Gina had a spring in her step when she took the stairs up to her office on Monday morning. India had seen to that over the weekend. However, her smile was short-lived when she saw Bernie on the sofa with Sara.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Clouds descended on Gina’s brain. “What part of you giving this up and going quietly is this?” Gina stared at Sara. “And why have you brought her?” The sight of her ex still made Gina mad. Mainly at herself.
Bernie stood up, her dark hair so short on the sides, Gina could see her skull.
“I knew you might react like this.” Bernie held up a hand. “Sara and I have been talking.”
Gina closed her eyes. Seriously? She tried to think happy thoughts, but her world was closing in by the second.
“The thing is, Sara convinced me that walking away isn’t the answer. This is a good business. So maybe we could have a rethink about splitting up? Just because Sara’s in my life now shouldn’t affect that. We can keep our work and personal lives separate, can’t we?”
Gina couldn’t quite believe her ears. “Like you’re doing now, you mean? With Sara sitting on the couch in my office.”
“Bernie’s office, too,” Sara intervened.
There went Gina’s good mood. She shook her head with some force. “Just shut up, Sara. This has got nothing to do with you.”
Bernie’s face fell. “It kinda does if we’re together.”
“And that’s the fucking point, Bernie! Let me spell it out for you. Sara is my ex. She’s a pain in the arse who stole my money.”
“I never stole anything.” Sara stood up, hands on hips, spoiling for a fight.
She’d chosen the wrong woman.
“You took the final £500 from our joint account!”
“I’m going to pay you back once my paintings start selling.”
Gina shook her head. How many times had Sara told her that before? “Really? Have you done your website? Got them up for sale?”
Sara dipped her head.
“I didn’t think so.” Gina turned her attention back to Bernie. “There’s a reason I split up with Sara. I didn’t want her in my life anymore. I still don’t. Plus, you already told me your heart’s not in this anymore. Just do what you promised and let me buy you out, Bernie. It’s the least you can do after this mess.”
But Bernie shook her head. “Sara and I have discussed this, and we don’t want to do that. Isn’t there a way we could work this out?”
“You’re not listening, so I’m going to make this really clear. I don’t want to work with you anymore. I don’t trust you. Plus, I don’t want Sara anywhere near the business. So no, we can’t work this out. Stop pandering to Sara just because she gave you a couple of good orgasms.”
Gina put her hands to her head. A headache was beginning to form behind her eyes. It was the same headache she’d had for the past year, and it was always to do with Sara. Always.
But suddenly, she saw the reason why. Money. Sara had got to Bernie. “Is this about money? You want more for your share, is that it? Or rather, she does.” Gina pointed at Sara.
Bernie shook her head. “Not necessarily.” She paused, splaying her hands. “Although, when I took another look, what you’re offering me is a little on the low side. Add another 20k and maybe we could work something out.”
Crimson coloured Gina’s vision. “Get out, both of you. I almost believed you before, Bernie, with your contrite words. I should have known, shouldn’t I?”
Things were never that easy.
Gina jumped in her car and gunned the engine. She wasn’t sure where she was going, but she had to get away from the office. Plus, driving and walking always allowed her time to think. Bernie was being a pushover, but Sara could be persuasive when she wanted to be. Gina knew that all too well.
Gina was at a traffic light when her phone pinged. The text message came up on her screen — it was from the legal team dealing with India’s flat. They had a proposed exchange date. June 1st. Gina’s mind flashed back to the weekend they’d spent in each other’s company, laughing, loving, getting to know each other more intimately. When she’d had to leave on Sunday night to go home, it had felt wrong. Like this wasn’t the life she was meant to be leading anymore.
Gina loved that feeling. She wanted it back. But then India had been whisked away to some last-minute TV meetings. India’s life was impossibly fast-paced and ever-changing. She was a celebrity of sorts. A high-flying business exec. Could that match with Gina’s life?
Gina hoped so, with everything she had. This weekend was the first time she’d felt a seismic connection with a woman. That the world might be about to open up. Gina loved the way India made her feel. How her whole body lit up when India touched her.
She wanted to speak to her right now. She pressed her number.
“India Contelli.” Even the way she said her name was sexy.
“Say it again.”
There was a pause on the line, then she repeated, “India Contelli.”
Gina smiled. “Yep, it was even sexier the second time.”
“Glad to be of service.”
“How’s the world of TV?”
“Not nearly as glamorous as you think. We’re in central Manchester and last night there was a major power cut. My producer got stuck in the lift for an hour. I had to finish my shower in pitch black as it was an internal bathroom, and nearly face-planted into the sink.”
“But if I was there, we could have been in the dark together.”
“That would have made it a whole lot better. I have a big bed that would look perfect with you in it. Like it was made for you.”
Suddenly, Bernie and Sara fled Gina’s mind. “I can just picture it.”
The traffic lights changed.
Gina blinked.
She put her foot on the accelerator like it was the first time she’d ever done so, all the while her mind picturing India’s long, tanned body. She still couldn’t quite get her head around the fact she was sleeping with her.
“Anyway, sorry to rush you, but I have a meeting in five. Did you need anything from me?”
Gina swallowed. Of course. India was busy. “I have flat news for you. Also, this morning has not gone quite as expected.”
“Oh?”
Gina gave India the short, sharp version of the Bernie-Sara saga.
India gave a low sigh. “What the hell is going on with exes these days? First Andi, now Sara. You think she’s in it just to piss you off, or does she like Bernie?”
“Who knows. Sara likes anyone with a bit of cash. I fell for it. Bernie is only at the start of the ride. She’s still got that ‘just fucked’ look in her eyes.”
India coughed. “I can totally understand that. My mind might have wandered off in a couple of my meetings this morning.”
Gina smiled. “I was hoping I might have time for a few illicit daydreams, but no, Bernie poured a bucket of cold water on that idea. I was even whistling this morning. Whistling. I don’t whistle. Whistling is not me.”
“I wanted to shout from the rooftops about the amazing weekend I had, but I figured the rooftops had already served me well, so I shouldn’t push my luck.”
Gina moved the car forward in the morning traffic, driving past where India had found her sobbing weeks ago. How times had changed with them, although not with Bernie and Sara.
Gina shook her head. She wasn’t going to think about them now.
Instead, she grinned as she thought back on their rooftop sex. Where the courage had come from to straddle India and fuck her, she had no idea.
“I can’t wait until you get your own rooftop, let’s just say that,” Gina replied. “But Bernie is still a massive pain. I thought it was sorted. Would your consultant have any other ideas for me to try?”
India was silent for a moment. “I’m not sure going that route is the way to go now. Leave it with me. Frankie knows her from old. Just like there’s an old boys’ network, there’s a moral code in the gay women’s world, too. Maybe she can have a word. It might help.”
Gina raised her eyebrows as she pulled into a side street and parked. “There’s a gay women’s club, too? How come I never got an invite?”
“You have to fuck at least five of them, so I thought I’d spare you.”
Gina stopped breathing. “Seriously?”
“No, I’m joking.”
“Right.” Gina let out a strangled laugh. “Sorry, it’s been a long morning. But seriously, if Frankie could say something, it would really take a load off my mind. I’m speaking to Deepak in a minute, and I’d love something concrete to tell him.”
“Leave it with me,” India replied.
“Before you go, I have news. Your solicitors just contacted me to say there’s a proposed exchange date. Keep an eye on your email. You should definitely be in before Pride. It’s June 1st.”
“Brilliant news. Plus, like you say, then I’ll have my very own rooftop. And by then, I might even stick around long enough to use it. Maybe I can return the favour you did for me on Saturday.”
Gina’s clit pulsed. “I’m driving to the shop to buy a shirt dress right now.”