The problem of getting r.., p.15
The Problem of Getting Rich Quik ... Part One, page 15
part #1 of The problem of getting Rich Quik Series
‘You’re not rough!’ he hollered with laughter. ‘Is that what you think?’
‘In your eyes I suppose I’m someone who’s pretty easy prey and not your usual beautiful type. And no wonder you want to call women like me when you’re at a loose end.’
‘Women like what?’
‘You know older and more eager because the offers are running out. I came hurtling to meet you for dinner all those months ago as a seat warmer for a real true beauty.’
‘I really want to see you.’
‘You don’t have to look that hard to find a much younger, taller and better looking version of me,’ she laughed. ‘They’re all over the place and they’d appreciate being with you. I’m sure you’d have much more fun.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘You have a lovely life Richard. It was such a pleasure to meet you. I won’t forget you in a rush.’
She felt sad after saying it and slightly teary but she smiled through it.
‘Are you standing me up?’
‘I don’t want to see you again to be honest.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ Richard gently said. ‘Come on. Let me just-’
‘I really hope everything works out for you with work and women.’
She hung up, holding the phone to her face for a moment. Turning around she walked straight back down the road.
‘What the fuck was I thinking of?’ she said to herself shaking her head furiously.
‘Beats me,’ a man said sitting on the pavement obviously worse for wear.
‘Bloody men,’ she said and walked passed him in a strop. ‘Bloody, bloody men!’
Chapter Thirteen
‘You’re right to tell him to get stuffed,’ said Dominic as the pair of them sat in the bar a few days later. ‘What does he want from you?’
‘I’ve no idea,’ Lily sighed. ‘He keeps leaving messages saying he can’t believe I’m so stubborn and I’ve got him so wrong, things like that.’
‘You’ve turned into a challenge? Who’d have thought that of you?’ sniggered Dominic before turning serious. ‘Because deep down I know you love it.’
‘And talking of ultimate challenges when’s the woman and her beast of a sister turning up?’
‘I really appreciate you doing this,’ he said, snuggling up against her. ‘I know this is hard and the last thing you want is to see anything to do with Richard but-.’
‘No, I don’t mind things associated with Rich it’s anything to do with that poisonous demon that bothers me. And talk of the devil!’
Lily could see Monica and Rosana walking towards them. Monica was smiling broadly at them while Rosana was frowning.
‘Hi,’ said Dominic, quickly standing up to greet his girlfriend by placing a massive kiss on her lips.
Lily saw Rosana flash a look of disgust.
‘Dominic,’ Rosana said cheerfully and waited for a kiss from Dominic by putting her cheek out before turning to Lily, her tone of voice now flat. ‘Lily.’
‘Don’t worry Rosana, I won’t be staying for long,’ Lily glared at Dominic who quickly turned away.
‘Well that makes both of us,’ she replied and sat down opposite.
The women momentarily stared each other out.
‘Ladies, what would you like to drink?’ Dominic nervously asked.
‘I haven’t got long,’ announced Rosana. ‘Shall we crack on? I’ll get a waiter.’
‘No, I’ll go to the bar,’ Dominic said, getting up quickly.
‘And I’ll join you,’ Monica added, jumping up at high speed.
‘That just leaves me and you,’ Lily said, glancing around to avoid eye contact with Rosana.
‘Let’s do the banal chit chat just to keep those two happy, okay?’
‘Fine by me.’
‘Life treating you well?’ asked Rosana totally disinterested.
‘Yes,’ replied Lily. ‘And you? Been nasty to anyone of interest?’
‘I’m never nasty to anyone interesting,’ she smiled. ‘We’ve been very busy since winning the award. We’re just sorting out the finance for the new film and I don’t know how we’re going to cope.’
‘You mean Richard, don’t you? You’re just his secretary.’
‘You’d love to be in my position then you could sniff round Richard to your heart’s delight,’ Rosana smirked. ‘Not that he’d notice.’
‘How old are you Rosana?’
‘Why do you want to know?’
‘Forty three?’
‘Ha ha! Very funny,’ she sarcastically replied. ‘I’m actually thirty five.’
‘Jesus you look older,’ Lily grinned seeing Dominic approach with two glasses and shaking hands.
‘Here you go,’ said Dominic taking a quick look then scuttling off again.
‘Up yours, I mean bottoms up,’ smiled Lily.
‘Crude!’
‘I don’t like you and you don’t like me. I know why I don’t like you but frankly I don’t understand why you don’t like me.’
‘Do I have to give you a list?’
‘Your sister is seeing my best friend and we have to get on and, believe me, I’d rather be anywhere else then wasting my free time talking to you. But here I am.’
Rosana peered over her glasses at her. Lily looked and noticed she was transfixed for a few moments. Not wanting to disturb her she turned to see what she was staring at. It was Dominic and Monica.
‘I take it you don’t approve,’ said Lily catching Rosana’s eye. ‘I think they make a sweet couple and Dominic’s head over heels.’
‘More fool him,’ said an uneasy Rosana.
‘That’s not a nice thing to say about your little sister, but nothing surprises me about you.’
Leaving the bar an hour later, Lily strode slowly down the road thinking about Rosana. She couldn’t believe how two faced she was. One minute she was glaring at Dominic and then when he came to the table she was all over him. She shuddered at the thought of seeing Rosana again and headed off home.
Her mobile vibrated and she noticed there was a text message. It was from Richard.
‘Bet you don’t last the evening with Rosana,’ it read and Lily smiled.
He obviously knew about their drink. Without any hesitation, she text back.
‘I didn’t.’
Her phone started to ring.
‘I take it you left first,’ Richard laughed.
‘How can you cope with her? She’s a bitch!’
‘She’s only winding you up because she can.’
‘And she does!’
‘Hello Lily,’ he quietly said. ‘You’re talking to me.’
‘Yes I am, aren’t I?’
Lily smiled looking at a group of people coming towards her.
‘After all the messages I left. I don’t think you’re a bit of rough. I was really upset you thought that,’ he said.
‘Okay. Look I’ve got to go and-.’
‘I’m at this really boring party and I need someone to entertain me. Will you come?’
‘Hire a clown, you can afford it.’
‘I’ll pay you fifty quid for the pleasure.’
‘I think you’ve dialled the wrong number,’ she laughed. ‘I’m not Busty Bertha.’
‘I was calling lovely Lily,’ he whispered. ‘The lovely Lily I really like.’ She momentarily couldn’t say anything as she was taken aback. ‘Will you come and see me? It’s a cold Friday evening and there’s loads of drink if you can’t stand being sober in my company.’
‘Rich this is silly. Can’t you call someone else up?’ she said walking slowly down the road.
‘I want to talk to you. Please.’
‘I’m on my way home.’
‘I know you’re only round the corner,’ he gently said. ‘Just come and see me for an hour then you can go.’
Lily walked through the door of the extraordinarily large house in Holland Park and wondered what she was doing there. Her initial reaction was to turn around and leave but as she did, she noticed Richard smiling at her.
‘You look gorgeous,’ he said rushing towards her and grabbing her hand.
‘And you’re drunk,’ she said noting he looked flushed but perfect.
Lily knew this was a whim for him but took it on the chin, like she usually did. Richard grabbed her hand and pulled her into the large living room. There were groups of people standing around chatting loudly. Stopping abruptly, he grabbed a bottle of wine, two glasses and dragged her into the garden.
‘It’s freezing,’ she said, huddling in her coat. ‘You’re going to catch your death.’
‘Not if I stand here,’ he said placing her under an upright heater.
‘Are you on something?’ she asked, noticing his eyes were twinkling.
‘I’m happy you’re here.’
‘Are you sure you haven’t been taking Columbian magic powder? Dominic has the same expression as you when he does,’ she smirked.
‘I’m drug free today,’ he laughed. ‘Thanks for coming.’
‘Why?’
‘Do you have to ask?’ he said raising an eyebrow.
‘Actually yes, I do.’
‘I’m a man. I’m allowed to make stupid mistakes, aren’t I?’
‘We’ll see,’ she replied and wondered what he was up to.
Lily watched as people fluttered around Richard all evening but he was giving her his undivided attention. She felt happy and their laughter was echoing around the garden.
‘I better go,’ Lily said glancing at her watch as it crept towards the early hours of the morning and she was feeling quite pissed.
‘Do you have to?’ he asked, pouting. ‘We’re having fun. Aren’t we having fun?’
‘Yes, but I need lots of sleep and you need to get some rest.’
‘I can carry on drinking, I don’t care,’ he said, slightly stumbling backwards.
She quickly grabbed his arm and shook her head.
‘Enough for you, young man,’ she nervously laughed hoping he wouldn’t fall into the free standing heater and cause a fire.
‘I’m not young!’ he said miserably holding himself up. ‘I’m old.’
‘You’re thirty nine.’
‘I turned forty at the end of January,’ he said firmly sticking out his bottom lip. ‘And I’m gutted.’
‘You’re not going through a mid-life crisis? Dominic has one every month and he’s younger. Anyway you should be happy. You’ve got it all, what more do you want?’
‘A great film, more awards, lots more sex,’ he said, shrugging his shoulders. ‘What do you want?’
‘To find someone who loves me and makes me happy. Some form of small commitment! That should definitely scare you off,’ she said laughing, escorting Rich to sit on a bench. ‘He has to be loyal, faithful and besotted with me.’
‘Have you been seeing anyone since I saw you last year?’
‘There was one guy,’ Lily said, trying to smile before grimacing.
‘I see,’ Richard said turning to her. ‘Didn’t last?’
‘Christmas thing,’ she said feeling uneasy. ‘I’d forgotten about it. Actually Toby was the one who pointed out he was saving himself for his one true love.’
‘And it wasn’t you?’ he laughed and shook his head.
‘He’s a younger brother of an old school friend of Dominic’s.’
‘How much younger?’
‘He’s about twenty five,’ she mumbled under her breath before being met with a stunned expression. ‘I know but I was feeling a bit, you know, down in the dumps.’
‘How comes?’
‘Dunno,’ she sighed and sipped her drink.
‘You didn’t have sex with this Toby because he wasn’t the one? Was he one of your regular emotionally crippled blokes?’
‘He wasn’t that crippled, he’s a yoga teacher who likes to go to third world countries to help the poor and inflicted. That’s why he wanted to see me.’ Lily laughed and glanced at Richard’s frown. ‘It was afterwards I found out he was a born again Christian who was saving his virtue for his one true love.’
‘He was a virgin?’
‘Oh no no,’ smirked Lily. ‘He was no virgin.’
‘But you and he didn’t?’
‘It was very physical,’ Lily said knowing she was going red. ‘He tried to teach me yoga which was a complete waste of his time.’
‘You got free yoga lessons?’ he laughed out. ‘That’s different.’
‘And he was into other stuff,’ she quickly said and looked at her watch. ‘It’s really getting late.’
‘Like what?’
‘I don’t want to discuss it.’
‘Come on, you started this conversation. What did you two do?’
‘He was a bit full on,’ she frowned.
‘So tell me,’ he said moving his face closer to hers. ‘Did he use any of those vibrators you had at your flat?’
‘Just a couple,’ Lily said swallowing hard. ‘At the same time.’
‘Fuck!’
‘On him.’
‘No!’ Richard laughed out loudly and shook his head. ‘And you?’
‘I declined,’ she said primly. ‘Anyway he made me realise I’m going to save myself up for my one true love or get my kicks through drinking lots of coffee with sugar. Freaky sex with bendy guys is not my thing.’
‘Marriage aye?’ he laughed.
‘I didn’t say marriage,’ she laughed. ‘I grew up with the shit side of that and I know relationships are fickle.’
‘How comes?’ he said leaning closer.
‘My mum and dad divorced when I was young and it was okay. I wasn’t mentally or emotionally scarred that I know of.’ She half smiled. ‘But he died and she met someone else. It was like I wasn’t important anymore and she said ‘I have to live my own life’. I was twelve and I felt pushed out, as if I was a mild inconvenience. He dumped her then suddenly I was left with this tragically sad woman.’
‘How is she now?’ he gently coaxed.
‘I don’t have a good relationship with her because of that. I love her and we talk but relationships can fuck things up including bonds that shouldn’t be broken.’ As Lily said it something felt raw in her soul. ‘It makes me scared about having kids, getting married the whole thing. It’s very fragile stuff.’ She turned to see him staring at her. ‘Don’t you ever want to get married?’
‘Is that a proposal?’
‘Sure. After a one night stand I can’t really remember and hardly any contact since then, yes that makes a perfect foundation for a union made in heaven,’ she sighed realising how rubbish the whole thing had been.
‘You can’t remember?’
‘Hardly anything as I was bladdered.’ She smiled at his confused expression. ‘Which is good, all things considered?’
‘Why?’
‘My pride’s less dented because you binned me.’
‘Is it true that was you first one night stand?’ whispered Richard.
‘You heard what I said?’ For a moment she was mortified. ‘I have to like the person and that’s probably where I’ve cocked up in the past. Liking the person and not realising they don’t like me enough.’
‘How many times have you had your heart broken?’
‘A couple,’ she gulped. ‘Have you ever been hurt?’
‘I don’t like to talk about really personal things. I keep it to myself,’ he eventually answered. ‘But I’ve been hurt and I’ve hurt people, so I know how it feels.’
‘And now you know I’m a little bit jittery based on my background. Poor background I have you know.’
‘A socialist?’
‘Better than being a capitalist,’ she smirked. ‘But again it has given you offices in Soho and bucks in the bank.’
‘I’m married to my work and family life isn’t my thing,’ he piped up. ‘Also I’m knackered.’
‘Take a holiday.’ Lily laughed. ‘You can go off anywhere you want to. What I’d give to make goody bags in the sun.’
‘Your vibrators would melt.’
It was two in the afternoon when Lily finally got up but there wasn’t a hint of a hangover. She walked around the living room smiling, remembering the sight of Richard stumbling into a cab. Lily sighed and sat down. She had a wonderful evening even though it was a one off. Her mobile phone was flashing.
‘It’s me,’ said a drunken message from Richard. ‘I had a great time last night, I really did. Sweet dreams little Lily.’
Lily spent the day pottering about but mostly in a daze about her time with Richard. Her mobile rang again and it was him.
‘Hi,’ she said feeling her heart skip a beat then realised it was all for nothing. ‘Did you get home safely?’
‘Did I make an arse of myself?’ he asked gently, his voice deeper than usual.
‘Don’t you always?’
‘From what I remember, you made my evening enjoyable. What are you doing tonight?’
‘Me? Oh, well Dominic’s got a date so I’m going to get a takeaway and watch telly then-.’
‘Can I join you?’
‘Really? Why?’
‘I’m coming round.’
Half a takeaway Thai meal and two bottles of beer they were sprawled over the sofa watching a reality show. Lily tried to stop herself glancing at Richard, who was looking rather fit in a black crew neck jumper and old jeans. She couldn’t quite believe what was happening then let out a big sigh.
‘What was that for?’ he asked before turning back to watch the telly.
‘The food,’ she quickly answered. ‘Thanks for the takeaway. How’s the hangover?’
‘It’s gone with this,’ he replied, holding up a bottle of beer. ‘Pity I can’t have any more as I’m driving.’
‘You can always camp here for the night. I’ll sleep on the sofa,’ Lily said realising what she’d just proposed. Richard turned to Lily as she avoided eye contact. ‘Seriously, I won’t wrestle you to the ground this time. You’re virtue is very safe with me.’
‘You’d give up your bed for me?’ he quietly asked. ‘That’s very sweet of you.’
‘Not really. I’ll make you change the sheets in the morning,’ she replied, glancing at him sheepishly. ‘They’ve not been done for three weeks.’
