowing he would have to choose his words carefully, “Faye has always caught my eye and she’s funny and I suppose sort of a knee jerk reaction to Suzanne getting engaged but I didn’t hurt her feelings, it was completely consensual and as for Suzanne, I don’t know what to tell you, it’s been five years on and off but she’s with him now and I have Eve.” He shrugged.
“You have feelings for Suzanne don’t you?”
“I’m trying not to.” He spoke quietly. “Don’t you have work to do?” He stood and crossed the office, holding the door open for his sister. “I have something I really need to get finished sis.”
Stopping in the doorway, she regarded her brother, “You will be at the wedding on Saturday.”
“I don’t know, I’m still deciding. If I do go, I won’t be staying long; I’m going to see Gavin.”
“I think Suzanne would appreciate you being there.” She smiled briefly at him before greeting their Father in the hallway.
Saturday morning found Paul standing in the kitchen contemplating his attendance at Suzanne’s wedding. He was dressed and ready to go but did he really want to put himself through this?
The little voice in his head as
ked him if he could pass up a chance to see her. The answer was a resounding no. Patting the pockets of his suit, picking up his overnight bag, he made his way to his car, slipping his sunglasses on as he went. It was a glorious day; the weather was being kind for today’s nuptials.
He dithered outside the church for a little while, still uncertain whether or not he wanted to go inside. The florist arrived and he followed them into the church. He watched them work for a while before taking a seat in the very back pew. A flurry of activity caught his eye and he found himself staring into her eyes. He couldn’t move.
Suzanne stepped away when Tessa nudged her. Never in a million years did she think he’d come, let alone be insanely early. She had started the morning happy and confident, seeing Paul had her doubts quite literally smacking her around the face. She moved away when Tessa ushered her towards the back room where her wedding dress waited. They had come straight from having their hair and makeup done and had arranged to prise herself into her dress at the church to save time.
She stood like a Barbie doll as her mother and Tessa fussed around her and fiddled with the tiny pearl buttons at the back of her dress. Her mother hurried away to co-ordinate the florists. Suzanne and Tessa stood staring at each other.
“You look beautiful.” Tessa said as she smoothed a tendril of hair from her friends shoulder.
Suzanne flashed a brief smile. Her stomach was fluttering, she felt sick and sweaty and she just wanted to go home. “I want to see him.” She spoke, surprising herself. “Tessa, please, go and get him.”
“Are you sure?” Tessa asked. She turned towards the door as Suzanne nodded.
She went to begin pacing but her dress snagged, pinning her to the spot. Twisting as much as she could within the boned bodice to try and untangle the voluminous skirt muttering “Come on you mother fucker.”
“Not sure that’s appropriate language given our location.”
Stilling and drawing a breath, she slowly straightened to look at him trying not to giggle at his faked sternness. “You came.” She stated.