London Harmony: Flotilla (8 page)

I felt like giggling. Was this how Paya felt when she helped people out? I thought about her self-satisfied smile that she seemed to always have, and nodded to myself. Of course, she did. And that explained a hell of a lot about the woman. I was proud to have her as my sort-of-boss.

In the morning, I yawned and stretched in bed. I pulled the hair out of my mouth that I was apparently intent on eating. Follicle spaghetti, it's all the rage.

I yawned again. I needed coffee.

I slipped out of bed and headed into the pilot house to start a pot. I switched on the light, then pulled my nightshirt down where it had pulled up over my butt cheeks, and then scratched said butt. Hey, glamour queen I'm not.

I stopped mid-scratch as the door opened and a woman came backing through the door with a cardboard tray with three coffee cups in it and a paper bag. She unceremoniously dropped her still open umbrella to the ground and was speaking as she turned around, “Hiya Paya. I brought caffeine and...” She trailed off as she saw me.

I realized where my hand was but couldn't drop it, couldn't even be embarrassed as I just gaped in utter shock at the copper haired woman standing before me. I finally found my voice, sort of, as I whispered, “Bloody hell.”

I was staring at Tabby Cat. Not more than three meters from me. I was there scratching my bloody arse in front of Tabitha Romanov... superstar.

She hastily put her parcels on the conference table and grinned at me, offering her hand, “Right, so you must be this Angie that Paya went on about just yesterday. I'm Tabs, pleased to meet you.”

I looked at her hand then at mine, I could have died from embarrassment at that very moment as I moved it from its current perch to shake her hand woodenly. I repeated, “Bloody hell.”

She said in a playful tone that had just a hint of a Slavic, Russian accent to it, “So you've said. Twice.” She gave me a toothy grin.

I realized what I must look like and panicked as I ran my fingers through my hair to try to organize the matted mess. To my utter embarrassment, some more hair pulled out of my mouth. I darted back through the door, calling out as I dove for my bureau to find some clothes, “What... what are you doing here?”

I heard her chuckle. “Paya said she was coming in early this morning to shuttle you to the Tennison, so I thought I'd bring the two of you coffee and breakfast sandwiches. I saw the light on when I got to the door and assumed she was already here.”

I called out in as singsong voice as I could manage, “Well she's not.”

She deadpanned, “Apparently.”

I had to stop myself from smiling. Who would have thought someone of her stature would be so playful and engage in banter with someone that she didn't know?

I pulled on some clothing and ran to the loo to look in the mirror as I brushed out my hair. Then I took a deep breath and stepped back out. My bare feet scrunching nervously on the hardwood floor. I squared my shoulders and pretended she hadn't just witnessed me in my natural state. “Right then, hello, I'm Angie Wells.”

She slid one of the cups of coffee toward me on the table, her almost copper colored eyes studied me as she said, “We've established that.” I'd seen all the pictures but they didn't do her justice, her hair and her eyes gave her such an unmistakeable and unique look.

I was wildly texting as she spoke. A moment later I looked at the screen and sighed, stuffing the mobile into my jeans pocket and said, “The evil one is two minutes out.”

She chuckled and said, “The evil one... I think I like that. Mind if I steal it?”

I didn't know what to do. I mean, what do you do when confronted with a pop and rock superstar who had walked into your home? My mind was all over the place, and I really didn't mean to blurt out the words that came unbidden to my lips, “Are you really gay?” Oh dear lord... I covered my mouth with both hands, trying to stuff the words back in.

She didn't seem phased as she sipped her coffee in amusement, “According to my wife.”

I quickly countered, “I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to blurt that out. I mean, you hear the rumors in the tabloids and whatnot, but how much can you believe what is said about stars?”

I whispered, “Dear Lord, why am I still talking.”

She crinkled her nose at me and slid a breakfast sandwich to me. I said, “Good show. I can't babble if I'm eating.”

She was trying hard not to let her giggle out as she laughed with her mouth pressed closed, her eyes sparkling in mirth. Could I have been any more awkward?

I paused when I went to take a huge bite of the egg and cheese offering when Paya, in Ducky Mode v1.0, came sliding into the cabin, shaking water off of herself like a dog as she closed her brolly. I squeaked out, “Oh thank God.”

Tabby Cat's giggle finally worked itself free. She said, “Relax Angie, or you're going to have a stroke.”

I exhaled and found some courage and asked, “You mean I'm not already having one?” Then I took that big bite to keep myself from speaking more.

The woman just grinned and turned from me to repeat her original greeting, “Hiya Paya.”

The ladies hugged, and Paya said, “Brat.” Then she added, “Good, you two have met, that's out of the way then.”

Tabitha stepped to the table and nudged the coffee toward her friend, a few millimeters at a time. Paya grinned, “Bless you.” Then Paya retrieved the hot caffeine and sipped, savoring the flavor before looking around and cocking her head at me. “Yer all mussed up Ange.” Then she chuckled. “Tabs caught you off guard?”

I muttered as I took another bite of breakfast sandwich, “I hate both of you.” Then I amended, “Well maybe not Tabby Cat, she fed me.”

The women shared an evilly amused look then Tabitha said, “You can call me Tabs or Tabitha, Angie. The – what did you call her? The evil one, saddled me with that dreadful Tabby Cat name long before I was... well before I was Tabby Cat.”

I looked between the two as Paya shoved her shoulder and zeroed in on the sack of breakfast goodies. They started bantering back and forth, and I slipped into a chair and just watched them as we ate. It was surreal watching the woman I respected as she slung as much snark at one of the most influential music talents of the decade like she was just anyone else. And here I was, like a bird on a branch, watching the spectacle from afar.

You could see their history in their voices and body language... and oddly, a tinge of worry in Paya's eyes until her friend took her first bite. Tabs caught it too and said around the sandwich, “I'm eating, wench.”

Paya stuck out her tongue, then glanced over at me and changed the spotlight. “I've got to get Ange here off to save one of our friends in a bit. Then we can take a girls day out, I can spare a few hours to catch up.”

Tabs cocked an eyebrow in question and looked between the two of us. Her friend supplied, “Stephanie. She needs a sitter while hers is out with the flu. We really need to find her a better job which understands that some single parents actually have children.”

Tabitha kicked back in her chair, crossing her feet on the conference table lazily as she sipped her coffee. I looked at her posture, she acted almost like she owned the place. I almost face-palmed when I realized, well duh Ange you muppet, she does own the place.

She glanced away from me to Paya and asked, “You have your assistant babysitting?” Then she grinned hugely. “I still can't get over the fact you have an assistant.” She looked at me and confided, “We've been asking her to get one for years now, she tries to do it all.”

I started to say, “I'm not her...”

She just kept talking, segueing into a different topic so fast I almost got whiplash, “And Stephanie's little ones are way too adorable.”

I caught up with her and then just nodded, aware of the smile on my lips as I thought of the roos and their mother.

Paya said, “She's the best assistant I've ever had.” Then she added on the other topic, “I don't think I could stop her from helping Steph out if I tried.” She grinned and Tabs cocked an eyebrow as she smiled back.

Tabitha slipped her feet back to the hardwood floor and squinted her eyes. “She's the 'only' assistant you've ever had.”

Then she said to me, “Why don't you and the children join us, we can make a day of it. Besides, I want to get to know the lady that Pay-ster said can do the work of three women without breaking a sweat.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Paya said, “It has not been years you copper topped bird. Teri says you need to sign the contracts for the additions to the Slingshot this week sometime.”

The songstress nodded and smiled at the mention of Teri. “Roger Wilco. She's so glad to be back home at the Conservatoire, I don't think touring is for her.” She turned to me and said, “Ah. That explains your earlier question, and why you don't mind sitting for Steph.” Her smile grew.

I was getting dizzy, the women seemed to be having some sort of disjointed conversation with multiple topics, and they were jumping between them like they were just one topic. I was just blinking as I caught up with each before they moved to a different one.

Paya picked up the current line and said, “Oh that. Yes, it's so cute, you just want to hug them both.”

Wait, Paya knew of my infatuation with Steph. Oh Lord, just kill me now. I was blushing as Paya said, “The financials are looking good, with London Harmony's matching funds, we...”

I brought two fingers to my lips and whistled shrilly to get the two women's attention. They both stopped and turned back to me, blinking. Tabs brought a finger up to worm out her ear as she grinned. I said slowly, “Would the two of you stop bouncing around like otters on a sugar high and stick to one topic? I'm close to that seizure you predicted. I can't follow a word you two are saying.”

I pointed at Paya and said, “I'm not your assistant.”

Paya added under her breath, “Yet.”

I squinted an eye at her and shook my finger, she just grinned. I pointed at Tabs, “Steph is just... she... I just want to help, ok?”

Her grin matched Paya's.

Then I said as graciously as I could, “The roos and I would be thrilled to accompany you today.”

I moved my finger back toward Paya. “The Slingshot expansion contracts are on your desk over there.” I pointed at the tiny captain's desk by the ship's wheel of the barge.

The two women looked at each other, Paya cocked an eyebrow and then started cracking up as she said to her famous friend, “Told you.”

My eyes started narrowing as Tabs replied, “You were right. So do it to it, woman.”

Wait a minute here. Were they...? I blurted my accusation, “You did that on purpose.”

Tabby nodded and said as Paya went to her desk and pulled some paperwork from the little drawer in it, “Can't follow a word we said huh? Faker.”

Paya slapped the paperwork in front of me on the conference table and handed me a pen. She pointed at a signature line as she said, “Sign here. I can't keep paying you fifty pounds a day from my own pocket. Tabby won't let me.”

What? It was her own money, not the Flotilla's? I blinked at her and looked down and paused as the pen hit the paper. Was she getting rid of me? I asked, “What am I signing?”

She said airily, fluttering her hand in a dismissive wave, “It doesn't matter, just sign and date there.”

I narrowed my eyes, put the pen down, and picked up the paperwork and read it, my eyes going wider and wider as I read. “But...”

She sighed and said while holding a hand up to block Tabby from her view, “She's right, you're an amazing assistant, my right hand. I never knew I needed you until you were there picking up all the slack. You've made my life soooo much easier. Time to make it official.”

I looked at the paperwork that would make me third in charge of the Flotilla, after Paya and Tabby themselves, as an executive assistant. It named me the master of the Persephone and made the cabin my own. The pay was...

Paya picked up the pen to offer to me, her expression changing, softening. “So what do you say, Ange? Be my assistant?” She paused and said with a hopeful, crooked smile, “The two proper responses here are either 'Yes ma'am.' or 'Yes, Paya.'”

I looked at the pen and thought about it, glancing at the curiously silent Tabitha, who seemed to be holding her breath. The manky bints had baited me right proper. It didn't feel like charity. Paya had worked my fingers to the bone to make sure I deserved every last quid. For my pride?

I started to sign then stopped at a thought. I shook my head and said in a shaky voice, “On one condition. We need to have a talk about some sort of outreach program for people on the street who either cannot or are unwilling to seek out programs like the Flotilla.”

Tabs said, “Ooo, I like this lady, Pay.”

Paya just gave me a toothy grin in answer and I looked down and signed. I stopped and just stared at my signature, thinking about how my life had been torn apart so quickly. I had sunk to my lowest, but then just as quickly, my life was rebuilt after a chance meeting with an odd and exotic woman.

I was happier than I ever had been and felt like I was making a difference for the first time in my life, since that moment. I smiled inwardly as I added the fact that I had met Steph's wonderful family, and she knew about me but still wanted me around.

I pushed the papers back along the table to Paya, who offered a hand. I went to shake, and she pulled me into a hug, “Welcome aboard Miss Wells.” Why was I crying?