I'd like to thank all for the constructive comments on the first part of this story. I'm hoping this will develop into a series as I have plenty of ideas for characters and scenarios.
Enjoy it and any help on improving would be greatly appreciated.
*****
Early Monday morning. Peter was already in the office. Sitting in his swivel chair. Contemplating various outcomes.
Looking out the window. Black thunderclouds looming, moving across the sky slowly. Sunlight gone, he wondered if the sky was going to depict the mood for the day. The fields in the distance, looking dark, less appealing. Suddenly a gusty wind, ruffling the copious amounts of the umbrellas dotted about the streets. The lack of any faces made the day feel grim. The weather has a habit of setting peoples moods.
A knock at his door made him jump out of his thoughts. Was she here already? He waited a few seconds gathering himself and his thoughts. He swivelled back to face his desk.
"Come in" he said as normally as he could.
Verity's smiling face come around the edge of the door. "Morning" she started and then studying Peter more closely "wow, have a bad night?" she finished, sounding concerned.
His brain, though in a fog, managed to gather some coherent words "Oh, sort of. Kids have got some flu bug we think. Up most of the night."
"Oh, same as Carol. She called in sick this morning, poor thing." Verity still looked concerned.
"Anything you need Peter?" she asked "I've got some pain killers if you need them."
"I'm good. Thanks Verity" and he forced a smile.
"Okay, just let me know if you need me to cover anything today." she said and left the office.
Peter let out a long slow breath. He had thought, had been expecting, a potential showdown of some kind. Maybe even worse a summons to Spencers office. 'Had he misread the whole thing that badly' he kept saying to himself over the weekend. He had been so distracted his wife was even concerned. He kept her happy by explaining it was a work thing on his mind. His actions Friday, although a first for him, still fresh in his mind.
He tried busying himself for an hour or so. As hard as he tried he couldn't get Friday and Carol out of his mind. He had to do something. His head was spinning with the various negative scenarios. He picked up his mobile phone and went over the options. Call her or text her. The next 20 minutes he picked his phone up a dozen times only to put it down again with indecision.
Exasperated, he gave himself a stiff talking to, picked the phone up again.
'Text is best' he whispered to himself. Scrolling down his contacts he found Carols mobile number and brought up the text box.
'Hi Carol, I trust your illness was not brought on by my stupid actions Friday? Hope you feel better soon. Peter'
he typed. His finger lingered over the send button. His brain kept saying send it but his finger wouldn't do as it was asked. Finally, after rationing it was for the best, he sent it. His stomach flipped.
Thirty minutes went by and nothing back. Peter's mind now went into overdrive. He checked his phone constantly. Still nothing. 40 minutes became an hour. 'Should I call her?' he asked himself. He stared out the window again looking across to the distant fields, perhaps for an answer or just a different focus for some relief. He noticed the barley was now being kissed and rocked by the breeze. The black clouds fading in the distance. Replaced by warmer blue sky.
He was juddered back into action by two things. Firstly a knock at the door and then his phone buzzed indicating a text. His mind froze with indecision for some reason. What should he do first? He took a very deep breath and tried to relax. "Come in" he announced. He tried to see who the text was from but Verity breezed up to his desk. She placed two files on his desk and noticed him looking between her and his phone.
"Worried about your kids I bet?" she said breaking the silence. Her soft tone always calmed Peter.
"Err, yes" he sort of spat out "you know what it's like when they're ill." he made a waving arm gesture for some unknown reason.
She smiled "They'll soon bounce back, they always do, don't worry. These are the two files you asked for. Madeline, from accounts, dropped them off just now." Peters mind briefly pictured Madeline. 5ft 7in tall, bobbed grey hair and piercing grey eyes. Always wore bright coloured clothing. Reds and pinks. And she had the longest legs Peter had seen on a woman. Not big breasted but well proportioned. The other amazing feature she had was a big mouth. Not the shouting kind but just wide and well big.
"I'll let you get on" Verity announced as she turned heel and left, this broke him from his mental image of Madeline.
He took another deep breath and prepared to read the text he had. Carol's name appeared on the screen. A slight chill went through him. He swiped the phone to read it.
'I'm not really that ill Peter but thank you. Just wrestling with my thoughts. Carol x'
Peter read it over and over. Was the kiss at the end significant? Nah, all women put kisses on their texts, don't they? What thoughts was she having? Maybe she's contemplating complaining about me? His mind kept dealing with the negatives.
Peter typed
'I'm glad it's nothing serious. What thoughts are you wrestling with? Peter'
he didn't put a kiss as he never did he rationalised. He pressed send.
Only a few minutes later a reply
: 'You've probably been thinking this too... we know we shouldn't have done it, but why did it feel so good? Carol x'
Peter sighed deeply, relief, perhaps he was not going to get into any trouble after all. He may, in fact, have read the signs Carol gave correctly. Before he could reply another text arrived from Carol.
'I know you have to finish the bid this morning. Verity and I went through it again Friday Afternoon. You should be happy with the results of that I hope. Can you meet me for lunch? Carol x'.
Peter's mind suddenly got back to some resemblance of normality. He remembered the tirade from Spencer on Friday. 'Shit', he thought to himself, I do need to finish that bid. As if some telepathic moment happened, Verity walked in handing him the bid file. "You may need this" she said smiling and then continued "If you need anything from me just ask, I'm all yours today"
"Thanks Verity. I'll run through it and let you know. Thanks for covering for me on Friday too."
"Don't mention it, Carol did most of the work on it really. She deserves the credit, if there's credit due. I just went along for the ride." She smiled and winked. Flirty Verity was always there in the background he thought to himself. "I leave you to it then." she left his office again.
He began to open the file and then remembered Carols text... Lunch? He picked up his phone and typed
'I can get away for lunch. It would be good to talk. Anywhere in particular? Peter.'
Peter went back to reading the file, finally he had relaxed and could concentrate on work. About 30 mins later a reply from Carol
. 'Booked a booth at Route 66 Diner. 1pm. Carol x'
Strange choice Peter thought. He typed
'I look forward to seeing you there. Peter'
He immersed himself. Read through the bid again and was very impressed by the changes Carol and Verity had made. He added a few finishing touches here and there, gave the corrections to Verity to type up.
At midday he made his way to Spencers office quietly confident that this bid was a winner. To Peters relief Bill Spencer was indeed very happy and even shook Peters hand in the end. "This will get you up on that wall if we get it. I knew you had it in you, young man." Spencer pronounced.
As Peter left Spencers office he found Ashley arranging photo's on a big piece of corkboard. Studying them more closely he noticed they were from Fridays dress down day. Ashley smiled and said "Unfortunately you're not in any. You were feeling under the weather suddenly Carol told us"
"Err, yes" he stuttered then noticed a photo of Ashley and Spencer together. She was dressed as a rockabilly chick. Flared pink skirt and tight pink top. Little white pop socks and black pump shoes. Her hair was back in a pony tail. Quite a striking look for a red head. The thing that caught Peters eye was the fact that Spencer had his left arm around her back and his large hand was quite clearly under her left boob lifting it slightly. Peter stooped down to get a better look and lingered at it for longer than he probably should.