The Tangled Web (7 page)

Vicky says…

It shows he’s not faithful though.

Christos says…

You could always get him to confide in her that he’s
already cheated?

Vicky says…

He’s unlikely to confide in a strange woman he’s just met
online though.

Christos says…

I see your point.

Vicky says…

We’ll get payment either way, through PayPal or something
similar.  Flic is sorting out that side of things.  We’ll share profits
fifty-fifty.  I’m in charge of creating characters and recruiting new business
- anything creative and blog-based is my job.  Flic does all the actual
flirting.  Well, I might do a bit too once we’re up and running but for now I’m
just handling the creative side of things.

Christos says…

How far is she going to take it?  Will she...y’know…?

Vicky says…

Oh no!  That’s one thing we agreed on.  No cybersex.

Christos says…

Glad to hear it :)

Vicky says…

Though we could probably get a bonus payment if we showed
evidence of that!

Christos says…

Don’t joke about that Vicky.  I don’t like the idea of you
doing that.

Vicky says…

Ok, ok.  No jokes about having cybersex for money.

Christos says…

I mean don’t joke about having cybersex with anyone.  I
don’t like to think of you doing that with a stranger.

Vicky says…

Do you think of me doing that with someone who’s not a
stranger? 

Christos says…

I’m not answering that. 

Christos says…

So who else knows about this venture?

Vicky says…

Just you, me, Flic and Scarlett.  Nobody else.  And we want
to keep it that way.  We have to be anonymous.  We’re not sure how this would
affect our own relationships with men either.  And I don’t want anyone who
reads my new blog to know it’s me.  This is completely anonymous.  I’ll use a
pseudonym.

Christos says…

Can I ask you something?  I want an honest answer.

Vicky says…

Ok…

Christos says…

Is it worth going through all this just to have something
to write about?

Vicky says…

I think it is.  I need something to inspire me.  Now that I
have Sasha, all I do is work and be a mother.  I have no social life.  I don’t
travel.  I don’t do much at all.  All I do at night is sit on here and chat to
you or write blogs.  What is there to write about if I don’t spice things up a
bit?  I worry I’m boring people.  I’m losing readers :(

Christos says…

Fair enough.  There are worse ways to spend your nights
than talking to me though :P

Vicky says…

I know
;)

Christos says…

You’re not going to forget about me, are you?  Now that
you’ve got this new business venture and you’ll be trying to turn on random
sleazebags  :(

Vicky says…

NOOOOO!  I’ll always have time for you ;)

Christos says…

:)

Vicky says…

So, what’s been happening with you?

Christos says…

Oh, just the usual.  Dirty nappies, screaming babies, moody
girlfriend.  Nothing to report.

Vicky says…

What about work?

Christos says…

Crap as usual.  The best thing about today was visiting
Silver Thistle Funeral Directors.  The prettiest undertaker I’ve ever seen
works there :)

Vicky says…

Our little virtual coffee break kept me going.  I’d be lost
without those ;)  I know we’re just texting to say what chocolate bar and drink
we’re having but it’s something I look forward to :)))

Christos says…

Me too :)  Oh, before I forget, I meant to ask you about
Maggie….

Vicky says…

You mean Magnus? :D

Christos says…

Magnus?  It’s a bloke?  Adam’s gay???

Vicky says…

Magnus Pellicci.  Adam’s new BUSINESS partner. 
Entrepreneur extraordinaire.  Half Italian, half Swedish.  Looks like Dolph
Lundgren, but hotter and younger with green eyes <3

Christos says…

Sounds like just the kind of guy you would fancy.  Hot,
foreign, memorable eyes.

Vicky says…

He is!  And he’s actually not foreign, he’s from Kilmarnock
originally.  Just foreign heritage.  It’s maybe a bit soon after Ian, but…a
rebound fling might be just what I need.  He flirted with me quite a bit after
Flic left last night :D  She and Magnus didn’t seem to hit it off so I didn’t
get a chance to speak to him properly until she had left.  But I feel like we
really did get on well!

Christos says…

Seriously?

Vicky says…

Yeah, he kept trying to tickle me!  We talked a bit and we
like all the same music.  His favourite band is Suburban Legends too, and he
loves to travel.  If I wasn’t heartbroken, I’d probably be really keen on him.

Christos says…

Sounds like you are already.

Vicky says…

Maybe I am :)  He asked me if we could swap mobile numbers,
and he sent me a friend request on Tête-a-net last night!

Christos says…

That’s promising. 

Vicky says…

What’s wrong?  You don’t think a rebound fling is a good
idea?

Christos says…

Nothing’s wrong.  I think a rebound fling is fine as long
as it’s nothing serious.  I just can’t believe someone else has heard of
Suburban Legends

Vicky says…

Awww, Christos :) *hug* I know you’re worried about me, but
I’ll be fine.  You know me, I’ll be keen on him for a week, get my heart broken
then move onto the next virtual crush.

Christos says…

So where do I get the link to this new blog of yours?

Vicky says…

I’ll email it to you.  Flic and I have also set up
Tête-a-net accounts for the business in fake names so we can get more
publicity.  She refuses to blog properly so this is the only way I can get her
online.  She doesn’t have profiles ANYWHERE online!  Isn’t that strange?

Christos says…

It is.  What’s your usernames?  I’ll subscribe to your
updates.

Vicky says…

Ok.  Again, don’t laugh.  We wanted to take the names of famous
detectives and put our own spin on them – so people remember them.

Christos says…

And they are….?

Vicky says…

Well, my favourite is Magnum PI so my username is Magnum
PMT.

Christos says…

*rolls eyes* Suits you :P

Vicky says…

Are you saying I’m moody???

Christos says…

No :)

Vicky says…

Are you saying I’ve got a moustache then? *slap*

Christos says…

Don’t put words in my mouth :P  So what’s Flic’s?

Vicky says…

Her favourite is The Pink Panther.  So she’s ThePinkCougar.

Christos says…

Now, I don’t know her, but it sounds like that definitely
DOES suit her.

Vicky says…

Actually it does ;)

Christos says…

I’ll be an avid reader of your new blog when you send me
the link.  I love reading them.  I wish mine were as popular.

Vicky says…

Your blogs are great!

Christos says…

Thanks.  When I have as many subscribers as you, I might
believe that ;)

Vicky says…

Ooooh, I just got a text from Flic!  Adam’s asked her out. 
She’s asking if I mind her going out with him.  It’s not like I’m going to say
no.

Christos says…

Might be tricky, dating her business partner’s brother.

Vicky says…

It won’t last.  That’s why I have no problem with it

Christos says…

Why do you say that?

Vicky says…

She’s not his type. 

Vicky says…

It does make me a bit sad though.  I’m the only single
person I know now.  Everyone else is paired off :(

Christos says…

Magnus isn’t...

Vicky says…

He might have a girlfriend already for all I know.  I
haven’t asked yet.  And his relationship status on Tête-a-net was blank.

Christos says…

He’d be crazy if he didn’t snap you up ;) 

Vicky says…

Must be a lot of crazy men out there then because nobody
has snapped me up so far.

Christos says…

Maybe some of the men you know would, but they’re not in a
position to.

Vicky says…

Well, if they’re not in a position to snap me up, I’m not
in a position to think about them!

Christos says…

You know, maybe there’s someone out there
thinking...another time, another place, who knows…

Vicky says…

Doubt it.

Christos says…

I have to go now.  Sounds like somebody’s had a bad dream
and is crying for Dad.  Goodnight, agapi mou *hugs*

Vicky says…

Goodnight Chris :) *hugs back*

5

16
^th
January

They stepped into the pub and Flic’s heart sank.  Adam had
no taste.  No, that was wrong.  He did have taste.  It was just fucking awful.

When he said he was taking her out for dinner, she hadn’t
expected to have a candlelit table on a boat sailing down the River Seine, with
the Eiffel Tower illuminating the landscape and the most exquisite meal she had
ever tasted served to her by men who were gargoyles in comparison to her date –
but she had certainly expected something better than this.