"Hello again." Katy leant on the bar and smirked at the man who had just entered the R&R and slid onto a barstool. "Not brought your son this time?"
"No, not this time." He agreed with a chuckle.
"We still ain't got no Glenmorangie, so you'll have to stick with Glenfiddich."
"I'm beginning to prefer it."
"And I still ain't interested in financial management." She added, sliding the double measure across the bar.
"I'll try not to be too offended."
"K, I've got Rox on the phone wondering if they can borrow a case of vodka until tomorrow." Tina wandered over, concentrating on the stock list in her hands. "We've got enough so I can run it over if–"
"Yeah, yeah, that's fine." Her boss agreed quickly. "Can you also remind her that she needs to pick up the kids from Dad's at nine because I bet she's forgotten."
"Sure." The brunette's gaze was focused on the man sitting opposite her friend. "Hi, I'm Tina."
"Graham." He replied, holding his hand out to shake the one extended in his direction. Katy was slightly relieved to be reminded of his name because it had slipped her mind. "Pleased to meet you."
"Right, so… I'll just head over to Ruby's, then?"
"Sure." Katy agreed easily, knowing that she would be in for a grilling later on.
"I've got a proposition for you." Graham said as soon as Tina had left.
Katy arched an eyebrow suspiciously. "What kind of proposition?"
"Nothing untoward, I assure you." He chuckled at her expression. "I've got an awards dinner tomorrow night and I'd like you to accompany me."
"Uhhh? Why?"
"Aside from the obvious, you intrigue me. I feel like there's a lot more to you than meets the eye."
"And what's the obvious?" She demanded, her temper rising as she thought about what he might mean.
"You're beautiful." Graham replied casually. "You must know that? Turning up at the dinner with a young woman who looks like you won't hurt my standing."
"That's a bit sexist, isn't it?"
"Maybe; it's true though." He pointed out.
Katy glared at him for a moment. "Say I agree. What's in it for me? You get to spend the evening with me, but what do I get out of it?"
There was a pause as he considered her for a moment. "What d'you want to get out of it?" When she didn't reply, simply continued to stare at him, he chuckled. "There could be financial benefits–"
"What, exactly, do you think I am?" Katy demanded, offended at the assumption.
"I can assure you that I'm in no way insinuating that you're a prostitute."
"Yeah, well, you better not be." Katy folded her arms. "At the moment I ain't seeing that there's much in this for me at all."
"So why are you still considering it?" When she frowned, unable to come up with a reason to give him, he smiled. "I think you're tempted."
"You ain't even told me when and where, yet?"
"I'll pick you up here tomorrow at seven."
"Oh, yeah, right." She rolled her eyes. "Not even telling me where it is? That's actually really helping me make up my mind to say no."
"What? You think I'm going to murder you?"
Katy arched an eyebrow. "Try it and see what happens."
Graham laughed. "So? Tomorrow at seven?"
"You still haven't told me where it is?"
"It's at the Cafe De Paris in the West End." He told her casually.
At the mention of the venue, Katy had to fight to keep the impressed expression off her face. "Well I ain't got anything nearly fancy enough to wear somewhere like that."
Standing up and tucking his wallet back into his jacket pocket, Graham smiled. "Don't worry about that. I'll see you tomorrow."
Katy watched him leave in slight bemusement. She leant against the bar and furrowed her eyebrows, mentally sorting through her wardrobe for something suitable to wear. It wasn't until Tina physically jabbed her in the ribs that she realised her friend had returned from Ruby's and clearly wanted to know what had been going on.
"So… is it a date?" Tina asked, frowning at the blonde as she finished explaining.
"No." Katy shook her head quickly. "At least I don't think so?"
"So it is like… I mean, he said he'd pay you, right? Is this your Pretty Woman moment?"
"I'm not a hooker!"
"Yeah, obviously I know that, but–"
"Tina, drop it, yeah." Katy muttered as a group noisily entered the bar and headed for them.
By lunchtime the next day, Katy still hadn't made up her mind about whether she was going to the awards dinner or not. She'd hunted through her wardrobe (and everyone else's in the house) looking for anything that would be fancy enough to wear, but not managed to find anything remotely suitable. That had put her in a bad mood and she was seriously considering refusing to go.
"Hey?"
"What?" She snapped, furrowing her eyebrows at Isaac as he moved to sit in the chair opposite hers.
After a long morning ignoring Tina's questions, she had escaped to the café for some lunch and some peace and quiet. She'd stopped in at home on the way, but discovered that Amy and Ricky were also there and that the chances of a bit of quiet were infinitesimal, so decided to head straight out again.
"I said I'm sorry." He reminded her. "I was having a really bad day and Patrick and I are past it."
"That ain't the point, Isaac. I've got enough arseholes in my life… I don't need another one."
"I promise you, I'm not an arsehole."
"What does it matter, anyway?" She asked him with a sigh. "I thought this was just a bit of fun. Maybe it's run its course and stopped being fun now."
"Well maybe somewhere along the way I realised that I actually quite like you." He told her bluntly. "Maybe somewhere along the way I decided that I don't want it to just be a bit of fun."
Putting her head in her hands, Katy exhaled sharply. "Isaac… don't do this. Seriously, don't."
"Why not? Would it be so terrible if we gave this a proper go?"
"I can't… I don't have the headspace for this right now, OK?" She tried to make her voice and her expression a little softer. "I've got the kids, the bar, a potential custody battle… you don't need to get involved with me at the moment."
"Surely that's my decision."
"Well I'm taking it out of your hands." Katy informed him. "Look, Isaac… I heard what happened in the Vic. That Shelley might not have said anything yet, but I wouldn't put it past her and I can't guarantee that I won't have another go at her the drop of a hat. You need to think about your career… I ain't good for you."
"Again, my decision." He pointed out.
"Isaac, please…"
"Fine, I'll leave it for now." He replied holding up his hands. "But this ain't over, Mitchell."
As he left the café, Katy let out a huff of frustration and gathered her things. She smiled weakly at Marie as she passed, heading quickly back to the R&R before she could bump into anyone else.
"You're back!"
"Yes? So?"
Tina beamed at her the second she crossed the threshold, clearly excited about something. When the brunette simply shrugged and folded her arms, Katy sent her a frown and headed up the stairs towards her office. She said nothing as her friend followed her.
"Uhhh… what's this?" Katy wrinkled her nose at the clothes bag hanging on the back of her office door.
Tina shrugged, leaning against the desk and smirking at her. "It was dropped off for you while you were out by a guy who looked like he was either a chauffer or a hit man. They came with it."
Katy followed her pointing finger towards the shoebox on the sofa. Her mouth dropped open at the writing on the lid and she snatched it off to reveal what was inside.
"T… these are Manolo Blahniks." She pointed out needlessly, pulling out the left shoe. "These cost a ridiculous amount of money."
"Let's see the dress, then!" The brunette demanded excitedly, motioning towards the bag.
Almost reluctantly, Katy unzipped it. She pushed back the sides to reveal the dress properly. It was short and emerald green, with long, floaty pleated sleeves and Katy was sure that it was more expensive than anything she had ever owned in her entire live. Tina gaped, before moving forward and touching it, almost reverentially.
"This is designer, too." She breathed. "Are you gonna wear it?"
"I don't really have much choice." Katy pointed out, shaking her head. "I don't own anything remotely like this."
"This is so exciting!" Tina told her with a grin. "Who'd have thought it, eh? You going to some flash party in a designer dress."
"Yeah, well… I still don't know if I'm gonna go."
"Course you are." Her friend rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, K? How often does someone with cash come round here and start splashing out on expensive presents? Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, yeah?"