Never Mind The Botox: Rachel (11 page)

‘I don’t know. I think I’d better tell Laura what’s happened.’

‘Christ, Rowan, don’t do that!’

‘Why not? You think I should just lie to her?’

‘Well, oh I don’t know. I just think piling in with a confession straight off the bat might not be the best plan. What if she walks out on you?’

‘Don’t say that, Rachel. Shit, what a mess.’

‘Are you going to see Shali again?’

‘Absolutely not! It was a stupid one-off.’

It sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

‘Look, don’t say anything to Laura. Why don’t you try to book yourselves a weekend away somewhere? Spend a bit of time together and try to sort things out. Mum would love to have Naomi,’ Rachel suggested.

‘I’m not sure that Laura would agree to be away from Naomi for that long.’ Rowan didn’t sound that enamoured by the idea either.

‘Well, you can try. Talk to her, Rowan. Tell her you miss spending time with her. We girls love all that sort of stuff.’

‘Alright, I’ll try,’ said Rowan reluctantly. ‘Do you think I should call Shali, and well, you know, apologise or something?’

‘No! Don’t do that. I’ll speak to her tomorrow.’

Rachel was afraid that if they spoke it might spark things off rather than cool things down.

‘Don’t be cross with her, Rachel. It isn’t her fault.’

‘Well, I am cross. She should know better and she’s meant to be my friend.’

‘Rachel, please, this is bad enough without you two falling out. Promise me you won’t shout at her.’

‘Alright, I won’t shout. I can’t promise that I won’t speak rather loudly, though.’

Rowan sighed. ‘Look, I’ve got to go, Naomi’s crying. I really am sorry, Rachel. I feel just awful about last night. And tell Shali that I’m not that sort of bloke, really I’m not.’

‘I know,’ said Rachel. ‘Let’s speak in a few days, okay?’

‘Okay,’ said Rowan and they hung up.

Rachel sat looking at the phone. She was sure Rowan did feel awful but he was right, what a mess. Damn Harry; she was sure he was partly to blame by getting Rowan so drunk in the first place.

Harry came round later that afternoon and collapsed on a chair in the kitchen as she made bacon sandwiches for them both.

‘Well, I feel bloody awful,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Anyway, it was actually not a bad night for one of your work dos. And I think you’ll agree that I was pretty well behaved. I didn’t fall over or insult anyone and you had plenty of time to go off hobnobbing. I didn’t even make a fuss about the fact that you got me a suit that made me look a total arse.’

Harry got up and put his arms around Rachel’s waist and kissed the back of her neck as she fried the bacon. ‘So how were you thinking of rewarding my good behaviour?’ he asked, pushing himself up against her.

Rachel stiffened and then turned round.

Harry stepped backwards slightly.

‘Harry, last night was a total disaster.’

‘Was it? Why?’ Harry looked confused.

‘How did Rowan end up getting so drunk?’

Harry grinned. ‘He was rubbish at spoof, kept losing and it was a double shot penalty each time.’

‘You played drinking games?’

‘We had to amuse ourselves somehow while you were off brown-nosing with the big chiefs,’ replied Harry.

‘I was not brown-nosing, I was circulating; there’s a big difference. And anyway, it’s important that I catch up with the right people at these things. I don’t get that many opportunities as we’re all so busy.’

‘So you keep telling me,’ said Harry. ‘Anyway, what’s wrong with a few drinking games?’

‘Well, Rowan was off his face thanks to you, and as a result he and Shali ended up in some side room and, well, you know…’

She hadn’t told Harry about seeing Carl Stephens in the hotel over lunch, so there seemed little point in also mentioning Rowan’s unhelpful comments.

‘He never did! The old dog. He did say that Shali had been coming on to him a bit during dinner.’

Rachel looked at Harry in surprise. ‘Did he? What did he say?’

‘Nothing much, just that she was flirting with him and that if he wanted to he could probably get off with her. He asked me what I thought,’ said Harry.

‘What did you say?’

‘I told him he should grab it with both hands, make hay while the sun shined, so to speak. Sounds like he did just that,’ said Harry, laughing.

‘You did not!’ Rachel was horrified.

‘I did − what’s wrong with that? He’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.’

‘Did you not think about the fact that he’s married and has a new baby?’

‘That’s his lookout. And anyway, that wasn’t what he asked me,’ said Harry.

‘So that’s your view of marriage is it − doesn’t matter when it comes to a quick shag. If you’re offered it on a plate, you take it?’ Rachel couldn’t hide the warning note in her voice.

‘Rachel, this isn’t about me, it’s about Rowan,’ said Harry, shifting uncomfortably.

‘I know it is, but you got him drunk and you encouraged him.’

‘Oh right, so it’s my fault now, is it? I knew you’d end up finding something wrong about last night. Never mind how hard I try, still not right for perfect Rachel,’ said Harry, glaring at her.

‘Last night was you trying hard, was it? I’d hate to see what you’d be like on a night when you didn’t try then. You could hardly stand up by the end of the evening.’

Rachel felt close to tears. Harry took his sandwich and they ate in silence.

‘Think maybe I should go after this,’ he said after a pause.

‘No, don’t,’ said Rachel. Maybe she was being a bit harsh blaming it all on Harry. ‘I’m sorry, you’re probably right: it is Rowan’s mess to sort out. He said the same thing. It’s just all a bit too close to home for my liking,’ said Rachel.

‘Did anyone else from work see them?’ Harry asked.

‘No, I don’t think so,’ said Rachel.

‘Well, you see that’s okay then. It can be just you and Shali’s little secret.’

‘And Rowan says he’s not going to see her again. I’ve got to tell her that tomorrow.’

Maybe then it will just blow over, thought Rachel. And maybe with a bit of luck Carl will think Rowan was just a rambling drunk.

‘I guess there’s not much point worrying about it,’ said Rachel.

‘Correct,’ said Harry. ‘Now come here and let me make you feel better.’

Rachel decided she’d better go into the office on Monday morning rather than going straight out to Beau Street. She sent AJ a text saying that she’d see them about lunchtime. That would give her time to talk to Shali and hopefully also check out the lie of the land with Carl. She stood in a long line of people patiently waiting to place over-complex coffee orders with the overworked coffee shop staff. There should be two queues, Rachel thought for the hundredth time: one for those who wanted a tall, decaf latte, extra hot with no foam and hazelnut syrup, and one for those, like her, who just wanted a black coffee.

She got into the lift with Pauline Rowe.

‘How’s the training for the ten-k going?’ Pauline asked, smiling.

‘Yes, not bad thanks. Did a bit of training yesterday. Legs aren’t too bad today, so I guess that’s progress,’ said Rachel.

‘What time are you aiming for?’

Christ! Rachel had no idea. She could vaguely remember marathon times, some people saying they wanted to run in under four hours or something. That was for twenty-six miles. How many kilometres was that? Rachel quickly tried to do the maths in her head.

‘Oh about, er, forty minutes, something like that.’

By the look on Pauline’s face, she’d clearly got the maths wrong.

‘Gosh that’s fast,’ said Pauline. ‘You must be a very good runner.’

‘Well, you know, I try,’ said Rachel.

Thankfully the lift doors opened and Rachel quickly walked away to her desk.

She couldn’t see Shali anywhere; maybe she was working on another floor. She was probably trying to avoid her. Bad luck, thought Rachel, and rang her.

‘We need to talk,’ she said. No point beating around the bush.

‘I’m working in a meeting room today as I need to be near the team up here. It’s just me, so why don’t you pop up,’ said Shali.

Rachel could tell that Shali was nervous as soon as she opened the door.

‘Hi,’ said Shali. ‘Coffee?’

‘No thanks, just had one,’ said Rachel.

They looked at each other for a few moments.

‘Look, I know you aren’t happy about me and Rowan,’ said Shali eventually. ‘But I didn’t exactly force him, you know.’

‘You took advantage of him,’ said Rachel.

‘I did not! He made his own choice. It’s not my fault his marriage isn’t working.’

‘Shali, he was drunk and feeling lonely and you threw yourself at him,’ said Rachel, her voice shaking with anger.

‘How do you know? You weren’t there. It was him that made the first move!’ Shali retorted.

‘You could have said no,’ said Rachel.

‘Why should I? I’m single and he’s gorgeous. Nothing wrong with that.’

‘What about his wife?’ Rachel asked.

‘What about her? Maybe she should have paid him a bit more attention and then this might not have happened.’

‘Shali, that’s a bloody awful thing to say. She’s just had a baby!’ Rachel was conscious that she was shouting now.

‘Shh! There are people in the next room. All I’m saying is that it’s not my fault. If you don’t like your brother’s attitude to marriage, take it up with him, not me,’ said Shali, and she sat down and crossed her arms.

‘I have. I spoke to him yesterday.’

Shali’s face softened. ‘How was he?’

‘Awful, he feels absolutely terrible. He wanted to call you and apologise but I said I’d talk to you instead.’

‘Why would he need to apologise to me?’ said Shali. ‘I’m telling you, Rach, definitely no apology needed this end.’ Shali grinned.

Rachel didn’t think that was funny. ‘Shali, I don’t want to know. Anyway, he asked me to tell you that it was just a one-off and that he doesn’t want to see you again. Sorry to be so blunt.’

‘Is that what he said?’ Shali asked.

‘Pretty much. He’s going to try to work things out with Laura.’

‘Oh, I see.’ Shali stared out of the window. ‘I got the impression he really liked me.’

Rachel wasn’t sure what to say. ‘Well, I’m sure he did, at that moment, but it’s all a bit different in the cold light of day.’

Shali didn’t say anything.

‘Anyway, I think it was a pretty crap thing to do. He’s not a free agent, so you need to forget about him and move on, okay?’

‘Guess so,’ said Shali.

‘I mean it, Shali. It’s not going anywhere.’

‘Fine, fine,’ said Shali. ‘Is that it? Lecture over?’

‘Yes, that’s it,’ said Rachel.

‘Well, I’d better get on then,’ said Shali.

‘Me too,’ said Rachel and left the room.

She headed off in the direction of Carl Stephen’s office. He was just walking along the corridor back to his office as she arrived.

‘Hi, Carl, how are you?’

‘Oh, you know, alright,’ he said, smiling at her.

Not too bad a reaction, thought Rachel. She took a deep breath. ‘Look, Carl, I’m really sorry about Saturday night and my brother being a bit stumbling drunk. He’s really not usually like that. He was just a bit, well, overtired.’

‘Oh don’t worry about it,’ said Carl. ‘I remember when we had our first baby, bit of a culture shock.’

‘Yes, I think it has been. It all just caught up with him a bit. Did your wife enjoy herself?’

Rachel looked at Carl’s face: not a flicker of a reaction.

‘Yes she did, thanks. It’s always nice for other halves to be able to put faces to the names they hear about so much.’

Rachel was relieved. It didn’t seem like Rowan’s comments had caused any big problems.

‘Good, I’m off to lunch soon − not that far away from Beau Street, actually. Maybe I should pop in afterwards and have a look at the latest version of our report?’ Carl asked.

‘Oh gosh, I’m not sure we’re quite ready for you yet. Maybe in a couple more days. Going anywhere nice?’

‘The Brook Hotel. Do you know it?’

Rachel was a bit taken aback by the mention of the hotel. She tried hard not to show it. ‘Er, yes, a bit. Quite good I’ve heard.’

‘Yes it is, one of my favourites actually.’

‘Oh right,’ said Rachel. She had no idea how else to respond.

‘Anyway, let me know what time works for you and I’ll start having a look through the report,’ said Carl.

‘Yes, I will,’ said Rachel.

Carl went into his office and Rachel went back to her desk. Was he meeting Audrey again? Maybe she should find out.

Chapter 9

It was nearly lunchtime by the time Rachel got out to Beau Street. As she arrived, the
security guard stuck his head out of his office.