My name is David Hawthorne, known in some circles as 'Spike' and I run a moderately successful brokerage business. I have lived alone for over ten years now since my previous partner died in a car crash and in that time I have put all of my energies into the business.
That isn't to say that I have been a monk over the years I have had my share of flings: some were just one night stands others could have been more if I'd wanted them to be. The thing was that I didn't and so it was, at the age of 43 that I found myself saying a temporary 'farewell' to one of the few trusted people in my life, my PA of nearly nine years Miranda, as she prepared to go off on maternity leave to have her first child. I was dreading losing the closest thing I had to a friend but the moment couldn't be put off much longer as the baby was due in less than two weeks. Since the death of my partner Miranda had become a confidant so I knew that not having her there to support me was going to be difficult.
Miranda assured me that she had made 'suitable' arrangements and that I would scarcely miss her and as I drove into work on that first Monday I was dreading what would greet me sitting behind her desk. The building was quiet as I walked through to my office, I settled down to some post and was disturbed by a voice, 'Mr Hawthorne?'
I looked up to be greeted by a well dressed man, in his thirties. He was average height, clean shaven and stockily built. 'Good morning sir I'm Chris White, I'm from the agency, your PA arranged for me to start today.'
I was lost for words. Miranda had a sense of humour but this was outside even her best efforts - a male PA! I stood up and motioned him to come in, I put my hand out to shake his and as he took it in a firm warm grip he looked me straight in the eyes and I felt slightly uncomfortable with this stranger who had just walked into my life.
We sat and chatted briefly dealing with the details of his temporary contract, all seemed satisfactory so I showed him to his desk and went back to the post. I worked my way through all the items but all the time my mind was racing, what could Miranda have been thinking to bring this stranger into my life!
During that first day I gave Chris a few tasks: asked him to sort out some files for me, arranged some meetings and generally got him settled in. The day passed uneventfully as did the next and the first week. One thing I did notice about Chris was that he was always immaculately dressed: mostly dark colours, always formally and I suppose I picked up on this style for I looked out some of my suits, bought a few new shirts and even a couple of plain sober ties, not that I'm a 'tie' kind of bloke but it felt right that I at least had something suitable in my wardrobe if the need arose. I took to wearing suits in to work rather than my usual jeans and loose shirt and somehow it felt "right" to be setting that tone with my new employee.
Chris was quietly efficient too I found my desk tidied each night: papers for meetings were delivered to me in neat folders with all the details precisely set out on a headed sheet at the front. He took control of my diary in a way that left me more time for myself and I could see how efficiently he was managing my work load.
Then I needed to work over a weekend and Chris offered to make himself available too. I took him up on his offer and was surprised when he turned up wearing snug fitting jeans and equally close-fitting polo shirt.
We got through the work quickly and as lunchtime approached I offered to take him to lunch. He paused momentarily before accepting and we finished up, got into my car and set off for a local restaurant I knew.
Chris settled back into the passenger seat of my BMW and as I drove I sneaked the odd sideways glance at him. He looked different out of his suit more like a rugby player. During one of my secret glances he must have sensed me looking at him for he turned and met my gaze. My stomach churned. Over the meal we chatted about our lives, he seemed quite well informed about mine (I made a mental note to chide Miranda for that!). We touched on how he came to be a 'temp' and he told me that he did the work in between his main career which was a writer specialising in murder / mystery needless to say I was taken off balance by this revelation. He told me had had several novels published under his "pen-name" and I was rather surprised because I had recently read a review of his latest offering in one of the Sunday "heavies" which seemed to favour both the author and his product.
I said I'd heard of him, in his alter-ego, and a small smile passed across his face which transformed the normally quiet looking man into someone really attractive! As he sat there opposite me I knew why Miranda had chosen this man to work closely with me and I cursed her for her perception and blessed her for her taste! Clearly she knew me far better than I knew she did and far better than I knew myself.
Out of the blue Chris offered to get me invited to a book signing he was involved in over then next couple of weeks, "You'll probably find it a complete bore but it's an evening out and you might find the people-watching opportunity amusing - that's what always keeps me going!" I accepted without hesitation and we finished our meal, he said his goodbyes and went off into the sunlit afternoon, I returned to my house with an unsettled mind.
I rang Miranda: "How are you getting on with Mr. Efficiency then?" was her first question after we'd covered the birth of her daughter. "Fine, I think" was my response, "Why did you choose him?" there was silence then she said, "I thought he'd be good for you ... ..."
I was stunned, and said so. Miranda continued, "Well, I figured it was time you had a man in your life in some capacity and he came very highly recommended - isn't he any good then?"
I told her he was perfectly good at his job I just wasn't sure about all the other stuff he was awakening, "What other stuff?" So I told her about how I'd been feeling with him around, the meal we'd just had together and how it had left me feeling. Miranda was surprised, "Spike I really had no idea he was gay!"
"I'm not sure either" I replied "But the dreadful thing is I'm beginning to hope he might be 'cos he really is beginning to get under my RADAR."
We talked through this for a while and then Miranda made her excuses and eventually rang off. I was left with my feelings to mull over during the rest of the weekend and come Monday when I walked into the office my stomach was churning as I walked past the empty desk. Not long after I arrived Chris walked in, smart dark suit, dark shirt and contrasting tie - God he looked hot! He came in, wished me good morning and placed a sealed white envelope on my desk "Your invitation to the book-signing." I thanked him and when he'd left my office and settled down at his desk I opened the envelope, the address was a smart book store in the West End of London, and I was invited to the reception afterwards. I made a note in my diary and settled down to my work.
The day of the book signing arrived and I was unsettled at the thought of seeing a different side to Chris' life. He'd left early to get changed and meet his publisher and I left earlier than I would normally do to go home, get changed and make my way into London. In preparation I'd been out the previous week and bought myself a new suit, an expensive dark blue material which I matched with a pure white open-necked shirt. I'd also been to have my hair cut and styled and as I showered and shaved I looked at my reflection, rugged probably best describes my features, although the new hair cut had re-shaped my face and it was now framed with neatly styled spiked grey hair - although I didn't want to admit it, it did make me look younger, perhaps more distinguished, fanciable even - hell don't even go there!