Derek Smeath.
I promised to be there. I promised. And here I am, with half an hour to go, all the way over at the Ritz. Oh God. What am I going to do?
I switch off the TV, bury my head in my hands, and try to think calmly and rationally. OK, if I got going straight away, I might make it. If I got dressed as quickly as possible, and ran downstairs and jumped in a taxi – I might just make it. Fulham's not that far away.
And I could be a quarter of an hour late, couldn't I? We could still have the meeting. It could still happen. In theory, it could still happen.
'Hi,' says Luke, putting his head round the bathroom door. He's got a white towel wrapped round his body, and a few drops of water are glistening on his shoulders. I never even noticed his shoulders last night, I think, staring at them. God, they're bloody sexy. In fact, all in all, he's pretty damn…
'Rebecca? Is everything OK?'
'Oh,' I say, starting slightly. 'Yes, everything's great. Lovely! Oh, and guess what? I just bought the most wonderful…'
And then for some reason I stop myself, mid-stream.
I'm not exactly sure why.
'Just… having breakfast,' I say instead, and gesture to the room-service tray. 'Delicious.'
A faintly puzzled look passes over Luke's face, and he disappears back into the bathroom. OK, quick, I tell myself. What am I doing to do? Am I going to get dressed and go? Am I going to make the meeting?
But my hand's already reaching for my bag as though it's got a will of its own; I'm pulling out a business card and punching a number into the phone.
Because, I mean, we don't actually need to have a meeting, do we?
And I'd probably never make it in time, anyway.
And he probably won't even mind. He's probably got loads of other stuff he'd prefer to be doing instead. In fact, he probably won't even notice.
'Hello?' I say into the phone, and feel a tingle of pleasure as Luke comes up behind me and begins to nuzzle my ear. 'Hello, yes, I'd… I'd like to leave a message for Mr Smeath.'
BANK OF HELSINKI
HELSINKI HOUSE
124 LOMBARD ST
LONDON EC2D 9YF
Rebecca Bloomwood
c/o William Green Recruitment
39 Farringdon Square
London EC4 7TD
5 April 2000
Hyvi Rebecca Bloomwood
Saanen jilleen kerran onnitella teiti hienosta suorituksestanne – tilla kertaa,Morning Coffee» – ohjelmassa. Arvostelukykynne ja nakemyksenne tekivit minuun syvin vaikutuksen ja uskon, etti teisti olisi suurta hyatyi tiilli Helsingin Pankissa. Olette todenn/ik6isesti saanut lukemattomia ty6tar jouksia – teidin lahjoillanne voisi hyvin saada minki tahansa toimen «Financial Timesista.» Pyydin teiti kttitenkin vieli ken-an harkitsemaan vaatimatonta yhti6timme.
Parhaiten teille ehki sopisi viestintivirkailijan
paikka, joka meill[i on tilli hetkelli avoinna.
Toimen edellinen haltija erotettiin hiljattain hinen
luettuaan taissi «Playboyta.»
Parhaiten teille ehki sopisi viestintivirkailijan paikka, joka meill[i on tilli hetkelli avoinna. Toimen edellinen haltija erotettiin hiljattain hinen luettuaan taissi «Playboyta.»
Parhain terveisin
Ystivillisesti
Jan Vianen
The happy homeworking family
230a Burnside Road
Leeds L6 4ST
Ms Rebecca Bloomwood
Flat 2
4 Burney Rd
London SW6 8FD
7 April 2000
Dear Rebecca
I write to acknowledge receipt of 136 completed Fine Frames ('Sherborne' style – blue). Thank you very much for your fine work. A cheque for ?272 is enclosed, together with an application form for your next frame- making pack.
Our quality control manager, Mrs Sandra Rowbotham, has asked me to inform you that she was extremely impressed with the quality of your first batch. Novices rarely come up to the exacting standards of the Fine Frames Quality Promise – it is clear you have a natural gift for frame-making.
I would therefore like to invite you to come and demonstrate your technique at our next Framemakers' Convention, to be held in Wilmslow on June 21. This is an occasion when all the members of the Fine Frames home-working family gather under one roof, with a chance to exchange frame-making tips and anecdotes. It's a lot of-fun, believe me!
We very much look forward to hearing from you.
Happy frame-making!
Malcolm Headley
Managing Director
P.S. Are you the same Rebecca Bloomwood who gives advice on Morning Coffee?
Endwich Bank
FULHAM BRANCH
3 Fulham Road
London SW6 9JH
Ms Rebecca Bloomwood
Flat 2
4 Burney Road
London SW6 8FD
10 April 2000
