Forever Mine (Joe & Ella 2)

When I looked up Ed was standing next to our table with a victorious grin on his face, I wanted to wipe it off by being the bitch from hell but I couldn’t because…woah… the guy stood next to him looked like a Calvin Klein model. He was seriously hot, about six foot, blonde hair cut short at the sides and slightly longer on top, a grey suit that made him look like a dream and he had these really cute dimples in his cheeks when he smiled. He was definitely decent man candy even I could appreciate that, Kim would have melted on the spot under his gaze.

“Hi Ella, this is Alistair he’s my accountant and a very dear friend. Alastair this Ella, she’s just beautiful isn’t she.” Oh my God could Ed give a more embarrassing introduction.

“She certainly is, hi Ella nice to meet you.” Alistair said reaching past Ed to shake my hand. He didn’t sound creepy though he seemed genuine, sincere.

We ordered our food and more drinks and the conversation flowed naturally. Alistair was a really cool guy, he was well travelled but had no hint of arrogance about him. He told us all about his trip to visit his family on the weekend. His Mum, Dad and little sister Erin lived just outside the city and his face lit up when he talked about them, so he was family orientated that ticked one box. He spoke about his little sister with such fondness it really was endearing and when he explained that she had cerebral palsy and that he spent most weekends making her dreams come true I just melted. He asked me questions about my work, my Nan and my job. He listened attentively and looked into my eyes when I spoke. I wanted to lean across to Chris and say, “Where have you been hiding him, he’s perfect!” I was waiting for the catch, surely he’d have some gross habit or a crazy ex would stalk in at any minute to ruin the perfect image he was portraying. I felt at ease in his company, for the first time in ages I liked a guy and it made me feel hopeful.

When it was time to leave Alistair pecked me on the cheek and said how lovely it had been to meet me. He suggested we must do it again sometime and I agreed but felt suddenly shy and awkward. I had enjoyed lunch but I prayed he wouldn’t ask me out or put me on the spot. I wasn’t good with surprises. Luckily for me he seemed to sense it and said he’d get Ed to sort another get together. That suited me fine.

“He was gorgeous!” Chris’s eyes were on stalks as he turned to me in the street on our walk back to the office.

“He was lovely. I’m glad he didn’t suggest anything though, I hate being put on the spot.”

“I know, I already told Ed that you hated that so he would have warned him. Can Ed give him your number though chick?”

I stopped to search the recesses of my brain for a real reason for me to say no but there wasn’t one. Who wouldn’t want to get to know someone as awesome as Alistair seemed? No he wasn’t Joe, he was quite the opposite, but maybe that would be a good thing.

“Okay sure.” I agreed and Chris put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a side hug.

We got back to the office about five minutes later and there sat on my desk waiting for me was a delivery of two dozen yellow roses.

“He’s never gonna give up is he?” Chris grimaced.

I saw the delivery guy, who must have been taking another parcel to Frank’s office, heading past us towards the exit.

“Wait!” I shouted out, running from behind my desk to grab him and stop him from leaving.

“If I give you twice your hourly rate will you make a delivery for me right now?”

He frowned and shrugged his shoulders.

“Yeah sure, what do you need delivering and where?”

I grabbed my scissors out of my drawer and cut the head off of every single rose. It was a shame to spoil such beautiful flowers but I knew I needed something drastic to get the message across. I picked the envelope out of the plastic holder standing in the middle of the arrangement and out of sheer curiosity I opened it.

Baby,

I am so sorry for being the biggest asshole in the world and hurting you. I love you Ella, please forgive me. You’re the only one for me.

Your Joe x

P.S Yellow roses say ‘I’m Sorry’

I picked up a black felt tip sharpie and scrawled ‘Fuck Off’ over the message and stuck it back into the plastic holder, feeling totally vindicated. I handed the arrangement to the delivery guy along with a note of the address for the health club and asked for it to be delivered into the hands of Mr Joe Madden and no one else. The delivery guy looked at me like I was a crazy woman; I felt crazy. Did he think a bunch of flowers made everything okay? All the gifts he could afford wouldn’t make me forgive him right now.

Chris and Colin gave me a look that said, ‘good for you girl’, and I sat down at my desk to get on with my work.

“If you get chance video his reaction and come back to show us.” Chris butted in as the delivery guy backed out of the office cautiously.

“Now that I’d like to see.” Colin added and I laughed.

“Me too!” I replied.

22

From then on Alistair and I began texting each other regularly. I found myself looking forward to receiving his messages and getting excited about our little mobile phone exchanges. It was all very innocent and cute but I felt for the first time in a long time, that this budding friendship could go somewhere.

It was during one of our text chats that I got a call from Max. It surprised me to see his number flash up in-between my innocent flirting with Alistair and it made me feel slightly guilty. I answered the call with some hesitancy, not sure if I’d done the right thing pressing accept.