Free Yours Unfaithfully by Geraldine C. Deer Page B

talking about me instead of talking to me.”
    “Tim, don’t shout, I’m receiving you loud and clear. I’m not changing my plans for tonight and I’m not letting Nina down. I accept your invitation for Wednesday and I’m looking forward to it. Now I need to get going.”
    With that Mel picked up her cardigan and flounced out through the kitchen door. She knew if she’d stayed another minute she would have lost it altogether with Tim. She didn’t want another row; for one thing she was afraid of what she might say.
    Nina was describing the latest exploits from her office even before they’d sat down in the lounge. She shoved a glass of white wine into Mel’s hand and sat right next to her on the sofa.
    “Mel, I’ve got loads of gossip from work, and it’s better now that you know the people after the other night. I thought I might have heard something about you chucking wine over Miss Highnam, but not a word’s been said. She’s already the butt of most of the jokes at work anyway and if that got out she wouldn’t be able to walk in the office without someone mocking her.”
    “I’m really sorry about that Neen. I hope it doesn’t cause you any trouble with her.”
    “Don’t even think about it. I just wish I’d seen it, or better still chucked it at her myself. She’s not exactly popular you know.”
    “Sam, our office manager told me today that Ratty has booked some big wig from your bank to attend his corporate do on Wednesday at The Hilton. You know that your bank has been trying to get our business for a while? Apparently Ratty has spoken to your Divisional Manager about getting this guy to his event. I suppose you’ll find out before Wednesday who it is?”
    “Well ...actually, Neen, I already know!”
    “Oh do you, is it anyone important?”
    “No... Neen, no one important, and it’s not a he... it’s me.”
    “Mel, I don’t know who told you that, but I think they’re winding you up. Sam told me that Ratty was absolutely insistent about the person he wanted ... Oh my God! Mel... are you saying what I think you are? I’ve been slow to catch on, haven’t I? Friday, here on this settee, you didn’t just talk about interest rates did you? I saw you fall asleep on him but I thought that was because you’d had too much to drink. Mel you’re moving faster than the speed of light... what the hell is going on?”
    “I don’t know Neen, that’s the truth, honestly I don’t know.”
    “There are at least a dozen bare waisted twenty somethings wearing tiny thongs half way up their backs just queuing up to take him coffee or to do his filing. He’s a lady magnet, although I have to say so far none of them has managed to win a response. But you... you’ve got him drinking out of your slipper and booking you for his seminar, all in less than two hours. You do realise he’s going to be talking about contract law, don’t you... it’s not exactly spellbinding stuff, although half the girls in our place would happily swap places with you.”
    “Yes I know that. He’s going to talk about tortuous liability and duty of care among other things.”
    “Christ Mel, you’re talking like a bloody lawyer and you’ve only ‘slept’ with him once, and that was on the settee in front of twenty other people! Does Tim know that you’re doing this seminar on Wednesday?”
    “No Neen, and he doesn’t know that we’re going for lunch afterwards either!”
    “Well bugger me with a pitchfork, Melanie Fisher... you take the biscuit you do. And to think I didn’t bother to hunt him down because I thought I was too old for him. You’re a year older than me! You’d better give me a few tips, just in case he has a younger brother!”
    “I was as surprised as you, Neen, when he asked me. I don’t know what it was but something happened between us here on Friday night, something that shook me deep inside. Neen, I have to tell you something really terrible about that night after I met Ratty. You know