"She's very pretty isn't she?""Er, I suppose so. Mike certainly thinks so. She's a bit er... ginger for me."I burst out laughing. "You don't like redheads?"His eyes slide sideways. "I prefer brunettes."*****The front doors swish open and a blond, strikingly good-looking man enters the lobby. He is tall, although not overly so, broad-shouldered and strappingly built.My heart sinks as I recognise him.Oh, God. It's him...It's James Alexanders' friend from the Club. Am I going to be seeing them both here?This could be embarrassing.He barely looks at me, his brilliantly blue-eyed gaze sweeping past me as instead, he heads straight for the elevator.Almost at the doors, he abruptly slows, turns and looks back at me, brow furrowed.He pauses. "Sorry to seem rude, but do we know each other?""Um... yes. We met two or three years ago. You were with your friend, James."He stares blankly at me for a moment, then his face clears. With the most charming of smi
I try to form the question in a way that can't cause offence if I have gotten things horribly wrong, but Michael steps in. "Yes," he says."Yes?""Yes," he repeats. "I'm married to Charlotte.""And James...?""James too."Charlotte's face is a picture. "Michael, is this a good idea?""Don't worry, Babe," he replies. "Kirstie knows how it works."Charlotte looks at me, then at Michael, then back at me. "Do you two know each other?""Kirstie and I, James too, know each other from um... my and James' playful past..."Charlotte bursts out laughing. "Ah, gotcha. You met at the clubs and you...?""Yes," I admit. "That's not a problem for you, is it?" "Not at all." she rests her hand on mine, giving it a squeeze. "James, Michael and I established long ago that the Past is the Past. We don't let it interfere with our current relationship." She leans closer. "Tell me; when James had finished with you, how long was it before you could sit down?"I splutter my coffee over
Erin is, as I expected, in pieces. I know that she had high hopes for Rob."I don't get it." she cries, wringing her hands. "What do I have to do? I offer them everything. I tell them my life story. I make it clear that I won't see anyone else...""I think you try to get too close, too soon," I say. "Lots of guys don't like it if you're all over them straight away.""Oh, don't talk rubbish," says Ben. "When you meet someone, you know right away when they're good for you."Keep your mouth shut. This isn't the time."Cheer up," says Ben, holding her hand. "I've got a friend who's just broken up with his girlfriend. We could all go out together if you like, the four of us. I'll introduce you."And just like that, her tears dry up."Really?" she says. "Thanks. You seem really nice. I'd love to meet your friend.""That's settled, then," says Ben. "How about tomorrow night? Is that okay by you, Kirstie?"Jeez, I don't want to do this..."That would be lovely. Thanks, Kirs
"I really would stay out of it if I were you, Ben."His face twists, furious, "I will not stay out of it." he snaps. "It's my brother we're talking about." Scowling at me, he stamps out of the lobby.Oh, crap...I should warn James...And Michael, and Charlotte...I barely know them. How can I say something like that to them?Then I paste on a smile as a visitor arrives needing a name-badge and directions through the building. And any chance I have to contact any of the Threesome vanishes as the lobby fills and I'm kept busy for what's left of the afternoon.*****And I think, that is that...Until, at six pm, just as I am about finish for the day, Ben marches in again. "Come on," he says. "I want you to come with me.""Come with you? Where?""Up to Mike's place.""What? You want me to go there? What for? I barely know them.""Mike's not at home. He's working late. I want to catch James and Charlotte in the act, and I want a witness, so the bastard, and the bi
What do I say? James and Charlotte weren't doing anything they shouldn't. The three of them have got it arranged between them...I've come into the room behind Michael, but now... what on earth am I doing here? I retreat into a corner, trying not to be noticed.Michael, striding up behind his brother, grabs him by the shoulders. "What the fuck do you think you're playing at, Ben?"Ben swings back to him, his expression amazed. "What am I doing? What about them? I've caught your wife and your so-called best mate in the act, and you ask what I'm doing?"Michael is clearly trying to keep a lid on his fury, but his voice is strained. "As my brother," he says, "you have many privileges, but bursting into the bedroom on my wife is not one of them."Ben's jaw drops. "You can see what they were doing!" he shouts, waving a hand at James and Charlotte, "And yet it's me you're angry at?""If you believed there was a problem, perhaps you might have talked with me first? Let me handle i
"It's not one.""What do you mean? Not one? There's more than one?""Yes, there's more than one. I'm seeing other men than just you.""More than one... How many men are you fucking? Is that why you're saying what you are about Mike? You play fast and loose, so you assume everyone else does? I thought you and I had something special. I thought it was you and me; that we were an item?""I never said that. I never said anything like that...""You slept with me. We made love together...""Ben, we've had half a dozen dates; that's all. And yes, I slept with you, once. But... So what? I'm sure you're a great guy, but I have never said that I wanted to be tied to you. You just assumed it."I fall silent. It seems the best policy while Ben gets his brain on to the same planet I live on.He stares at me, his face slack, but I can see the wheels turning in his head. Then, "Have you screwed my brother?"Oh, fuck...In the background, I see Michael's eyes roll heavenward.Sho
The following day, I am sitting at my desk, working, but waiting for the storm. Nausea rises in my throat and I couldn't face breakfast.The intercom buzzes. "Hello, Kirstie. It's Francis here from the director's floor..."Here it comes..."Can you come up please; immediately. Mr Alexanders has phoned to say he would like a word with you."During the journey up the elevator, my stomach clenches. How will a man like James Alexanders react to what happened? Do I still have a job?I've just lost the best job I ever had...As I step out, there is a pleasant-faced woman seated at a desk."Kirstie?"Feeling timid, "Yes, that's me.""Take a seat. Mr Alexanders is on his way now." She looks across at me, I think with some sympathy in her eyes.Waiting doesn't help my mood at all, but it's only for a minute or so. The elevator door whispers open and James Alexanders steps out, wrath written across his face.He points a long finger at me, then through an office door. "In th
"Hardly suitable wear for the office..." he comments, drily.I have the bit between my teeth now. Recklessly, I plunge on, letting my mouth do my thinking for me. "I spotted it right away, especially when the three of you all have rings. Do you really think other people wouldn't see it, even if they reach the wrong conclusion? They understand her wearing Michael's ring. After all, he's the one with a piece of paper to say that he's married to her..."He stares at me, saying nothing.Am I being given the rope to hang myself by?"You're doing it now, you know. You could cool down on the whole Dom thing...""What's that supposed to mean?""I mean that I feel like I'm being interrogated by a movie villain. You know, the tall immaculately dressed one that's utter evil and speaks with a perfect English accent."And finally, the facade cracks. He bursts out laughing. "I'm sorry, Kirstie. Do I really come across like that?""Yes, you do. All you need to finish off the effect is