Choosing Her Lover

*****

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.

perplexed, then switches on a cool expression.

voice is also

getting the ground-works set out for the new retail

got to do

She’s going to be spending time with the surveyors

flushes. “No,

on our way,

Charlotte, his hand resting in the small of

frowns. “I don’t like this you know. He behaves as though he’s

the hell do I say

“I’ve got to get some work done now,

I’ll see you then.” And he

*****

I try to start a conversation,

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

“Hey, Sis, what’s wrong?”

I thought he was

down. Who’s

wanted to talk to me. I thought he was going to ask

You really liked

First, it was Dominic, then Ashley, and now Rob. I always think it’s going somewhere and then they all just vanish over the horizon with

*****

jogs up to me smiling, his mood obviously much improved, but his

call I got from my sister. Her fuckwit boyfriend’s just dumped