Chapter 22 NANCY
TODAY WAS GOING TO BE AMAZING! As my birthday fell on a Friday, David had invited the team, along with Alex, Evelyn, and Juliette, to Gaucho’s for lunch, giving me the chance to be out in public with Alex…albeit still hiding our relationship.
David set up a tab at the bar so we could mingle before lunch was served. I opted for a mojito, and Ayesha a ‘no-groni’. It was exactly as a work event should be. Awkward conversations started up and died down, stabilising as more drinks were consumed.
“So, how’s your week been?” I asked Ayesha.
“It’s looking up as it happens,” she said, scanning the room.
“Oh yeah? Is India finally pulling her weight?”
“No, that’s just the same, but…I have a date next week,” Ayesha chirped with a huge grin.
“Really? Who’s the lucky guy?” I tried to hide my surprise. She’d never brought up any guys she liked before.
“My auntie knows his mother and put us in touch. He’s training to be a surgeon.”
“Nice, and how old? Is he fit?”
Ayesha laughed. “Rohan is thirty-two. He lives in your neck of the woods, actually. Lots Road?”
“Yeah, that’s like five minutes from me.”
Ayesha took out her phone. “Auntie forwarded this photo.” She pulled up a portrait of a handsome man with short black hair, caffeine-wide eyes, and a gentle smile.
“He’s peng. But how do you feel about the age difference?” It was a question I’d asked myself with the six years between me and Alex, but so far it hadn’t made much difference. Nine years felt like a much bigger jump, though. A different stage in life.
“It doesn’t bother me. What would annoy me is some scrub looking for a good time. At least I know Rohan is serious. He approached his family to find a wife.”
I just about managed to avoid spraying the gulp of mojito I’d just swallowed. Ayesha’s thinking about marriage! “So…is this like an arranged thing?”
Ayesha smiled patiently at me. “Our families know each other, but it isn’t arranged. Honestly, I prefer this way to dating sites. At least I know Rohan’s intentions are the same as mine.”
I nodded, hiding my astonishment. Ayesha and Rohan were on the same page about their future from the get-go—marriage, probably kids too—and here I was, twenty-three and clueless.
Was I meant to be having this sort of discussion with Alex already?
Is that what people did now, laid out their terms with optional extras like buying a new car?
I wasn’t sure what I wanted, nor what Alex was looking for.
Surely a man like him had it all planned out?
“What are you two doing for your first date?”
“Dinner at a local place in Upton Park. Rohan has Wednesdays off.”
“Well, I can’t wait to hear all about it.” I raised my glass, smiling at her elation. “Cheers!”
“Cheers, and happy birthday!” Ayesha sung.
I glanced across the room at Alex, whom India had accosted. She did her best to flirt, flashing her glossy smile and fluttering her fake eyelashes. He looked less than pleased. After a minute, he excused himself with a thin smile, and India watched him cross the room towards me with a scowl.
How satisfying.
David clinked his glass, calling for attention.
“Thanks for coming out today, everyone. You’ve all worked hard over the last month, which has put us ahead of schedule, and Emma and Sean can tell you that’s pretty rare for an audit.
” The crowd gave a polite laugh. “But this is also a chance to celebrate, which, as you know, I have a reputation for.” There were more titters.
“So, I hope you’ll all join me in wishing Nancy a happy birthday.
” He raised his glass. “And, as an added bonus, I’m letting you head home for an early weekend straight after.
” Sasha and India cheered, and the others shuffled about, relaying their happy returns.
Alex shifted past the crowd to my side and clinked my glass, his fingers grazing along the small of my back, hidden by the bar. “Happy birthday, Nancy.”
“Thanks.” I looked up at him, holding back the urge to run my fingers through that mane of hair. “Alex, this is my colleague, Ayesha Jatt. She’s helping to audit your GreenTech division.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Ayesha. And how are you finding working at Goldfields?”
Ayesha looked starstruck. “It’s great. They make us feel appreciated with things like this.”
“Staff motivation is important. I hope my team has been equally welcoming.” Alex smiled while stroking descending circles down the base of my spine.
His fingers reached the band of my panties, then traced the fabric to investigate what I was wearing.
It was the most intimate advance he’d made since our first date.
I heated with anticipation, and prayed I hadn’t broken into a flush as he located the dip of my thong.
“Oh, sure, they’re great. Everything’s seamless,” Ayesha said obliviously.
I tried to remain composed.
“Excellent.” Alex’s lips curled at my evident effort, then his expression changed. He removed his hand and reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out his vibrating phone. “Excuse me, I need to take this.”
“Ladies!” David breezed in, filling Alex’s spot and clinked our glasses. “Are you enjoying your birthday so far?”
“It’s been lovely.” I smiled appreciatively. “Thanks for taking us out. It’s nice to socialise away from work.”
“My pleasure. You guys deserve it. So, what are the rest of your plans for the day?”
“Some friends are coming over for drinks later, and then we’re going to Ride in Brixton.”
He chuckled. “Wow, Ride, it’s been ages since I was last there. Do they still have the roof terrace?”
“I think so. To be honest, I’ve not been in ages. There’re some hip-hop acts, then a DJ till late.”
“Gonna dance the night away then?” David reflected. “Remember to pack a pair of Party Feet. No one wants blisters and a hangover.”
I laughed. “How do you know these things?”
“We men get sore feet, too.”
“From stilettos?” Ayesha interjected.
“Hey, no judging.” David flashed his eyebrows over the rim of his glasses, and we laughed.
The waiter approached him. “Lunch is ready to serve if your party would like to sit.”
“Great stuff,” he said, turning to the group. “Right, folks, take your seats. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
I sat with Ayesha and Evelyn, ensuring we left a space for Alex.
“Twenty-three.” Evelyn shook her head, mid-reminiscing. “What an age. I’m quite envious.”
“Evelyn, you’re both classy and timeless. If anyone should be jealous, it’s me.”
Evelyn blushed and patted my hand. “How did you know I was susceptible to flattery?”
“Just wise for my age, I guess,” I chuckled
“‘Qui n’avance pas recule,’ as my Dale would say.”
“You’re going to have to translate. I didn’t get past GCSE French.”
Evelyn squeezed my hand. “If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backwards.”
Half an hour later, we’d finished our beautifully presented plates, and conversation flowed as freely as the drinks, creating an upbeat murmur throughout the room.
I was half-listening to Ayesha and Evelyn discuss the new series of Avoid My Spouse (a guilty pleasure the pair evidently enjoyed) while I looked over at the door every few seconds for Alex, who’d never joined us for lunch.
I excused myself to look for him. As I entered the hallway, I heard the sibilant tones of hushed conversation from the alcove under the stairs. I moved a little closer, remaining hidden behind a flower display.
“It’s never been about that… I’m sorry how we left it… You deserve better than what I had to offer… Of course, you’re a beautiful woman, Mi.”
What the hell?
I backed into the ladies’ room. Alex had been talking to his ex for the last half hour, missing my birthday lunch.
I entered a stall and lowered the seat. What would they have to discuss for so long if their relationship was finished?
And why now, today, on my birthday? Things were obviously not as clear-cut as he’d made out if he still dropped everything when she rang—including me.
I tried to shake off the panicked feeling creeping over me, but my anxiety increased with each passing second until all I wanted to do was escape.
My mind on autopilot, I returned to the restaurant and tapped David on the shoulder, thanking him again for lunch.
Then I said goodbye to Ayesha and Evelyn, who looked concerned when they saw the shake in my hand.
I made some feeble excuse about drinking too much and tried to keep my voice light as I gathered my coat and bag.
Alex was still on the call when I left, but I didn’t bother to tell him I was going. If he cared, he’d be with me, not Mimi. Ignoring the tightness in my chest, I slid past him, up the stairs, and into the drizzle.
“Good afternoon and happy birthday, Ms Cooper.” Evan’s friendly lilt greeted me as he opened the Range Rover’s rear door.
I realised I was scowling beneath my hood and tried to meet his smile with one of my own as I climbed into the back seat. “Thanks, Evan. Are you having a good day?”
“Very fine, thank you, despite the weather.”
“Could you take me to the apartment, please?”
“Certainly, Ms Cooper.” He shut the door and returned to the driver’s side, shaking out his umbrella to stow under the seat, then he started the car. But after a long minute, we were still parked.
“Y’alright, Evan?”
“Very well, thank you.”
I waited for him to say more, but he sat silently facing front. “So why aren’t we driving towards the apartment?”
“Just a moment, Ms Cooper.”
I looked for signs of a blockage on the road, but nothing stopped us from leaving. After a few more seconds of waiting for Evan to do something—anything—I became uneasy. The air in the car surrounded me. I ran the back of my hand over my brow, finding it clammy.
“Look, if he has a problem with me leaving, I’ll just hail a cab,” I said, pulling at the door handle to get out, but it didn’t shift. I rattled it, but nothing happened.
Panic flew over me.
“What the fuck! Let me out the car!” There was no answer. “Evan, open it!” I wrenched at the handle, desperate to escape the confined space.
“Please calm down, Ms Cooper. We’ll leave in just a moment,” Evan said, but I couldn’t hear him.
I fumbled trying to open my tote bag. I needed to find the keyring attachment, but I couldn’t focus on the zip.
My heart thrashed in my chest, making my vision hazy and my movements staccato.
I turned back to the blacked-out window and began to strike it with the heel of my palm.
An old memory replayed, permanently embedded inside the dark recesses of my mind, but I couldn’t push it away as I usually did because, right now, I was reliving it.
Sharpened breaths battered my ribs and clawed at my throat. Tears ran down my cheeks as I fought for air. Evan was calling out. The words were lost in the turmoil. My body hit the cool leather of the seat, then a face was above me in the airless blur. It was all I could do to breathe.