"Shit, that can't be the time?" Helen suddenly exclaimed.
I raised my head from my screen and looked at the wall clock.
"It's gone five o'clock Hels, you're gonna miss your bus!" I told her unhelpfully.
"Yes I know that Tom, thank you so very fucking much!" She flashed me a quick smile as she threw her coat around her shoulders.
"You really should learn to manage your time better," I teased, echoing a comment Jodie had made in her appraisal.
She gave me what my gran would have called an old fashioned look. "Staying late again Tom, you little kiss arse? Try and find that last fuck I couldn't give while you're here."
She was captivating in her carefree, casually hostility.
"Someone has to cover for your unfocused commitment to spreadsheets." I countered, again trying to needle her with comments from her appraisal.
"Enjoy your date tomorrow, hopefully this guy won't be put off by that hideous disfigurement and will help you break that dry spell."
The "hideous disfigurement" was a small mole that sat daintily above her cheek, that was in fact absolutely adorable.
"What do you know about my dry spell?" She accused, "And don't pretend you wouldn't be all up in this..." She indicated her petite, shapely form, "if you didn't have that poor woman chained up in your basement."
She referred to my live-in girlfriend, who I hadn't yet told her was no longer live-in, and in fact, no longer my girlfriend.
Jen had found out, and now kept her distance from me.
And I knew more about Helen's dry spell than I could let on.
"I'd love to stay and continue this repartee, but I've a bus to catch, and frankly I'm sick of looking at your face, toodles!" She finger waved and headed for the exit.
"See you Monday Hel's Bells." I called after her retreating back.
Silence fell like silt upon the office, just the thrum of electronics, unnoticed in the day, now filling the void.
I made a note on my pad, clicked my pen on the desk and tossed it to the side. I leant back in my chair and stretched out the day.
I loved Friday's.
Tuesdays and Thursdays too, but especially Fridays.
Helen and I sat opposite each other, I, at my desk everyday, Hel's angel only Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. She W.F.H for the other two days.
But Fridays were just her and I in the whole office, I had her all to myself. We had become good buddy's over the months we'd worked together, and I treasured my time with her.
But of course, there was the other reason.
Since Jen had found out my peculiarity, I had promised myself I'd stop. The last time was the last time.
It was bad enough her catching me at home, but imagine getting caught on the bus, or the gym!
It would be unpleasant.
Enough was enough and I would indulge no more.
I picked up my pen again and gave it a few more clicks, then threw it down again.
I tried entering some data, but my attention wouldn't stick to the screen, it kept being pulled back to...
No, Tom, come on man. You'be gone two weeks. You were doing well. Don't submit now.
She could come back.
She wouldn't, she'd left later and still caught her bus. And even if she had missed it she wouldn't come back to the bloody office!
But that wasn't the point was it?
The threat of getting caught shouldn't be the reason to stop.
It was wrong. Intrusive, perverted, and immoral.
My heart beat faster. I felt a pulse of blood flood my groin as I thought of the last time.
I needed it. Maybe once more?
I suddenly remembered Jens face after she walked in on me in the living room, on my knees.
The disgust. Revulsion. The undisguised loathing on her face.
That time, I had thought I had time to get my fix, but she'd walked back in too soon.