@lter Ego (17)

If whispers about Sammie and I had already been spreading via Jonesy (all afternoon I'd seen him pointing and nodding in my direction) then Jane Compton perching on my knee was bound to give the gossips second helpings. I even heard Sammie remark to one of her cohorts, "Well I see he's pulled then!"

Jane herself seemed aloof to this. In fact she seemed fairly aloof full stop. I half suspected she'd merely attended to round off some business and hadn't really got into the spirit of the occasion. Certainly there wasn't even a curl out of place and I doubted more than two glasses of wine had passed her lips.

"We don't know each other do we?" she said. Her tones were firm, clipped and well to do.

"No but I know who you are," I replied.

"Well nice to meet you too."

We politely shook hands, which must have seemed totally odd to anyone watching us, considering she was still sitting on my knee.

"I'm actually an ad manager at Archer's," I went on, "but I don't think my title is one that your clients would be all that interested in."

"Really. Why's that?"

I briefly explained to her about 78RPM, the tiny retro music magazine I sold for.

"Oh I see. You're right, perhaps not. Sorry." She paused, appearing to be deep in thought. Then she said, "You're the one who sang Mack The Knife earlier aren't you? I thought you were quite good."

I was surprised she'd remembered.

"Thanks. You a fan of that kind of music then?"

"Absolutely."

"Oh. Well hey, maybe we do have something in common after all."

She smiled at that. I'm sure it was the first time she'd genuinely smiled all day. And when she did her certainly attractive but up until now quite severe features suddenly took on a completely unexpected aspect. Her piercing green eyes blazed into life. I was mesmerized.

"Maybe," she said. "So do you sing in public often then?"

"No. That was my debut performance."

"Ah. I thought as much."

I blushed, feeling a bit stupid.

"Listen," Jane then said. "Maybe I should get off you. Your whole body language is saying you don't want me sitting here."

"Is it?"

"Yes, it is."

Even as she spoke I realised she was partly right. I was as stiff as a board. Mind you that was probably because I was uncomfortable with the knowledge that people were definitely staring at us. But that wasn't the only reason. It was also because, close up, I found Jane Compton extremely attractive. And I guess I still wasn't that used to extremely attractive women sitting on my knee, despite what I'd been getting up to lately.

However, I didn't want her to go so I forced myself to relax. And as I did, Jane's delicate frame sunk against me a little further, pressing gently against my chest. Now I smelt her perfume that was instantly pleasurable to the senses and my every instinct was to be immediately inclined towards awkwardness again. I continued to fight it though.

Be cool, that powerful internal voice instructed, Just be cool!

"Is that better?" I asked hopefully.

"A bit."

I scrambled to maintain conversation.

"So... I bet it's just been another day at the office for you then?"

I winced as soon as I said it.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh... er nothing. I just meant that I guess everyone is trying to do deals with you, that's all."

"Yes. They are. It's why I've been invited after all."

Strange. She sounded quite resigned to this fact, and maybe even a little sad too.

"Don't worry, now that you've heard about my mag I'm sure you'll realise I want nothing from you whatsoever."

"Well that's good to know at least. Actually it's nice to just chat to someone for a change without having to start negotiating."

"You get that a lot then?"

"Too often."

Jane smiled again, almost ruefully this time. Yet I warmed to it even more. Then she decided to completely change the subject.

"I like your suit."

"Do you? Um thanks. It's actually straight off the catwalk."

"Oh you're a model as well as a singer are you?"

"Ha ha, I wish. Wouldn't mind dating a model or two though."

"Really? So models are your type are they?"

She looked at me impishly.

"Um... well I wouldn't say no," I replied, "Although I'd like to think I was a little more discerning." And then, for the same sheer hell of it reason that I'd earlier admitted my past crush on Sammie, I tried another little dare. "What about you then? What's your type?"

At that Jane actually laughed out loud, causing more than a few surprised stares (since it was once a well-known fact that the laugh of a Jane Compton was a sound rarely heard in the media kingdom).

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Seeing she'd nipped at some of the bait I was encouraged. Indeed Bastian Dash stirred and both he and I were very interested to know exactly what her type of man was. However on checking my watch I then realised I'd have to be leaving shortly to meet Blandine.

"Am I keeping you?" Jane sounded a little irritated.

"Huh? Oh no. Sorry. It's just I've got to go soon."

And yet you know what, suddenly I didn't want to.

"Oh really. Where?"

Now that stumped me. I mean the last thing I wanted was to tell her I had another date. So instead I lied by saying I had another party to get to.

"Lucky you," Jane nodded, "Can I come too? No offence but this place is really boring me senseless."

Oh shit!

I mean how was I going to get out of this one without offending her? Luckily I didn't have to.

"Don't worry," she said, no doubt sensing my discomfort. "I was only joking anyway. Wouldn't want to cramp your style now would I. Any models going to this party then?"

I laughed.

"No. No models. And I doubt you'd cramp my style. Thing is-"

"Don't explain," she interrupted, now getting off my lap. "It's really okay. Anyway, look it's been nice to meet you and I hope you have a good time at your party."

Jane seemed suddenly very defensive, and for the life of me I couldn't work out why. But I didn't want her to go just like that.

"Wait a sec," I said, trying to salvage something. "How about we finish this conversation some other time."

She fixed me with a long, sceptical look that was in its own way as equally devastating as her smile. But I fought back.

"After Christmas maybe? Just a drink?"

Jane thought about this for a moment, as if she were mulling over an iffy deal.

"Okay," she answered finally. "Give me a call in the new year. You know where I work."

Fuck me was this for real?

I mean just I when thought Bastian Dash couldn't surprise me any further he goes and asks out Kylie with a Kalashnikov herself ...