The Dating Game Page 16

  Well, at least he would be less likely to get plastered at the cinema. Gill had checked the listings and e-mailed him back to say she quite fancied a new romcom which was on at the multi-screen in Renfrew St. She didn’t ask him if that suited. He had his penance to pay. The film started at seven and she suggested they have coffee afterwards.

  ‘Sounds great. See you inside, ground floor at ten to seven. Sean.’

  Gill had also received a message from Gary on Wednesday afternoon, asking if he could see her again and if so, was she free this weekend. She hadn’t replied, as she couldn’t make it this weekend, and she hadn’t quite decided if she wanted to go out with him again. Her gut instinct said no, as there had been no connection, but he had come to her rescue when her trousers had ripped. Plus he looked like Liam Neeson. And it wouldn’t do to put all her eggs in one basket just yet.

  By the time Janice arrived at the office, Gill had already done two hours work.

  ‘Coffee, Janice? I’ll get it. I need a break before I do these interviews. The first one’s due in at half nine.’

  ‘Love one, thanks. So, do you have a good feeling about this?’ Janice asked, as she dragged off her dripping coat.

  ‘Well, I really hope I can choose someone from this bunch. I don’t want to do it all again. I’d like to start someone as soon as possible. Otherwise you and I will both get committed to a mental institution.’

  ‘You’re not wrong there.’

  Gill poured the coffee, handed a cup to Janice, and then said, ‘Would you have a preference for a man or a woman?’

  Janice hesitated for a split-second, and then said, ‘Never really thought about it. As long as they’re hard-working, professional and have some personality, that’s enough for me.’

  ‘Right, good,’ said Gill, thinking hard. She tried not to have preconceived notions before interviewing commenced, but sometimes it was difficult. Often those opinions changed anyway, as some candidates who seemed very promising on paper, were dismal at interviews and vice versa.

  ‘So who’s first up then?’

  Gill glanced at her list. ‘Leslie Crutherland, and then at eleven, Angus Mackie. Then this afternoon, we have Carol Leishman and Patrick O’Hara. Then four more tomorrow.’

  ‘Fingers crossed, eh?’

  ‘I’m keeping an open mind and everything crossed,’ said Gill.

  Leslie had an impeccable CV. Unfortunately Gill found him pompous and overbearing. She couldn’t imagine him working with her, never mind for her. In the interview he acted as if he was her boss, and constantly interrupted her with questions, whilst she was still speaking. No.

  Angus she had met once before at an association dinner. Friendly and charming, and although he had only been in Recruitment for two years, he knew his stuff. He had in fact, even wrested a couple of pieces of business away from Gill. Maybe.

  Carol Leishman, opinionated and very successful, but the woman’s laugh could break windows. Since Gill and Janice would have to work in close proximity to her on a daily basis, Gill struck her off the list.

  Charming Irishman Patrick O’Hara rounded off the day. But there was something missing. Gill didn’t think he had the edge.

  Gill sincerely hoped tomorrow’s interviews were more productive. With an hour and a half per candidate, it had been a long and gruelling day.

  Janice asked Gill if she wanted her to stay late to help, as she knew Gill would struggle to deal with everything she’d missed during the day.

  ‘No, there’s no point both of us being stuck here. And you’ve done more than enough holding the fort today. You go and have a nice night. I’m going out tomorrow and Saturday.’

  ‘Well don’t overdo it. You don’t want to turn up to these dates looking the way you do at the moment.’

  Fortunately Gill was used to Janice’s brand of honesty and didn’t take offence. When Janice left, Gill sat down to do payroll, followed by taking care of various bills for the business. Thank God for internet banking. She’d never have time to go to the bank each week in person and Janice had enough to do. Remembering her thought about recruiting a student, Gill put together a small advert. Whoever she got in could carry out some basic admin tasks and help Janice. She then looked up the addresses of a few of the local colleges and universities and e-mailed the advert across to them. She felt elated that she was starting to put a small dent in her To Do list. She really hoped the interviews tomorrow yielded more success than today.

  Gill didn’t leave the office until ten o’clock, so she called a taxi, rather than take the bus, as she was exhausted.

  Ready meal again, she thought, as she opened her front door and discarded her briefcase. She grabbed hold of the flesh at her stomach between both hands and decided she really needed to make some time to exercise. Zumba’s the answer, she thought. As soon as I hire this new SRC, I’m going to start a fitness regime.

  Taking a lasagne from the freezer, she scrutinised the instructions and popping it on a plate, put it in the microwave for the required six minutes. She kicked off her shoes then poured a glass of wine, promising herself it would be her only one tonight, as tomorrow would be a long day.

  Gill sank onto the sofa and flicked on the TV. She channel-hopped for a few minutes before realising she hadn’t had time to check her personal e-mails all day. Too tired to boot up her laptop, she logged on to her personal e-mail from her phone, and saw she had a new e-mail.

  Hi Gill, hope you are well. I enjoyed your company the other night. Were your trousers repairable? I get the impression things would never be boring with you around. I’d like to see you again. If you’re interested, I’ll be back on the 27th and could contact you then. Gary.

  Gill’s emotions were mixed. To be honest, she didn’t know how she felt about anything at the moment. Too many things were happening at once. She couldn’t work out if that was good or bad. At least some of it was social, as opposed to the constant work, work, work of before. She had difficulty keeping up with her social diary now. Gary seemed a nice bloke, but did she want just nice? She eventually decided she was too overcome with tiredness to make any major decisions, so she put Gary on the backburner and finished her lasagne.

  Morning came all too quickly in Gill’s opinion. She’d flaked out as soon as she hit the pillow last night. When her alarm trilled at six o’clock, she could have happily thrown it out of the window. She tried to snooze it for ten minutes, but next door’s cat was miaowing to be allowed in and she realised she wasn’t getting another ten minutes sleep.

  Gill felt sick of the sight of her office for the first time ever. She knew it was down to not being out of it long enough. She needed to perk up, not only for her interviews, but for her date with Charlie. At least today she would have time to go home, shower and come back into town.

  ‘You look tired. What time did you leave here?’ were the first words out of Janice’s mouth when she came through the door.

  ‘Morning. Ten.’

  ‘You look like it. I’ve heard those caffeine sticks are good. Like roll-on deodorant, but for under your eyes.’

  ‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ said Gill. ‘Now talking of caffeine, do you want a coffee? I need another.’

  ‘What time have you been here since?’

  ‘Quarter past seven.’

  ‘Jesus. Well, let’s hope you do find the right candidate. Otherwise you’re going to be absolutely wrecked if this continues.’

  ‘What do you mean I’m going to be wrecked?’ joked Gill.

  ‘Quite,’ said Janice, as she switched on her computer.

  ‘Right, I’m going to lock myself in my office and attack yesterday’s e-mails, before the first interviewee turns up.’

  ‘No problem. I’ll let you know when he gets here.’

  ‘Thanks, Janice. Roll on the weekend, eh?’

  ‘I think yours is going to be a wee bit more exciting than mine.’

  ‘Well, I live in hope,’ said Gill, retreating into her office.

  Afte
r another gruelling interview session, Gill had come to the conclusion that her best bet lay with Thursday’s candidates. She had her new SRC. She just hoped he agreed to the package she intended to put together for him, as quite frankly there wasn’t a suitable runner-up. Angus Mackie would fit in just fine. Janice had liked the look and sound of him, too. He only needed to give a week’s notice, which was a bonus, but not the reason she’d decided to hire him.

  Five o’clock. Gill amended the draft proposal she’d been working on over the past few days, adding in details on salary and start date. She then printed it off, signed it and popped it in an envelope, ready for posting on the way home. Already she felt relief. Soon they would be three.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Friday 16th September

  Stepping out of the taxi, Gill looked up at the lavishly decorated exterior of Fountain of Siam, complete with ornamental fountain. She hadn’t been for a while, but she loved the food here. Just as she was entering the restaurant, a voice behind her called ‘Gill!’

  Turning, she saw Charlie waving at her, as he, too, got out of a taxi. He paid the driver and then walked towards Gill.

  ‘Hi. You look fantastic,’ he said, as he drew level with her, taking in her little black dress and high heels.

  ‘Thanks. You brush up pretty well, too.’

  Gill felt a little overdressed as Charlie was wearing black jeans and a white short-sleeved, linen shirt. He didn’t even have a jacket with him.

  ‘It’s great to see you again,’ he kissed her on the cheek.

  ‘You too. Shall we?’ Gill gestured towards the restaurant.

  ‘Yes, after you,’ Charlie held the door open.

  ‘Table for Prentice, for two,’ Charlie instructed the maître d’.

  The maître d’ checked his computer and then, signalling to one of the waitresses, told her at which table to seat them.

  They were led to a table in the centre of the room. Charlie looked round, trying to see if they could be moved to another table, but the restaurant was packed.

  The waitress pulled out Gill’s chair for her and explained the specials. She then took their drinks order and left them with the menus.

  ‘I haven’t been in here for ages,’ Charlie confided in Gill.

  ‘Me neither. We used to come here a lot. Me and the girls,’ she clarified.

  Charlie’s momentary high alert relaxed, ‘Ah.’

  Everything on the menu looked good to Gill. How to choose something which wasn’t too garlicky? Maybe she should take her lead from Charlie. If he ordered a dish laden with garlic, then she’d feel she could do the same. Plus he was so well travelled that he would probably choose something more authentic. She restrained herself from simply ordering Red Thai Curry, which she adored. Looking at the menu, she would be quite happy to order the starter sharing platter. Or maybe she’d have Thai Satay. Chu Chu Beef looked a good option for the main course, but it had garlic in it. Gill scanned the menu to see what she could choose that didn’t contain garlic.

  ‘Anything you like?’ Charlie peered over the top of his menu.

  ‘Too many things,’ smiled Gill.

  ‘It’s good that you’re easy to please.’

  Gill wondered if he was thinking ahead to later. She didn’t think she was particularly easy to please, as she had very high standards. She expected a lot of a potential partner, but then, she gave a lot, more than she ever received.

  ‘What about you?’

  ‘Well, what about the sharing platter to start?’

  ‘I was just thinking the same thing.’

  ‘That’s settled then. Any ideas for the main course?’

  Since the starter probably contained garlic, Gill decided to have the Chu Chu Beef; marinated beef, with garlic, spring onion, oyster sauce and straw mushroom, for her main course. Her mouth watered just thinking about it.

  ‘Yes, I think I’m going to have the Chu Chu Beef.’

  ‘Oh that’s delicious. I had that last time I was here. I enjoyed it so much, I tried making it at home, but it didn’t turn out quite the same. I’m going to quiz them about their secret ingredient,’ Charlie told her.

  ‘You’re quite the cook.’

  ‘I try, and I am pretty adventurous.’

  From Charlie’s tone Gill had the distinct impression that his comment concealed a hidden message.

  ‘Indeed,’ she wanted to move to safer ground. She had no idea how things were going to pan out with her and Charlie, but she wasn’t ready yet for veiled sexual references.

  ‘So what have you rustled up this week then?’ Gill fiddled with her napkin.

  ‘Nothing terribly exciting. I made a really nice vegetarian lasagne. I’m not usually big on vegetarian dishes, but vegetarian lasagne, if made well, can be amazing.’

  Gill agreed. It was one of the few vegetarian dishes she would eat. The thought of tofu, bean sprouts, and vegetarian meatloaf did nothing for her.

  ‘Have you decided on a main course?’ she asked him, as she closed the menu and placed it in front of her.

  ‘I think I’m going to go for the Weeping Tiger.’

  ‘Weeping Tiger?’ Gill scrunched up her face in disbelief.

  ‘Yes, grilled sirloin steak on a sizzling platter.’

  ‘Ah, OK.’

  ‘I know I’m in a Thai restaurant, but that’s what I’m in the mood for.’

  ‘It’s on the menu, no reason why you can’t have it. Besides, the starter has plenty of Thai dishes in it.’

  ‘True. Would you like some wine with dinner?’

  ‘Red for me, please, since I’m having beef.’

  ‘Me too. Cabernet Sauvignon OK for you?’

  ‘Sounds good.’

  Just then the waitress appeared with the drinks they had asked for.

  ‘Are you ready to order?’

  Gill sipped her drink and listened as Charlie talked impassionedly about food, the different dishes he knew how to cook, and those he would like to learn to.

  ‘Cooking’s easy. I haven’t always been able to cook. Then when Jamie Oliver came on the scene, I tried a few of his recipes and I’ve never looked back. I’ve always loved food, so it made sense for me to learn how to make it.’

  To Gill, who viewed cooking as a necessary evil and whose culinary prowess extended to chicken with a pour over sauce, the concept of doing it for pleasure seemed alien. ‘Yes, I suppose.’

  Their starters arrived and they both used the chopsticks provided to drag the Chicken in Pandan Leaf, Tong Tung and Prawn Satay from the platter to their plates.

  Charlie laughed, ‘Looks like we have the same priorities.’

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘We’ve both taken the same three items first.’

  Gill glanced at her plate, then at Charlie’s. He was right. She looked at the platter and saw that they had both left the relatively uninspiring Spring Rolls, Fish Cake and Chicken Satay until last.

  ‘So, now that we’ve ascertained that we both like to eat the best things first, what else do you like?’

  Charlie demurred and then said, ‘To be honest, anything tasty. I hate bland food and I particularly loathe floppy pasta.’

  Gill knew what he meant. There were few things worse than being served pasta which wasn’t al dente. It always managed to have the lack of flavour and the unappetising consistency of a ready meal.

  ‘So what have you been up to this week?’ Charlie asked as he expertly used his chopsticks to lift his Tong Tung.

  Neglecting to mention her other dates, Gill relayed to Charlie the events surrounding the interview process and how she had been doing a lot of work from home, to stay on top of things, whilst she looked for another recruitment consultant.

  ‘It must be a relief to have finally found someone.’

  ‘You have no idea.’

  ‘Mmm, this Tong Tung is delicious.’

  ‘The Prawn Satay’s pretty good, too, but then I love satay.’

  ‘I’m actually allergic to raw pea
nuts, but for whatever reason, I’m OK if they’re cooked.’

  Gill dabbed at her lips with her napkin, ‘Bizarre.’

  ‘I know, but it’s just as well, as I love satay too much. I’d have to eat it, and then give myself an adrenalin shot, to counteract it!’

  ‘That sounds a tad extreme.’

  ‘Well, don’t you have a food you couldn’t live without?’

  Gill hesitated before saying ‘Chocolate.’

  ‘Ah. Yes I think a lot of women would give that answer.’

  The waitress cleared away their plates.

  ‘That was lovely.’

  ‘Yes, I really enjoyed it, too. I’ve never had a bad meal in here,’ Charlie stretched his right leg out. ‘Sorry, I’ve got cramp in my foot.’

  ‘God, I hate that.’

  Unfortunately the waitress bringing their main courses didn’t see Charlie’s outstretched leg and tripped over it, sending the contents flying through the air. Gill could only watch in horror as their main courses rained down on Charlie; all the way down his pristine white shirt, with his steak catapulting into his stomach, making him flinch. It resembled a scene from a Carry On movie. Gill opened her mouth but nothing came out. In other circumstances it might have been comical, but Charlie looked so distraught, she really felt for him. The waitress clucked around and must have said sorry ten times. Charlie knew it was his own fault and didn’t hold it against her. Instead he turned to Gill and said,

  ‘Look, I’m really sorry, but I obviously can’t sit here covered head to toe, or,’ he looked down ruefully at his stomach, ‘at least, head to stomach in sauce. Do you mind if we get out of here?’

  ‘Of course,’ Gill said sympathetically.

  The manager came over, apologising profusely. When Charlie advised they were going to leave, as he didn’t feel comfortable sitting in a restaurant covered in food, the manager told them there would be no charge for their starters and handed them a voucher for a free meal for two.

  ‘Thanks, could you order us a taxi please?’

  Charlie went to the toilets to try to get the worst of the meal off his clothing. When he returned a few minutes later, his shirt still looked a mess, like one of the award-winning modern art pieces Gill had come across in her time and which she would never understand.