3 days later.
"Piper open the door!"
The constant banging and the sound of her friends voice getting progressively louder forced Piper to go open the door. The last thing she needed right now was the neighbours on her back. Opening the door and walking away, knowing Polly would follow her, Piper returned to the kitchen.
"What the hell is going on here?" Polly stopped in the doorway surveying the chaos before her.
"Just get it over with Polly," Piper muttered. "You have come here to shout, tell me I have made the biggest mistake of my life right."
"Actually no! I have come here as your friend to check you are OK. Larry only told us last night what happened. Are you OK?"
"Yeah I'm fine." Piper shrugged.
"So… what happened?"
"I guess all that talk in the bar got me thinking. I don't want a house with a picket fence or kids Polly, at least not yet. I don't want to sit at home waiting for Larry to come home from work. I want to make this work with PoPi, you heard the girls the other night, they didn't even know us and they loved our stuff, we can do this Polly. I want to see how far we can take it. And the girls were right, Larry really has just been humouring me. As for my mother, well lets face it I am never going to make her happy, so I may as well give her something to be genuinely disapproving of!"
"You have told her?" Polly knew that wouldn't have been easy.
"Yes I told them after I spoke with Larry. Mom cried, then shouted and is currently giving me the silent treatment."
"And your dad?"
"He seemed more concerned about mom, how it affected her, but I guess he does have to live with the fall out. He did say it was better to end it now than after the wedding, but that was just his wallet talking."
Polly moved to sit next to Piper, "You never mentioned you were thinking of ending it."
"No. Well maybe until the other night I hadn't thought of it, like I said I knew it wasn't a fairy tale, but my parents made it work, even knowing about dad's affair mom made it work. Then Alex said I could have my own dreams and I kept thinking about it and realised maybe she was right."
"What is it with you two?"
"What do you mean?" Piper wasn't sure what Polly had heard or seen so was reluctant to say much.
"The other night she sat so close to you, seemed to be whispering in your ear, watching you. You said she was gay… is there something I am missing?"
"No." Piper shook her head. "I guess she sat near me because there was a stool there. She wasn't whispering, there are no secrets. You heard her, she thinks I have shit for brains and shouldn't marry Larry."
"Yes I heard her, and look. Now you are not! So is it because of her?"
Piper shrugged. "Not because of her as a person but maybe what she said. Maybe I want to try, try to make my dreams come true, not try to fulfil someone else's."
"So is that what this is all about?" Polly looked at the chaos Piper had created in the kitchen.
Piper grinned. "Yes! I have been trying new scents."
"Piper we don't need new, we need to make the order we have agreed."
"I know, I know, but I had this idea and I wanted to try. Look." She held a bottle to Polly's nose. "What does it smell of?"
Polly frowned. "I'm not sure. It seems familiar. Warm…"
"Yeah I cant quite get it right. I was going for the beach, desert island smell. Sunshine and surf."
"That's what I can smell, sea!" Polly grinned.
Piper nodded. "Its so near."
"Well as good as it is I suggest we clear this chaos and start on the order we have got! The other reason I came round is Nicky called. She said they will be sending label samples over which need our approval. Also they want a small sample by next week."
Piper grinned. "This is really happening!"
o0o
Alex sat in her office staring at the computer screen. She had not even begun the weekly figures yet and she had a pile of messages to answer. She just couldn't focus. Knowing of only one way to clear her head she stood up grabbed her jacket and headed out of the door.
"I'm going out." She called to Nicky, not giving her a chance to reply. Shrugging on the leather jacket she went down to the basement where her bike was parked. Grabbing the helmet she pulled it on, zipped up the jacket and slung her leg over the seat. The throb of the engine reverberated through her body offering a comfort in its strength and familiarity. She drove towards the exit, out onto the street turning towards the highway. Soon, clear of traffic she shifted her body lower over the handlebars and accelerated.
The freedom of the road, the sun on her back, a feeling of freedom she was not sure anyone understood. Driving for an hour, then pulling over on a quite country road, Alex got off the bike and went to sit on the grass verge. She was loosing control. She could feel it slipping away and she was not sure what to do.
There were only two times she had ever felt this level of panic well up inside her. The first was when she had heard the news of her mothers death. She had been in Europe, her first international trip. Her mom had been so very proud. Her death however had left a bitter taste in her mouth and every subsequent trip was tinged with nostalgia and fear.
The other time she had felt out of control was when Sylvia had left. They had been together 3 years, maybe not the longest relationship in the history of the world, but certainly Alex's only serious one. Before and after Sylvia it had been one night stands. A few repeat performances, but mainly one night stands with women who she had no real interest in, other to meet her sexual needs of the night.
Sylvia had left without a backward glance as if their time together had meant nothing. At the time, to Alex, it had meant the world. She did not ever want to let someone have that hold over her again.
Sitting here now Alex realised how isolated she had become. Since her mothers death she had lost contact with old friends. Work had become her life and other than her weekly trips to the bar she had cut herself off to the point of now not knowing how to handle the feeling she was experiencing.
If her mother was here she could imagine the advise she would give her. 'Get out there and take the risk!' she would say. She would have loved Nicky! Alex knew that was why she had given the slightly wild woman the job as her assistant. Nicky was free. Her spirit totally unconstrained.
Pulling her cell out of her jacket pocket Alex dialled the office.
"Nicky, hey its me. Look I need a break. I am going to take off for a few days. If there is an emergency call me but you should be able to handle stuff."
"Alex, is everything OK?" Nicky was worried. Alex never left the office unless for a business meeting and certainly not with a tray full of work.
"Yeah I'm fine Nick. Just feeling the need to ride." Alex dismissed casually. She knew Nicky was worried, she had called her Alex not boss for one thing. But she couldn't explain, didn't want to even try. How could she put into words that she had feelings for a woman she didn't really know. That she was imagining a life she had never wanted in the past with someone who was about to start a life with someone else. She needed to face reality and she needed, as always, to do it on her own. Saying a quick goodbye Alex cut off the call and got back on her bike. She hadn't lied. She needed to ride.
o0o
2 days later.
"Hi Nicky." Polly was surprised by the unannounced visit but opening the door invited the woman in. "Is everything OK with the contract?"
"Yeah," Nicky grinned, "all OK and legal have approved so now you just need to make soap!"
"Great." Polly let out the breath she had been holding. "What can I do for you then?"
"I just wanted to check you liked the label designs and that you could meet the production schedule we sent over." Nicky answered honestly, omitting the fact she wanted to see if Alex had made contact at all.
Polly, a little surprised these questions warranted a visit rather than a phone call smiled. "Sure we can meet them. We had some stock anyway so that helped, my biggest problem is keeping Piper focused."
"She doesn't pull her weight?" Nicky was surprised, after hearing of Pipers whacky sales pitch she assumed she would be up for getting this contract filled.
"No she does, but she wants to make a new scent, she is currently out buying seaweed and sunscreen lotion."
Nicky shook her head. "I am not going to even ask why! The labels, you liked them?"
Polly grinned "I did! Subtle, not so cheesy. Piper is still offended her carefully drawn poppy was rejected but she'll get over it when she sees the sales figures. Right now she is just trying to keep busy."
"I'd have thought with her wedding plans and that crazy sounding mother of hers she'd have enough to occupy her."
"She called the wedding off." Polly sighed.
Nicky frowned. "Why?"
Polly shrugged "She was a bit vague. Something Alex said to her. Something about living her dream not someone else's. Personally I am hoping she got cold feet. She loves Larry, things will work out. I was worried at first, thought there was more too it. What with Alex and everything."
"What do you mean?" Nicky frowned.
"Well Piper told me Alex was gay. So I jumped to the conclusion she had a crush and was overreacting…"
"Alex told Piper she was gay? When was this?" Nicky was shocked, maybe there was more to Alex needing a break than she had thought if she was opening up like this to Piper, especially if Piper had then rejected her.
"Oh no." Polly grinned. "Piper overheard you in the bathroom. You made some comment about it and Piper overheard."
Nicky stared at Polly. "When was this?"
"At the steak house, you spoke to Piper later at the bar."
"Oh god! Does Alex know Piper heard?"
"I doubt it, as far as I know they haven't spoken. Why? does it matter? Is it a big secret?"
Nicky shrugged. "Alex does not spread her private life around, but she isn't ashamed if that's what you mean. The girls know she is gay, even though Alex has never formally come out at work, she just keeps her private life private. But what we said, in that bathroom…" Nicky shook her head thinking of how Alex would feel knowing they had been overheard.
"Why what did you say?" Polly was beginning to think maybe Piper was keeping something from her after all.
"I was teasing Alex. About having a crush on Piper, that she was watching her and stuff. It was a joke."
Polly muttered "Well that explains why Piper was so reluctant to talk about it. And why she would get flustered." Looking at Nicky she asked "Does Alex like her?"
Nicky shrugged. "Hey blondie is cute. Smoking bod, great pair of tits!" She laughed at Polly's shocked expression. "Look Alex would not tell me OK. I am her assistant, we work together that's all. Your girl, well maybe she is just wising up to the fact she can be her own woman. Good for her I say. But do me a favour, don't tell Piper I know about her overhearing us OK. I need to work out how I break the news to the boss first. She is fragile enough right now."
"Alex fragile!" Polly snorted. "She is the least fragile person I have ever met."
"Yeah well looks can be deceiving."
o0o
2 weeks later.
"That's it? We have really done it?" Polly looked up from the last box as Piper checked of the last item on her list.
Piper nodded grinning. "And the complete order too, not just the up front! I think that calls for a drink to celebrate."
"Shall we ring Suzanne? Tell her it is ready."
"Tomorrow," Piper smiled, right now "I need a shower then some margaritas!"
"OK!" Polly grinned relieved to see Piper willing to go out having been hiding for what seemed like weeks where do you want to go?"
"Somewhere nice, but somewhere I am not going to bump into Larry. He has been calling incessantly and I need a break."
"Why has he been calling?" Polly frowned, Larry had been staying with her and Pete and hadn't once mentioned Piper.
"He wants to talk about this place. He wants to either sell it or move back in!"
"He does? What are you going to do?"
Piper shrugged. "He can move back if he gives me half the value. He chose it, it was his dream house not mine, and quite frankly moving out will mean I can leave it in the past. Also it will stop my mom continually suggesting we are just 'finding ourselves' and that Larry will forgive me and take me back when I 'come to me senses'"
Polly rolled her eyes. "She really doesn't get it does she. OK, well lets move these boxes to the hall, I will call Suzanne and tell her we are done and they can collect tomorrow. Then I will be back at 7 and we can begin planning our next range." Rewarded by the biggest smile she had received from Piper in a while Polly gave her friend a hug and began moving the boxes.
o0o
"We cannot just limit ourselves to one theme." Polly was getting louder as she argued with Piper. The more cocktails they drank the louder the conversation became.
"You are missing the point," Piper insisted. "The range we will already have on the shelves will still be there. Now we can have fun Polly, seasonal scents, smaller output and shorter shelf life, while the regular product remains consistent."
Polly sighed, "perhaps we need a concept meeting with Suzanne."
Piper snorted. "Sure you can take that one. The last time I went to the office she was meditating, at least that's what she called it, sat on the floor refusing to talk!"
Polly sniggered, "she is different I'll give you that. But her enthusiasm is contagious! If we make up a bunch of samples, take them over and let her try them..."
"Just her? Are you crazy?" Piper frowned. "Why don't we ask Nicky if the girls will try them, like before."
Polly shrugged "Sure, not sure if they will, not their project now is it."
"We could ask though."
Polly nodded, pulling out her phone she sent Nicky a text. The immediate response made her laugh. "She said if its free she will try it! She did say don't make any new products green as Suzanne is currently on an anti green mission."
Piper laughed. "She will love the seaweed facial then!"
Nicky continued to text on and off during the evening and just as they were ready to leave Polly groaned, "Nicky is outside! She says she needs to see how green the face mask is and check out the other new stuff."
Piper looked at her watch. "Its midnight!"
Polly shrugged.
Stepping out side Piper couldn't help but laugh as she had a seconds warning then with the shriek of "Blondie!" Echoing in her ears she was enveloped in a tight hug before being discarded so she could witness Polly receiving the same treatment. "OK ladies take me to your Aladdin's cave. I have a bet to win here."
"Nicky it is all boxed up ready to deliver tomorrow," Piper muttered evasively, but she could see her reasoning was falling on deaf ears though as she was pushed towards a waiting cab and Nicky gave Pipers address.
Once inside her home Nicky surveyed the boxes. "Hey, you weren't kidding! But that's the old stuff right? Its the new stuff I want to see."
"Of course not" Piper scowled. "Look the new stuff is in here." She led Nicky into the kitchen and pulled out the box of new products they had made.
"OK, so I need a list of names of these." Nicky grinned
"Why?" Piper and Polly asked together.
"Because it is possible we have a little wager in the office as to the next scent you will come up with. I intend to win the stakes are high."
"What's the prize?" Polly asked curious and flattered the international team still spoke about the PoPi range.
"A meal for 2 and an all included night in a spa hotel."
"Wow!" Piper muttered. "That's nice!"
"Exactly, the powers that be are into this incentive scheme thing! And as I have a new woman in my life I intend to win so I can romance the crap out of her!"
Laughing Polly went to grab some wine she knew Piper had in the fridge, grabbing 3 glasses she poured them all some and putting the product box on the floor she said "maybe we want in on this prize."
"Don't mess with me Harper," Nicky laughed, "I have to deal with Suzanne meditating and Alex's hissy fits, I deserve this!"
"But surely Daya deserves it too, she designed the labels after all, or Alex, she took the decision to go with us. Even Suzanne she is enthusiastic like no-one I have ever seen. And we made this stuff so we should be in with a chance too!"
"Who risked their neck on the bike for you?" Nicky challenged, "or got you a free cab home in this drunken state you are in."
"We are not drunk." Piper laughed. "In fact we are so sober I suggest we open another bottle and you can tell us about your new woman and we will decide if she deserves a weekend in some hotel as you corrupt her."
"Oh she does!" Nicky leered. Soon she had the women laughing as she explained how her online dating site had matched her with various inappropriate matches until finally finding Lorna. "She works at The Plaza, she is classy!"
"Bright red lips and matching nails?" Piper asked grinning. At Nicky's nod she said "I met her! When I was looking for a wedding venue. She seemed nice, pushy but nice."
"She is!" Nicky grinned, "we should go out, all of us. It can be our bon voyage party."
"We are not helping you!" Piper grinned. "And even if we were I am not sure I believe you. Why would the bosses have a bet on our product when the first lot isn't on sale yet?"
"Crap you are really not drunk are you." Nicky laughed knowing they had seen through her rouse. "OK, so we have an office bet on your next product hit. The hotel prize thing is on the best sales team, we know Suzanne will win because of your range, which is totally unfair may I add, so we have a side bet going. If we can guess your next scent we win the cash in the pot. But we are hoping to convince everyone it was us that discovered you, not Suzanne, I want in on the main prize."
"And there was us thinking Barney's was a staid, professional, high end store to sell our wares." Polly laughed "when really you are just using us to your own end!"
"Hey, what can I say. The most excitement we have had lately is setting the boss lady up on a blind date. We are on a roll, we need entertaining."
"You set Alex up?" Polly gasped "I bet that went down well."
"She doesn't know yet." Nicky sniggered. "You wanna see the fireworks, come to the bar Friday! Lorna's coming. You can have a reunion." she winked at Piper.
"Oh we will be there." Polly laughed before Piper had a chance to think of an excuse.
o0o
"Quit whining boss. You came back from your mystery trip and said you wanted to make some changes in your life right. Well now's your chance. And who knows you play your cards right you may get yourself some tonight!"
"Nicky," Alex hissed through gritted teeth "I meant friendships, you know, lunch or coffee with you or Daya. Not a blind date in front of my workforce."
"Relax. We will be there as your support. That's what friends are for right. And lets be honest our trip to the movies was a bust, you hated each of my suggestions and moaned all the way through the film you eventually agreed to see, then on top of that you made me eat salted instead of sweetened popcorn! When we took you to dinner you complained of being a third wheel and when we came to the bar you said it was no different to work drinks. So now we can get you a lady! You get laid and loose the snipey attitude, if she is nice, or at least not a troll, we can go on double dates and who knows if it works out Lorna and I can be your bridesmaids!"
"Well seeing as my love life is such a huge concern of yours," Alex muttered "I am trusting you know them at least a little."
"Sure I do boss." Nicky lied, "perfect match I swear."
"So if you know them and you think we are a match why don't we do something less conspicuous, like dinner, rather than this public forum you seem to have arranged."
"Because since you have become more approachable everyone wants to share in your happiness!
What exactly happened on those 3 days you vanished? Was it some hippy dippy commune for you to get in touch with your emotions?"
"No" Alex gave Nicky an innocent smile "it was peace and quiet, no business calls and no sarcastic, nosey, interfering assistant!"
Laughing Nicky pushed Alex ahead of her into the bar.
"What are they doing here?" Alex almost shouted at Nicky, coming to a dead halt as she spotted Piper and Polly sat at their normal table.
"Err.. I may have mentioned we would be here, they like you, you helped them," Nicky added desperately, "they wanted to show their support."
Grabbing Nicky by the arm and leading her to a corner of the bar out of view of what seemed to be a cross between a cheer squad and firing squad Alex said "I am not here for your entertainment. I like you Nick but I will not let you make a fool of me. Especially in front of clients."
"Alex, honestly it is not like that. Look Piper and Polly are here because I invited them when I was drunk. I called round, told them about the injustice of the sales competition, we got talking. You know how it is." Nicky shrugged.
Alex shook her head. "This woman you have coming here tonight, who is she?"
"Her name is Maureen. She is sweet."
"Sweet? Really Nick? You think I need sweet?"
"Piper is sweet and you like her."
"Piper is ballsy, but also not the point. Straight remember. Look introduce us, I will buy her a drink then you can take her home while I get drunk!"
Shrugging, a little shocked Alex was even willing to meet Maureen, Nicky walked back into the main bar. "She said she would be wearing a green jumper."
"Oh Jeez! You haven't even met her have you." Alex groaned. "Why did I ever think this would work."
"That must be her!" Relieved the woman with mousey blonde hair standing at the bar was human looking Nicky went over. "Maureen? Hi I'm Nicky, we spoke online. And this is Alex."
Alex half smiled, trying to ignore the table in the corner all straining to watch and listen to the spectacle before them.
Maureen grinned. "Hi!" She smiled enthusiastically. "I ordered you a drink. And here, this is for you."
Thrusting a piece of paper into Alex's hand she sat back on her stool and waited expectantly while Alex opened it cautiously.
"A poem?" She looked at Maureen who was smiling excitedly.
"Yes. I communicate better through verse."
"OK, I'll leave you kids too it." Nicky practically ran from Alex who she knew from her parting glare would be devising ways to get her revenge.
"I think I made a mistake." Nicky chuckled reaching for a beer as she joined the rest of the group, "I am not sure Alex is ready to be woo'd with poetry! She is more of a leather, whips and chains girl!"
Piper, sat across from Nicky, spat out her beer in shock at Nicky's words. "Hey steady on blondie!" Nicky wiped her sleeve that had just been showered.
"Really?" Pipers eyes were wide "leather and whips?"
Nicky shrugged. "Well in my imagination anyway." She winked.
Shaking her head Piper looked across at Alex. "If it wasn't so pitiful it would be funny. We should rescue her!" Piper said but was quickly shot down but the gathered women all looking at their watches. "You have a bet going don't you?" Piper frowned. "What is it, how long before Alex walks?"
At their nods Piper returned her gaze to the car crash occurring at the bar. Maureen it seemed was now reading another poem to Alex who, it seemed, was trying not to laugh.
Standing Piper walked to the bar and stood behind Alex. "And you questioned my choice in partner!"
Spinning round Alex grinned. "Hey I was set up, you chose yours!"
Pushing a row of whisky shots in front of Alex, Piper laughed, "here you look like you will be needing these!"
"Damn and there was I thinking you had come to rescue me." Alex laughed downing the first shot without pause.
"And spoil the fun? I don't think so! You stick this out another 20 minutes and I may win the little wager we have going on over there." With a wink at Alex, Piper returned to the table and looked at Nicky, "you will be lucky if she doesn't fire you for this!"
Nicky grinned, "she is still there isn't she! She is obviously more frustrated than even I guessed!"
After another 10 minutes of listening to Maureen read verse to her Alex invited her to the table.
"Everyone this is Maureen!"
Awkward waves followed as Alex sat down and said "So Nicky, Maureen tells me, through a wonderful poem I might add, that you and she have been having quite the conversation online. I thought now you had met Lorna here your dating website days were over."
Seeing the glint in her bosses eye Nicky knew the game had only just started. "I wanted to find you someone perfect boss, you know, add some poetry to your life."
"Well Maureen would certainly do that. But I have also discovered I am not her type. You see Maureen here likes reading, acting and the works of Freud. She does not like motorbikes, leather or speed. She likes sunflowers and lemonade while I like hot coffee and tattoos. Now it seems we do know someone that would be perfect for Maureen here."
"We do?" Nicky sounded nervous now, unsure where her boss was going with this.
"Of course we do. Suzanne! Suzanne loves lemons, Maureen loves lemonade. Suzanne is always quoting poetry, Maureen can write it for her."
Looking at Maureen who seemed not in the least bit upset at Alex palming her off on someone else Nicky smiled. "I'll call her now! But Maureen, you need to ditch the top, Suzanne doesn't do green!"
The rest of the evening was full of laughter as on arriving, Suzanne, amazed at the reception she received, began to quiz Maureen on her taste in poetry then in lemon based products.
Seeing her idea had worked Alex drained her beer. "Well my work here is done, having had to rescue myself," she threw a glance at Piper, "I will now say goodnight. Oh and Nicky, I wont forget this!" Pointing at her laughing assistant Alex left.
"You had a lucky escape I reckon." Polly grinned.
"Oh she will get me back." Nicky smiled before asking Piper "did she ask you to rescue her?"
Piper laughed "No. I just pointed out her choice was no better than me and Larry, then I bought her some whisky shots as she looked like she needed it."
"Did she drink them?" Nicky looked curious and a little excited.
"She had the first shot yeah, not sure about the others."
"Woo hoo!" Nicky whooped.
"What?"
"If the boss is drinking then the night is not over."
Pulling out her phone she shot off a text. Her grin at the prompt reply had Piper asking "what is it?"
"Ladies we are going clubbing!"
"Why?" Polly asked. Sure they were missing something.
"I'll tell you on the way."
o0o
The group diminished once in the cool night air. Daya deciding she wanted to return home to her husband and daughter, Suzanne deciding she would walk Maureen home as it was only polite on a first date, Lorna after a long drawn out kiss with Nicky deciding her big weekend wedding didn't allow for a late night and hangover.
"So you coming?" Nicky looked at Polly and Piper as they joined her on the side-walk.
"Oh I don't know." Piper began feeling a little uncomfortable about following Alex.
"Look blondie it'll be fun. Alex doesn't do this often, in fact in the 10 years I have known her this is only the third time. But when she is ready to have fun believe me you don't want to miss it."
Looking at Polly who shrugged Piper said reluctantly "OK, but not too late, we have an order to deliver tomorrow."
o0o
A/N: Blown away by the amount of people reading this story and the lovely reviews and messages I have received. Sorry I cannot reply to guest reviews personally, but I really am grateful. I am currently writing 2 chapters ahead so have posted this a day early as you have all been so kind! ;-)