Never Mind The Botox: Rachel by Penny Avis Read Free Book Online

old records hadn’t been coded properly so they got transferred over as “other”. You’ll probably have to go back to the original invoice to get the details.’
    ‘Oh, okay,’ said Rachel. ‘Is it alright if we prepare a list of the ones we want and give it to the finance team to dig out for us?’
    ‘They’re still working on some of your other information requests, so it might take them some time. They’re filed in the accounts office, so if one of your team can do it instead, that would be quicker,’ said Tom.
    ‘Alright, we’ll do that,’ said Rachel. ‘Thanks.’
    ‘How’s it going otherwise?’ Tom asked.
    ‘Yes, not bad,’ said Rachel. ‘We’re working our way through the information you’ve given us and we can really see how fast you’ve been growing over the last couple of years. Very profitable business too, so that’s all good.’
    ‘Cosmetic surgery is a great business to be in,’ Tom replied. ‘Most people want us to be reassuringly expensive as that implies quality, and once they’ve found a doctor they’re happy with, they stick with us.’
    ‘Reassuringly expensive,’ said Rachel, smiling. ‘I like that expression.’
    ‘That’s the idea,’ said Tom. ‘People want to know that they’re in the best hands and they understand that low cost means cutting corners. You get what you pay for in this business. Anyway, I need to run, so if you’ll excuse me…’
    ‘Of course,’ said Rachel. ‘We’ll get on with pulling out those invoices we need.’
    Rachel went back to the project room and explained the situation to Rosa. She wasn’t exactly delighted at the prospect of having to go through filing cabinets of paper invoices to find the details they needed.
    ‘That will take ages!’ Rosa protested.
    ‘I know,’ said Rachel. ‘I’m sorry, but we don’t have any choice, and I’ll give you a hand. Look, maybe let’s leave it for today and resume battle in the morning.’
    She could do with leaving a bit earlier than normal. She was seeing Harry later and was going to have to talk to him about the summer party. She wanted to have a bit of time beforehand to think about exactly how to deal with it. She packed up her things and headed down in the lift to the foyer.
    The security guard nodded at her as she left. ‘Have a good evening,’ he said. ‘Nice and mild too, perfect for a barbecue.’
    ‘Great, thanks. Goodnight,’ said Rachel.
    She left the Beau Street office and got on the tube home. As usual it was packed and there were no seats. She watched a man reading a newspaper folded neatly long-ways in one hand. He was hanging on to an overhead strap at the same time and seemed oblivious to the people around him. She wished she could do the same but she had nothing to read except her work notebook, which was hardly escapist literature. Instead, she amused herself by deciding which man in the carriage she would marry if they were the only ones left in the world: a regular game during her commute home. She looked around, examining the men in the carriage: the standard mix of portly businessmen, office workers and tourists. Tonight was easy. It would be the scruffy but acceptable looking student type sitting down the far end of the carriage. If only choosing a partner for life could really be that simple.
    When she got home she ran herself a bath. She lay soaking in it for ages, slowly drinking a glass of wine and mulling over the conversation that she needed to have with Harry later. She really wanted him to understand how important it was to her that he didn’t show her up at the summer party. She wanted to show the partners that she was level-headed and responsible, and that included her choice of boyfriend.
    Harry arrived shortly after eight p.m. and was in a typically chirpy mood. She gave him a glass of wine and they sat in the kitchen chatting.
    ‘Our summer party invites have come through at work,’ Rachel said after a while. ‘It’s with other halves this