Meet Clara Andrews: A totally vacuous girl with a hangover... by Lacey London Read Free Book Online Page B

and finishes his coffee before throwing it in the paper bin.
    ‘I’d actually love to go! Marc goes to these things all the time with head office.’
    ‘Well in that case, he shouldn’t have a problem with us going. I’ll go clear it with him. Can you have a look through the leather samples we received yesterday? We are looking for distressed leather, preferably in charcoal.’
    ‘Leave it with me,’ I watch him leave the studio, the flyer shoved in his back packet.
    I really hope Marc goes for this. A trip to Manchester with Oliver is just far too tempting of an offer to turn down. I feel butterflies buzzing around in my stomach at the thought and grab the fabric samples. Turning the radio up, I open a word document on the laptop and start making notes.
    It’s not long before my mind begins to wander to my date tomorrow night. I wonder what he will look like? The Channing Tatum-esque image I have conjured up will take a lot to live up. Hmm, a hot date tomorrow, possible trip away with Oliver, Samantha Jones eat your heart out.
     
    As we lock up the studio at 6.30 that evening, I am looking forward to a glass of Rioja and a bubble bath. The chaos of today’s events has left me exhausted. It took a good hour of pleading with Marc for him to agree to our trip to Manchester. After initially declining Oliver’s request, I took it upon myself to pursue it further. I practically had to beg Marc to agree. I don’t know what his problem is, I mean, it’s not like anything is going to happen and it is most definitely something that will prove useful in the design process. You would think he would be cool with office relationships being on the menu, considering he has been having Gina for dessert all week.
    I have been mentally planning my pre-date beautifying regime all day. It has been a while since I’ve had to prepare for a date and I have to admit, I am really looking forward to it. Tanning, conditioning, manicuring, bring it on.
    ‘Any plans for tonight?’ Oliver asks, as though reading my mind.
    ‘Not really, glass of wine and a bubble bath,’ I reply, stepping into the lift and hitting the ground floor button.
    ‘If you don’t have any plans, why don’t you let me take you out for dinner?’
    I feel every muscle in my body tighten and seem to lose the ability to speak. I can’t go out for dinner with him! It’s against the rules! I look up at him and feel my knees go weak. Oh my God! I can’t! What about my date tomorrow? How do I say no? How do I turn down the hottest, most talented man I have ever met? I open my mouth, ready to politely decline.
    ‘OK,’ the word is out before I have chance to realise the enormity of what I have said.
    He pauses for a moment before breaking into a huge smile.
    ‘Great. What do you fancy?’

Chapter 13
     
    Sitting in La Fleur, sipping a very nice glass of Chateauneuf du Pape feels incredibly surreal. I have just polished off a lovely Lobster Bisque and I’m slightly concerned that this second glass of wine has pushed me over the driving limit. Oliver has spared no expense and I really do feel rather spoilt. Upon arriving at the restaurant, he ordered the taster menu for both of us and chose a rather pricey bottle of red. My initial panic at having dinner with Oliver was intensified when he ordered a taxi and we pulled up at La Fleur, a quirky French restaurant famed for its champagne dinners. How he even knew about this place, I have no idea.
    The yummy food and incredible wine has sedated me massively in the past hour and I really am starting to relax and enjoy myself. I have stopped worrying about Marc and convinced myself that it is only a meal with a colleague, just like when I go out with Lianna. Sort of.
    The ridiculously tall waiter collects our plates and refills the wine glasses without saying a word.
    ‘So tell me, Clara, how does a girl as talented and pretty as you end up single?’ Oliver asks, taking a slug of wine.
    His expression is unreadable as