I am in the office day dreaming about my dinner last Friday night with Maria. I am smiling, recalling our conversations, stories and anecdotes…
I am in the office day dreaming about my dinner last Friday night with Maria. I am smiling, recalling our conversations, stories and anecdotes.
“I loved Greece last summer,” Maria had said passionately. “There’s something about the islands, on a quiet summers evening, that is so wonderful. It was Lily who made me cut my hair short and it was so practical for swimming.”
We spoke endlessly about books, music and art. She told me what it was like to be a Catholic in Belfast during the troubles and I talked about Dad in Spain, Auntie Annie, Grandma and living in London.
She is so easy to speak to and I find myself thinking about her a lot.
John’s raised voice floats in from Maria’s office and interrupts my reverie.
“Thanks for your support last week,” he says.
I save the work on my computer and stand at my office door listening.
“What is wrong with you?” Maria replies. “You’ve done nothing but criticize Elly since she arrived. You pushed her too far and now she’s retaliated. We’re supposed to be a team and she needs our support and deserves our help. She doesn’t need you knocking her back when she’s trying to get more business for the company.”
“Just like Siobhan?” he says
“What’s Siobhan got to do with it?”
“Well, last week you had a go about me asking Siobhan out. This week I have to be nice to Elly. I haven’t come to work to please you. I come here to do a job and I don’t need you breathing down my neck everyday.”
“I’m only saying that Simon-”
I peer through the crack of the door. He is rocking on his heels. His hands are in his pockets.
“Simon?” he says. “He’s not here. He’s away in Germany or Greater Manchester, or Ghana or somewhere trying to set up pathetic deals for buying cheap hardware.” He waves his stubby finger in the air, and his voice rises a notch. “And while he’s away, it’s me that’s in charge, and if I want to be nice or nasty or rude, then I will.”
There’s a movement and I step back.
“Oh John, come on! We’ve worked together for a long time and–”
One of them closes the door and so I can’t hear any more. I return to my work and try to concentrate.
Ten minutes later John doesn’t stop in my office before he stomps his way down the stairs.
At lunchtime Maria walks into my office.
“There’s good news and there’s bad news,” she says.
“Okay. I’ll have the good news first.”
She smiles. “John asked me if you had a boyfriend, and I said no, you left him behind in London.”
I feel my body tense.
She continues, “He has decided that you are a very spirited and sexy woman and he has decided that when he gets back from his sales course, he’s going to ask you out. He thinks he can tame your wild side and provide a shoulder for you to cry on. I did ask him if he would go on the back of your motorbike but he said, ‘You’re bloody joking. Those things are a death trap.’ So I told him you were a match made in heaven.” She smiles widely. She has a very sensuous mouth.
I sigh. “Okay, so what’s the bad news.”
“He’s really serious! He’s even going to give up smoking for you.”