Page 36 of Power Moves
But today, I have been forced to make the most brain-vexing decision of all. I suspect my atomic mass is ninety per cent regret right now, and not just because I’ve spent the day looking at PowerPoint presentations about negative gearing and other subjects equally uninspiring to cash-poor, anxiety-rich millennials. Today, I have made a deal with the devil.
I’m contemplating the likely ramifications of this deal when a big bear hand grabs me from behind.
‘Argh!’ I gasp. ‘Archie, you scared me!’
‘I was trying to be sneaky,’ he whispers.
‘Just act normal!’ I shove his hand away. We’re standing in the dark coffers of the Intercontinental ballroom, which is filled with round tables of suited businesspeople. (I would say businessmenbut I’ve counted at least four women.) The lights have been dimmed for the presentations, which have dragged on all afternoon. The media, sitting on the opposite side of the room to the businesspeople, look comatose with boredom. I would be bored too, but it’s hard to relax when you’ve asked the devil incarnate for a lift to a party.
‘Should we get out of here?’ asks Archie. His eyes are full of mischief, as though this is the funniest thing he’s ever said to me.
‘Don’t say it likethat.’
‘Like what?’
‘Like we’re …’ I can tell from the glint in his eyes that he knows exactly what I mean. I check my watch. ‘Okay, let us depart to your car and commence the trip to the engagement party.’ (I’m trying to use non-suggestive language.)
Archie chuckles. He grabs my bags, which are next to the door, and starts heading towards the elevator.
‘You don’t have to do that.’ I lurch into an awkward jog on my heels to catch up to him. ‘You can give me my handbag at least.’
Archie often feigns chivalry by carrying things for me (lecterns, coffees, et cetera). I retaliate by buying him lunch at least once a quarter, just to keep him on his toes.
The elevator doors glide open and Archie nods for me to go inside. Despite the best efforts of the space-enhancing mirrors,I clock that it’s an extremely confined space. I should have thought this through. My laptop is in my handbag, which Archie has not yet handed back to me, and he’s weirdly strong. He could torture me to get my password and then hack my emails and find mountains of damning headlines in there.Eek. I cannot let him find out how much the Digital Revolution budget has blown out.
‘Give me my bags. I’m going to take the stairs,’ I announce.
Archie raises an eyebrow. ‘We’re six floors up.’
‘Exercise,’ I shrug.
‘In those shoes?’
Ah.
Begrudgingly, I slide into the elevator. If Archie tries anything I’ll stab him with my stilettos. I punch the ground-floor button and glare at him. His body is being reflected off every mirrored surface. Everywhere I look, there’s a shoulder, a chest, a bicep.
‘What?’ he asks.
‘Nothing.’ I hope he didn’t think I was checking him out. I was just scanning for weak spots. Unfortunately, underneath that suit, he seems to be covered in a thick layer of muscle.
‘I promise I won’t steal your laptop,’ he says, passing me my handbag.
I go to take it, but just as I’m about to wrap my fingers around the handle, he yanks it back to his chest. His smile indicates he is completely thrilled with himself.
‘Archie,’ I warn, my hand still extended.
He holds the bag out, and I reach for it once more, but again, he snatches it back before I can grasp it.
‘Archibald!’ I screech. ‘Quit being so annoying!’
Archie hands it back to me, laughing. ‘You’re too easy to wind up, Millsy.’
The door opens and he stands back while I walk out, seething. Of course I’m highly strung around him. He’s already confessed that he’s chasing a big story on Boss, which is tantamount to trying to kick me out of a job. I have every right to feel nervy in his presence.
‘Where are we going?’ I ask over my shoulder.
‘Palm Beach,’ replies Archie.
