Private comments are always welcome. Thank you so much for reading. Mica x
I rang the number that Sam had given me, half expecting it to be the Samaritans or something.
"Hello." Said the voice that I recognised.
"Hello, it's Jason. You gave me your number."
"Ah yes, the Tiger loaf man."
"Yes."
"Be honest. Are you spoken for?"
"This is a clichΓ© I know, but the answer is both yes and no. I am with Jules, but we don't actually sleep together. My instructions are to be discrete, and that means going out in public with someone is difficult as are frequent overnighters. Occasional ones can be worked in with prior planning."
"So. You are not free."
"I suppose not, in some senses."
"But you are free, in others?"
"Yes."
"Well, I am not looking for complications."
"Good, neither am I."
"Right then. 25 Goldings Avenue. Half an hour." The phone went dead.
I did a quick Google search, she was about ten minutes from me, on another estate, not one that Jools or I usually pass which is why I didn't recognise the road name. I dived into the bathroom and washed at the hand wash basin, dried, rolled on some antiperspirant, clean pants, chinos and T shirt, sliders, keys, and I was gone.
25 Goldings avenue was a semi, probably a three bed, double car drive with pavias but with a single car garage, small lawned front with a small mountain Ash tree in the middle. Just one hundred percent unremarkable suburban house on the outskirts of town.
"Would you like some lunch?" she asked as she opened the door, "or would that make things difficult with wifey?"
"Yes, thank you, and no it wouldn't."
"Good, I thought I might sautΓ© some mushrooms and we could have some Tiger bread with a nice medium rare Ribeye steak"
"You know, that sounds absolutely perfect."
"Right, come on in, you sit at the table and we'll talk." I followed her through her lounge into a kitchen diner. I sat at the table, canting the chair round so I could face her as she cooked.
"What do you do?" She asked.
"I run my own Management Consultancy business, mostly Government accounts.
"Interesting?"
"I am actually not allowed to say, no, sorry."
"Not even if it is interesting or boring?"
"No, I am forbidden to discuss anything about the work, locations, contracts, just in case a sensitive detail is leaked."
"Sounds stupid to me."
I just shrugged. "What do you do?" I asked.
"I am an accountant."
"Oh. Don't think, apart from mine, I have ever met an accountant before. Many clients or do you work for a firm?"
"I work for myself. I have a very small number of discrete clients."
"Okay, discrete, I understand. Husband?"
"Did. He too was an accountant, but he got a bit creative with one of his client's funds. He is in jail now. I divorced him the day he was found guilty."
"Crikey."
"Well, let's say that I benefitted very nicely, and knowing who the client was, he is actually lucky to be alive and lucky to still have his limbs, well, as far as I know that is, I don't keep tabs on him. I am now financially secure. I just don't spend any money if I don't need to. This house, for example, is big enough for my needs. My clients don't see me being extravagant and so don't look too closely."
"Ahah." I said
"Ahah?" She asked.
"I get the picture. So, no current beau in tow?"
"I am not looking for complications so no. People come, people go."
"Probably the best way. I do think, where company is concerned, being a woman has its advantages."
"Oh? How do you want your steak by the way?"
"Medium rare. I just think it easier for women to pick up men, than men to pick up women."
"Wow. You really are a man. No woman anywhere would ever say that."