Office Perks (29 page)

There was only one bottle of fizz left, so Hilary sent Bobbie for more, with instructions not to spare the expense. We'd just about finishing cleaning up, and I was bunging those clothes that had a chance of being saved into the washing machine when the doorbell went. Sophie was in her bedroom, getting dressed, so I went, expecting Bobbie with the champagne.

It wasn't.

It was Keith, holding a bottle of cheap white wine, his voice full of forced merriment as he spoke.

‘Hi, Lucy, Keith's here, so now it's party time!'

I hesitated, just too long, wondering what to say, and he'd pushed inside. With everyone sitting around drinking champagne I could hardly deny it was a party and I wasn't telling the truth in a hurry. I didn't want to hurt his feelings either, even if it was crass of him to turn up uninvited just because he knew we'd be getting together. Yet what could I say?

Sophie emerged from the bedroom, now in a red PVC cat suit that left her breasts bare, clearly up for more.

‘Keith!'

He was staring, open mouthed. The look on her face changed from surprise to annoyance as she covered her breasts.

‘What are you doing here?'

I heard the lift chime and quickly went to the open door in case it was a neighbour.

It wasn't.

It was Luke, and with him Big Dog the rentboy, one in denims, the other in leathers, including tight,
abbreviated shorts. I quickly pulled the door to, then changed my mind, not wanting them inside, but not wanting them outside either.

‘Come in, quick. What are you doing, here?'

‘Aaron's here, yeah?'

‘Yes, but . . .'

I hustled them inside and shut the door. Sophie was talking to Keith, who looked as if he was about to cry. Aaron stood up, grinning. Todd stepped forward, throwing a questioning glance at me. I raised my hands in exasperation as Big Dog spoke, jerking his thumb towards Luke.

‘Hi bro, this is my bitch, like I promised, and this . . . this is the bitch who sent you up the Heath.'

They were looking at me, and I knew how they'd found out, through Luke. Aaron gave a slow nod, the friendliness suddenly gone from his face. I raised my hands, babbling, even as Todd stepped towards us.

‘It was a joke, that's all, Jesus!'

The bell went. This time I checked, looking through the peephole and half expecting to find Maryam Smith, Father Jessop, Charles King, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

It wasn't.

It was Bobbie, and I quickly let her in, grabbing the bag of champagne bottles from her hand in desperate hope of defusing the situation.

‘Come on, everyone, champagne all round!'

Hilary spoke up.

‘I really don't think . . .'

‘Look, you little bitch, I want to know what the game is,' said Aaron, who would not take kindly to being made to look a fool.

‘Yeah, little bitch is right,' said Big Dog.

Todd jumped in.

‘You call her that again, you dirty poof . . .'

Bobbie was calling for calm. The room dissolved in noise, everyone talking at once, voices rising with anger. I put my hands up, struggling for anything that would just make them shut-up. The bell chimed. I went, grateful for the interruption, and expecting an irate neighbour.

It wasn't.

It was Niall. Dressed as Superman.

‘Hi, Perky, I'm your stripper.'

I began to stammer, wondering how in hell to explain Aaron and Big Dog, Luke and Todd.

‘I . . . we . . . er . . . we've already got a stripper . . . strippers.'

‘You've got other blokes in there?'

He pushed the door wide, too strong for me to do anything. I turn to face the room as he stepped in, biting my lip in an agony of embarrassment. He froze, staring at Todd.

‘So it's true! You bastard!'

Todd turned on him, massive fists coming up. Big Dog snatched the moment, swinging a punch in. Todd caught it and pushed, sending the rent boy sprawling on the floor and closed with Niall in a flurry of fists. The girls were shouting, Keith was in tears, Aaron was yelling abuse. Hilary Chalmers gave an angry exclamation, rounding on me as I back for the open door.

‘And where do you think you're going?' she said, haughty voice back in place.

‘Er, university. Bye.'

And with that, I ran, my wild red hair flowing behind me.

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Epub ISBN: 9780753532881

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Black Lace books contain sexual fantasies. In real life, always practise safe sex.

First published in 2005 by

Black Lace

Copyright © Monica Belle, 2005

The right of Monica Belle to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

ISBN 9780352339393

All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.