(no subject)
Sophie watched the man standing across at the lifts. He had one hand on a mail trolley and the other hand was
nervously fidgeting with his navy blue tie as he waited for the lift to arrive. He looked rather dishevelled with a rumpled-
looking white shirt and scuffed shoes.
"Can I help you?" she asked, advancing towards him.
He jerked his head up and looked at her, brown eyes widened. "Oh, I'm fine, thanks. First day here," he replied, in a
velvety voice.
"Oh, well, welcome. I'm sure you'll enjoy it here," she smiled, as she stood waiting with him.
"Good, good."
"Actually," she smiled. "You probably won't. Everyone says that when you start working somewhere, don't they? Six months down
the line you end up hating everything about the place."
The man grinned, his face sudden lit up. "At least you're honest."
The lift doors opened. A few people got out and Sophie stood aside whilst the man navigated the trolley into the small space.
"Which floor?" she asked, finger paused at the buttons.
"Um... Management Services, first, thank you."
"Ah, that's my stop, too."
"I'm Mike. Michael."
"Sophie."
They shook hands. Sophie felt the warmth of his skin. She looked up at him but he was busy looking at the names on the internal envelopes.
"Well, there's nothing for you, here."
"Story of my life."
Michael pulled a sad face. "Oh dear."
"Sorry. Ignore me."
"Oh, it's a bit hard to do that," he smiled, again.
Sophie bit her lip and tried not to grin.
"Sorry. Old habits die hard."
The doors suddenly opened again and this time Michael stood aside whilst Sophie exited the lift. She turned to face him as he pushed out the trolley.
"Well, good luck on your first day. It was nice to meet you, Michael."
"You, too."
As she headed round the corner towards her desk, she couldn't help thinking she'd seen Michael somewhere before.
*
It was lunchtime when Sophie ran into Michael in the company canteen. Sophie had just sat down with her lunch,
with a colleague Fiona. Michael was already sat down in a corner table, eating a sandwich and reading a book.
"So you met our new celebrity yet?" asked Fiona, opening her can of diet coke.
"Celebrity?"
Fiona smiled. "Remember Mike Nickleby?"
"Rings a bell. British."
"Yep. He was all over TV. Quite hot, too. Then he went crazy, or something. Now he's working here."
Sophie glanced across at Michael; Mike. Michael.
"Oh f*ck!" Sophie gasped.
"What? What's wrong?" Fiona said, quickly.
"That's Mike across there, isn't it?" She pointed across to Michael.
Fiona followed her gaze. "Oh, yeah. Well, he's looking better than I thought he would be. Not quite the dish of the day, but I'd still
do him."
"Fi, you'd do anything with a pulse."
"Ha ha. Oh, he's coming over."
Michael had finished his lunch and book under his arm was weaving his way through the tables. At first, he didn't see Sophie but Fiona waved
to get his attention and he smiled and changed direction.
"Hello, again." Michael smiled at Sophie.
"Hi, I'm Fiona." Fiona stood up and held out a manicured hand, standing straight so her cleavage would stand out more. She was delighted when Michael's eyes darted downwards for a brief second.
"Michael."
"Yes, I know. It's great having a celeb work here!"
The smile faded a little from Michael's face. "I haven't been that for a while."
Sophie sensed that he didn't like talking about his previous life so she changed the subject quickly. "So, how's it been so far?"
"Okay. Do you know an Allun Chambers?"
"He's one of the company execs," explained Sophie.
"Small penis," said Fiona.
"Good, good."
"Why? Has he been his usual, friendly self?"
"It's nothing. Anyway, I'll leave you ladies to it."
"No, come sit with us. We don't mind," said Fiona, pulling out a chair for him. Sophie watched her friend. Two years ago, Fiona had been happily married to a successful artist. Then they'd divorced and she's become a man-eater, even down to the red nail polish and low cut tops.
"No, really," Michael insisted. "You ladies have your lunch in peace."
"Michael, really. Join us," said Sophie.
"Okay, you've twisted my arm." He put his book down as he parked down on the chair. Fiona immediately picked it up.
"The Old Curiousity Shop. Charles Dickens?"
"I'm re-reading his work, at the moment. Passes the time."
There was an awkward silence between the three of them. Fiona looked at Sophie and Michael then stood up.
"Actually, I just remembered I've got some work to do for this afternoon. See you guys later."
As she passed Sophie, she bent down and whispered. "If you shag him, tell me all the details!"
Sophie sat rooted to the spot, feeling herself go red. She hoped Michael hadn't heard.
He had. "Ooh, she needs a spanking, how rude!"
Sophie laughed, despite herself. "Just ignore her."
"Yes, now her I could ignore."
This time she caught his eye and held it for just that second longer. Suddenly, someone bumped into her chair on the way past and the spell was broken.
"I've got to go, too," she flustered, standing up quickly and almost knocking over the table.
"You okay?"
"Mm-hmm. See you later."
As Sophie practically ran out the canteen, she stopped suddenly. "What the hell are you doing, Sophie?" she asked herself.
He was just flirting and she was acting like a shocked nun. What was wrong with her? She usually loved flirting with men. There was no harm.and her boyfriend Marc had no cause for concern. Well, that was it. She couldn't speak to Michael again. She'd just feel embarrassed.
*
That afternoon, Sophie was sitting at her desk, bored as usual. She'd finished her work for the day, so she was playing Solitaire on the computer.
"Hello," came a familiar voice from behind her.
"Oh, Michael. Hi." She felt her cheeks go red so turned back to face the screen.
He didn't say anything more. He just placed an internal envelope down on her desk and then went on his way.
Once he was gone, Sophie sighed and opened the envelope. It was a small A5 sheet of lined paper, obviously ripped from a notepad. It read:
Sophie, I feel like I have upset you in some way. I didn't mean for you to rush off like that. I'm sorry if my behaviour was out of order.
Contrary to popular belief, I am quite shy around attractive women and I suppose I use flirtation as some sort of defence mechanism.
If you want me to stop, then I'll stop. You seem like a really lovely woman and I would like to get to know you better but if I have
overstepped the mark, then I apologise.
Mike
Sophie re-read the message two or three times. Her heart was pounding and she felt light-headed. She dropped the letter in her
wastepaper basket and continued with solitaire. Then after 30 seconds, leaned over and took the letter out of the basket and placed it in her
desk drawer. A small smile spreading across her face.
*
Sophie managed to spend the rest of the week avoiding Michael. Whenever he came into the office, she'd make a quick exit to the kitchen to make everyone a coffee. One time, he did manage to corner her in a corridor but she was rescued by a lost client before he could say anything.
It was Friday now and everyone had gone to the local, The Strangled Duck, for an end of week piss up. Sophie was waiting on Fiona who always took ages in the women's toilets to get glammed up.
Sophie was busy texting Marc, sending saucy messages to him. He was away on a stag do and he and his mates were getting ready to go out, too.
"Sophie, we're here!" hollered Fiona, above the noise, followed by Michael.
Sophie nearly dropped her phone. She switched it off and hastily put it back in her handbag. "Oh, hello."
"You don't mind Mike tagging along, do you?"
"No, that's fine," said Sophie, aware than Michael was staring at her.
Fiona smiled then turned to Michael. "I'll go get the drinks. A lager was it? Sophie?"
"I've still got a glass here, thanks."
"Okay." Fiona pinched Michael's butt then walked over to the bar. Michael sat down on the chair opposite Sophie.
"So you two...?" she began.
"She seems to have that idea."
"And you?"
"She's not really my type," Michael said softly, gazing at Sophie. "Why have you been ignoring me?"
"I haven't. I've been busy."
"We both know that's not true. You read the letter, then?"
Sophie nodded.
"Fiona informed me you have a boyfriend so just ignore what it said and let's start again, shall we?"
"Fine," said Sophie, though something inside told her it was not fine.
*
After having a couple of drinks, Michael, Sophie and Fiona went off to Moods, a new nightclub in the city.
As soon as they entered the venue, Fiona gave Michael their coats and sat down at an empty booth.
"What would you ladies like to drink?"
"I'll have a vodka and coke. Sophie?"
"Just an orange juice, please."
"Sophie!"
"I'm pacing myself. I don't want to get rat-arsed, thank you."
"Sensible idea. I might join you," said Michael, before he went up to the bar.
"Oh, great," Fiona moaned. "So, I'm the only one that's going to have a good time tonight."
"Oh, shut it, you tart," smiled Sophie.
"So you're okay about me and Mike, then?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I thought maybe he was interested in you, or you were interested in him-"
"I've got a boyfriend, already, thank you," interuppted Sophie, watching a large crowd of people dancing to an old Kylie track.
"So?"
Michael returned with their drinks and sat next to Fiona, who immediately put her hand on his leg. He looked a bit surprised at this
and glanced up at Sophie, who had pretended not to notice.
"I hope you're a good dancer, Mike," Fiona said, breathlessly. "I like getting up close and personal with my dance partners."
Michael looked a bit taken aback. Sophie was surprised at this. In his heyday, he was a notorious flirt and would have grabbed Fiona
there and then and got down to some dirty dancing.
"Oh, I haven't danced for ages," he said, coyly.
"I'm sure I could show you some moves," cooed Fiona, starting to get on Sophie's nerves. Couldn't she see that Michael was uncomfortable with her flirting.
"You should dance with her. She's good," Sophie suddenly found herself saying.
Michael stared at her for a few seconds, then took another sip of his drink and stood up. "Yeah, okay. Show me your moves, woman."
Fiona grinned and took his hand as they made their way to the dance floor. Sophie tried not to look at them as they gyrated their way through
the Devinyl's "I touch myself" but she couldn't stop herself. Fiona was having the time of her life, rubbing her small frame up against Mike. He in turn was grinning and whispering in her ear which seemed to please Fiona a lot.
Sophie downed her drink in one go and left quietly.
*
It was just past ten o'clock when Sophie arrived home to the empty flat. She stuck on the electric fire and made herself a cup of soup. Sitting down on the sofa, she switched on the TV and her heart jumped. There on the screen as Michael from several years ago in the hit comedy show that made him household name. He had just said something rude and the audience were shrieking with delight. He grinned his boyish grin, lapping it all up.
Sophie picked up the remote control to change channels but then put it down again. Why was she being like this? She'd never showed an interest in the man before. Okay, she had a wild crush on him in his hey-day but once he was off TV screens, her interests changed. Now, he was back. He was working at her office. And she was finding herself thinking about him 24/7.
She cringed as she remembered the other night when she had instigated sex with Marc for the first time. She had enjoyed it for the first time in ages but only because she was thinking of someone else at the time. Someone else who was probably, right at this moment, having sex with her best friend.
Sophie picked up one of the large sofa cushions and screamed into it.
*
Monday lunch time found Sophie sitting on her own in a nearby park having her lunch. It was a nice, warm, sunny day and Fiona had called in sick for work. She'd sent Sophie a text on the Saturday afternoon, describing her and Michael's night together. Sophie had deleted it as soon as she'd read it.
She hadn't seen him, either, thank God. Her perception of him had changed. She really thought he was a gentleman and the old reputation as a womaniser had just been rumours. But it seemed he was no better than any other guy around.
"Can I join you?"
"Not having lunch with Fiona, today?"
Michael sat down regardless and took off his jacket, placing it in a heap between them. "Is she not in today?"
"I thought you'd be the first to know that."
"Am I missing something here?"
Sophie was trying very hard to keep her cool. "You know, it's only a couple of years since she divorced from her childhood sweetheart so she's still at that vulnerable stage. It's not nice to use her like that."
"Are you talking about Friday? We only danced."
"And the rest." Sophie went to stand up but Michael grabbed her arm suddenly.
"Please let me know what it is I'm supposed to have done to your friend."
Sophie jerked her arm away and sat back down, sighing. "All this man-eater business is just an act, you know. She doesn't normally shag blokes she doesn't know -"
"What?"
"I mean, I know she knows you off TV but, still -"
"I think you've got your wires crossed, there."
"I don't think so."
"Well, I do," he said, slightly cross. "Look, Fiona and I danced for a bit, realised you had gone - which I've still to ask you about, by the way - and we had a couple more drinks. She was all over me but she was so drunk by that time that I sent her home in a cab. Alone. Okay?"
"But... Really?"
"Really? I may be a lot of things but I'm not someone who'd take advantage of a drunk woman."
She looked at him as he stared down at the ground. He looked very put out.
"I'm sorry. I must have misunderstood.... her. Anyway, forget it."
"Gladly."
They continued eating their lunch in silence.
"So why did you make a quick getaway, then?" he asked, sipping from his can of fanta.
"I didn't feel very well."
He turned to look at her. "Is that really why?"
"Of course."
"It wasn't to do with the fact that I was dancing with your friend and not you?"
Sophie laughed, feeling her cheeks redden. "Why should I care who you dance with?"
Michael leaned in closer. "Good question," he said softly.
Sophie tried speaking but found she couldn't. What kind of spell had he put her under? She couldn't help staring into his large brown eyes, no matter how much she tried.
"Are you happy?" he said suddenly, leaning back again.
This threw Sophie for a moment. "What?"
"Happy. Happy in your relationship."
"Yes, thank you," she said haughtily, deciding she'd had enough of this. She stood up and this time he didn't try to grab her.
"See you around," she said, heading off, feeling tears well up in her eyes.
nervously fidgeting with his navy blue tie as he waited for the lift to arrive. He looked rather dishevelled with a rumpled-
looking white shirt and scuffed shoes.
"Can I help you?" she asked, advancing towards him.
He jerked his head up and looked at her, brown eyes widened. "Oh, I'm fine, thanks. First day here," he replied, in a
velvety voice.
"Oh, well, welcome. I'm sure you'll enjoy it here," she smiled, as she stood waiting with him.
"Good, good."
"Actually," she smiled. "You probably won't. Everyone says that when you start working somewhere, don't they? Six months down
the line you end up hating everything about the place."
The man grinned, his face sudden lit up. "At least you're honest."
The lift doors opened. A few people got out and Sophie stood aside whilst the man navigated the trolley into the small space.
"Which floor?" she asked, finger paused at the buttons.
"Um... Management Services, first, thank you."
"Ah, that's my stop, too."
"I'm Mike. Michael."
"Sophie."
They shook hands. Sophie felt the warmth of his skin. She looked up at him but he was busy looking at the names on the internal envelopes.
"Well, there's nothing for you, here."
"Story of my life."
Michael pulled a sad face. "Oh dear."
"Sorry. Ignore me."
"Oh, it's a bit hard to do that," he smiled, again.
Sophie bit her lip and tried not to grin.
"Sorry. Old habits die hard."
The doors suddenly opened again and this time Michael stood aside whilst Sophie exited the lift. She turned to face him as he pushed out the trolley.
"Well, good luck on your first day. It was nice to meet you, Michael."
"You, too."
As she headed round the corner towards her desk, she couldn't help thinking she'd seen Michael somewhere before.
*
It was lunchtime when Sophie ran into Michael in the company canteen. Sophie had just sat down with her lunch,
with a colleague Fiona. Michael was already sat down in a corner table, eating a sandwich and reading a book.
"So you met our new celebrity yet?" asked Fiona, opening her can of diet coke.
"Celebrity?"
Fiona smiled. "Remember Mike Nickleby?"
"Rings a bell. British."
"Yep. He was all over TV. Quite hot, too. Then he went crazy, or something. Now he's working here."
Sophie glanced across at Michael; Mike. Michael.
"Oh f*ck!" Sophie gasped.
"What? What's wrong?" Fiona said, quickly.
"That's Mike across there, isn't it?" She pointed across to Michael.
Fiona followed her gaze. "Oh, yeah. Well, he's looking better than I thought he would be. Not quite the dish of the day, but I'd still
do him."
"Fi, you'd do anything with a pulse."
"Ha ha. Oh, he's coming over."
Michael had finished his lunch and book under his arm was weaving his way through the tables. At first, he didn't see Sophie but Fiona waved
to get his attention and he smiled and changed direction.
"Hello, again." Michael smiled at Sophie.
"Hi, I'm Fiona." Fiona stood up and held out a manicured hand, standing straight so her cleavage would stand out more. She was delighted when Michael's eyes darted downwards for a brief second.
"Michael."
"Yes, I know. It's great having a celeb work here!"
The smile faded a little from Michael's face. "I haven't been that for a while."
Sophie sensed that he didn't like talking about his previous life so she changed the subject quickly. "So, how's it been so far?"
"Okay. Do you know an Allun Chambers?"
"He's one of the company execs," explained Sophie.
"Small penis," said Fiona.
"Good, good."
"Why? Has he been his usual, friendly self?"
"It's nothing. Anyway, I'll leave you ladies to it."
"No, come sit with us. We don't mind," said Fiona, pulling out a chair for him. Sophie watched her friend. Two years ago, Fiona had been happily married to a successful artist. Then they'd divorced and she's become a man-eater, even down to the red nail polish and low cut tops.
"No, really," Michael insisted. "You ladies have your lunch in peace."
"Michael, really. Join us," said Sophie.
"Okay, you've twisted my arm." He put his book down as he parked down on the chair. Fiona immediately picked it up.
"The Old Curiousity Shop. Charles Dickens?"
"I'm re-reading his work, at the moment. Passes the time."
There was an awkward silence between the three of them. Fiona looked at Sophie and Michael then stood up.
"Actually, I just remembered I've got some work to do for this afternoon. See you guys later."
As she passed Sophie, she bent down and whispered. "If you shag him, tell me all the details!"
Sophie sat rooted to the spot, feeling herself go red. She hoped Michael hadn't heard.
He had. "Ooh, she needs a spanking, how rude!"
Sophie laughed, despite herself. "Just ignore her."
"Yes, now her I could ignore."
This time she caught his eye and held it for just that second longer. Suddenly, someone bumped into her chair on the way past and the spell was broken.
"I've got to go, too," she flustered, standing up quickly and almost knocking over the table.
"You okay?"
"Mm-hmm. See you later."
As Sophie practically ran out the canteen, she stopped suddenly. "What the hell are you doing, Sophie?" she asked herself.
He was just flirting and she was acting like a shocked nun. What was wrong with her? She usually loved flirting with men. There was no harm.and her boyfriend Marc had no cause for concern. Well, that was it. She couldn't speak to Michael again. She'd just feel embarrassed.
*
That afternoon, Sophie was sitting at her desk, bored as usual. She'd finished her work for the day, so she was playing Solitaire on the computer.
"Hello," came a familiar voice from behind her.
"Oh, Michael. Hi." She felt her cheeks go red so turned back to face the screen.
He didn't say anything more. He just placed an internal envelope down on her desk and then went on his way.
Once he was gone, Sophie sighed and opened the envelope. It was a small A5 sheet of lined paper, obviously ripped from a notepad. It read:
Sophie, I feel like I have upset you in some way. I didn't mean for you to rush off like that. I'm sorry if my behaviour was out of order.
Contrary to popular belief, I am quite shy around attractive women and I suppose I use flirtation as some sort of defence mechanism.
If you want me to stop, then I'll stop. You seem like a really lovely woman and I would like to get to know you better but if I have
overstepped the mark, then I apologise.
Mike
Sophie re-read the message two or three times. Her heart was pounding and she felt light-headed. She dropped the letter in her
wastepaper basket and continued with solitaire. Then after 30 seconds, leaned over and took the letter out of the basket and placed it in her
desk drawer. A small smile spreading across her face.
*
Sophie managed to spend the rest of the week avoiding Michael. Whenever he came into the office, she'd make a quick exit to the kitchen to make everyone a coffee. One time, he did manage to corner her in a corridor but she was rescued by a lost client before he could say anything.
It was Friday now and everyone had gone to the local, The Strangled Duck, for an end of week piss up. Sophie was waiting on Fiona who always took ages in the women's toilets to get glammed up.
Sophie was busy texting Marc, sending saucy messages to him. He was away on a stag do and he and his mates were getting ready to go out, too.
"Sophie, we're here!" hollered Fiona, above the noise, followed by Michael.
Sophie nearly dropped her phone. She switched it off and hastily put it back in her handbag. "Oh, hello."
"You don't mind Mike tagging along, do you?"
"No, that's fine," said Sophie, aware than Michael was staring at her.
Fiona smiled then turned to Michael. "I'll go get the drinks. A lager was it? Sophie?"
"I've still got a glass here, thanks."
"Okay." Fiona pinched Michael's butt then walked over to the bar. Michael sat down on the chair opposite Sophie.
"So you two...?" she began.
"She seems to have that idea."
"And you?"
"She's not really my type," Michael said softly, gazing at Sophie. "Why have you been ignoring me?"
"I haven't. I've been busy."
"We both know that's not true. You read the letter, then?"
Sophie nodded.
"Fiona informed me you have a boyfriend so just ignore what it said and let's start again, shall we?"
"Fine," said Sophie, though something inside told her it was not fine.
*
After having a couple of drinks, Michael, Sophie and Fiona went off to Moods, a new nightclub in the city.
As soon as they entered the venue, Fiona gave Michael their coats and sat down at an empty booth.
"What would you ladies like to drink?"
"I'll have a vodka and coke. Sophie?"
"Just an orange juice, please."
"Sophie!"
"I'm pacing myself. I don't want to get rat-arsed, thank you."
"Sensible idea. I might join you," said Michael, before he went up to the bar.
"Oh, great," Fiona moaned. "So, I'm the only one that's going to have a good time tonight."
"Oh, shut it, you tart," smiled Sophie.
"So you're okay about me and Mike, then?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I thought maybe he was interested in you, or you were interested in him-"
"I've got a boyfriend, already, thank you," interuppted Sophie, watching a large crowd of people dancing to an old Kylie track.
"So?"
Michael returned with their drinks and sat next to Fiona, who immediately put her hand on his leg. He looked a bit surprised at this
and glanced up at Sophie, who had pretended not to notice.
"I hope you're a good dancer, Mike," Fiona said, breathlessly. "I like getting up close and personal with my dance partners."
Michael looked a bit taken aback. Sophie was surprised at this. In his heyday, he was a notorious flirt and would have grabbed Fiona
there and then and got down to some dirty dancing.
"Oh, I haven't danced for ages," he said, coyly.
"I'm sure I could show you some moves," cooed Fiona, starting to get on Sophie's nerves. Couldn't she see that Michael was uncomfortable with her flirting.
"You should dance with her. She's good," Sophie suddenly found herself saying.
Michael stared at her for a few seconds, then took another sip of his drink and stood up. "Yeah, okay. Show me your moves, woman."
Fiona grinned and took his hand as they made their way to the dance floor. Sophie tried not to look at them as they gyrated their way through
the Devinyl's "I touch myself" but she couldn't stop herself. Fiona was having the time of her life, rubbing her small frame up against Mike. He in turn was grinning and whispering in her ear which seemed to please Fiona a lot.
Sophie downed her drink in one go and left quietly.
*
It was just past ten o'clock when Sophie arrived home to the empty flat. She stuck on the electric fire and made herself a cup of soup. Sitting down on the sofa, she switched on the TV and her heart jumped. There on the screen as Michael from several years ago in the hit comedy show that made him household name. He had just said something rude and the audience were shrieking with delight. He grinned his boyish grin, lapping it all up.
Sophie picked up the remote control to change channels but then put it down again. Why was she being like this? She'd never showed an interest in the man before. Okay, she had a wild crush on him in his hey-day but once he was off TV screens, her interests changed. Now, he was back. He was working at her office. And she was finding herself thinking about him 24/7.
She cringed as she remembered the other night when she had instigated sex with Marc for the first time. She had enjoyed it for the first time in ages but only because she was thinking of someone else at the time. Someone else who was probably, right at this moment, having sex with her best friend.
Sophie picked up one of the large sofa cushions and screamed into it.
*
Monday lunch time found Sophie sitting on her own in a nearby park having her lunch. It was a nice, warm, sunny day and Fiona had called in sick for work. She'd sent Sophie a text on the Saturday afternoon, describing her and Michael's night together. Sophie had deleted it as soon as she'd read it.
She hadn't seen him, either, thank God. Her perception of him had changed. She really thought he was a gentleman and the old reputation as a womaniser had just been rumours. But it seemed he was no better than any other guy around.
"Can I join you?"
"Not having lunch with Fiona, today?"
Michael sat down regardless and took off his jacket, placing it in a heap between them. "Is she not in today?"
"I thought you'd be the first to know that."
"Am I missing something here?"
Sophie was trying very hard to keep her cool. "You know, it's only a couple of years since she divorced from her childhood sweetheart so she's still at that vulnerable stage. It's not nice to use her like that."
"Are you talking about Friday? We only danced."
"And the rest." Sophie went to stand up but Michael grabbed her arm suddenly.
"Please let me know what it is I'm supposed to have done to your friend."
Sophie jerked her arm away and sat back down, sighing. "All this man-eater business is just an act, you know. She doesn't normally shag blokes she doesn't know -"
"What?"
"I mean, I know she knows you off TV but, still -"
"I think you've got your wires crossed, there."
"I don't think so."
"Well, I do," he said, slightly cross. "Look, Fiona and I danced for a bit, realised you had gone - which I've still to ask you about, by the way - and we had a couple more drinks. She was all over me but she was so drunk by that time that I sent her home in a cab. Alone. Okay?"
"But... Really?"
"Really? I may be a lot of things but I'm not someone who'd take advantage of a drunk woman."
She looked at him as he stared down at the ground. He looked very put out.
"I'm sorry. I must have misunderstood.... her. Anyway, forget it."
"Gladly."
They continued eating their lunch in silence.
"So why did you make a quick getaway, then?" he asked, sipping from his can of fanta.
"I didn't feel very well."
He turned to look at her. "Is that really why?"
"Of course."
"It wasn't to do with the fact that I was dancing with your friend and not you?"
Sophie laughed, feeling her cheeks redden. "Why should I care who you dance with?"
Michael leaned in closer. "Good question," he said softly.
Sophie tried speaking but found she couldn't. What kind of spell had he put her under? She couldn't help staring into his large brown eyes, no matter how much she tried.
"Are you happy?" he said suddenly, leaning back again.
This threw Sophie for a moment. "What?"
"Happy. Happy in your relationship."
"Yes, thank you," she said haughtily, deciding she'd had enough of this. She stood up and this time he didn't try to grab her.
"See you around," she said, heading off, feeling tears well up in her eyes.