Never Mind The Botox: Rachel (17 page)

Rachel walked unsteadily to the bar and ordered two more pints of lager with whisky chasers. ‘To hell with tomorrow, let’s party,’ she said to Harry when she got back to the table.

‘I’ll drink to that,’ he replied and downed his whisky in one go.

Rachel grinned and did the same.

‘Christ you are lovely,’ he said slowly. ‘Let’s go home.’

Rachel looked at Harry and nodded. They left two full pints of lager on the table and jumped in the first cab they could find back to Rachel’s flat.

The next morning she dragged herself out of bed and down to the local cafe for the traditional hangover cure of a cooked breakfast.

‘Do you want fried or scrambled eggs?’

‘Fried.’

‘Brown or white toast?’

‘Definitely white.’

A large lady with a whiskery chin wearing a grubby-looking apron scribbled some illegible symbols on a small pad and handed it to the man cooking at the back of the transport cafe. ‘One full breakfast, fried, white,’ she shouted as confirmation. The man grunted.

Rachel took her large mug of dark tea and sat down on a moulded red plastic chair that was attached to the table. Around her various tradesmen were tucking into combinations of breakfasts, mostly with chips, and either reading the sports pages of tabloid newspapers or talking about them. They eyed her suspiciously as she lifted her sunglasses onto the top of her head so that she could read her emails on her phone.

The bearded lady shuffled out from behind the counter and dropped a huge plate of cooked breakfast in front of Rachel. ‘There you go, love,’ she said, grinning and showing off a mouthful of uneven stained teeth.

‘Thank you very much,’ said Rachel, suddenly very conscious of how loud and proper her voice had sounded.

Kill or cure, she thought as she looked at the plate of food shimmering greasily under the strip lighting. She felt shocking. God knows what time she and Harry had got to bed. The sound of the alarm going off had sent her bolting out of bed. For a couple of minutes she’d thought she didn’t feel too bad, but then the full force of her hangover had kicked in. She’d rung the office and told them she’d be at Beau Street for the morning and then emailed AJ and Rosa to say that she’d be in the office. That was the good thing about being on a project: far easier to get lost for a few hours. There was no chance of Harry moving until at least lunchtime, so Rachel had left him snoring away and jumped in a cab in search of a restoring fry-up.

Half an hour later she pushed her empty plate away from her, not sure whether she felt better or not. She definitely felt less shaky but still felt quite sick; probably now, though, due to being too full. She looked at her watch. It was nearly eleven o’clock: time to get going. She paid the bill, buying a bottle of bright orange energy drink at the same time, and headed over to the Beau Street offices.

AJ was on his own in their project room when she arrived.

‘Morning, how was the office?’ he asked as Rachel sat down.

‘Oh, you know, large square building, lots of windows, that sort of thing,’ said Rachel.

AJ grinned. ‘Tom popped round to see you earlier.’

‘Did he? What did he want?’

‘Not sure, he didn’t say. I told him you were briefing Carl in the office.’

‘Oh well done, good covering,’ said Rachel.

AJ looked confused. ‘That’s where your email said you were.’

‘Oh I was,’ said Rachel quickly. ‘Just good that you made it clear to Tom, that’s all.’

She spent a few minutes organising herself and then headed off to Tom’s office. On the way she passed Lloyd Cassidy and Audrey Fox sitting on one of the occasional corridor sofas, deep in conversation. What was it with those two?

She stuck her head round Tom’s door. ‘Were you looking for me?’

‘Rachel, hi, yes, come in, come in. How’s it going? Are you going to be ready for the presentation to the buyers?’

‘Yes, pretty much on track. A few loose ends to tie up, but that’s it. We should be able to give a pretty clear report to the Equinox team when they arrive,’ said Rachel, ignoring the slight flutter in her stomach.

‘Excellent, excellent. I’m very pleased with how things have been run here, Rachel, and I shall be reporting that back to Carl.’

‘Thank you, that would be very kind,’ said Rachel.

‘There’s just one more area that we’d like your help with. Equinox are keen to have a joint marketing plan ready for when we hopefully do this deal. They’ve asked us to start briefing our PR company to work with us on it. I’ve spoken to them and they’re keen to get a few facts and stats on the business so they can think about the sort of messages we should lead with. My team are totally snowed under and you’ve had most of the information as part of your work. I was hoping that you’d help brief them?’

‘Of course,’ said Rachel. ‘It would be an extension to our work, though, and therefore cost extra. Is that going to be okay?’

‘Yes, that’s fine. It shouldn’t be a big job, though, so don’t get carried away,’ said Tom. ‘Now, the person you need to speak to is Clive Steele from Cavanaugh PR. Here’s his number. Could you give him a ring today? They’re keen to get going.’

Clive Steele? Rachel recognised that name. Maybe they’d worked together on another deal.

‘Yes, will do.’

Rachel left Tom’s office feeling quite elated. Not only was he happy with their work but he’d given them some extra to do. Carl would be pleased with the fee increase.

‘Your phone rang while you were gone,’ said AJ when she got back to the room.

She looked at her phone. She had a missed call from her mum. Agh, she really didn’t have the energy to chat, but maybe it was important. Rachel rang her back.

‘Oh, darling, thank you for ringing back.’ Her mum sounded like she’d genuinely expected her not to. ‘You left your white fleece here at the weekend and I was just wondering if you wanted me to post it?’

Right, not important at all then.

‘No, that’s okay. I’ve got plenty of others. It can wait until I’m down next,’ said Rachel.

‘Well, if you’re sure? It’s no trouble to send it. I’m going to the post office anyway. We’re getting some new posters done for the shop and I need to send our ideas to the designers. Can you imagine − Grace and I working with proper designers!’

Rachel couldn’t and she wasn’t sure that a poster for good-as-new clothes really required much design input. Still, it kept them happy.

‘Yes, I’m sure, thanks.’ Rachel changed the subject. ‘How’s Dad?’

‘Grumpy, as usual,’ said her mum cheerily. ‘The freezer has broken − can you believe it? We found everything in it had defrosted and then frozen again. Very strange. Your father spent hours fiddling with it this morning trying to work out what happened. He thinks it must have been a power surge, so he’s changed all the plugs and it seems to be working again now. We had to throw everything away and you know what he’s like about wasting food. He’s gone to the golf club to calm down. Still, look on the bright side. I’ve got a whole freezer full of new and exciting food. Good thing it didn’t happen while Naomi was here.’

‘Yes, very lucky, and how odd,’ said Rachel.

Lucky too that buying a new freezer full of food counted as excitement in her mum’s world.

Chapter 13

Rachel’s telephone started ringing in her handbag as she walked wearily towards
the tube, lugging a large briefcase full of Beau Street files. Her arms and head were aching and she needed a drink. She scrabbled around in her cavernous brown leather handbag for her phone, then dropped to the floor so that she could use both hands. ‘Fuck, where is it?’ A lady walking past nearly jumped out of her skin and gave her a very disapproving look, like she was some sort of hoodie abusing local residents. Rachel emptied her umbrella, book, hairbrush, diary, keys and several dog-eared letters onto the pavement until she could see the flashing screen of her phone tucked away in one corner.

‘Yes?’ she yelled into the phone when she finally managed to answer it.

There was a yelp at the other end. ‘Wow, no need to shout! I’ve got my car headset on. You nearly blew my eardrum!’ It was Rowan.

‘Sorry, shit day, really busy, raging hangover and then I couldn’t find my phone. The bloody thing never stays in its little pocket. I just emptied half my bag onto the street so I could find it. Think I need a new bag.’ She knew she was ranting.

‘Well, hello to you too, and that’s the most pathetic excuse for buying a new handbag that I’ve ever heard. If you want a new bag, just buy one; don’t blame it on your mobile phone.’

Rachel laughed, picked up the contents of her bag and the briefcase and went to sit down on a nearby bench. ‘Sorry, right, all calm now. So tell me, tell me, how are you, how was the weekend?’

‘Yes, very good, really very good actually. Laura was pretty stressed about going, well, as you saw when we left. But fair play to her, she went through with it and as she said herself she managed to forget she was a mother for at least a few minutes!’

‘I could see how upset it made her leaving. Surprised me actually. I had no idea how tough it would be,’ said Rachel. ‘Does she suspect anything?’

‘No, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t. She’s definitely noticed that I’ve been paying more attention, though. Sometimes I think I’m trying too hard − you know, trying to make amends − and it’s all too much. I think I just need to be normal with her but somehow I’ve forgotten what normal should be like.’

‘Did you talk to her about the fact that she seems to be only interested in Naomi?’ Rachel asked.

‘Not in so many words, but we did talk about the fact that we need to spend more time together on our own. Laura suggested we could maybe have a “date night” each week, where we have a proper night out somewhere together,’ said Rowan.

‘Oh my God, that sounds like a hideous American idea,’ said Rachel without really thinking, and then quickly added, ‘Sorry, that was a bit harsh. It might help, I guess, if you’re both keen.’

‘To be honest, Rach, I’ll stand on one leg in the middle of Trafalgar Square dressed as a chicken if it helps.’

‘I somehow don’t think that will be necessary,’ said Rachel, laughing at the idea. ‘I’m glad things are moving in the right direction for you both. You were a bloody idiot but at least you’re trying to make it right.’ Rachel felt a rush of protectiveness towards her brother. He was a genuinely nice guy.

‘Yes, I am,’ said Rowan, sounding very resolute. ‘Look, I think you should also know that I’m meeting Shali for a drink this week.’

Rachel’s jaw dropped and all her feelings of protectiveness vanished in an instant. ‘What?! I don’t believe it. Why on earth would you do that?’

Rachel was livid. What was the point of putting all that effort into a romantic weekend and then proceeding to fuck it all up again?

‘It’s not what you think,’ said Rowan.

‘Really? What is it then?’

‘I need to close things off with her, you know. I’m not the sort of bloke who has one night stands and then never speaks to the girl again. I want to explain face to face that I’m working things out with Laura and that we won’t be seeing each other again.’

‘Oh right, so you’re all concerned about treating people properly all of a sudden. I didn’t notice you caring much about that at the summer party,’ said Rachel.

‘That doesn’t mean I can’t try to do the right thing now. A message from you and a few texts doesn’t seem right. Shali at least deserves an explanation.’

‘Does she?’

‘Yes she does, and you should know that.’

Rachel paused and felt a bit guilty. She really didn’t want them meeting up again but she couldn’t manage Rowan’s life for him. She sighed loudly − it was his lookout.

‘Well, you do what you think,’ said Rachel. ‘Just be careful, that’s all.’

‘Yes, yes, I will. Have you spoken to her recently, by the way? You really shouldn’t let this come between you.’

‘Not since I gave her your message, but I haven’t been in the office very much recently,’ said Rachel, knowing that was just an excuse. Maybe she should speak to Shali before she met Rowan − warn her to leave him alone. She shook her head. It was none of her business. She would just have to let them get on with it.

‘Look, Rowan, I’d better go. I’m just on my way home.’

Rachel fumed all the way home on the tube until she got bored with worrying about it. She had better things to think about, like the tonne of work she had to do that evening. Shit! She suddenly realised she’d forgotten to phone the PR guy, Clive Steele, and made a mental note to do it first thing.

Harry had texted her earlier to see if he could come round, no doubt hopeful of a repeat performance of the night before. Rachel rang him when she got in.

‘You’re late back,’ said Harry, sounding put out that she hadn’t rung him earlier.

‘Big week, lots of meetings, presentation to prepare for. I’m shattered actually,’ said Rachel.

‘How about a glass of wine and a massage?’ Harry asked hopefully.

‘I need to work tonight and tomorrow night too probably,’ said Rachel. ‘I’ve had to lug a whole load of files home so that I can finish everything off on this job. It’s going to take me quite a while and I’m not going keep breaking my arms carrying all this about.’