Knowing Me Knowing You by Mandy Baggot Read Free Book Online Page B

you were the closest match to Stephen. If Stephen were here he would have taken me away from all this. ’
    ‘ Stephen doesn’t really have an O-level and his picture is ten years out of date, ’ Joel answered.
    ‘ Oh, s hame on you, sullying the reputation of one of your colleagues to get you out of a corner. ’
    ‘ You employed me to come here with you. Your client and your boss have somehow between them, set you up to do this. I just think that the easiest, most pain free way to get through the evening, and probably the rest of your career, is to just do it. We don’t know each other, we answer the questions, we get them all wrong, the end of the show, the end of the night, the end of the date, ’ Joel said.
    ‘ Fine we’ll do it, get it all over with, ’ Kate answered, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
    It was only ten minutes and an advert break before Larry Rawlins was calling them to the stage.

Six
     
    ‘ And please welcome our next co uple Kate Baxter and Joel Brown. L et’s give them a big hand as they take to the stage. ’
    Kate and Joel stepped out from behind the curtain and were greeted by Larry, his bright silver suit and an array of spotlights and cameras directed at them from just below the stage.
    ‘ Welcome Kate, welcome Joel, lovely to meet you. So Kate, you are looking lovely tonight, isn’t she l adies and g entlemen? I’m guessing you do modelling right? ’ Larry questioned, sticking a microphone into Kate’s face.
    ‘ Er , no, ’ she replied.
    ‘ No? I’m shocked. So tell everyone here and at home what it is you do for a living , ’ Larry ordered.
    ‘ I’m a legal executive, at Randall’s Solicitors. ’
    There, she’d got a plug in for the firm that would please Miranda if nothing else. There was loud whooping and shouting from the crowd which was unmistakably the Lady Dragon and one of the larger cameras swung around to get a close up shot of the table. Kate cringed and willed the ordeal to be finished.
    ‘ Bit of advertising there Kate and you’ve got some support in the audience I hear, that’s good. And Joel, what do you do? It looks like you work out if you don’t mind me saying. H ave you seen him l adies and g entlemen? A virtual Adonis! ’
    ‘ I’m a personal trainer at Highbridge Leisure Centre, ’ Joel responded.
    ‘ That is lovely. So how long have you two known each other and where did you meet? Was it lust at first sight? Did you see her Joel and just know you had to have her? ’ Larry questioned, performing an elaborate wink to the audience.
    ‘ Most definitely, ’ Joel answered, smiling at Kate, knowing how much she was hating every second.
    Kate cringed. He almost looked like he was enjoying this. She hated him. Why , oh why , had Stephen already been booked?
    ‘ We met at the swimming pool six weeks ago; well approximat ely. I t isn’t like I’m counting or anything. Is it six weeks now? ’ Kate asked Joel with a nervous swallow.
    ‘ It certainly is D arling , ’ Joel replied, trying to keep a straight face.
    ‘ Only six weeks. In the first flush of romance l adies and g entlemen, how lovely. Right, I’ve been told you’ve been explained the rules, what happens now is we pop Joel in the booth and once he’s in there and I’m happy he’s listening to some romantic tunes through the headset , we’ll make a start.  I will ask you three questions about Joel, you will answer and then we get Joel back and see if your answers match. Everybody happy? Good, right Joel, take yourself over to the booth, slip on the headphones and blindfold and when I’m sure you can’t hear me , I’ll begin interrogating your lovely Kate. ’
    Kate watched as Joel headed for the plastic booth, sat on the chair inside and put on the blindfold and large headphones. He still managed to look hot wearing game show paraphernalia.
    ‘ Ah Kate, look at your man now, oblivious to everything. Any secrets you want to tell, now is your opportunity. ’
    ‘