never lives up to expectations. They aren?t very comfortable, and it?s impossible to look good when you?re on one.
Mike brings me over a beer and then tosses a holdall onto my lap. It?s heavier than I expected and larger, too. Still, I?m going to Rome, I keep reminding myself.
?Won?t be a problem, will it?? I wonder what Mike would say if I said ?yes.?
?It?s quite heavy,? I say instead, but Mike doesn?t answer.
?So what?s in it?? I ask. I mean, I have a right to know, don?t I?
Mike looks up sharply. ?Georgie,? he says with a sigh, ?if you don?t want to help me out here, just say so, okay? If you want me to have to pay another ?500 in excess baggage costs to take it with me, just say the word and I?ll do it.?
I stare at him. I forgot he could be such a drama queen.
?Fine, I?ll take it,? I say crossly. ?I was only asking a question.?
?Thanks, Georgie. Look, sorry for snapping. I?ve just got so much shit to deal with right now, y?know??
I wonder what sort of shit, but don?t think it?s really the time to ask. Instead, I lean back on the beanbag and take a gulp of my beer. These are seriously cool offices. Maybe if I get made redundant from Leary?s I could get a job at a record label or something. I could sit around and listen to records and sign up cool young things. I could end up going out with a pop star.
?Do you have to do much research?into bands and stuff, I mean?? I ask Mike.
He looks at me uncertainly. ?Research? Nah. It?s all in here.? He points to his head.
I lean back again, imagining myself in an interview at Polygram or somewhere, pointing to my head and saying confidently ?All my music knowledge doesn?t come from research?it?s all in here.?
There?s a loud buzzing noise and Tracey calls over to Mike, ?The boys are here. They say they?ve come for the gear.?
Mike stands up quickly. ?Yeah, right. Um, let them in, will you??
He turns to me. ?So don?t you have to make a move??
?I?m sorry??
?We?ve got to clear out in a minute. Got a record launch to go to. I?d love you to come but it?s a stupid guest-list thing. You can get back all right, can?t you??
I struggle to my feet. I was rather enjoying my beer actually.
?Oh, no problem?I?m going out tonight anyway.? I?m not really, but I can?t help lying?something about Mike always makes me want to make out like I?ve got a more exciting life than I actually do. As I pick up the holdall two men appear at the door. They don?t look like record label types. For one thing, they?re wearing really bad jeans, the sort of thing people wore in the eighties. Although I suppose the eighties is meant to be back in again. It could be me who?s out of touch.
?Drink?? asks Mike.
The two men both stare at me.
?Georgie?s just leaving, aren?t you,? he says, looking at me pointedly.
I walk toward the door. Honestly, I?m doing Mike a favor with this stupid bag, and he?s desperate to get rid of me. I?m going to be revisiting my SWOT analysis just as soon as I get home.
?Sorry mate, can?t stay,? says one of the men. ?Just give us the goods and we?ll be on our way.?
Tracey places a blue carrier bag with a large package in it on the reception desk.
?Got a sample, have you?? the other one asks. I pause at the door. I somehow don?t think they?re talking about music samples.
Sure enough I see Mike reach into his back pocket and pull out a small wrap.
?Drugs?? I say indignantly before I can stop myself. ?Mike, I can?t believe you.?
Everyone stares at me.
?Georgie, weren?t you on your way out?? Mike says angrily.
?Yes, yes I was,? I fume, dumping the holdall and slamming the door behind me. As I stomp down the steps I wonder if this is what David meant when he said that Mike was involved in stuff I didn?t want to know about. I knew that Mike sometimes did a few lines of coke?I mean, everyone in the music industry does it, he says. But this . . . well, this is different. Is this how he?s been making his money? God, what a bloody idiot. As I reach the main front door, I hear someone coming down the stairs after me.
?Georgie, stop a minute, will you?? It?s Mike.
?No, I won?t stop,? I say, walking more quickly. ?I just can?t believe you. You tell me you?re running a successful record label, and all you?re doing is selling drugs. No wonder David didn?t want me associating with you.?
?David? What did he say?? Mike is looking agitated.
?Just that I should give you a wide berth. And I think he?s right.?
?Georgie, it?s not what you think,? Mike says quickly. ?Honestly, you?ve got to believe me. I?m not into that stuff anymore. It was just a favor for a client. A major client, actually, and we need to keep him onside otherwise we?re screwed. I don?t want to do it, but I just said we?d hold on to some gear for him for a bit?and now we?re giving it back. End of story. Please don?t be angry.?
I give Mike my best withering stare.
