Chapter 5

On the other side of the world, Spike was straightening up from leaning over Lynda's desk.

"And off it jolly well goes!" he said. "You did ask him if he would do it before you got me to send it, didn't you?"

"Of course I did," replied Lynda. "You know what Kenny's like. Only too happy to help!"

Spike eyed her suspiciously for a moment.

"All right, all right, maybe I didn't ask in so many words," she admitted. "But he would have said yes anyway, so why bother wasting time?"

Spike sighed. "Ruthlessly efficient as ever, Ms Day. Now where's my surprise?"

"Surprise?" asked Lynda innocently.

"The one you promised me if I helped you with your email?"

"Oh, THAT surprise!" Lynda grinned naughtily.

"I think I like the sound of it already," said Spike. "Should I close the blinds?"

"If you like," replied Lynda. "Unless you want to make it a bit more exciting by leaving them open?"

"I'm game if you are!" Spike rubbed his hands together with glee.

"Good. Sit down in that chair, close your eyes and wait until I come back," instructed Lynda and turned to leave the office.

"Hey, wait a minute! You're not just going to go home, are you? You know, Lynda, a guy can only fall for that one so many times."

"I promise I won't leave. I just need to get . . . prepared," said Lynda slyly.

"Well, all right," said Spike, closing his eyes. "Hurry back!"

Not to say Spike didn't trust Lynda, but he was definitely relieved when he heard her footsteps coming back into her office.

"Eyes still closed?" she asked.

"I think so," replied Spike. "Should I open them and check?"

"Not yet," replied Lynda and Spike felt something drop into his lap. Mind racing with all sorts of possibilities, he opened his eyes, looked up to see Lynda disappointingly fully clothed and then down to his lap to find a large envelope.

"What's this?" he asked. "Oh, I get it, some sort of role-playing game. You're the sexy postwoman and I'm the guy who gets a special delivery!"

Lynda sat down behind her desk. "Spike, you know I was part of an executive meeting this morning."

"Sure, you and all the bigwigs," replied Spike and then continued hopefully, "Is this part of the fantasy?"

"Can I have the attention of the brain above your belt, please, Spike?" Lynda asked.

"Okay, you got it." Spike sighed. Obviously he needed to work on Lynda's idea of a late-night surprise.

"Anyway, we've been reviewing and restructuring some of the staff roles," continued Lynda briskly. "Basically, what we've decided is you're no longer required as part of the general reporting team."

Spike sat stunned for a moment. "You know, Lynda, when you said 'surprise', I kind of imagined it would be something good. Not losing my job!"

"As usual, you're jumping the gun," Lynda replied coolly. "Why don't you look inside the envelope?"

"What is it, instructions on how to sign on to the dole?" Spike muttered.

"Just open it!"

Spike tore open the envelope and removed the document inside.

"Job Specification for Music Columnist?" he read. "Album reviews, concert reviews, interviews . . . are you serious?"

"Are you?" countered Lynda. "This is a big deal, Thompson. No mucking around. If you want it, you have to work hard and do it right."

"Oh, I want it. I'll start right now!" Spike couldn't believe it. This was even better than what he had in mind! Well, almost. He did, after all, have a very colourful imagination.

"Don't be silly, Spike, it's late. And anyway, don't you want your surprise?"

"I thought this was . . ." Spike trailed off as Lynda peeled off her coat to reveal a saucy maid's outfit underneath.

"Surprise!" she said demurely and sat in his lap.

"Okay, Spike, stay cool," Spike muttered fervently to himself. "Think unsexy thoughts. Two weeks til the first edition. Two weeks til the first edition."

"What did you say?" Lynda murmured, kissing the side of his neck.

"Two weeks til the first edition!" blurted Spike.

"Mmhmm," replied Lynda, pulling him down into a kiss. Spike gave up on the hopeless task of thinking unsexy thoughts and happily settled for kissing her back when suddenly Lynda broke away.

"I'm sorry. I've got to . . ." she leapt up from Spike's lap and ran out into the deserted office towards the bathrooms.

"That's enough to make any guy paranoid," said Spike, checking his breath.