Friends Or Lovers Part 25

There was silence, so her mother gently opened the door of her room and a crumpled figure lay in the bed asleep.

"Oh the pet!" said her mother. "Shes cried herself to sleep. What do you want to do?"

"Can I stay here a bit, maybe make her a drink, wake her up and chat."

"Feel free, my dear. Were at our wits end. Dont know what to do. Well be in the shop."

I sat with Elona for fifteen minutes before stirring myself to go to the kitchen. I took the liberty of putting together breakfast-in-bed. Having played hide and seek with the b.u.t.ter, bread, plates and bowls, I finally a.s.sembled something that looked appetising.

"Elona?" I said gently as I rocked her shoulder.

She turned around and after a moment of confusion she saw the breakfast tray.

"Youve been busy!"

"Yes. You looked like you could do with something."

"Whatre you doing here?" she asked.

"Im finding out how you are. n.o.body at work could contact you. We were worried."

She sat up in bed and I gave her the tray.

"This is kind of you."

"Just part of the job. Dont make me into a saint," I responded.

"No. This is kind of you."

Earlier in my career I might have believed that these visits were out the kindness of the companys heart but over the years I had come to realise that this was just another way to ensure that people did not take the p.i.s.s and bunk off work. And yet I did feel concern for her so I accepted her thanks.

"Your mum and dad say youve been upset."

As I looked at her face, I could see the tear stains around her eyes. Without make-up she looked quite different, but still had a girlish charm. She looked at me sorrowfully and tried to talk but nothing coherent came out. Eventually, she started to nod and the tears began to flow as she tucked into her toast and cup of tea. I did not try to start a conversation and just sat next to her. It is hard watching someone sink into the depths of despair.

We sat there while she finished her breakfast and then she thanked me again.

"You didnt have to come," she commented.

"Elona. I wont kid you. Im here because youve been off work for 10 days this year and it is my job to be here. At the same time I do care what happens to you and if theres a way I can help then I will. Have you seen a doctor?"

She gave a dismissive laugh.

"h.e.l.l just say Im depressed and give me some drugs. I dont want that."

"Im sure theyll do whats best."

At this comment Elona looked at me angrily.

"I said I dont want that. Did you not hear me?"

The sharpness of her tone took me aback and I realised that perhaps she was not quite the shrinking violet that I had previously thought.

"Yes. I heard you," I said. "What then?" I asked.

"Nothing," she said. "Im nothing. n.o.body likes me. n.o.body. Im useless, completely f.u.c.king useless, a waste of s.p.a.ce, a zero, a failure."

I listened with patience. In the back of my mind, I recalled the many conversations Id had with John. I wondered if he might be able to help. At the moment, however, I was on my own and had to do the best I could.

"I need you," I said.

"You dont need me. Administrators are ten-a-penny."

It was my turn to show a bit of aggression.

"Dont give me that c.r.a.p. Ive seen your file and youve earned that position. There are people at work who believe in you."

My efforts were not rewarded.

"I dont give a s.h.i.+t. Its all meaningless."

"Why?" I asked.

"Im useless. n.o.body likes me."

"Is this to do with Nathan?"

At this remark she turned toward me and I could see the rage building in her face. Even though she was slightly built I began to feel a bit afraid. She looked like she was going to explode, so I started to clear the tray and returned to the kitchen. As I walked out of the room a torrent of abuse showered my back as she screamed the place down about Nathan, her parents, her ex-boyfriend, Mike, work, me, Phil. We had all ruined her life.

I tried to remain calm but it was difficult. When I returned from the kitchen I held out my hand and surprisingly she took it. She turned onto her side and wept again. I sat with her for another quarter of an hour, motionless except for the occasional stroke of her face.

"Elona. I need to go now. There are a couple of people I want to talk to and then Ill be back. Do you understand?"

She made no movement so I repeated the question and she gave a nod of her head.

Chapter 39.

For the rest of the day, I busied myself. My first port of call was John. He was in a meeting with Jo, but he agreed to take a break at mid-day and chat to me in the canteen. Next I went to see Mike. As I walked through the door, he smiled at me as if it was any other day at work. Even though I was there on business, I felt myself get aroused as I moved closer toward him.

"h.e.l.lo....err....Penny!" he said slightly stiffly. "What can I do for you?"

"Can I speak to you in private?" I asked.

"Anything in particular you want to speak about?" he enquired.

"Elona!" I said in response and suddenly he dropped the formality and whispered in my ear.

"....and there was I hoping you wanted to s.h.a.g me in the toilets...."

I whispered back.

".....I do, but this has to come first ...."

He pulled his head away and I noticed there was a bulge in his trousers.

"Better do something about that!" I said with a smile, looking down towards his crotch.

"Any ideas?" he replied.

"Plenty, but none that I can act on here," I said.

"If there was a cold shower somewhere, Id go and have one."

"Weve got to keep a lid on it at work," I said.

He nodded and even though I felt like dragging him into the nearest broom cupboard for a quickie, I managed to calmly lead him into his own office.

"Okay. What is it?" he asked as soon as I closed the door.

"Elona needs somewhere to stay."

"Elona? Whats the problem now?"

"The same problem. I visited her and shes in a right state. Ill talk to John later, but I think she needs some s.p.a.ce to herself."

"What dyou have in mind?"

I gave a half smile and got ready to ask him, but he antic.i.p.ated me.

"Youre not thinking.....Jeez! Ive only just got you to myself. Is it really that urgent?"

"Well actually, I wanted to know how you felt about the idea. Its technically your place. I cant act without your consent. Im not sure itd be a good idea anyway."

"Elona and I have always got on well. I dont hold what happened against her. She was upset and I was there so she took it out on me. We were always friends before and Im sure we will be again."

"Does that mean youd be okay if she moved into the other room?"

"Its going to look very odd, Penny?" he said.

"Of course, if you want to get back with your wife...." I proffered.

He looked surprised at my remark.

"Are you checking me out?" he queried.

My hand instinctively jumped to my mouth. I could hardly believe what Id said and started to apologise profusely. He walked over and silenced me with a kiss.

"Stop! People will see," I protested.

"Let them!" he said.

I allowed him to kiss me briefly but stopped him when I felt my pa.s.sion rising.

"Ill tell her....Ill tell her that she can move in next weekend if she wants."

"Why next weekend?" he asked.

I lent over and spoke quietly into his ear "Because this week Im going to f.u.c.k your brains out every night!"

And with that remark, I turned to leave the room.

"Im all yours," he said with a big grin.

One of his staff had noticed our kiss and by lunchtime a rumour was making its way around the offices. As I sat with John in the canteen, one of the reps came up and congratulated me. I played it cool by asking "what for?" I talked to John about my idea and he concurred that a move to the flat might be helpful to Elona.

When I returned in the afternoon, Elona was up and dressed. She took the news of the flat offer in her stride and did not seem to show any great enthusiasm. She promised to think about it and let me know the next day. I told her again that there were people at work who cared.

When I got back to the office, the rumour about myself and Mike had spread to Phil.

"Not a word pa.s.sed my lips!" said Phil as I brought him a cup of tea.

"Already?" I asked.

"What did you do send out a company wide e-mail?"

"No, just a little kiss in his office," I replied.

"May as well have sent out an e-mail!" he retorted with a chuckle.

"Oh well! Its out now."

Phil looked at me warmly.

"Im happy for you," he said.

At my desk, I decided to have one last trawl through my e-mails in case Dave had replied.

Subject: Sorry Pen, I just wanted to say that the thought of you testing the SHARE experience "personally" is definitely something to dream about at night!! I look forward to a blow-by-blow description of your experiences.