Chapter Thirty-Eight
Dee had never known a day like it. Gossip about Cougar Kate and Matthew was rife. Young Jessica had told anybody who would listen, ‘Don’t tell a soul but...,’ until Steve Hood had summoned Jessica into his office and read the Riot Act. The next bombshell to reverberate around the office was Chrissie returning from the hairdressers. Clive Derek took one look at the slender woman with hair like a Victoria’s Secret model and instantly turned into the office wolf.
‘Chrissie,’ he cooed, ‘you look like a film star. Now about all that hard work you’ve done for me today. You really must let me thank you.’
‘You’re very welcome,’ Chrissie replied, settling down at her desk and hoping nobody would comment on her being nearly fifteen minutes late. She pushed a tape into her Dictaphone and reached for her headset.
‘I mean properly thank you,’ Clive persisted, revealing a set of predatory teeth that could have landed him the body double part of Jaws the shark. ‘What about I take you out after work for dinner? Those poor little fingers of yours must be exhausted.’ He leant over Chrissie’s desk and picked up one of her hands. For one appalling moment, she thought he was going to bring his lips down to her knuckles and kiss them. ‘Tell me where you’d like to go.’
‘Er, I already have arrangements for this evening, thanks.’ She snatched her hand away. ‘I’m going to Bluewater.’
‘Wonderful, wonderful,’ said Clive. ‘We can have dinner there.’
‘I’m going shopping,’ said Chrissie irritably.
‘After your shopping then. I won’t take no for an answer.’
‘Ooooh, lovely,’ said Dee, butting in. ‘I’m sure you won’t exclude me, will you, Clive? After all, I’ve helped you out too. My poor little fingers are totally knackered.’ She lifted them from her keyboard and wiggled them at Clive.
‘Oh,’ said Clive, looking thrown. ‘Well, er, of course I’m very grateful to you as well, Dee. That goes without saying.’
‘Excellent. So where are you taking us?’
‘Um, as you’re both having girly time together, perhaps I’ll retract my invitation and let the two of you enjoy your evening, eh?’
‘Aw, you’re so thoughtful,’ said Dee, wrinkling her nose Marilyn Monroe style. ‘I’ll bet Mrs Derek absolutely loves being married to you, eh?’
‘Ha ha,’ said Clive nervously. ‘I won’t hold you lovely ladies up. I can see you are extremely busy.’
‘Toodle-oo,’ said Dee, giving Clive a dinky wave as he hastily reversed out of their office.
‘Thanks,’ said Chrissie gratefully. ‘What the heck’s got into him?’
‘It’s because you look amazing. The hair restyle is gorgeous. From now on you’ll be fighting the admirers off.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ said Chrissie, although she was secretly delighted at Dee’s comment. That said, there was only one man she wanted to wow. Unfortunately, he didn’t work at Hood, Mann & Derek. She looked at Dee hopefully. ‘Are you really coming shopping with me this evening?’
‘Am I heck,’ said Dee. ‘That was to get Clive off your back. No, I’ll be heading home the minute it’s half past five. After today’s events, I want a long soak in the bath, then a telly dinner and chill. Apart from anything else, I need to be on standby for my detective.’
‘Ah, the lovely Harry,’ said Chrissie with a smirk. ‘Got a bit of a thing about him, haven’t you!’
‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,’ Dee sniffed. ‘It’s business.’
‘If you say so.’
‘I do.’ Dee picked up an enormous draft Will ready for its third revision. ‘Good heavens, look at the size of this. There are pages and pages of bequests here. It must be nice to have a fortune to leave people.’
‘That reminds me,’ said Chrissie, thinking of someone who most definitely didn’t have anything to leave anybody. ‘On my way back to the office, I saw Andrew.’
‘What did he want?’ Dee frowned.
‘For us to get back together. Oh, and five hundred pounds.’
‘Cheeky prat. I hope you told him his fortune.’
‘Yes. Speaking of fortunes, do you know if Amber has contacted Madam Rosa about us seeing her again?’
‘I don’t think so,’ Dee replied. ‘Let’s wait until she’s back in the office before we start making any more appointments with Madam Rosa.’
‘Sure. Right, look sharp. There’s a lot to get through this afternoon, and I don’t want to be late leaving here. Bluewater, and a new wardrobe, are awaiting me.’
‘Be warned. If you turn up at the office tomorrow wearing a figure-hugging power dress, Clive will be slobbering over you like a puppy.’
‘Oh give over!’ Chrissie made a tsking sound, and turned her attention to work. She definitely wouldn’t mind a certain someone slobbering over her – and she might see if she could catch his eye.