‘He wasn’t!’ Art spluttered, and whatever he was drinking dribbled down his chin.
‘He was. Tell him, Daisy,’ Sara said.
‘He was’ she said, wishing Sara hadn’t aired Daisy’s dirty laundry for all to see. But now that she had, Daisy wanted to make a bit of a joke out of it. It was better than letting the world see how hurt and ashamed she felt.
‘And you never guessed your boyfriend was gay?’ Art persisted.
‘No.’ Daisy’s reply was short.
‘I can’t imagine how you must be feeling,’ he said, raising his hand to catch the barman’s attention.
Daisy could tell him exactly how she felt, but she didn’t want to sour the mood, or scare Art away. He and Ted were proving to be surprisingly good company, and Ted really was a surfer. He’d come back to the UK from Australia to visit his family and catch up with old friends. Art was an investment banker, which was not particularly interesting in itself (at least not to Daisy), but he had a whole raft of stories about wealthy clients which had her and Sara in stitches.
Which was why Sara had felt obliged to share Daisy’s misfortune with the two men, as a way to balance the scales. At least she hadn’t told them about the sixpence and what Daisy had to do every day to look for it, though get a few more drinks inside her friend and Sara may very well tell all.
‘We’ve got to be leaving soon,’ Sara said, her voice slurring ever so slightly. ‘I’ve got a husband and a party to go to. Do you want to stay here, Daisy?’
As pleasant as the evening had been so far, and as good as the company was, Daisy wasn’t looking for romance in any of its forms, whether it was a quick kiss on the way to the taxi stand, or anything longer lasting. She needed to give herself some emotional space from Freddie, so she shook her head.
The flash of disappointment in Art’s eyes was gratifying, and she wondered fleetingly if she should invite them along.
Ted, probably the most sober of the foursome, solved the problem for her.
‘It’s just as well you’re going, considering you’re hitched,’ he said to Sara. ‘Stay here much longer, and I won’t be responsible for my actions.’ He gave her friend a slow smile. ‘You’re one sexy lady.’
Daisy wouldn’t invite Art on his own, so she kept her mouth shut.
Sara giggled, and looked away, blushing, then her eyes widened. ‘Don’t look now, but isn’t that Melissa?’ Sara nudged Daisy in the ribs.
Daisy looked, and it was.
‘Want me to go over there and give her a piece of my mind?’ Sara offered. ‘She doesn’t look all that strong. I reckon I could take her in a fight.’
Sara took a step in Melissa’s direction, and Daisy grabbed her arm. Sara staggered back. Boy, was her friend drunk. Daisy, for all the alcohol she’d consumed, remained annoyingly sober. Just as well, considering. She didn’t relish the thought of being arrested for bitch-slapping, however much the bitch in question deserved it.
‘What’s up, babe?’ Ted had noticed their little exchange.
‘See her over there?’ Sara pointed at Melissa, and Ted and Art turned to stare.
One of Melissa’s friends noticed, and said something to Melissa, who turned towards them. She waved, tinkling her fingers at Daisy. Daisy waved back.
‘What are you doing?’ Sara hissed.
‘I don’t want her to suspect anything,’ Daisy answered.
‘Why the daggers?’ Ted wanted to know.
‘She’s the reason Daisy was sacked,’ Sara said.
‘You’ve lost your job?’ This was from Art. ‘What did you do?’
‘You know those cheesy birthday cards with the cringey verses inside?’ Daisy said.
Art nodded.
‘I write those.’
Art looked a bit startled – a common reaction from most people when she told them what she did for a living. Anyone would think folk expected those verses and poems to appear inside their greeting cards as if by magic.
‘And that woman got you sacked? How?’ he asked.
‘It was all my own fault really. I gave her the ammunition, and she put it in her lover’s gun.’
‘Hey, that’s quite poetic,’ Ted said.
Art was frowning. ‘I don’t understand.’
Daisy said. ‘I’m not surprised. I didn’t until I heard her talking to the MD in the toilets.’
‘The managing director was in the toilet?’
‘No, silly. Melissa Two-Face was having a conversation with Mr Dearborn on the phone, telling him all about Grumpy Simon sacking me, and that I wouldn’t cause any trouble.’
‘I still don’t understand.’ Art, the poor man, looked really confused.
‘Grumpy Simon is – was – my manager. Mr Dearborn is the MD. Melissa is having an affair with him, and from what I can gather, because I only heard one side of the conversation, the MD promised Melissa a promotion. It can’t be a coincidence I was sacked.’
‘You say you only heard one side of the convo, so maybe you jumped to the wrong conclusion,’ Ted suggested. He looked uncomfortable and had inched away from the two women slightly. Daisy suspected he thought she may be about to launch herself at Melissa, and he didn’t want any part of it.
‘I heard her say she was wearing stockings and suspenders, and that they could play bosses and secretaries. Ew.’
‘She said that to him?’
‘Yup. Nasty, innit?’
Ted shuffled further away. At this rate, he’d be out of the door in the next few minutes.
‘Don’t worry,’ Daisy said. ‘I’m not going to knock her teeth out, and neither will Sara. Will you, Sara?’ It was more of a demand on Daisy’s part, than a question.
‘Oh, alright, but I still think you should let me at her.’
Daisy watched Melissa finish her drink and shuck her bag on her shoulder, her eyes narrowing as her former friend and colleague prepared to leave. Daisy and Sara stood between her and escape, and Daisy put a warning hand on Sara’s arm.
‘Behave,’ she warned, as quietly as the noise level in the pub would allow.
Sara made a zipping motion across her mouth.
‘Daisy, darling, fancy seeing you here!’ Melissa exclaimed, when she came close enough. ‘Having a good time?’
‘Lovely, thanks, and you?’
‘The best. Oh, sorry, that was thoughtless of me, considering the troubles you’ve had recently,’ she said, then Art turned a little, and Melissa saw him face on. ‘Oh, maybe things are looking up for you already?’
‘They certainly are,’ Daisy agreed. Her words, though spoken pleasantly, were forced out between gritted teeth. The cheek of the woman!
A hand wrapped around her waist, and a strong arm pulled her close. When she breathed in Art’s masculine scent and felt his lips on her ear, she almost lost her composure.
‘Play along,’ he whispered, then turned her towards him and kissed her soundly on the lips.
Oh, my!
For a heartbeat, Daisy didn’t respond, then she snaked her arms around his neck and kissed him back. When they came up for air, it was to see Sara with a huge smirk on her face, and Melissa with a look of astonishment on hers.
‘It didn’t take you long to get over Freddie,’ Melissa said, her tone catty.
Daisy produced what she hoped was an enigmatic smile.
‘Aren’t you going to introduce me?’ Melissa added.
‘This is Art,’ Daisy said. ‘He’s an investment banker.’
‘Lucky you! He’ll be able to invest all your savings once you get on your feet again. How is the job hunting going?’
The cow! ‘Really good, thanks.’
‘She’s been offered a job in my bank,’ Art said, and Daisy almost snorted in surprise and delight.
‘Quick work,’ Melissa said. ‘Though maybe having a boyfriend as a colleague isn’t such a good idea.’
She could talk! A number of expletives ran through Daisy’s mind but she bit down on them.
‘Anyway, must dash, I’ve got a hot date later,’ Melissa smirked.
Yeah, I bet you do, Daisy thought.
They exchanged false air kisses, and Daisy watched Melissa sashay to the exit, her hips swinging in her too-tight dress, and all the while, Art kept his arm around Daisy.
As soon as the other woman was out of sight, he released her.
‘Thanks for that,’ she said.
‘My pleasure. What a nasty bit of work.’
‘Yeah, she is. I wish I’d realised sooner.’
‘We’ve got to get going,’ Sara said, checking her watch. ‘Andrew will think I’ve been abducted. Nice meeting you Ted, you too, Art.’
‘I enjoyed it,’ Art said. ‘Immensely.’ He gave Daisy a meaningful look and she blushed to the roots of her hair.
Her blush deepened when she glanced around searching for the sign for the ladies’ loos, and saw who was watching her – Dr Hartley. He lifted his glass in acknowledgement, and Daisy smiled back.
‘You know that doctor I was telling you about?’ she said to Sara as the pair of them made their way to the toilets. ‘He’s standing over there. Don’t look!’
Sara looked. Dr Hartley was still staring in their direction, and it made Daisy feel a little uncomfortable, and a bit tingly. She couldn’t read his expression, but it didn’t appear to be particularly friendly.
‘He’s scrummy,’ Sara said. ‘Bit on the brooding side, like a medical Heathcliff, but I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.’
Without warning, Daisy was grabbed from behind and lifted off her feet, and she shrieked loudly.
‘Where have you been all my life, gorgeous?’ a beer-laden voice rasped in her ear, and the next thing Daisy knew, she and her drunken assailant were heading towards the floor.
She landed on top of the man with an oomph, and he grunted when her elbow connected with something soft. She lay there, stunned, her dress up around her thighs, a sticky drink trickling down her forehead, and her legs wide apart showing her knickers.
Laughter and cat-calling rang in her ears.
Then a meaty hand closed around her right boob and squeezed. ‘Nice tits,’ the man she was lying on declared.
She elbowed him again, this time intentionally. Another grunt. Good. I hope I’ve broken something, she thought crossly.
A helping hand reached out of the sea of bodies and Daisy took it. The sooner she was upright the better. And in the sudden, relative silence of one song ending and another beginning, Dr Hartley said quite clearly,
‘I gather you’re not pregnant, then?’