A Bump in the Road -- Watty Awards 2011 --

Chapter 10: Rules of Engagement (Vote, vote, vote! and comment!!!!!)

His mobile rand mid-sentence and a smoky raspy voice crackled through the earpiece….”Joseph I’m expecting you and a partner at head table at 8 sharp do your hear me? Bloody Hendersons dropped out with no notice and the Takashira’s won’t be pleased with a company of no shows. I need two bodies at the Dorset ballroom in the next 20 Redford. Oh and it’s black tie” – and with that the phone call ended.

Joseph raked a hand through his dark hair and muttered Fuck and turned towards the windows. “Maybe I can grab Julie from reception but damn everyone going is already partnered”. Nicole gently pried each of his fingers rom their tense grip on the blackberry he was close to throwing at the wall or crushing. “Joseph, darling I am fine, I feel fine, I’m so much better than I was in my first trimester. I’d really like to meet the partners and put names to faces. Really, the doctor said I can anything I like as long as I stop as soon as I feel ill when and if it happens”.

 She wrapped her arms around his waist, albeit awkwardly now that a firm bump was between them. “Maybe your jackass of a boss Eddie will stop busting your balls about taking leave”. She sauntered into the bedroom closet, besides she said “I’m the only one who’s allowed to bust your balls”.

Ten minutes later he watched bemusedly as Sherri bounced into the flat and disappeared through the bathroom door out of which all sorts of steams, curlers, nylons, perfumes and clothing items were flying.

 Nicole sat on a stool in front of the mirror – her glossy chestnut hair now tamed into glossy curls pinned up to one side of her head. Deep green and purple eyeshadow smoked out over her lids picking up the sparks of light in the iris’ of her eyes now feathered with thick dark curled lashes that fluttered demurely as she looked down at her freshly glossed lips now painted with a slick rouge lacquer the colour of ripe berries that formed a sultry pout as she examined the curious creature in the bathroom mirror’s reflection.

“You look beautiful Nic” Sherri stated from the floor where she was putting the final coat of varnish on Nicole’s toenails which she could no longer reach without squatting with one foot on the bathtub and one hand precariously gripping the shower curtain.

Twisting red lips into a rueful grimace Nicole quipped – “now if only Joseph could take my head and my feet to the gala then everything would be great. Eurgh I’m going to end up taking out a waiter with this thing she said rubbing her obviously pregnant belly that still seemed interminably small in the ripples of silk under the silk shift. And although I hate to admit it these pregnancy support stockings are amazing – almost better than sex”.

She burst out laughing. “Ok maybe not quite but still, it feels like there’s only an elephant sitting on my pelvis instead of the whole Titanic”. She slipped her puffy but polished feet into the flat silk slippers she would actually be able to dance in she got into the dress with Sherri’s help in zipping it up.

She wore one of the only expensive pieces of jewellery she owned, her grandmother’s silver crucifix. She pinned glittering emerald stones in her ears that shone brightly with the silver chain nestled in the creamy hollow of her throat.

After another irate message from his boss Joseph had popped his head in earlier to say they would be arriving separately – he had to be there earlier to charm and schmooze the upper echelons of investors to his bosses hope that it would induce the investors to pour out their funds as freely as the champagne was pouring. He left after that, but not before ordering a company car, ok fine a limousine to the gala.

As Sherri walked Nicole out of the entranceway to the car she saw Nicole press a hand to her stomach and pause. She went over to her, “alright Nic that’s it if you’re not feeling well then forget it I’m taking you back in. Joseph would never want you there”. Nicole put her free hand on Sherri’s arm.