He gave her a look that made her feel a little exposed. ‘Perfect,’ he said. ‘Now what do I need to know about your colleagues? Who are the good guys and who should I avoid?’
‘Avoid all of them but especially Alastair.’
‘Why?’
‘Because he’s my nemesis,’ she said, picking up a grey cardigan, just in case it turned chilly.
Cameron laughed. ‘What makes him your archenemy?’
‘He makes jokes all the time, and I’m the butt of them.’
‘People like that are trying to distract from their own flaws. Play him at his own game.’
‘How exactly?’ Ros picked up her bag and keys and headed for the door.
‘You need to flip things around. Make him the joke. He’ll hate it.’ She wasn’t sure if she could do it, but she did like the idea.
As Ros had anticipated there were a number of people who did a double take with surprise at her not being alone. What she hadn’t anticipated was the level of intrigue and questioning it generated. When Cameron went to get them drinks, people who avoided her in the lunch room or, when she thought about it, avoided her pretty much all the time were now queuing up to chat to her.
‘Ooh you’re a dark horse,’ said Sonia.
She’d been called worse. ‘Not really – why would I discuss my personal life at work?’
The woman chuckled heartily. ‘That’s the only reason I go to work: to live vicariously through everyone else. I love a good gossip me.’ She took a sip of her drink. ‘So tell me all about him?’
Ros was amazed that the self-declared office gossip thought her stupid enough to divulge anything. ‘He pines if I leave him alone too long so I’d better find him.’ Ros made good her escape but loads more people had arrived and now Cameron was lost to the throng. An unwelcome face popped up in front of her and stopped her search.
‘Are you looking for me?’ said Alastair.
‘Funnily enough . . . no.’
‘I heard you were bringing a plus-one. My source must have got that wrong,’ he said, knocking back the free beer. Ros tried to scan the crowd behind him for Cameron. ‘I’d been looking forward to meeting your plus-one. I had a fiver on it being a woman.’ He chortled at himself.
Now he had her full attention. Cameron’s advice came back to her. ‘Alastair, that’s where you and I are exactly alike.’
Alastair stopped laughing. ‘How?’
‘Women don’t fancy either of us.’ Alastair’s face looked like he’d been slapped with a large wet fish and Ros was about to dart off when she felt a strong arm around her middle and a kiss on her cheek.
‘Hi, I’m Cameron,’ he said, stretching out a hand, which Alastair belatedly took whilst still agog at Ros’s retort.
‘Alastair.’
‘I have heard an awful lot about you,’ said Cameron, his smile shifting into a stern line.
‘All good I’m sure,’ said Alastair.
‘No,’ said Cameron flatly as he took Ros’s hand and led her away.
Ros felt a mixture of flustered and elated at having matched Alastair and was pleased to see him looking bewildered when she glanced over her shoulder. Perhaps a bit of his own medicine was exactly what he needed.
Clive, the CEO, introduced himself and Cameron engaged him in talk about computational fluid dynamics. Cameron was confident, disarming and he knew his stuff. Ros had to admit she was impressed. Clive was called away by his wife to check on the spatchcock chicken.
‘These people seem nice,’ said Cameron.
‘Hmm, you don’t have to work with them.’
‘Maybe try getting to know a few on a social level? They might surprise you. Right, let’s get these drinks topped up. I’ll be back in a mo,’ he said, striding off.
Before Ros could object he’d disappeared into the crowd. Ros was very unsure about socialising. She faced these people on a daily basis and found them awkward, uncooperative and frequently inadequate. She decided she’d get some food and perhaps then they could sneak away.
She joined the queue near a gazebo and picked up a shiny porcelain plate.
‘Hi, Ros,’ said a tall woman in a flowery top.
‘Hello,’ said Ros, who had no idea who this was. ‘I’m sorry, your name escapes me.’
‘Berlinda Macey,’ she said. ‘So how long have you been with Cameron?’
Ros was slightly wrong-footed. ‘Er since . . . actually, why do you want to know?’
‘I’m just interested. I wouldn’t have put you two together.’
‘Do you know him?’ Ros was on red alert. The thought of being outed as a fake relationship here wasn’t something she’d considered but the shame of it made her cheeks heat up.
‘I was chatting to him while I got a drink. He’s a lovely guy; smart, funny and sexy – the perfect combination. He seems like a nice, kind person. I suppose it’s true what they say that opposites attract.’
Ouch, thought Ros. Should she counter this with a comic response like she had Alastair? She went for it anyway. ‘They also say those who are busy discussing someone else’s life are probably not happy about theirs.’
