Free Beautiful Child by David Menon Page A

male workforce. Some women really didn’t like working for a female boss and it disturbed her that in this day and age women could still act that way. What about the sisterhood?
    ‘Thanks for bringing these in, baby,’ said Susie as she placed the last piece of her Tuna salad sandwich in her mouth. ‘I wouldn’t have had time to go out for anything’
    Angus had brought his chair round to her side of the desk and leaned forward and kissed her. ‘All part of the service’
    She gently stroked the side of his face. He still gave her the butterflies. He worked on weights at the gym and his shoulders looked like they could raise his Airbus jet off the ground by themselves. He was in a black polo shirt and blue jeans and his thick, strong arms tapered into slim wrists and big hands. His wide chest did the same into his waist before giving way to his tree trunk legs. His hair was jet black and his dark eyes and square jaw gave him the look of someone off the cover of a man’s fitness magazine. She was so consumed with lust whenever he was around. She knew she was a lucky girl.
    ‘I missed you last night,’ Susie said at last.
    ‘You can show me how much later.’
    ‘I shall look forward to that.’ said Susie. ‘So how was your night flight?’
    ‘There and back to Ibiza’ said Angus who’d only had a few hours sleep but didn’t feel too bad. ‘Nice and short, no dramas.’
    Angus had been born and brought up in Surrey and had come up to the north for his first job after qualifying as an airline pilot. On his first night out in Manchester he’d met Susie who’d told him there and then that he was coming home with her. This wasn’t difficult for Angus. Their mutual attraction was strong. That weekend he stayed at Susie’s place and a couple of months later he gave notice at the shared house he’d been renting with two other pilots in Macclesfield. He hadn’t anticipated meeting anybody as quickly as he’d met Susie. He’d been looking forward to playing the field where girls were concerned and having boys’ nights with his housemates. But that wasn’t to be and he wasn’t complaining. Susie was the girl for him and he’d never given it a second thought that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
    ‘I’m looking forward to becoming Mrs. Angus Carleton too,’ said Susie.
    ‘Not long now. Just two short weeks.’
    ‘I spoke to your Mum this morning,’ said Susie. ‘It’s such good news about your Dad.’
    Angus had spoken to his mother that morning too and she’d managed to settle a growing anxiety he’d had about the wedding. His parents were divorced and his father now lived in Hong Kong with his new wife. His father had been threatening not to come over for the wedding until Angus’s mother apologised for remarks she’d made to his new wife on their most recent visit home to the UK. Angus’s mother had finally found it in her heart to do that for the sake of her son’s happiness.
    ‘I couldn’t have had the wedding without my Dad being there.’
    ‘Well you don’t have to now,’ said Susie, ‘but I think we owe your Mum one. It must’ve taken a lot for her to back down. And if truth be told I don’t know if I could’ve.’
    ‘In front of the whole family she called Nancy a Chinese whore who should stick to frying rice.’
    ‘I know,’ said Susie, ‘and that was unpleasant.’
    ‘And it was racist.’
    ‘Yes I know but taking that away and every wronged first wife would be able to identify with the feelings behind what your mother said. I’ve really got to know your Mum over the last few weeks and I like her, Angus. And she’s not a racist.’
    ‘I know that, Susie,’ said Angus, ‘I just wish she hadn’t said it.’
    Susie took hold of Angus’s hand. ‘I think she wishes that too, baby.’
    ‘And why doesn’t she move on? Malcolm has been part of her life for a long time now and he adores her. I know he’s asked. So why doesn’t she?’
    ‘Because she