Twenties Girl

“There isn’t any band,” I mutter. “There isn’t any dancing. It’s not that kind of place.”

“No dancing?” she says fretfully. “But there has to be dancing! Dancing is the whole point! Don’t they have any snappier music? Don’t they have anything with a bit of life?”

“I don’t know,” I say sarcastically. “Ask him.” I jerk my head toward the barman, just as Ed appears before me with a glass of champagne and what looks like another gin and tonic. I should think it’s a treble. He sits down opposite, puts down the drinks, then lifts his glass.

“Cheers.”

“Chin chin!” I say with a dazzling smile, give my champagne a brisk stir with a plastic swizzle stick, and take a glug. I look up for Sadie’s approval-but she’s disappeared. I surreptitiously look around and spot her behind the bar, yelling something in the barman’s ear.

Oh God. What havoc is she causing now?

“So… did you have far to come?”

My attention is wrenched away. Ed’s talking to me. And there’s no Sadie to feed me any lines. Great. I’m actually going to have to make conversation.

“Er… not too far. Kilburn.”

“Ah. Kilburn.” He nods as though I’ve said something really profound.

While I’m trying to think of something to say, I run my eyes over him. Nice charcoal jacket, I have to admit. He’s taller than I remember, with a broader, firmer frame, in an expensive-looking shirt. A hint of five o’clock shadow; the same V of frown lines that he had in the office. For God’s sake. It’s the weekend, he’s on a date, yet he looks as if he’s at some really serious board meeting where everyone’s about to be fired and lose all their bonuses.

I feel a flash of irritation. He could at least try to look like he’s having a good time.

“So! Ed.” I make a heroic effort and smile at him. “From your accent I’m guessing you’re American?”

“That’s right.” He nods but doesn’t volunteer any more.

“How long have you been over?”

“Five months.”

“How do you like London?”

“Haven’t seen much of it.”

“Oh, you must!” I can’t help my natural enthusiasm pouring out. “You should go to the London Eye, and Covent Garden, and then you should take a boat to Greenwich…”

“Maybe.” He gives me a tight smile and takes a slug of his drink. “I’m pretty busy at work.”

That is the lamest thing I ever heard. How can you move to a city and not bother to get to know it? I knew I didn’t like this guy. I glance up to see Sadie by my side, her arms folded sulkily.

“That barman is very stubborn,” she says. “Go and tell him to change the music.”

Is she nuts? Shooting her a discreet glare, I turn back to Ed and smile politely.

“So, Lara, what do you do?” Clearly he feels he’s got to join in this conversation too.

“I’m a headhunter.”

Immediately, Ed looks wary. “You’re not with Sturgis Curtis, are you?”

“No, I have my own company, L &N Executive Recruitment.”

“Good. I wouldn’t have liked to offend you.”

“What’s wrong with Sturgis Curtis?” I can’t resist asking.

“They’re vultures from hell.” He has such a look of horror on his face, I almost want to giggle. “They pester me every day. Do I want this job? Am I interested in that job? They use tricks to get past my secretary… I mean, they’re good.” He shudders. “They even asked me to sit at their table at the Business People dinner.”

“Oh, wow.” I can’t help sounding impressed. I’ve never been to the Business People dinner, but I’ve seen it written up in the magazine. It’s always held at a big hotel in London, and it’s pretty glam. “So… are you going?”

“I’m speaking at it.”

He’s speaking? Oh my God, he must be really important. I had no idea. I look up to raise an eyebrow at Sadie, but she’s disappeared.

“Are you going?” he asks politely.

“Er… not this year.” I try to imply this is just a temporary blip. “My firm wasn’t quite able to make up a table this year.”

Bearing in mind tables hold twelve people and cost five thousand pounds. And L &N Executive Recruitment has precisely two people and about minus five thousand pounds.

“Ah.” He inclines his head.

“I’m sure we’ll be there next year, though,” I say quickly.