The Way You Smile by Kiki Archer

Author:Kiki Archer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, lgbt, lesbian romance, kiki archer, chick lit
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jabbing the button for floor five, Camila willed the doors closed. Embarrassed, shown up, mocked, unsupported, defeated, those were all understatements for how she was feeling right now. Ridiculous seeing as it was Deana’s idea to go down to the focus group and Brett’s idea to arrange it so quickly. She jabbed again. Had she been set up? Was it planned? Why even go ahead with an idea that had no real mileage? Yes, Deana had said it was good to keep all systems in place, but no one had helped her, they’d all just watched as she drowned, apart from Brett, who’d tried to hold her under. Keeping her finger on the button, she felt alone, which was silly seeing as she’d spent the best part of fifteen years alone, overcoming challenges all by herself, being both mother and father when she had to be, and cleaner and cook, not to mention taxi-driver and homework helper and personal shopper and first-aider, the list was endless… but the difference was easy, she did it for people who cared, for her children who were her world.

Sighing as the lift doors finally started to close, Camila questioned who she was doing this current job for, because it certainly wasn’t bringing the empowerment and personal independence she’d originally hoped. A stint on Julie’s bacon butty van was ten times as rewarding as this, the sheer joy and appreciation always visible on the customers’ faces the second they took their first bite of whatever greasy snack they’d chosen. Even looking after her brother and sister’s children at a playcentre seemed more appealing than this right now.

“Camila!” shouted Deana, shoving her foot in between the lift doors as they closed.

Camila looked down at the solo shoe, hoping it would be pulled out so she could continue her journey alone. She turned away as the chrome doors re-opened.

“Camila,” Deana was panting. “Brett, Geoff and I… come on, men,” she said, keeping the door open as she flagged them from the corridor. “Brett, Geoff and I, and in fact Nigel and Doug… Doug in particular, we wanted to say—”

“Deana! Sorry! Wait! Let me just jump in there! They said you were down here.” A woman with short, spiky hair who was clutching a sheet of paper joined the crowd in the lift but shoved her bottom against the frame to keep the doors open. “I’ll show Doug and Nigel next but, Brett, you’re going to love this one! Listen up.” She fanned her face with the email print off before reciting: “Hi, Harriet. I’ve spent the morning searching for your email address online, but obviously you don’t let any old hoity toity email you. Luckily I’m not any old hoity toity. La la la la la. I got to know you intimately in the limousine last night.”

“Ai ai,” cheered Brett.

“La la la la la. Your red stilettos are calling me.” The woman squealed as she flapped the paper again! “What a weirdo! This one’s claiming to work with you lot.

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