‘Tell me,’ he raises his eyebrows, ‘What was his name?’
‘It's....it’s....none of your business,’ I stay stiffly.
I storm out of the room, trying to ignore him smiling happily away. What a smug bastard. I want to just punch him hard in the face. That would soon take that smirk off his stupid face.
I get changed as quickly as possible, putting on Jazz’s pink and blue wrap dress and black court shoes, as ordered by her last night. Well actually, at first she wanted me to wear her jungle dress which looks like it's made from leaves and trails on the floor after her as she walks. This was a compromise.
I try to forget all about Ryan, only next door. I mean, who the hell is he to judge me? He probably doesn’t even know how many people he’s slept with, let alone their names. He’s probably riddled with crabs and he doesn’t even know. Yes, crabs, I’ve decided. The thought of him with crabs makes me smile. He can be a smug bastard all he likes, but he’ll still have crabs, in my head.
The house phone rings, shaking me out of my thoughts. I open my door in case it’s Jazz for me.
‘Ryan!’ Izzy shouts down the stairs. ‘It’s for you.’
‘Thanks,’ he shouts back.
Who would want to call that jackass? Especially at this hour. I take my cup out to the kitchen and put it into the sink. Some unnatural urge makes me want to eavesdrop on his conversation. Probably some tart. Probably a booty call. I fuss around, pretending to look for something in the cupboard, while all the time trying to tune my ears into what he’s saying.
‘Yeah, you’re right...I know....I’ll come see you soon...yeah, I miss you too...ok, love you.’
Love you? God, he really is a player if he’s telling them he loves them. What a bastard. I doubt Jazz has it all wrong and he’s actually got himself a girlfriend. I can't imagine anyone wanting to spend more than an hour with him. He looks up and catches me staring at him. Shit. I snap myself out of it and turn, quickly trying to leave the room.
‘Ow!’ I yelp, banging my leg on the kitchen table. Why can I never just make a dignified exit?
‘Are you ok?’ he laughs.
‘Yes, of course!’ I shriek unnaturally. ‘I was just, um...’
QUICKLY! Think of something.
‘Eavesdropping?’ he accuses with a smug smile.
‘No!’ I say far too quickly. God, he’s so self-obsessed. ‘But I couldn’t help over-hearing. And you’re judging me for having a one night stand. Going around telling every girl you meet that you love them, that's far worse!’ My voice is shrill, and I swallow, trying to get my normal voice back.
‘Sorry, but I thought you were just having a go at me for being judgemental? Pot calling kettle if you ask me,’ he snorts.
‘Ha! How bloody dare you!’ As soon as I say it I feel like I’ve over-reacted.
‘Whatever.’ He rolls his eyes and stomps out of the room.
* * *
Lilly greets me at my desk, dressed in a bright peach dress which makes her tan look amazing. I wish I had natural fashion flare. I once tried to wear a gorgeous black and white dress, but I spilled strawberry milkshake down it within half an hour. I would normally gush over her outfit, telling her how pretty she looks, but today I hold back. I’m still furious with her for yesterday. I tense my face, looking as stern as possible.
‘Hey, I love your dress,’ Lilly says admiringly, seeming to ignore my cold reception.
‘I’m not talking to you,’ I say stiffly, sounding like a child in the playground.
‘Oh please!’ she begs. ‘I’m sorry. It just got a bit out of hand. I was just so scared you’d end up getting us both in trouble. I mean really, I was kind of saving you?’
I look up and her pathetic face wins me over. Her large blue eyes seem to have a power over people.
‘Ok. I forgive you.’
‘Thank God,’ she says, as if the whole incident had been a massive inconvenience.
‘God, you’re annoying.’
‘Love you too Pops.’ She smiles and punches me on the shoulder.
‘What have you two crazy cats been up to?’ Cheryl asks from the next desk, her obnoxious condescending face making me want to immediately punch her.
‘No, nothing for you to worry about,’ Lilly smiles politely.
‘Oooh, it must be interesting then. I do love your little stories; they remind me of my single days before I settled down and got real.’
‘Well thanks for the advice,’ Lilly snaps, rolling her eyes at me.
I quickly grab a post it and write on it ‘I HAD SEX LAST NIGHT!’
‘No!’ Lilly shouts, clapping her hands together. Her bracelets jingle together, as if a bell is being rung.
‘What's going on?’ Cheryl asks.
I glare at Lilly, pleading with her not to say anything.
‘Oh, nothing. I just broke a nail,’ she says, sucking her finger dramatically. She smiles back at me, while giving me a warning look which I think translates as “you must tell me everything later”.
‘Poppy! Ah, there you are,’ sighs Victor, coming out of his office, his normal olive skin red and flustered.
Lilly immediately runs towards her desk. Everyone here is terrified of Victor. He’s the CEO, and although only five foot tall, everyone runs in fear of him. He’s taken turns in humiliating every member of staff publicly over the years. Lilly’s incident involved a report and a banana. It still gives me chills just thinking about it.
‘Morning.’ I smile and quickly grab a post it and pen.
‘Glad to see you’re feeling better,’ he says formally, brushing a bit of dandruff from his shoulder. ‘Could I see you in my office for a moment?’
‘Yes, of course.’ I take a deep breath as I run there. I hope he’s not going to give me a lecture on being reliable. One bloody sick day in four years!
‘I’ve got the chairman, Mrs Dewitt, in today. She’s in the boardroom now, as you were late.’ He looks at his watch and then at me disapprovingly.
Late by two minutes. Definitely a sackable offence.
‘If you could sort out drinks and make sure she feels as comfortable as possible.’
‘Of course,’ I smile.
‘It's a B-I-G meeting today,’ he says, stretching out the word ‘big’ for emphasis. He stares at me, willing me to ask him to elaborate.
‘Oh really, why?’ I ask, un-interested.
‘Well, Poppy as you know, business has not been going very well this past year.’ He pauses for a second and looks over my shoulder. ‘Shut the door.’
I quickly close it, sudden nerves pulsating through me.
‘Business has not been good and I’m afraid...I’m afraid we’re going to have to make redundancies.’
‘Redundancies?’ I blurt out.
My stomach curdles at the thought and I suddenly feel ill with panic.
‘Yes. Strictly confidential, you understand.’ He lowers his bushy grey eyebrows on me in a threatening manner.
I nod, unable to speak.
‘This is the final sign off and we’ll be making them by the end of the month.’
‘This month?’
My hands are clammy now.
‘Yes,’ he nods.
‘Do they have to be made? These redundancies. Isn’t there...another solution?’
‘Poppy, this is a recession,’ he says, sighing heavily.
‘Yes, but...’
‘But what Poppy?’ he shouts, his face getting red as he loses what little patience he had.
I was going to say that surely kids still get nits, even in a recession.
‘Nothing,’ I say instead, hating myself. Why can't I be like the women in those films that stands up to her boss and instead manages to get a promotion?
‘Good. Now you are to say nothing about this, understood?’
I nod and follow Victor into the boardroom. I watch him numbly as he starts his usual middle classed babble of ridiculous chat with the Chairman. How can this be happening?
‘Have you seen any of that big fat gypsy wedding?’ Mrs Dewitt says to him from across the boardroom table. ‘Oh Victor, it was such fun!’
‘Oh, yes!’ Victor nods. ‘Poppy here is Irish. Tell us Poppy, are any of your family in it?’
I look over my shoulder, sure he must be talking to another Poppy. Is he serious? Is he seriously calling me a gypsy?
‘Um...no. Not all Irish people are gypsies and it's only on my Mother’s side.’ Why did I feel the need to tell him that? I’m not embarrassed.
‘They’re a funny bunch, aren’t they,’ Victor says, ignoring me completely. ‘The outfits they wear! I mean, my goodness!’
I look down at Mrs Dewitt’s outfit, consisting of an orange mini skirt with fish net tights and a purple shirt which looks like it's going to burst open at any moment.
‘Tea or coffee?’ I offer, not sure how they’re managing to have normal care free conversation when they’re about to talk redundancies. They’re going to ruin some people’s lives.
‘Oh, but I do love the Irish,’ Mrs Dewitt says. ‘Went to Dublin a few years back. Wonderful people.’
‘Oh yes. Well, like I said we have our very own little leprechaun to bring us good luck,’ Victor laughs.
I wonder who’s safe and who’s not. Paul the salesman has just bought a new house and Jeremy’s wife has just had twins.