Getting Even Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I’ve-got-some-comments-on-your-copy-and-I’d-like-to-go-through-them-with-you-if-that’s-all-right.”
    Ivy winced to herself. Ursula’s copy comments tended to be more valid than most, but she disliked being told her words needed improvement. Still, she knew better than to say so—years of feedback had made her resistant; now she could compromise without betraying how criticism grated. Ursula hopped from foot to foot; clearly she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
    Ivy stood up. “Sorry, folks, duty calls. Can I leave you two to finish?”
    â€œOf course,” said Orianna and Dan in unison.

 
    4. You rise to play and go to bed to work
    Not wanting to seem too vain or obvious, Rob only spruced himself up minimally for his date with Dan. In the privacy of the staff changing room, he showered, gelled his peroxide hair (though not in a way that might preclude someone running their hands through it), and swapped his shorts, T-shirt, and trainers for a freshly laundered shirt and jeans and his favorite shoes. A discreet dash of aftershave and he was ready.
    Considering how much he fancied Dan, Rob was surprisingly relaxed—that he was used to dealing with him in an advisory capacity meant he felt he had the upper hand. But there was a downside: their relationship was already established on a friendly but formal footing, which would make it hard to talk about anything personal, let alone their love lives. Broadening the conversation would involve courage on Rob’s part, especially as Dan was a client and might spurn him. Rob was no coward but didn’t enjoy rejection any more than the next person; if anything, he tended to take it particularly to heart. When he’d first come out at the tender age of sixteen, he’d fallen heavily for a succession of older men who hadn’t treated him well, and as a result, for the last few years had developed a tendency for casual sex and unrequited crushes. He gleaned much emotional sustenance from his friendships and working relationships, and was rarely short of company and camaraderie. But Dan … Rob fancied Dan more than was good for him. In addition, he really liked him. He felt at ease with him in a way he seldom did with men he was so attracted to—yet he was also worried that things were getting too comfortable, and if he didn’t say something soon, the opportunity for shifting gears would disappear.
    Perhaps tonight’s the night, he prayed to himself, checking his appearance one last time in the reception mirror. And as Dan emerged from the customer changing room and clapped him on the back to announce he was ready to go, Rob’s heart skipped a beat.
    *   *   *
    Orianna was waiting at the bar in Lucifer’s, clutching a much-needed glass of Pinot Grigio. She was early—being good at deadlines—but on edge. She’d been wrapped up in meetings all afternoon so hadn’t even had time to touch base with Ivy, and on top of that, pubs always made her feel like a spare part. Perhaps it was the Italian in her; they just weren’t her domain. Besides, she was impatient to meet Rob. Not that she thought Dan might reciprocate Rob’s interest, but it was intriguing, indeed a compliment, to have her partner sought after by someone else.
    She was all the keener because she’d not yet met any of Dan’s friends, nor he hers, because of their pact. Initially she hadn’t minded the secrecy—that would have been hypocritical given she’d suggested they keep quiet—but now that they’d been together for several months she believed they were ready to dip a toe in the water of going public. Meeting Rob indicated Dan was coming around to the idea.
    Orianna shifted on her stool, excitement mounting. She was proud of Dan, and the prospect of being introduced as his girlfriend for the first time was thrilling.
    *   *   *
    Ivy, on the other