The Deal

Sam looked at her closely. "You look different.. Is there something you're not telling me?"

Naomi dropped the California roll she had on the way to her mouth.

"Oh my God," Sam exclaimed loudly. "I know what it is! You’ve had sex, haven’t you?"

"Is it that obvious?" She laughed. She couldn't help it. They'd shared thoughts about men and life since art college days, so she felt comfortable talking to Sam about it.

"Yep, but I thought you weren't seeing him until this evening."

"That's what life is like with Lucas. Expect the unexpected is probably the best motto to keep in mind."

"I'm guessing it was after your meeting with the buyer."

"I don't think I could have walked into a meeting if it'd happened beforehand. I could scarcely walk in a straight line afterward."

Sam was agog. "What happened?"

Naomi described the scenario in the reception and the security guard office.

"You're basically telling me he ran out of a meeting to shag you in a store cupboard?"

"Yes, I suppose that's the long and short of it." Naomi laughed. The way Sam put it sounded crazy. It felt more real though, having told it aloud to Sam. They were close. They'd bonded in college when they realized they had in common their love for yarn, and the fact that they were both from opposite ends of the land. Where Naomi was Scottish and loved knitwear, Sam was Cornish and had a deep love of crochet. Even though Sam now worked as a deputy manager in a renowned London Art Gallery, she still made unusual items in crochet and sold them online.

"So what's the wife like?" Sam asked as she picked up a deep fried tofu.

"She looks like me."

"Really?" Sam looked puzzled. "That's a bit weird."

"Well, I'm exaggerating. If she was bald she wouldn’t look much like me." She laughed. The picture of Clara without hair had shot into her mind uninvited.

"Oh, I see, she's a redhead?"

"Yes."

"Natural or dyed?"

"Dyed, I believe."

"Well then, you're leagues ahead of her."

"Don’t be daft, dyeing your hair is no crime."

Sam winked. "I'm joking. You know what I mean. Seriously though, do you think she's regretting her decision to get a divorce?"

"I don’t know. I sense she's just a drama queen, but I've only seen her twice and she kicked off both times. It's difficult to form an objective decision, especially when Lucas appears looking drop dead gorgeous and making demands all over the place."

"I love how that sounds. I must try to find me a Dom. You'll have to give me guidance on how to find one."

"My "find" was more a stumble in the dark."

"Nevertheless you owe it to this old pal to help her find one too."

"If I can think of a way, I will."

Sam sighed wistfully. A moment later she refocused. "What do you suppose he has in store for you later – this promise to keep your mind off business?"

"I have no idea," Naomi replied with a slightly nervous laugh.