“You’re really with a client?” she says, looking slightly ashamed of herself.
“Yes,” I say. “If I wasn’t and I didn’t want to see you, I would have just told Bernie to tell you to fuck off.”
It’s a low blow, telling her I wouldn’t even bother having Bernie lie to her to save her feelings, but I’m still pissed about the slanging match Kimberley instigated. It’s a good job George seems to have a sense of humour or he could have just walked out.
“Now either sit down, shut up and wait, or leave. It’s your call Kimberley.”
She looks about ready to blow a fuse, but she can’t deny that I’m right to be angry with her and she sits down, biting back her acidic response. I go back into my office.
“I’m so sorry about that George,” I say.
“Women trouble?” he smiles.
“Oh you don’t know the half of it,” I laugh. “I just get all of the aggro and none of the benefits. She’s not even my girl. She’s just someone I work with.”
“She sounds like trouble,” George laughs.
“Oh believe me, she is,” I say. “Now. Where were we?”
“I was just about to say that I think you’re right. I’m definitely swaying towards using your firm. But you mentioned that it wouldn’t be you personally handling my business. I wondered if it would be possible to set up a meeting with the person who would be? I like to get a feel for a person before I decide whether or not I want to work with them.”
“Of course,” I smile. “You’d be working with Bradley, one of our top accountants. Do you want me to see if he’s free now or would you prefer to come back?”
“Now works for me,” George says.
I call Bradley at his desk and quickly explain the situation.
“Bring him along. I can chat to him now,” Bradley says.
I thank him and hang up the call, resisting the urge to punch the air. It’s in the bag. Bradley knows his way around this kind of conversation and I think him and George will click. I stand up.
“Follow me and I’ll take you to Bradley,” I say. “If you’re happy to go ahead, he can print out the paperwork and get you all signed up.”
“Great,” George says, also standing up.
I lead him out of my office. I notice his amused look when he sees Kimberley sitting waiting for me, her head down. I purposely ignore her and focus on Bernie.
“Bernie, could you please see Ms. Montgomery into my office? I’ll be back shortly,” I say.
“Of course,” Bernie beams.
She’s already standing up as George and I walk away.
“If you’d like to follow me Ms. Montgomery,” Bernie is saying.
Her voice is sweet, fake, dripping with sugar and sarcasm and I grin to myself. If Kimberley is staying here, then she’s going to have to learn to get the stick out of her ass when it comes to Bernie.
I lead George to Bradley’s desk and introduce them. Bradley is already telling George about his processes when I excuse myself, telling George to let me know if he needs anything else from me.
I head back to my office, a feeling of dread in my stomach. Bernie jumps up when she sees me returning and almost runs around her desk to talk to me.
“God Sebastian, I’m so sorry about that. She just wouldn’t take no for an answer,” she says.
“That’s Kimberley for you,” I say. “You don’t have to apologise.”
“Was the client annoyed?” she asks.
“No, he seemed to find the whole thing quite amusing,” I say laughing and shaking my head. “I’d best go and see what her royal highness wants.”
Bernie opens her mouth and then closes it again.
“Don’t be shy. If you have something to say, spit it out.”
“Look I know what she did was unprofessional, but you’re in love with her and …”
“I’m not in love with her,” I interrupt.
“Whatever you say,” Bernie says, waving away my protest and carrying on where she left off. “And she clearly has feelings for you too. That’s why she was acting out. She thought you were alone and just didn’t want to see her. Don’t be too harsh on her is all I’m saying.”
Kimberley was acting out because she’s used to clicking her fingers and having me jump to attention. She doesn’t like it when she doesn’t get her own way. I don’t bother trying to explain that to Bernie. She’d only insist I’m still in love with her. Which I’m not.
I nod my head and go to my office door. I take a deep breath and step inside. The door is barely closed when Kimberley jumps to her feet and starts ranting.
“Why didn’t you answer my call Sebastian? And what was up with that juvenile text message?” she demands.
Her quiet demeanour from outside of my office is long gone and she’s angry now. It makes me even angrier that she gets to burst in here, embarrass me in front of a client and still try to play the victim card.
“Juvenile? Kimberley you burst in here shouting and screaming like a mad woman. You’re the one who said you wanted to keep this professional. What part of the stunt you just pulled is professional? The part where you threaten my secretary and accuse her of lying? Or the part where a potential client gets a front row seat to your tantrum?”
Kimberley sighs and raises her hands.
“Guilty as charged. And I’m sorry about that, really I am. I just … I thought you were avoiding me after the other night.”
I roll my eyes.
“We’re not teenagers Kimberley. We’re adults. Adults fuck and don’t spend weeks avoiding each other. I think we can both agree that what happened on Friday was a mistake. We don’t need it to be awkward between us because of that. I’m sure we’re both perfectly capable of being civil to each other.”
“A mistake? Sebastian, it wasn’t a mistake. Or at least it wasn’t at my end.”
“Because perfect Kimberley never makes mistakes,” I
