*****

The front doors swish open and Ben strides in. “Hi, how’s my favourite girl?”

Calm down….

“Hi, Ben. I’m busy right now. Is it anything particular or just….”

“Just thought I’d drop by to see if you’re free for lunch?”

Should I?

Why not?

“I’m off at one. Is that good for you?”

“Great. I’ll come back then.”

He turns to leave but as he does so, the elevator doors open and Charlotte steps out into the lobby, followed by James. Both are carrying large bags. A fluorescent yellow hard-hat, the kind that might be worn on a building site, peeps from the top of Charlotte’s.

There is something about the way the two move. Although they walk with a distance between them, somehow James’ proprietorial attitude to Charlotte still radiates wide.

Ben’s eyes narrow as he sees them.

“Oh hello, Ben. I didn’t know you were around.” smiles Charlotte. “Are you here to see me for something?”

“No, I just called by to say hello to Kirstie,” he replies. His words are polite, but his eyes are on James and are not friendly.

looks momentarily perplexed, then switches on a cool expression. “Hello, Ben. Charlotte and I just going out

Ben’s voice is also cool. “What’s happening

the ground-works set out for the new retail

what’s Charlotte got to do

“Charlotte is, as you know, a trainee. She’s going to be spending time with the surveyors over the next few days to learn what

“No,

be on our way,

pair to the door, James walks behind Charlotte, his hand resting in the small of her back, in

like this you know. He behaves as though he’s the one

the hell do I

got to get some

“Yeah, I’ll see you then.” And he

*****

try to start a conversation, but he’s not interested. Bolting down my sandwich, I make my

improve. Mid-afternoon I get a phone call. It’s my sister, Erin, sobbing into the phone as

“Hey, Sis, what’s wrong?”

thought he was going to propose, but

slow down. Who’s

a meal and said he wanted to talk to me. I thought he was going to ask me to

Erin, I’m sorry. You really

now Rob. I always think it’s going somewhere and then they all

*****

smiling, his mood obviously much improved, but his face falls as

phone call I got from my

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