Author’s Note: This chapter takes place the day after Lexi and Alex have their first platonic evening out and Sydney and Lexi are having a post-mortem of the events of the previous evening.
When I stumbled into the office, Lexi was already there. She was immaculate as usual, working the office chic in a fitted charcoal shift dress and classic black heels. Her hair was twisted elegantly into a French knot. You’d never know from looking at her that she had spent an evening at a sweaty pub. I balanced my latte as I dumped my over-sized Burberry handbag on my desk.
“You know, looking that good in the morning only makes me hate you!” I smiled as I collapsed into my office chair.
“Feeling a little seedy, are we?” Lexi smiled as she leaned back into her chair, “I thought you started at nine?”
“Sod off. It’s only half nine now.” I feigned annoyance as I sipped my coffee, hoping the caffeine coursing through my veins would do what I paid it do to and wake me the hell up.
Lexi laughed giving me her full attention, “Gee, I would have thought you would have been in a better mood this morning. What’s wrong? Zander not up to scratch?” her manicured brow arched in question.
“And you just assumed I’d slept with him?” I playfully argued.
“Cut out the indignant act, Sydney.” Lexi leaned forward as she engaged me. “We both know what your end game was and judging by your mood I’m guessing he was either a complete dud in bed or it didn’t happen. Now you don’t have to tell me, though I’m guessing you probably will. So let’s not waste time with the “I’m not a slut” routine because we both have work to do.” Her lips curled into a smile.
“Seems like I’m not the only one who’s narky. Didn’t you get a shag last night either? ” Last I had seen, Johnny was desperately trying to get into her pants.
“I told you, I don’t date teenagers.” She shot back.
“Lexi, Johnny is 21.” I corrected her. He was far from a teenager, perfectly legal and perfectly delicious.
“See, a child. His balls probably haven’t even dropped yet! What do I even do with that?!” She screwed her brow in disgust as she waved her hand in mid-air.
“You know Lexi, you shouldn’t knock it until you’ve tried it. You might surprise yourself. These lads can be quite talented.” My Cheshire cat smile couldn’t hide which side of the debate I firmly stood on.
“Yeah, well when I feel the need to start dating One Direction I’ll let you know.” Lexi dismissed sarcastically.
“I hear Harry likes older women, you want me to get it sorted?” I offered.
“Fuck you.”
We both burst into hysterical laughter. It was honest to God refreshing to work with someone who not only had my respect but was also a riot to be around. As much as it was a cock-up to work for the Boys Club I had previously been working for, it gave me an entry point for which I was thankful. It was hard enough to crack into the US business world, but your chances were diminished if you happened to be sporting a pair of tits and spoke the Queen’s English. So it came as a blessing in disguise when the company I’d been working for “parted” ways with Power Station, it gave me the impetus to find something else.
“So…” I deliberately left my sentence trailing.
“You might as well get it over with,” Lexi grinned. She knew I was dying to talk about it.
“Zander was a disappointment. I mean, I wanted to be into him but it was such a piss poor effort! He was constantly looking around at other birds and when I finally got to pash him, his tongue was like a wild snake trying to burrow into my cheek. YUCK. I’m guessing the only talent he has with that mouth is singing. It was a classic case of reality not living up to the fantasy. I couldn’t be arsed taking it further.” There was more to the story, but I paraphrased. I’m no frigid prude but I expect that when a man has his tongue down my throat he would at least try and engage me. Zander was vacant and that was putting it mildly. No need to relive the disappointing night/morning.
“Well, better to find out sooner than later. Sorry Syd. So I guess you’re no longer interested in representing them?” Lexi twisted gently in her chair.
“Oh, I’m still interested in representing them. Zander may be a complete twat but he’s a talented twat. Might be small fry compared to Power Station but I can see the potential.” It was the truth. Insipid was on the rise and I wanted “in” at the entry level. While I was happy to take a knock on a personal level (nothing a quick whirl of my vibrator didn’t fix) I wasn’t going to forgo a chance to grab at this amazing opportunity and expand my professional development.
Lexi gave me her knowing smile as she looked back at her computer monitor.
“Alex looked good…” I bit my lip as I continued the conversation about last night. I wasn’t ready to settle into the nine-to-five grind yet.
“Hmmm,” Lexi looked up, “I guess he looked ok. It was dark. I wasn’t paying that much attention.” She shrugged as she went back to her work.
“Bollocks! You can’t have that in a room and not notice! That man is fine spelt with a capital F. How that man doesn’t violate some Newtonian law is a mystery! Granted he ticks a higher age box than I usually go for but there is no way I’d turn him down. Of course it has never gone any further than a few steamy, naughty dreams being that he was our client. Professionalism and all that.” I took another sip of my rapidly depleting coffee. I swear they need to make a bigger cup. A bucket might be more appropriate.
“Yes. It wouldn’t be smart to sleep with the client.” Lexi snipped, her mood darkening. Lex was usually happy to gossip with me within reason and she always reined it in when it was time to get back to work, but being short with me was out of character for her. I was willing to chalk it up to fatigue and not press her further. I had learned in the small amount of time we had known each other that Lexi Reed does not divulge information that Lexi Reed does not want to share.
“Well in any case,” I cautiously changed tactic, “I’m guessing he’s going to give this Marcy deal a red hot go because I didn’t even see him look at another girl last night. So we should probably prepare for Soap Weekly and all those other cheap and nasty magazines to be giving us a bell.” I was surprised at first, Alex was a known flirt, and so I half expected him to at least have a girl or two hanging off his arm last night. He didn’t however; well not in the time I’d seen him. He was the perfect gentleman and had stood beside Lexi the whole time.
“Yep.” Lexi muttered under her breath, oddly quiet for someone who usually has so much to say.
“Something the matter?” I was confused by the sudden shift in the vibe. It was as if the air had cooled significantly in the room.
“Sorry, Syd. No nothing is the matter. I’m just trying to wrap my head around all of this. You’re right. Alex dating Marcy will elevate our workload. Can you look into any requests please?” Lexi’s tone was even and relaxed.
I’m guessing whatever was bothering her was something other than the conversation at hand.
“Of course. Besides, you only have me for another fortnight and then I’m done. Might as well get your money’s worth out of me.” I winked, knowing that it was going to be too soon that my time with Power Station and the account was going to end. “Though I do think you’re on the wrong side of crazy to be doing this all yourself.” I had no idea how Lexi was going to manage a project like this on her own.
“Didn’t you get the memo Syd? I’m fucking superwoman!” Lexi grinned as she continued to work through her daily tasks.
“Nah, you have way more class than her. Tell me why the villain superheroes always get the better wardrobe?? Surely if you had superpowers you could fly your arse to Barneys and get yourself a stylist.” I hadn’t meant for the random thought to escape my lips.
“Well thank you, but I think I can do this by myself. Besides, do you really see me relinquishing control now I am finally at the wheel? This is like a dream come true, there are people who go their whole career without this kind of opportunity.” Lexi’s tone was unemotive but I could tell she felt she had a lot to prove.
“Trust me sister, I get that. However, there were three managers assigned to this portfolio, three and me, as an assistant. In case they didn’t teach you addition back there in Aussieland, that’s four bodies… four! You are one person and as fan-fucking-tastic as you are you can’t split yourself into four. Although if you can, we’re ditching these guys and giving Circque de Soleil a run for its money!” I hoped she wouldn’t take my observation as criticism, because it wasn’t. I just struggled to see how she was going to manage on her own.
“Syd. Firstly, there is nothing wrong with our education system in Aussieland. Secondly, I won’t know what I’m capable of unless I try, right? I get bored if I don’t push myself out of my comfort zone and this is a great challenge.” Lexi refused to enter into the discussion further. She’d made her mind up and come hell or high water, she was on a solo mission.
“Fine, fine. Do it yourself you crazy bitch, but I think you are stark raving mad.”
“You say the nicest things,” Lexi threw her head back and laughed.