The Vodka Trail by AA Abbott

Author:AA Abbott [Abbott, AA]
Language: eng
Format: E, P, U, B
Publisher: Perfect City Press
Published: 2016-07-18T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Davey

“Are you still here?” Davey said. “It’s time you were going home.”

It was only 2pm, but Ross shouldn’t have been in the office at all. Pallid, sweating and pumped full of painkillers, he was clearly unwell. He’d arrived at eleven to help Davey add the finishing touches to a pitch he was making to a large multinational.

“How did it go?” Ross asked. His desk, usually tidy to the point of OCD, was littered with empty coffee cups and packets of pills.

“We got the sale,” Davey said, smiling. “They liked the pitch, they liked the view from the Duck & Waffle, and most of all they liked the wine. We all had rather too much of it.” Although his new client’s headquarters were in Luxembourg, he’d conducted business over lunch at the upscale restaurant at the top of the Heron Tower. He often invited prospective clients there. The food was exquisite, there were impressive views over the City of London, and it wasn’t far for him to stagger back to his office on the seventeenth floor.

Ross was clearly relieved. “Great. I’ll just pack up then, and get a cab back. Oh – excuse me.” His phone was ringing.

Charles gave Davey a high five. All three men shared an office, an airy space with pleasant enough views of its own. They hardly noticed the vista over London any more, though. It had become like wallpaper to them.

“What do you mean?” Ross said to the caller. “It’s a joke, right?” His face, already pale from his illness, was white.

“I suppose Kat’s pregnant,” Charles hissed, as Ross continued his tense conversation, oblivious to their speculation.

“That’s my guess, too,” Davey admitted. He grinned. “Two new fathers in the office? The girls will say it’s something in the water.” He hadn’t spoken to Charles about Dee’s baby yet. The lunchtime claret was loosening his tongue.

Charles’ eyes softened, then he winced. “I’ve barely seen George.”

Davey didn’t reply. It wasn’t appropriate to become involved in Charles and Dee’s relationship, or lack of one, however much he sympathised with his IT director.

“It was a gory birth,” Charles added, shuddering at the memory. “I was gasping for a smoke afterwards.”

“I heard,” Davey said. “I presume Dee was ice-cool. Planning a series of baby yoga videos, perhaps. She seems to regard pregnancy as a business opportunity.” He chuckled. “I could almost imagine her booking the studio and cameras, then choosing you to father the child.”

Charles’ cheeks flamed. “I’ve considered that,” he said stiffly. “As a matter of fact, I raised it with Dee. She’s been rather cold towards me, actually.”

“Yes,” Davey said, thinking Charles could have used more tact.

“I appreciate I didn’t improve matters by saying it,” Charles pointed out. “How is she, anyway?”

“In great shape,” Davey said. “You wouldn’t know she’d just given birth.” Laura had never slimmed down to her wedding weight once their offspring had arrived. “You know Dee. Breastfeeding, vitamin pills, yoga – she says the pounds peel off.” He thought Charles looked uncomfortable. “Why don’t we break out the bourbon? Hey, we can all use a drink.

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