Prologue
Rachel was pretty. She dressed well, favouring mid-thigh skirts and short bolero style jackets over semi translucent blouses for her work as a PA to one of the directors of the Prudential.
Her red hair fell in curls over her shoulders framing her pretty face. Almond shaped deep hazel-coloured eyes had depth to them and her almost-pixy nose perched cutely above her full lips. When she looked at herself in the mirror, Rachel was happy with what she saw.
Rachel was reasonably thin, and it seemed she didn't have to do much to maintain her figure, except to be careful what she ate. She was of average height at 5'8".
The Pru., as it was colloquially known, was the biggest insurance company in the UK and their head offices on Tottenham Court Road in London were housed in a 26-storey skyscraper.
Thousands of employees came every day from Tottenham Court Road tube station, or with the bus from Oxford Street to take their place behind a desk and work from 9am to 5pm.
The work suited Rachel and she was happy to have a female boss who treated her well. They often chatted about Rachels single status and her social life. But Alison was also a diligent and hard-working director who had fought hard to rise in the ranks of what was otherwise a male-dominant environment.
From her office on the 5th floor, Rachel had a view of the hustle and bustle of the city below from around the tube station to the junction of New Oxford Street.
On her floor there were 3 offices grouped together with a small kitchenette or canteen where the Pa's took their breaks and organized coffee and tea for their bosses and their visitors. A fridge with wine and beer was also located in case there was any entertainment planned for visitors.
The job paid well, and Rachel had a comfortable life. She could easily afford the mortgage on her flat in Euston Road. The price tag had seemed steep at first, but with two bedrooms, Rachel had managed to sub-let and her housemate, Anna, paid a large share of the mortgage for her.
Anna and Rachel were both happy to be single. At 25 and 27 years old respectively, they were both not ready to settle down just yet. Rachel was very comfortable and though she had gone through several relationships, she had not yet found the man who rocked her world enough to "up sticks" and move in with. She wasn't really searching, but rather hoped her prince charming would one day come and sweep her off her feet.
Anna and Rachel were good friends, but they moved in different social circles. Weekends for Anna were mainly spent at a tennis club in Camden Town, where she was a member. Anna worked in research at the London School of Economics. Sundays were reserved by both women for relaxing with the newspaper over a late and lazy breakfast together, catching up on washing and cleaning, and preparing for work on Monday. Rachels social life revolved mostly around her work colleagues, but especially around the other two PAs from her office, Doreen and Anne.'
Doreen was born and bred in the East End of London and had never lost that wicked Cockney sense of humour. She could talk 'proper posh' when she was at work, but once she was in the pub she transformed into a raucous, but hilarious woman who poked fun at everything and anything. Nothing was off bounds and Rachel had often found herself blushing and laughing as Doreen poked fun at her single life. Doreen had married a bricklayer at the tender age of 19 and they were happy together.
Anne was rather more reserved. She had emigrated from Ireland some ten years earlier and had settled into life as a PA. She had a steady boyfriend who worked for Transport for London in Acton Town on the west side of the city.
It was Friday. At 3pm.
Rachels boss had already left the office to avoid the rush hour traffic.
Alison lived in Kingston on Thames and had the luxury of a parking space in the underground garage under the office building. The commute took just over an hour each day, but it was worth the trip to be able to live in the luxurious house that she had bought and renovated with her husband.
Doreen popped her head around the door to Rachels office.
"You on for goin' down to the Brickies." She asked in her unmistakable Cockney accent.
Rachel looked up from her PC and said. "Yes, my lover." She answered in her own heavily exaggerated Cornish accent.
Doreen laughed. "And later I will be goin' down on my own brickie." She said with wide grin on her face.
"Too much detail Doreen." Rachel replied. "I don't need to hear about your sex life."
Doreen laughed again and said. "Who knows Rach. Maybe, you'll get lucky and get to go down on someone too."
Rachel blushed. She had been 'dry' for quite a while now.
"Ooh, touched a nerve, did I?" Doreen teased her.
Rachel now even redder tossed a ball of paper at the door as Doreen fled back to her own desk crying "5 o'clock sharp Rach. Anne is coming too."
At 5pm sharp, Rachel stood ready. Anne and Doreen left their desks and the three took the lift to the ground floor, exiting the building by the main entrance.
The Bricklayers Arms was a five-minute walk and their favourite watering hole. It was an old Georgian style pub on a quieter side street. It was a typical traditional London pub, frequented mostly by office workers and others who worked in the area. Tourists didn't often find it.
"I could sink a nice G and T this evening." Rachel said.
"And if you get lucky, you might get to sink something else too. Know what I mean." Doreen teased.
Rachel blushed again and both Anne and Doreen laughed.
"Come on." Said Anne "I'm parched."
"And Rachel is dry as a bone." Laughed Doreen.
Rachel punched her gently in the shoulder. "It's not fair. You two have your men waiting to take care of your needs at home and poor old me has to depend on good luck or coincidence to get laid."
"Hear that?" asked Doreen, rubbing her finger and thumb together. "World's smallest violin playing sad music."
Rachel punched her shoulder again.
They entered the pub and ordered three Gin and Tonics and a cheese platter.
They chatted away as the pub filled up with workers, tired at the end of the week and looking for some relaxation before heading into the weekend.
At the table next to them a couple of young women took a seat and were chatting away. Rachel overheard a little bit of their conversation which seemed to be about one of their boyfriends. She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the tables were so close together that you couldn't help but catch snippets.
Doreen got louder and more raucous with every G and T (they were on their third already and Rachel was feeling slightly tipsy) She engaged the two women in conversation, and they chatted away amicably with the three PAs.
At 7.30pm, and after five G an Ts, Doreen stood and said. "Well, that's me. I'm off home to shag the brickie and grab a bite to eat. See you all on Monday."
The other four at the table laughed and wished her a good trip home.
"I'd better make a move too." Said Anne. "Have a great weekend. I will see you on Monday too."
"Aw stay for just one more Anne." Rachel pleaded. "Are you going to leave me all on my own."
"No can-do Rach. My boyfriend will be waiting for me to have dinner with him. See you Monday." Anne replied as she pulled on her coat and left.
One of the two other girls also started to prepare herself to leave. She kissed her friend on the cheek and said "Ciao bella. See you Monday."
Her friend replied "Ciao Giovanna. Have a great weekend."
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Italian?" she asked.
"My father was Italian. My mother is English. I grew up with both languages, but if I am honest, I prefer Italian. She answered. "I'm Isabella, Isabella Cobelli. The name says it all."
Isabella smiled coyly at Rachel.
"Rachel, Rachel Combs. Originally from Cornwall." Rachel replied.
In her tipsy state Rachel had been admiring Isabella's striking features.
