Date Wednesday 8 February Time 6.40pm
My thoughts and reflections:
Both Astrid and Aziz are out again (separately of course) at work events this evening and Guy is coming round soon for a midweek speedy supper (if, by supper, you mean an hour of sex).
He was impressed by Astrid’s address when I told him where I lived (after he called me into his office for a ‘quick question please, Alice’) and said that his wife had been at him to move to Chiswick for years and that if she ever found out about tonight, she’d probably be even more upset at the idea of him being in Chiswick than sleeping with me.
I felt an itch of disquiet. If Guy and his wife were separated, why would she be ‘upset’ at the idea of him having sex?
Obviously I didn’t want to come across as clingy like Charlotte but Astrid had got in my head with her ‘separated or separating?’ Bloody Astrid.
I needed some clarification here. ‘I thought you and your wife weren’t together? ’
Guy didn’t hide his annoyance. He pushed his desk chair back and stood up.
After checking no one was looking over from the floor, and that Iris was busy on the phone, he closed the door.
‘We’re not,’ he said, his voice clipped.
‘We still share a house – it’s a delicate situation.
Until the divorce comes through, I have to be careful.
At home, at work. I thought you understood, Alice,’ he said, fixing me with that distant stare he gives in meetings just before he tells someone something they don’t want to hear.
‘I do,’ I said quickly. ‘I haven’t told anyone about… this… fun we’re having.’
Guy’s eyes flicked behind me. ‘Not Cara?’ he said, impassively.
I shook my head. ‘No.’
‘Are you sure?’ said Guy, his eyes narrowing. ‘These 360s are on my mind. Alistair’s being cagey, but looks like I’m finally meeting the LL Group tomorrow.’
‘Who?’ I said.
‘The merger, Alice. I’m meeting the consultants. The job snippers.’
‘Oh.’
‘I can’t afford mistakes, Alice.’
Gosh, he was even more sexy when he was rattled (even if I didn’t understand why he was worried about his job) – sort of extra cold and ruthless. And we were in his office. I was feeling more and more turned on.
‘Look,’ I said, biting my bottom lip which I know he likes. ‘I haven’t told anyone. And I don’t intend to. But it’s your call… ’
Guy’s gaze raked down over my body.
‘And that, Alice, is what makes you particularly attractive,’ said Guy Carmichael, taking a step towards me.
There was a polite knock, and then the door opened, and Iris poked her head round.
‘Oh,’ she said, ‘I thought you’d finished.’
‘Sorry,’ I said, ‘I just took the opportunity to quickly ask Guy about my 360.’
‘Come in, Iris,’ said Guy, without missing a beat. He stood back so I had to walk past him and he whispered to me, ‘I’ll give you a full 360 whilst you’re sitting on my face later.’ Then he said, at normal volume, as my neck burned, ‘Good work, Alice. Thanks.’
Filthy fucker.
In one word:
360