Knowing Me Knowing You (6 page)

‘
Thank you. Aren’t you drinking?
’

‘
Maybe later.
Is there a free bar at the hotel?
’
Joel asked her.

‘
I hope so,
’
Kate responded, burying her face in her glass and taking a large gulp.

‘
So what is it we’re going to? You said a work function, is it dinner?
’
Joel
asked
.

‘
Yes, at least I think so. It was last year. Five courses or something mad like that,
then
some boring slides and an awful disco, but we don’t have to stay for that.
’

‘
And what’s our background?
’

‘
Background?
’

‘
Yes, how do we know each other? Where did we meet? What do you do for a living?
’
Joel asked.

‘
Sorry, you must think I’m stupid. I haven’t done this before. I expect you hear that all the time too
,
but I really haven’t done this before,
’
Kate answered, taking another big mouthful of wine.

She was sounding like a desperate single mother who had forgotten how to behave in the normal world. Any minute now she would be telling him about a nice collage
Bethan
had done the other day with dried pasta. It was as if she had forgotten how to be an adult.

She looked at Joel with almost terrified eyes.

‘
That’s OK,
’
he
replied kindly, smiling at her with both his full mouth and his saucer
-
sized eyes.

‘
Um, I’m a legal executive in the Probate department of
Randall’s
solicitors in town. The do tonight is being hosted by a client of ours and some of my work
colleagues will be there, like the Lady Dragon
- I mean Miranda.
S
he’s the head of my department and Colin, he’s a partner and a bit of a goon if I’m honest
-
God it’s going to be terrible, I wish I wasn’t going,
’
Kate spoke, downing the glass of wine in one go.

‘
So did I meet you through work?
’

‘
No! God no! They would know. The Lady Dragon knows everyone I see and you wouldn’t be the type of client I would see, I mean you’re about three times younger than any of my clients and three times more attract
…
I don’t know, what do you usually say to people?
’
Kate said quickly, stopping herself hurriedly.

‘
How about we met at the gym? That’s where I work, when I’m not doing this. I’m a personal trainer, we could have met there
,
and we’ve been dating for what?
A few weeks?
’
Joel suggested.

‘
The gym.
No, I don’t think so
.
I mean do I look like I’ve been to the gym recently? I don’t really do exercise, the spare time I get is very limited. I have a little girl,
’
Kate answered, wishing there was still some wine left in her glass.

‘
Oh really, how old?
’

‘
She’s two,
’
Kate responded, a smile spreading across her face as she thought about
Bethan
.

‘
Sounds like you have your work cut out with one that age,
’
Joel said
,
smiling at Kate.

‘
Yes, definitely.
Look Joel, the thing is, the reason I have you here, is because of my boss.  She’s evil. Well perhaps evil is too strong a word
.
S
he’s a dragon in high heels, hence the nickname. She loves to make people feel small, well me anyway and she’s expecting me to have a date tonight. And I don’t have a little black book, I don’t have a book of any kind
-
you know
-
with men in it. You see, my husband left me, a short while ago and I haven’t really been out since,
’
Kate babbled
,
wishing her wine glass full with every ounce of energy she had.

‘
I see,
’
he
replied with a nod.

‘
Sorry, you’re probably not interested in me at all, or the fact I don’t have a book of men,
’
Kate said and
she
stuck her hand in the bowl of nuts on the table, taking a palm full and putting them into her mouth.

‘
OK, how about we met at the pool when you were taking your daughter swimming. Does that sound more plausible?
’
Joel suggested.

‘
But we haven’t been there yet and I’m not really very good in the water.
’

‘
It doesn’t matter, it’s just pretend. I’ll fill in the gaps, don’t worry,
’
Joel told her and he took hold of her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

She
flinched, the shock of the physical contact jarring her. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had touched her.

‘
So what did you say the dragon in high heels is called? Her real name,
’
Joel
asked
.

‘
Miranda.
Be warned she’ll probably try to sleep with you,
’
Kate answered, grabbing more nuts and tipping them into her mouth.

It was just after 8.00pm when Kate and Joel arrived at the Grand. The banquet was being held in the Regency
r
oom and when they got to the door Kate could see it was full to capacity and everyone was already seated. Thankfully, within seconds,
Miranda let out one of her ear-splitting
, over the top laughs and
K
ate was able to distinguish the
Randall’s
table from all the others.

‘
Right, into the lion’s den I guess,
’
she
spoke, more to herself than to Joel.

As she prepared to head off into the room Joel took hold of her hand again. It was soft and warm but
also
strong and supportive
.
Kate looked
up at him, meeting the saucer-
sized eyes again.

‘
I’m afraid, if you want people to think we’re dating
,
then we’re going to have to get a little bit intimate,
’
Joel told her, giving her hand an encouraging squeeze.

‘
OK and we met at the swimming pool, about six weeks ago. Was it six weeks?
’
Kate asked, looking at him nervously.

‘
Six weeks is fine.
’

There were approximately two hundred people in the huge hall, all sat at round tables with white and gold crockery set out before them. At the bottom of the room was a large stage with spotlights erected at both sides and men with television cameras. At the previous year’s banquet the president of the company, Frank Peterson, had bored everyone stupid with slides on their work in
Africa
, followed by a quiz about the slides and he had ended with a lecture about using less water. The cameras and lights probably meant a jazzed up version of the same. Perhaps he had finally mastered PowerPoint. The good news was there was no sign of a disco.

Kate saw the two empty seats at the
Randall’s
table and with her head down she made a beeline for them in the hope she could sit down before Miranda noticed she had arrived.

It wasn’t to be.

As she went to swing herself into her seat she got her foot caught on the chair next to Frank Peterson. She fell forward and ended up having to grab at Miranda’s seat for support, narrowly avoiding whipping the tablecloth off like an amateur conjuror.

‘
Are you OK?
’
Joel asked her, steadying her and helping her
remain
upright.

‘
Hello Kate, we were beginning to wonder whether you were going to make it
- o
h hello, now we definitely haven’t met before
.
I’m Miranda, Kate’s boss,
’
Miranda spoke, spotting Joel and immediately standing up to give him the full effect of her horrendously short dress.

Kate was convinced Kate
Winslet
had never worn anything that short or crass to the Oscars.

‘
Hello, I’m Joel, pleased to meet you,
’
he
spoke politely, smiling at Miranda and taking the hand she offered him.

‘
Likewise.
Goodness, you
are
tall and so handsome.
W
here have you been hiding this one Kate?
’
Miranda asked, holding onto Joel’s hand and continuing to look him up and down.

‘
We met at the swimming pool,
Bethan
just loves going there,
’
Kate said hurriedly, fixing a smile on her face and sitting down next to Frank Peterson.

Frank was in his late fifties. He had made his money on the stock market, had a thriving financial advisory business with offices all across Europe and was also now involved in helping African communities set up small sustainable businesses. He was a happy-go-lucky character who loved nothing more than entertaining. He was one of Kate’s favourite clients. In fact he was her
only
favourite client.

‘
Hello Kate, how are you?
’
Frank asked, grinning jovially at her.

‘
I’m fine thank you Frank
.
N
o
Marion
tonight?
’
Kate
enquired
, noticing
his wife was absent from the table.

‘
No she’s laid up my girl, had a little op on an ingrown toenail and it’s got to stay up for a week,
’
he responded.

‘
Oh poor her, give her my best wishes for a speedy recovery,
’
Kate said, spotting the open bottle of white wine and willing it closer to her.

She wished she had paid more attention to Paul McKenna shows although she wasn’t sure
even he
could hypnotise inanimate objects.

‘
So this is your chap is it? Hello there, I’m Frank Peterson,
’
the president introduced himself.

‘
Joel Brown, pleased to meet you,
’
he
replied, shaking the man’s hand and sitting down next to Kate.

‘
I can’t believe you’ve kept this one a secret Kate, what a dark horse you are. Anyone would think you had
him
manufactured he’s so perfect,
’
Miranda carried on her eyes out on stalks, unable to keep them from Kate’s date.

‘
I’m flattered but to be honest I’m the really lucky one,
’
Joel answered and he put his hand on top of Kate’s and held it.

He was good. Half convincing. He obviously did this a lot. Perhaps this was going to work after all. It was a shame he wasn’t drinking
.
I
f he got a bit drunk and dishevelled himself he might look less good looking.

‘
Can I get anyone some wine?
Miranda?
Perhaps a drink will distract you from ogling the poor fellow. I’m Colin, nice to meet you Joel,
’
Colin Sykes spoke, standing up and shaking Joel’s hand before getting more wine.

‘
Nice to meet you,
’
Joel answered.

Colin was a partner in the Private Client department. He had started as a runner in the post room when he was sixteen, had been given a training contract at
twenty and worked his way up. Now he was listed as a leader in his field in the Chambers guide. Unfortunately, although he was successful and loaded, he was also balding, skinny and had a nose the size of
Luxembourg
.

‘
Could I have some wine please Colin?
’
Kate asked, pushing her glass nearer to the bottle he was offering.