Until I Met You by Jaimie Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

going to pay for this.
    “You owe me a drink after work.” I glared at Shelly as I waited for the ever so charming Charmers to answer her phone.
    “Yes,” she said, seductively.
    “Miss Charmers, it’s Angelina here.”  I was about to go on but she interrupted me.
    “Oh, Angelina, how nice to hear from you.  I thought you may have been trying to run away from me,” she said laughing.
    I laughed too, but it was more of a hysterical—I’m about to lose the plot—laugh, more than a genuine, hearty laugh.  Shelly decided it was time to play games and thought it hilariously funny to turn away from me and rub her hands up and down her back, like she had someone kissing her.  I so wanted to kill her right now.
    “No, Miss Charmers, I’ve just been very busy, that’s all.”  I grabbed the nearest thing I could find—which was a rubber—and threw it at Shelly’s head.  She turned toward me and giggled.
    “Sounds like you’re having a party in the office.  Can I join?” she asked, laughing again.
    My high pitched, nervous laugh had everyone looking.  Including Victor and Hyacinth.
    “Sorry, Miss Charmers, it’s just my colleague here being silly.”
    “My dear, how many times do I have to tell you, it’s Belinda.  Calling me Miss Charmers makes me sound like an old spinster.”
    “Okay, Belinda.”
    “That’s better.”  The tone in her voice was seductive, making that high pitched laugh roll out again.  I would have liked to crawl into a hole and never resurface.  This is just a little more than insane.
    “I have a five o’clock cancel on me today, so I can meet you then, if you’re free?”  I was hoping she wasn’t.  I had my eyes shut, mouthing the words, “please, please, please, please,” over and over again.
    “That would be lovely, Angelina.  I will meet you there.  Look forward to it, Chica.”
    Oh, fucking hell!!
    “Okay, see you there at five.”  I put the phone down as quickly as possible to a chorus of laughter from Shelly, Anthony, and Brad.
    “You three are so dead meat.  You’re all taking me for a drink after work.  You owe me.”  I was pissed off, exhausted, and in bad need of that drink now.  I’d been so good these past three weeks, hardly socialising, taking plenty of walks to familiarise myself with the area more, and going to bed at a decent time.  It wasn’t like me to be this way, but I didn’t want to let Jonathan down.  I’ve been trying my best and I think I’ve been doing well.  Time to let my hair down a little.
    “I can go,” both Shelly and Brad said.
    I turned towards Anthony with a questioning eyebrow.  “I can’t, sorry.  It’s my wife’s birthday today and I promised her a slap-up meal.”
    I smiled at Anthony, but decided to play a little joke. “Any excuse, Anthony.”
    “Ah, come on, Angelina.  Definitely next time, any day—tomorrow even, if you want—but not today.  Katherine will never forgive me.”
    “Tell Katherine from me that I wish her a very happy birthday.”
    “Thank you,” he beamed.
    “And that her husband owes me a very large vodka tonic.”
    “Done.”  He held out his hand and I took it for a swift shake.
    Dipping my head down, I buried myself in my hands.  “Oh God, has anyone got any tranquilisers?” I was starting to wish this day would end already.
    “Aww, come on, Angelina.  You’ll get through this.” 
    Shelly rubbed my shoulders, trying to calm my nerves.  “I didn’t mean for me.”  I laughed into my arms and the gang joined in with me, but suddenly Shelly jumped across to her desk.  With all of us staring, she retrieved a bag and pulled out a rape alarm. “Here, take this.” 
    For a moment I tried to analyse her face, but she seemed deadly serious.  Anthony and Brad both looked like they’re about to spontaneously combust.
    “Fuck that for a game of scrabble.  Jesus, Shelly, are you trying to kill me here?”
    Her face was confused, as she shrugged her