Page 23 of Just Do It
Truthfully, it hadn’t.
‘That’s what I thought.’ He went back to his work.
‘Why?’ I was genuinely curious. I’d seen one man walk into the bottom half of a Colossus when Bella was nearby. In accordance with their name, these items were generally pretty hard to miss but he’d been too busy looking at Bella. And that had been in her previous, more relaxed sartorial choices. Had he been witness to her current bombshell look, it was likely he’d have given himself concussion.
‘Because she’s too young.’ Finn repeated, giving me no new information whatsoever.
‘For what?’
‘For me! I’m guessing I’ve got about fifteen years on her and that, for me, is too much of a gap.’
‘I thought it was most men’s dream to have a young, beautiful thing on their arm boosting their ego.’
‘My ego is fine as it is.’
Looking like he did, that actually made sense.
He dropped his gaze and shoved his glasses back on his face.
‘You should tell her then.’
‘Tell her what?’ he asked, his keys taking a bashing.
‘That you’re not interested.’
He gave a humourless laugh. ‘No thanks. That never ends well. She’ll get the message.’
‘She might not.’
‘Then,’ he said, pushing his chair back and collecting a couple of files from his desk. ‘You can tell her.’ With that, he walked out of the office.
‘So, are you going to?’ Colette asked as she took a sip of her cocktail. We were sitting in a new bar in Borough, the French owner of which, Colette had done work for. The cocktails tasted even better for being free.
‘Do you think I should?’ It had been over a month now and Bella clearly wasn’t getting the message.
‘Honestly?’
‘Of course?’ I said, taking a sip of my own cocktail, a Porn Star which Colette had ordered for me, a gesture which she thought hilarious.
‘Don’t get involved. It’s between Bella and Finn.’
‘He’s not going to tell her and it’s painful to watch her keep trying.’
‘I agree with him. She’ll get the message eventually.’
‘I hope it’s soon. It’s not just that it’s hard to watch her keep trying for him when he’s apparently not interested, but her work is suffering and I’m already up to my eyeballs coordinating this upcoming exhibition.’
‘So say something about that.’ Colette had that innate confidence that French women often do, the suggestion tripping off her tongue as though it was nothing.
‘I can’t. I mean, normally she’s really good.’
‘But you were prepared to tell her that Finn wasn’t interested in her?’
‘God, no! I just wanted to ask whether you thought I should. Hypothetically.’
‘Hypothetically you are too nice when it comes to doing the people side of management.’
‘I know. But she’s a good worker – usually – and Finn isn’t going to be there forever.’
