Getting him Back by Anna Pescardot Page A

to Steve and we both feel that if you want my job
then you are more than qualified. It will save on advertising for
new staff and I could train you up during my notice period. What do
you say?’
    This was
a total shock. I didn’t know what to say. Since Mia had been back
she’d seemed happy and I hadn’t expected this at all. Mia loved her
job. Maybe she’d found something to love more.
    ‘So what are
you going to do?’ I asked.
    She smiled and
it suited her. She seemed carefree and relaxed and much younger.
‘Can you keep a secret?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘I’m
emigrating! I’ve found a new job in New York. Can you believe
it?’
    Before I
realized how intrusive I was being I asked a personal question. ‘So
what does your husband have to say about it?’
    She stopped
still, her eyes wide. At first I thought she was going to shout but
she sat back down, rested her arms on the desk and leant towards
me. ‘It doesn’t matter to me what he thinks. I’m leaving him. It’s
time for me to go it alone.’
    ‘So you’re
splitting up?’
    She laughed.
‘If you had to put up with what I’ve had to put up with from him
the past few months you’d be going it alone too, I imagine. So, how
are you anyway? You seem much happier lately.’
    I couldn’t
believe that Mia Cowell was actually interested in somebody other
than herself! ‘Yeah, I’m fine actually. I’m meeting Mark on Friday.
I think he might want to get back together.’
    She attempted
to say something and then closed her mouth, obviously thinking
better of it. She picked up the folder she’d been reading and stood
up. ‘Well, I think that concludes our meeting. I will have a
contract drawn up and we’ll start you’re training tomorrow.’
    I almost
fainted with shock when I got back to my desk. Doreen had to get
emergency donuts to help restore my sugar levels! I felt good,
though. Maybe things were going to get better after all. I had the
job of my dreams- Marketing Assistant- which came with a huge pay
rise, and there was a chance I would be getting back with the man
of my dreams.
    ***
    I wasn’t
looking forward to seeing freckly Mark. He’d arranged to pick me up
and take me out for tea. He told me to dress casually as were only
going to a local pub but I’d never felt so nervous getting ready. I
didn’t want to lose him as a friend but I knew I would if I
mentioned my Mark. I decided not to mention anything and to try and
act normal. I pulled my curls into a ponytail and stepped into my
tight jeans and trainers. I wore a Kings of Leon t-shirt and
leather jacket to finish my casual look. I’d still not managed to
perfect the make-up and hair that Catherine had done to me when I’d
first met freckly Mark. I sometimes felt he was disappointed when
he saw me come out of my house in jeans, wild curls and no make-up,
but he never said anything. He was too nice. That was the reason I couldn’t afford to
get serious with him; that’s when things would go wrong. Doreen was
right. We were having fun and I wanted to do that for as long as I
could.
    He kissed
me on the ch eek when I
got into the passenger seat. He looked gorgeous in his black
t-shirt and black jeans. ‘I hope you’re hungry,’ he
said.
    ‘Yeah. I’m
starving,’ I replied, but I was so nervous I didn’t think I could
eat anything. I felt like such a bitch. He’d told me he’d been
cheated on before and I felt like I was cheating now that I’d
arranged to meet my ex.
    We arrived at
the pub and a waiter showed us to some seats overlooking the river.
I watched as some swans swam by. Mark shifted in his seat. ‘You
seem distracted,’ he said.
    I turned to
face him. ‘Oh, not really. I’m just a bit shocked after what
happened in work today.’
    ‘Oh? What
happened?’
    I told
him what Mia had said and he seemed really pleased for me. I
noticed he seemed a little weird too, though. ‘Are you ok?’ I
asked.
    ‘Not really,’
he said, turning away from me to glance at the