Alicia at the front, speaking about our "exotic opportunities". At least, that's how they put it. As far as I can see, she's doing pretty well. The audience seems pretty engaged and I can hear a few whispers and page flips which, in this case, is usually a good idea.
I overhear Rebecca Bloomwood talking to Elly behind me. I glance at them reproachfully but it seems as if neither of them got the message.
"But I need money!" I hear Rebecca hissing. Her volume is rising dangerously. "I'm desperate! I need twenty quid!"
Alicia pauses as everyone turns to Rebecca. Her face burns with colour as she realizes that she spoke to loudly and everyone now knows she needs twenty quid for… God knows what.
"Perhaps you should have invested with Foreland Investments, Rebecca," says Alicia in clipped tones. The audience laughs quietly. I'm really coming to like Alicia.
"What do you need twenty quid for?" I ask calmly. Relax, Luke. You can handle the situation.
"I…" Rebecca says, thinking quickly. "My aunt," she declares. "She's in hospital and I wanted to get her a present."
The room is silent as I mull over my options. I can always help someone in the hospital… Besides, we need to settle this matter and move on. We're about to cover some important things I really need to hear other people's take on. I reach into my pocket and pull out a twenty quid note. I hand it to Jeffrey Parker from Finance Basics, one of the front row journalists and he hesitates before passing it back. Slowly, it makes it's way to Rebecca Bloomwood. When she finally gets it, the audience gives a respectful round of applause and Rebecca's face is burning again.
"Thanks," she says awkwardly. "I'll pay you back, of course."
"My best wishes to your aunt," I say politely.
"Thanks," she repeats, casting a glance towards the silent Alicia.
—
Frankly, the questions are getting kind of boring. I have to get back to work. I get up, take two strides so I'm next to Alicia and whisper to her. "Thanks for talking. You were great," I say. "I've got to get back to the office join me if you'd like, after the press conference? And take notes on the questions, I don't want to miss anything." Without waiting for her reply, I begin to head towards the door.
"Thanks," I hear Rebecca Bloomwood say as I pass her chair. I ignore her, cracking a tiny smile at the thought of her humorous interruptions.
Rebecca had interrupted before the twenty quid incident as well. There had been a part where Alicia was talking about Foreland Investments offering more, and Rebecca had offered her sage opinion which was "They charge more, you lose more."
Actually, not completely untrue and a very witty comment at that as well.
I begin to walk down the pavement. Maybe I'll go for walking today instead of riding that awful Tube. Sometimes it would stop in the most infuriating way and I'm trapped to do nothing but stare into black for the next couple of seconds. Besides, fresh air would do be good - everyone is telling me that I work too much.
Which is not true at all, of course, but I suppose I could catch a bit of fresh air.
I walk all the way from one underground train station to another and feel a surge of pride. Take that, everyone who thinks I don't take leisurely time to have a nice walk.
Suddenly, in front of me, I see Rebecca walking out of some shop. I stop and look at her and her carrier bag. Is that a gift for her ill aunt?
"Rebecca," I say, frowning slightly. She looks flustered. "Did you get it all right?"
"What?"
"Your aunt's present," I say, gesturing at the carrier bag.
"Oh, yes," she says in a funny voice. "Yes, I… I got it."
"Is that it?" I ask, pointing at the bag. She reddens further.
"Yes," she says slowly. "I thought a… a scarf would be nice."
"Very generous of you." I glance at the label on the bag. "Denny and George." I raise my eyebrows. "Your aunt must be a stylish lady." Don't laugh, Luke. It's obvious that this aunt never existed. How come I hadn't thought of this before? Rebecca is a clever girl.
"She is," Rebecca says defiantly. She clears her throat. "She's terribly creative and original."
I have to agree, I think silently. "I'm sure she is," I say out loud. I pause. "What's her name?"
I can see her face, thinking quickly. "Erm… Ermintrude," she says.
"Aunt Ermintrude," I say thoughtfully. "Well, give her my best wishes." I nod at her and walk off, barely able to contain my laughter.
As soon as I'm out of earshot, I burst into peals of laughter. That absolutely made my day. Of course Rebecca Bloomwood would rather make up a story of an ill aunt than admit she'd buy a scarf for herself and needed to borrow twenty quid for it. Good at thinking on her feet, that girl. I've got half a mind to hire her as one of my PR girls.
From my pocket comes a buzzing. I bring the phone up and sigh. I really hope this isn't Sacha.
"Luke Brandon," I say shortly.
"Lukie!" Sacha's voice squeals on the other end. "How did the press conference go?"
"Well, I suppose," I say. "I left a bit early."
"Would you like to grab some lunch?" Sacha asks eagerly.
"I'd love to, but I'm not hungry," I say. I pause, searching for a better excuse. "And I've really got to get back to work."
"Work, work, work," Sacha drones. "That's all you ever do. Why can't you set aside time for your girlfriend?"
I sigh. "Fine," I say, softening up. "Lunch would be great. How about Café Rouge, in…" I glance at my watch and calculate. "Forty five minutes."
"Done," Sacha says. I can hear her smiling and involuntarily, a smile spreads across my face as well. "I love you Luke."
"Love you too." I hang up and look up. Is that Clare Edwards from Successful Savings?
"Luke Brandon," Clare says with a smile. "I take it your conference went well?"
"It did," I say graciously. "How are you?"
"I'm great," Clare says. "Couldn't be better. Successful Savings is doing quite well, as you know. I have a few concerns about Rebecca's performance, but it doesn't seem to be dwindling so—"
"How is Rebecca, anyway?" I interrupt.
"She's doing well," Clare says, nodding and smiling.
"And has she got a boyfriend?" I ask.
Clare stops, taken aback. "I, um…" she says. "Well, I'll have to ask her… but I haven't heard of any significant others in her life, no."
"I see." I nod. "Well, I'd better be off. I've got a lunch appointment. Nice talking to you!" I give her a small wave and walk off.
—
"So I was thinking," Sacha is saying, "a new bag would be great, wouldn't it? Not like a petty handbag. Like, a luggage bag. I mean, my old one is all torn and stuff, right?" She pauses and glances at me. "Luke? You're not listening, are you?" She sounds hurt.
"No, no, I am," I say quickly. "You want a luggage bag, right?" I process what she said. She nods. "Well, I'll get you one." I'll show her. I'll be the best boyfriend ever.
"You'd do that for me?" Sacha says, beaming. She leans in and kisses me. "Aw, you're so cute," she says, touching my nose.
I don't know how to react so I just sit there awkwardly. "Food's getting cold," I say stiffly, gesturing at the sandwiches in front of us. Not that sandwiches were bad cold but…
I take a bit out of my sandwich and Sacha follows suite. "Mmm," she says between bites, "this is good. Hey, you know," she swallows and continues, "some journalist came to the flat today."
"Did they," I say in mock interest.
"You're one of the richest bachelors, you know that?" Sacha grins and chews her sandwich.
"I'm aware of that. Those magazines exaggerate everything, I hope you know that."
"Oh, of course I do," Sacha says dismissively. "Anyway, they asked me a few questions about you and I answered them. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all," I say, taking another bite. Chew, swallow. "What sort of questions?"
"Oh, little things like hobbies and relationships."
I pause. "Relationships?"
"Yep," Sacha says cheerfully. "I told them that we're dating, of course." She looks at my expression and her face darkens. "Oh, you don't mind, do you?"
"It's alright," I say stiffly. "I just… I didn't think that our private personal relationships should be revealed to the public, you know?"
"Are you embarrassed of me?" Sacha says, turning her nose up haughtily.
"Of course not, I love you," I say kindly. "But the public can do a lot of damage to personal things. Just be careful in the future, alright, love?"
"Okay," Sacha agrees eventually.
I glance at my watch. "Shoot, I'd better go," I say absently. I put my hand in my pocket and produce a fifty note. "That'll pay nicely, won't it? Here you are. Love you, bye!" I get up and leave Sacha behind with the fifty note. I glance back and she's looking at me, shocked.
Hmm. On second thought, that might not have been the best move.
