by Robin Storey
She worked a ten hour day and fell into bed, exhausted. When she woke up the sun was streaming through her window. She’d had a whole night’s uninterrupted sleep. She leapt out of bed, full of energy, made herself a cup of tea and switched on the computer. A message appeared in large, bold letters.
‘I am hereby tendering my resignation as your muse. I’m sick of playing second fiddle and getting none of the glory. I’m going to strike out on my own and become a writer. Besides, if I stay with you much longer, I’ll end up an obese, drunken lay-about.
Albert.
P.S. Here is the outfit I’ve decided is worthy of my newfound occupation.’
Esther scrolled down to a photo of Albert grinning out of the screen at her, dapper in a dinner suit.
She sat for a few moments taking it in. Her head was light – she wanted to sing, laugh and dance all at the same time. But underneath burbled an undercurrent of anxiety. Would her writing be rubbish now that she no longer had her muse? Would she be back to retrieving thick, self-addressed envelopes from the mail box and crunching out numbers in the Taxation Office? She tried to brush away her doubts by phoning Joe to tell him the news.
‘You’re a genius, Esther, how did you do it?’
‘It’s a long story, and rather spooky. I’m not sure I believe it myself.’
‘In that case, how about you tell me over dinner tonight? There’s a new Italian place in town I’ve been dying to try out. I’ll bring some champagne and we’ll celebrate.’
Esther thought for a few moments. She thought about all the handsome, eligible men she’d dated who treated her writing as a frivolous hobby. She thought of the admiration that shone in Joe’s eyes, his soft, romantic poet eyes, when he looked at her, and how sure he was that she could be successful without Albert. He was right, she would prove him right. And she remembered the previous day at lunch, when he’d taken her hand in his. She’d felt tingly all over. And warm. And safe.
‘Are you there, Esther?’
‘Yes, I’m here.’
‘What’s your answer? Would you like to come out for dinner?’
‘Yes, I’d like that very much.’
Esther put down the receiver. She fetched a cloth and cleaned the crumbs and spots of wine from her desk. Then she sat down, opened a new document on her computer and began to type.
THE END
Get a free copy of my comedy crime novel How Not To Commit Murder by becoming a subscriber to Storey-Lines.
Career conman Reuben Littlejohn is determined to go straight this time after his release from prison. But he hadn’t counted on stumbling across a plot to kill his parole officer Lucy, with whom he is madly in lust. The only way he can save her life is to commit a crime himself and jeopardize his own freedom – without his wife finding out.
‘A wonderful balance of mystery and suspense and light-hearted comedy and fun.’ – A Life Through Books
‘Lively, humorous and sexy with many well-drawn and entertaining characters.’ – Bob Goodwin
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Other Books by Robin Storey
PERFECT SEX – a romantic comedy novel
Forty-something divorcee Susie Hamilton joins an internet dating agency under the pretext of research for a book. With queues of eager suitors, she gets plenty of material for her book, which becomes a best seller and changes her life – except for one thing. Her romantic life is a disaster!
Will Susie find her Mr Right online or will she have to make do with Mr-As-Good-As-It-Gets?
Click here for more information.
AN AFFAIR WITH DANGER – a romantic suspense novella
Two minutes.
That’s all it takes for corporate lawyer Will McPherson to be held up in an armed robbery and for his life to change in ways he’d never dreamed of.
When Will goes to court to give evidence, he meets the perpetrator’s girlfriend Frankie Slater and is instantly smitten. But feisty, straight-talking Frankie has her own problems, not least of which is her violent boyfriend Eddie.
When Eddie finds out about their liaison, it puts both their lives in danger, and their love becomes a matter of life or death.
If you like your romance stories with a liberal dose of grit and suspense, you’ll love this novella.
Click here for more information.
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