*****

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.

a cool expression. “Hello, Ben. Charlotte and I just

Ben’s voice is also cool.

set out

what’s Charlotte got to do

spending time with the surveyors

“No,

be on our

follow the pair to the door, James walks behind Charlotte, his hand

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

do

change of subject. “I’ve got to get some work done now, Ben. See you

He looks thoughtful. “Yeah, I’ll

*****

lunch, Ben is moody and doesn’t speak. I try to start a conversation, but he’s not interested. Bolting down my sandwich, I make my excuses and

doesn’t improve. Mid-afternoon I get a phone call. It’s my sister, Erin, sobbing into

“Hey, Sis, what’s wrong?”

Kirstie. I thought he was going

down. Who’s

to talk to me. I thought he was going to ask me to marry him, but instead, he said he was seeing someone

Erin, I’m sorry. You

take, Kirstie? What does it take? First, it was Dominic, then Ashley, and now Rob. I always think it’s going somewhere and then they all just vanish over the

*****

to me smiling, his mood obviously much improved, but his face falls

by a phone call I got from my sister. Her fuckwit

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