Page 48 of Faking It (and falling in love)

“I…” but Philippa was cut off by the younger woman leaning in and touching her lips to Philippa’s.

“I see the pitch went well,” said a voice beside them. Philippa and Sienna flew apart. It was Alex. “I’m a little early.” Her mouth was a straight line.

“Hi,” said Philippa, “yes, you are. Sorry.”

“We were just celebrating,” said Sienna.

“I can see that,” said Alex, raising her eyebrows. “I’ll leave you guys to it.” She turned and walked out of the bar.

Philippa was momentarily thrown. She stood to follow, but Alex turned and held out her hand. “No,” she said, “don’t follow me.” The bar door slammed, and so did Philippa’s heart.

Philippa sat back down and looked towards Sienna. “This is not happening, Sienna.”

“I’m sorry,” said the younger woman, biting her lip. “I got carried away.”

“You did,” said Philippa. “And there are many, many reasons why it’s not happening. Not least because of the power dynamic here. That, and Alex over there is special to me.”

“Oh,” said Sienna, her already red face rapidly getting even redder. “Oh god, I’m such an idiot. I’ll resign immediately. I’m so sorry.”

Philippa held up her hands. “Shhh. That won’t be necessary.” She sighed. “Go home, sober up, and we’ll speak no more of this.”

Sienna nodded meekly. She gathered her jacket and her bag and crept out of the bar, following in Alex’s footsteps.

Philippa lifted her glass to her lips. Suddenly, Champagne seemed like the wrong thing to be drinking. She drained her glass and poured herself the remnants of the bottle. She couldn’t face going home right now, not after she’d messed everything up with Alex.

Philippa pulled out her phone, hoping against hope that there was a message from Alex there. There was, but it had been sent twenty minutes earlier. “Hey gorgeous, can’t wait to see you and I bet you’ll be celebrating. I’ll be a bit early x”

Philippa rested her chin on her hands. She’d just had the best sex of her life, with a woman who meant more to her than one hot night, and she’d wrecked it thanks to a misjudged conversation with a member of staff. Alex had warned her that Sienna had a thing for her, but Philippa couldn’t see it. The whole idea that women might want her was new to her, and she wasn’t ready. What made it even more frustrating was that while objectively she could see that Sienna was an attractive woman, Philippa didn’t fancy her at all. It was all such a mess.

She looked at her phone again. Alex might have told her not to follow her, but she couldn’t resist sending a text. But whatcould she say? As she was staring at it, her phone lit up again. “How did the bid go, bab? x” It was Charlie.

“Brilliantly, but now I’ve ruined my life and I need your help. Gin and tonic do you? x” texted back Philippa.

“??? send me the address xx” came back from Charlie.

Philippa smiled. She was lucky to have him as a friend. If anyone understood, it would be Charlie. And he knew Alex, so maybe he could help her understand what best to do next.

She ordered gin and tonics for them both. Champagne was rapidly losing its appeal.

Chapter Thirty-Three

“Ok, ok. Slow down. So, one – you slept with Alex and had the best sex of your life?” said Charlie between sips of his drink.

“Correct,” said Philippa, frowning.

“And you followed that up by making the deal of your life?”

“Check,” she said.

“And then your hot paralegal laid a smacker on your lips just as Alex was about to come and meet you for more erotic fun?”

“Well, I wouldn’t describe Sienna as that, given I don’t want to be with her, and I don’t have the hots for her. But, essentially, yes,” said Philippa, tapping her fingers on the table while Charlie caught up.

“Firstly, how good was the sex?” asked Charlie with a wink.

“Ugh, Charlie,” said Philippa, “must you?”

“I must,” he said. “How can I give you advice if I don’t know the whole filthy picture?”

---