Page 66 of The Last Love Song
‘I know. It’s amazing.’
‘And I think it’s made more special because we both know there’s a time limit.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘With my lady coming back soon, that’s all.’ Tony looked a little sheepish.
‘Oh. I see.’
‘Don’t look like that, Helen. You’re making me feel guilty, and you promised you wouldn’t.’
‘Sorry. Let’s talk about something else, shall we?’
‘Course. I was thinking the other day that you need to get some work experience in the outside world.’
Helen frowned. ‘You mean, a holiday job?’
‘I suppose, yes. I’ve actually got a friend who’s looking for a temporary receptionist.’
‘A receptionist? What on earth would I learn from answering the telephone?’ She was a little offended.
‘More about a company than most of the directors probably know.’ He smiled.
‘I’m enjoying doing nothing. Apart from you.’
‘Ah, but this is a fun place to work,’ Tony grinned. ‘It’s asmall record company just off Carnaby Street, right where the action is. Plus, it’s only for August. Their usual receptionist is going to Australia for a family wedding.’
‘You know I don’t need the money.’
‘No, I know you don’t, Helen. I just thought it might give you some experience while you have some fun and widen your circle of friends in London. Look, forget about it now,’ he shrugged.
‘Okay. Would you like some strawberries?’
Tony put down his empty glass on the bedside table and pulled her roughly towards him. ‘Later.’
Three days later, Helen was sitting in the small reception area of Metropolitan Records. She was only here because Tony had seemed so keen on the idea.
She studied the present receptionist, who looked like a Barbie doll, and comforted herself with the fact that if they wanted long blonde hair and needle-thin thighs, she wouldn’t get the job anyway.
‘Brad’ll see you now. Go up the stairs to the first floor. His office is the first on the right.’
‘Thanks.’ Helen stood up and followed the girl’s instructions. She knocked on the door five times before it was opened. Brad was on the telephone. He signalled to her to sit down and indicated two minutes with his fingers.
Helen studied him as he talked. He was short, dark-haired and attractive in a Mediterranean kind of way.
‘All right, Freddy, my boy. I’ll see you on Friday at one, usual place. Toodle-oo.’
Brad put the receiver down and sat on the edge of the desk, arms folded.
‘Helen, nice to meet you, kid. Tony’s spoken very highly of you. You shagging him or what?’ Brad sniggered, then noticedHelen had gone bright red. He cleared his throat and went to sit down behind his cluttered desk.
‘Tony has probably told you the role’s only for a month. Jilly downstairs is off to the land of koalas for her brother’s wedding. There’s nothing to the job really, just a busy phone line. You pick up the receiver, answer it, press a button to divert it to one of us four that works up here and Bob’s your uncle. Dead boring really, except for the fact you get to meet the odd rock star or two.’
Brad spoke at a hundred miles an hour. Helen managed an ‘I see’ before he was off again.
‘Money’s a bit crap as well. We’re only a small company, been going for a couple of years now and we’re just starting to edge in on the big guns. It means we’re running on a shoestring. But you’ll get to know a lot of people. We’re expanding all the time and if you do a good job, there might be an opening for you in the future.’ Brad threw his arms out. ‘So what do you think? Want it or not?’
‘I—’
