the wrong kind of love #12

Chapter 12
Brian was practically giddy as he walked back into the office after his meeting with Mandy. He sat in his cubicle and stared at the computer screen with a really huge grin on his face. He then got up to make himself a cup of coffee from the machine.“Hey Brian!”He looked back and saw Sam standing there. She was his colleague from work.“Sam. How are ye?” he grinned, “Coffee?”“It is the reason why I came to the coffee machine Brian!” she giggled.Brian smiled and looked back at the machine, “Milk and sugar?”“Milk and no sugar thanks!” she smiled.Brian put the money in the vending machine and pressed the buttons.“So, have you heard the latest gossip?” she smiled.Brian smiled and shook his head, “How do you manage it?”Sam was the office’s gossip. She found out about anything and everything. He looked back at her with a big grin on his face and saw her grinning.“Go on. Amuse me!”“Remember Cheap and Shallow Charlene?” she questioned.“How could I forget the woman who stalked me for a whole month and wouldn’t take no for an answer!” he sighed, rolling his eyes and picking up the cup from the dispenser.“Well, word’s going round that she is seeing a married guy!” she said softly.“Now why does that not surprise me?” Brian rolled his eyes once again. HE then stopped and immediately thought back to Mandy and what she said about her coming into his office. She was suspicious he was cheating on her with Charlene. He then coughed and looked back at Sam, “Any idea who?”Sam shook her head; “Apparently it is someone from accounts and high up in the rank. Rumours are that he is going away on business with her soon!”“Bloody hell!” he whispered, running his hands through his overgrown brown hair.“Yeah, innit? I feel so sorry for the guy’s wife? She hasn’t got a clue!” she sighed, grabbing her coffee from him and blowing on it.“Yeah, you have no idea!” he sighed to himself. He just stared into space and bit his lip.“Brian? Are you ok? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost!” she gasped.He quickly snapped out of it and looked at her, “Er, yeah. I am fine. Sorry, I need to go back to my desk. See you!” he hurriedly excused himself leaving Sam confused. She then shrugged and walked away herself.Brian sat in his cubicle, looking at the phone and tapping a pen in his mouth. He rocked back on his chair and just stared fixedly at the phone.“You know what they say. A watched phone never rings!” joked Sam as she walked past him. Brian looked at her and smiled, and then he looked back at the phone. Sam sighed, shook her head and walked away. Brian wondered if he should call Mandy and tell her all about Charlene’s latest conquests. He finally decided against it and not get involved. She would only resent him for it. And what if it was just a rumour and there was no truth in it? Or if the married guy wasn’t him? She was, after all, the biggest man-eater in existence. He then remembered Mandy’s words to him, ”If these feelings ever get in the way of our friendship, then that is it!”He sighed and then went on the Internet to take his mind off it. And he needed some inspiration for a new advert. When he looked at the time again, it was time to go home. He quietly switched off his computer, grabbed his briefcase and left. He hated staying there any longer than necessary.Meanwhile, Mandy was home, surprised by Nicky’s early arrival.“What are you doing home so early?” she gasped with a smile, “Not that I am complaining!”“We were not too busy today, so I thought I’d come home!” he grinned.“Great,” she cheered, “Any chance you could do this the day after tomorrow, It will be our 4th wedding anniversary and everything!”Nicky looked at her and sighed, “I need to talk to you about that actually!”“Oh no. Nix, don’t tell me that you have to work late that night. Please. It is out anniversary!” she whined.“It’s worse!” he winced, looking at her from the corner of his eyes as he sat on the bed.Mandy’s face paled as she sat down next to him “how much worse?” she nervously asked. The only worse thing she could think about was his leaving her or asking for a divorce. Her heart raced in her chest. Her breathing got heavy and she stared at him in fear.“I have to go away on business!” he frowned.Mandy sighed with relief, but nevertheless she stared at him and blinked, “You cannot go away. It’s our 4th wedding anniversary Nicky!” she protested.“I am sorry babe, but there is this conference the boss wants me to go to. It’s really important!” he sighed.“If it is so important, then why the fuck doesn’t your boss go?” she snapped.“Coz he is going on another one. A whole load of us has to go!” he said, as if that made it all better.“Well, maybe I can go with you and we’ll celebrate there!” she suggested.Nicky shook his head, “No babe. I am really sorry but the boss has specifically said no partners!” he sighed, “I really wish you could. I really do!”Mandy felt the tears stinging in her eyes, “Can’t you explain to him?” she sniffed.“I tried babe but he was not having any of it!” he moaned.Mandy felt the tears about to pop out, “You will not cry, dammit!” she scolded herself. Nicky just stared at her.“Are you ok?” he frowned.“What do you fucking think?” she snapped, with her voice all croaky and her eyes all glazy with unshed tears.“Oh sweetheart! I am just as gutted as you are. Do you honestly think I want to be away from you on our anniversary. I had the day all planned out and everything? I was taking you to this luxurious health spa for the weekend and live the life a bit. We can do it when I get back, yeah?” he tried to make it better for her as he stroked her hair.“How long are you away for?” she sniffed with a shrug, wiping away a tear than had sneakily escaped her eye.“We leave Sunday morning and come back Tuesday evening!” he sighed.Mandy bit her lip and nodded. She walked out of the bedroom and into the living room. She sat on the sofa and put the telly on.Brian was now at home. His housemate was cooking and his girlfriend was sitting at the table, chopping carrots.“Hey guys!” sighed Brian, grabbing a beer from the fridge. He sat down lazily on the chair, opened the beer and gulped it down.“Oooh that bad is it?” teased Kian, stirring the garlic in the sauce.“Yeah. I just found out something which is really bothering me!” he sighed, taking another gulp of beer.“Oooh I love gossip. Do tell!” grinned Rachel, chopping more carrots on the chopping board. Kian came and took the already chopped carrots and threw them in the pan.“Charlene has got herself a married bloke! They are going away on a “business trip” next week!” he sighed, making quotation marks with his fingers.“And that is and because you want Charlene to yourself?” chuckled Rachel.Brian shot her a look, “NO! Mandy is suspicious about her and her husband having it off. What if he is the married guy she is seeing?” he frowned.“Then it has nothing to do with you!” smiled Kian, tasting the sauce, “Does it?”“I care about her, Kian. You know that!” he sighed.“Managed to make up with her then?” he smiled, letting Rachel taste the sauce. She smiled and nodded in approval.“Or make out!” snorted Rachel.Brian gave her another not impressed look, “Yeah. We talked it out and we’re friends again!”“Well, if this rumour is true, and Charlene is actually having it off with Mandy’s husband, then you could stand a pretty good chance with her!” winked Kian.“Yeah but she will be so hurt!” he whined, playing with a carrot on the table.“Look, do you want this lass or don’t you?” asked Rachel, losing her patience with him.“More than anything!” he sighed.“Then you have to tell her what’s going on and be there for her. She might not like what you have to say, but you can be her shoulder to cry on. Trust me, she’ll love you for ir!” smiled Rachel.“I am doing no such thing!” gasped Brian, “I am not going to be responsible for seeing the hurt look on her face and for causing it!”“You will not be the cause of her sad face. Her cheating husband will be!” grinned Rachel.“No. I am still not doing it. It could just be a malicious rumour and there might not be any truth in it!” he moaned.“Then you have to find out for sure. If you want Mandy, then you’re going to have to work at it, and if being the bearer of bad news is what it takes to get her, then so be it!” winked Kian, “They way I see it, it’s fair play to ye!”