Chapter 5

Eddie put his knife and fork down. He sat back and rubbed his belly.

"Tyler, that was amazing. Danny's a lucky man."

Tyler had become the unofficial chef of the flat they shared. Eddie usually heated things from the supermarket chiller aisle. Scott tended to burn things. So when Tyler had moved in, they'd welcomed his skills with open arms.

"In more ways than one," Scott replied. "If the noises at night are to be believed."

Tyler blushed. "Are you listening at my door again, Scott?"

Eddie laughed. "Poor thing hasn't had much action lately."

"Bugger off," Scott said snootily. "I've decided to go for quality than quantity from now on. The numbers game clearly wasn't working."

Tyler patted him on the arm. "The rest will do you good. To be honest, I'm far more worried about your knees than Eddie's when he goes on an occasional run."

Both Eddie and Scott sat up straight.

"Impressive," Scott mused. "One shot, two hits. I admire your courage, young sir."

Tyler beamed. "I'm the only chance this house has at sustenance. Besides, I'm too lovable for anyone to retaliate. Especially not the new Sister Superior of Brighton."

Eddie burst out laughing.

"I'm enjoying being in here," Scott said, evidently ready to change the subject.

They had only ever used the dining room for working from home and drying clothes in.

"Very Downton Abbey," Eddie added. "We'll be dressing for dinner soon."

Tyler had made an amazing jambalaya. Eddie's lips still tingled from the spicy sauce Tyler had perfected. He'd be sneaking a second helping later.

"Glad you liked it," Tyler said. He took a slug of his wine. "I let Scott take charge of dessert."

They both looked at the man in question.

"What? Did you think I'd forgotten?"

"Yes," they said in unison.

"That's all you know," Scott replied. "I've got a selection of gourmet ice creams waiting in the freezer. The choice is endless as long as it's chocolate fudge brownie or strawberry."

Eddie rubbed his chin. "Could have been worse," he said to Tyler, "If he'd used the oven, we may not have survived."

Scott stabbed a piece of chorizo from his plate. "Don't make me throw this. Barry isn't here to save you this time."

Eddie raised his hands. "I surrender."

"How's it going with Brad?" Tyler asked.

Eddie rubbed his eyes. James' announcement had cast him adrift. Of course, Kat and the others had made him promise he would try his hardest to get the job. He suspected that had more to do with them worrying about their quality of life than concern over his career trajectory.

"He's obsessed," Eddie replied. "Do you know, he said to Charlotte on reception that she should give him a VIP car parking space."

"Smarmy get," Scott replied.

"It's worth getting the job just to rub his smug nose in it."

Tyler frowned. "It's also a brilliant career opportunity."

Scott cackled. "What career? Eddie isn't interested in all that, are you?"

Both of them were staring at him.

"I am," he said unconvincingly. "You're not the only one with a C.V., Scott."

"Club promoting in Ibiza and running a sex shop in Berlin?" Scott replied.

"The shop in Berlin got me this place," Eddie said. Scott' attitude was grating on him. "And Sales Manager at Pleasure Seekers is not bad, you know."

Tyler was the Head of Procurement and Scott the Head of Employee Relations. Both a grade above him and a few years younger.

"I'm not saying it isn't," Scott said. "You could be so much more. I've seen you in action."

It was an ambush. Both Scott and Tyler were staring at him expectantly.

"So what if I am?"

"Show the world," Tyler said. "Of course you can whip Brad's ass. He's a total knob."

"Yeah, a knob who lands decent deals," Eddie replied. "It's not a foregone conclusion."

"Well, he clearly doesn't see you as much competition," Tyler replied. "I'd work that in your favour."

So many theories were swirling around. They were making Eddie dizzy.

Scott took Eddie's plate and stacked it on his own. "Edward Channing, you could sell condoms to a convent. If you focus properly, this job is yours. For fuck's sake, do yourself a favour."

"You think?"

"Of course. If you need any help, make sure you holler," Scott said, taking Tyler's plate.

"Same goes for me," Tyler added.

Eddie steepled his fingers together and stared at them in, what he hoped, was his most loving expression.

"That's so handy," he said. "Because I've already volunteered you to help me at the university open day this week. Don't make me look like a twat in front of Brad. Pretty please."

"Doing what?" Scott asked.

"Not sure yet. Something to do with promoting safe sex."

"A worthy cause," Tyler said. "I'm in if I don't have any meetings."

"Fine," Scott said, getting to his feet. "Anything for you."

Eddie winked at them. "Maybe I can do this. I have the sexiest cheerleaders in the whole of Brighton."

"I've always fancied myself with a pair of pom-poms," Scott said.

Eddie grabbed the big dish of food from the centre of table. "You'd fancy yourself in a bin liner."

"I would if it were nipped in at the waist and not too long."

Eddie turned to Tyler and shook his head.

"What did we do to deserve this one?"

"Luck, I suppose," Tyler replied.

Eddie followed a grumbling Scott to the kitchen.

Maybe I can do this. I have as much right to that job as Brad. More even.

After a sleepless night, Eddie sat at a desk in the office drinking black coffee as though it were the elixir of immortality itself.

Every time he'd found himself close to sleep, Scott and Tyler's words came back to haunt him. He'd always focused on making money rather than climbing the career ladder. Money that he had a bad habit of spending as soon as it came in.

But who wanted to be the kind of idiot who second-guessed everything? Someone like Brad. Every word, deed and outfit were carefully selected to do him the most good. It seldom worked either.

Fuck, that must be exhausting. No wonder he hammers a free bar at every opportunity.

"Rough night, I presume," Kat said.

"Thanks very much," Eddie replied.

"Here."

Kat placed another coffee in front of him. "I suspect you'll be needing plenty of that today. Good night?"

She'd gone to the artisan coffee van that had set up in the car park the other week. Eddie hoped they'd stay. It was miles better than the cheap instant crap Barry insisted on stocking the office kitchen with.

Typical Pleasure Seekers. Beautiful offices. Shite coffee.

Eddie took a sip of the scalding liquid. "Nothing like that. Just couldn't sleep."

Sitting opposite him, Kat frowned. "You're not getting stressed out with all this? You'll ace it. James isn't going to give Brad the job in a million years."

She shuddered.

As if on cue, Brad swaggered up to Eddie's desk.

"Hey, Channing."

God how he hated the way Brad spoke. Most of the time he sounded like an extra from Grease.

"How can I help you, Bradley?" Eddie said, forcing a smile onto this face.

"I thought we'd better have a chat about the university thing. Who are you bringing?"

Bless his heart. He's trying to assert dominance.

"Scott and Tyler."

"How obvious," Brad replied.

"They're my friends," Eddie said. "We enjoy being together. That's how friendship works. Who have you managed to find?"

Brad scowled at him. "I'm bringing Jordan and Bina."

Eddie stared across at Bina, the marketing assistant. She held her hands up. "Under duress, I might add."

"Or Durex," Brad said, collapsing into laughter at his own joke.

Poor Jordan worked in IT. He'd always been a quiet lad. Brad had decided he was his friend one Christmas do. No one was sure how enthusiastic Jordon had been about this arrangement.

Once Brad had composed himself, he sat down at the chair behind Eddie.

"I feel you want something," Eddie said. "Please can you tell me? I'm busy."

Brad beckoned him closer. "This job. What do you think about James making us compete? Bit weird, don't you think?"

Ah, he's a bit rattled, is he?

"I reckon it's James having a bit of fun. Don't you?"

"I suppose. I'll make sure I win. To be on the safe side."

Eddie raised his eyebrows. "Is that right? Brad, you've never beaten my quarterly income. Not once. Fair play that you'll give it a go. So will I. Please don't make a thing of this."

"It was neck and neck last year," Brad said, under his breath. "You know it."

"And I still won."

"This is different. There's more than a poxy Christmas bonus at stake," Brad said.

God, he's trying to psych me out. How embarrassing.

"Like I said, we'll both do our best. The winner will evidently be the best one for the job."

"Let's see, shall we?"

"Let's."

Brad got up, sending the chair spinning away. He stormed off to the other side of the office.

"What was that about?" Kat asked.

Eddie watched Brad slamming down at his desk.

"I think it's game on," Eddie replied.

"Thank fuck for that."

Eddie sat up at his desk. "Meaning?"

"Don't take this the wrong way," Kat said.

Instantly he tensed. Why did people say that shit before coming in for a character assassination?

"Go on."

"You don't always do it on purpose."

She evidently had something to say. By circling around it, she was getting right on his nerves. "Please elaborate. Honestly, you know how this bugs me."

"You have a natural talent, love. It's a good thing. The only bit that's missing in the strategy is killer instinct."

Eddie had had enough of this. Did everyone see him as the office labrador? Just bumbling around and responding to treats?

"Will you stop?" he said. "It doesn't all happen by accident, thank you. I make it look like that because it suits me. Why does everyone think I don't work? My numbers speak for themselves."

Kat held her hands up. "Fine. Have it your way. I'll tell you this. If I end up working for that overly tanned blond gobshite, I'll be holding you personally responsible. Take it seriously, please."

"No pressure then?"

Bina glanced up from her laptop. "Your luck is in," she said. "I've got a new enquiry email for you and it's in Brighton. Land it quick and you're golden."

Any potential sales leads were shared out equally.

This was a turn-up for the books.

"Send it over," he said, rubbing his hands together.

"Done," she said. "Over to you, Mr Marvellous. Make it work. For what it's worth, I don't want to walk for that seventies throwback either. I'm not sure the diversity training really works on our Brad. He asked me to bring coffees to a client meeting the other day."

"You didn't do it?" Kat replied.

"Of course. I had no choice. The clients were standing right in front of us," Bina said. "When I agreed, he called me a good girl."

"No," Kat said. "Don't tell me any more or I might have to beat him to death with a dildo."

Eddie zoned them out as he scanned the email.

"Interesting," he said.

"What is?"

"A crappy old souvenir shop down the seafront want to change their direction." Eddie thought about it for a second. "It's a great location. All those pissed-up punters with money to burn."

This sounded promising.

"I can see you demonstrating to an old dear how to sell vibrating cock rings," Kat said, evidently finding this highly amusing.

He glanced at the signature. "It's a bloke. Billy Webster."

"Maybe he'll ask for some little blue pills."

Eddie copied the number into his mobile. "If you don't want to be ruled by Lord Farquard over there, then a little positive thinking wouldn't go amiss."

Kat glanced at Bina.

"Go, Eddie," she said.

"A little better. Please work on it."

He got up and went into one of the meeting rooms to make his call.