chapter 47

Mandz? Are you ready?” called Mark from downstairs, waiting impatiently for her.
“Just a sec!” she called back. Mark sighed and continued hovering around the living room.
“Mark, stop rushing her!” laughed Fina, as she breast fed Emma.
“Fin, I have been waiting for half an hour!” he whined, throwing himself on the sofa beside her, “How long does it take to get ready for fuck’s sake?”
Fina looked at him and then at her 3 year old daughter who was sitting in front of the telly watching cartoons. She let out a loud gasp and looked back at her mother, “Daddy said a naughty word!”
Mark sighed and rolled his eyes.
Fina gave him a look, “Mind your language Mark. And Mandy probably only wants to look good. There are 2 men in there she wants to impress. Brian and her husband. Besides, it’s still early. Just relax will ya?”
Mark sighed and looked at his watch again, just like he did every 5 minutes. 10 minutes later, Mandy walked down.
“Well, about bloody time too!” sighed Mark.
Fina nudged him discretely.
Mandy smiled sheepishly, £Sorry Mark. I just couldn’t decide what to wear!2 she frowned.
“It’s ok. The taxi has only been there for 5 minutes. Let’s go!” he sighed.
Fina shot him a warning look. He rolled his eyes and kissed her lips.
Mandy looked at Fina, “Do I look ok?”
Fina smiled and held her thumb up, “You look great hun. Just go and enjoy yourself!”
“You sure these shoes go with these trousers?” she checked.
Mark sighed and rolled his eyes as he bit his tongue. Fina almost laughed noticing her husbands reaction.
“You look fine, and yes they go. Now off you go before the taxi leaves without you!” she smiled.
Mark kissed her lips again and stood up. She smiled at him as she straightened his shirt, “Have fun!”
“I won’t be too late babe!” he smiled and kissed Emma’s forehead.
“Oh you just go and have fun. Don’t worry about the time!” shrugged Fina.
Mark smiled and walked out after Mandy. They got into the cab which was set to take them to the club, privately booked for the workers at K&G.
“You gonna be ok with Brian and your husband there?” checked Mark.
Mandy checked her make up on her pocket mirror and then snapped it shut, “I’ll have to be won’t I?” she shrugged, putting the mirror back in her tiny bag.
Mark smiled, “If at any point you feel like going back home, just let me know and I’ll go too ok?”
Mandy smiled and nodded, “Thanks Mark!”
“So you gonna talk to Brian tonight then?” he asked.
Mandy sighed, “I already said I would, didn’t I?”
“Just checking!” he grinned.
The cab dropped them off and Mark paid the fare. They both walked into the nicely decorated club and just stood there. Mandy scanned the room and saw Simon talking to some men. Brian was one of them. He looked bored and seemed like he was suppressing a yawn. Mandy couldn’t help but smile. She could not take her eyes off him. She swallowed hard and walked in. Brian looked at her, smiled and waved. Mandy waved back and continued scanning the room. She then saw Nicky talking to some guy. She sighed and looked away. Brian stared at Mandy. He could not keep his eyes off her. He looked at her legs from the slit in her black trousers and then looked at her cleavage visible from her black and white gingham top. Her sleek shoulder length hair was tucked behind her ears. He excused himself to his mates and boss and walked towards her.
“Hi. You made it then!” he smiled.
Mandy sniffed in, taking the scent of his Jean Paul Gautier male perfume and closed her eyes slighty, “Oh god, give me strength!” she prayed silently.
“Looks like it, doesn’t it?” she shrugged, looking around uncomfortably.
Brian coughed and cleared his throat, “Fancy a drink?”
Mandy nodded and smiled, “Please!”
“Vodka coke, right?” he smiled.
Mandy nodded and watched him walk away. She jumped when she heard Nicky’s voice from behind her.
“Hi. So glad you made it!” he smiled.
Mandy turned around and looked at him, “What do you want?” she snarled.
Nicky stared at her, “Oh come on Mandz. Please don’t be like that.”
Mandy rolled her eyes at him and then looked away, “Where is he then?”
“Where is who?” he asked confused.
“You know who!” she hissed “Is he the one you were talking to earlier?”
Nicky sighed and bowed his head down.
“I am taking that’s a yes then!” she growled, “You dumped me for… that…You could have least have chosen someone a bit better looking Nicky!”
Nicky sighed and shook his head, “Mandz!” he whispered.
I mean look at him. He’s nearly bald. Have some dignity man and just shave the rest off. God I hate men who are balding and can’t accept it. And look at that potbelly? Not at all attractive. What could you possibly see in him?” she laughed, “Has he got a big one, Nicky? Is that what attracts you to him? Does it do tricks?”
Nicky gave her a disgusted look, “Don’t be so disgusting!!!”
“Well, there must be something that has to attract you to him, coz he has nothing going for him in the looks department. I just want to understand!!!” she laughed.
“Maybe its coz he has a good personality. Not that I expect you to understand anything about that!” he hissed, walking away. Mandy scowled and stormed off after him. She grabbed his arm and made him turn around, “And what is that supposed to mean?”
Nicky looked at her. His eyes were dark with fury, “Well, maybe not everyone is as shallow as you are!”
“Shallow? You are calling me Shallow?” she shrieked.
“Yes. I am calling you shallow. I mean, some of us do tend to go for personality rather than looks!” he shouted back.
Mandy looked at him for a while and snorted, “So you think I go for looks?”
“That comment you made earlier made me think so, yeah!” he growled.
Mandy snorted again, “So you think I married you for your looks, do you? Just get over yourself Nicky!”
Nicky sighed and shook his head, “Just go and talk to your new mates eh? Give me a fucking break!”
He walked away, leaving Mandy standing there.
“Yeah? You are the one who wanted to be mates!” she shouted after him. Nicky ignored her and walked over to Charlie. Mandy frowned as she watched them walking.
“You ok?” came Brian’s voice from beside her. He handed her the vodka and coke. Mandy took it and looked at him, and nodded, “Yeah, I’m fine!” she took a sip of it.
“What did he want?” he asked.
Mandy stared at him, “Don’t think that’s any of your business, do you?”
Brian sighed and shook his head, “Mandz, I am just trying to be friendly here, please!”
Mandy shook her head and walked away, sitting on a chair by herself.
“Still nothing huh?” came Mark’s voice.
Brian looked at him and sighed, shaking his head, “I don’t know what to say or do. I ask her things and she just goes on defensive mode. Everything I say is wrong. All I am trying to do is be a mate, but that’s not good enough either. I fucking give up!”
“Just leave her be and let herself sort her own head out. She’s a bit all over the place at the moment!” explained Mark.
“Yeah. Her head is so fucked up at the moment, she’s not letting anyone in!” he sighed, staring at her. She was downing her drink and then replacing them with others.
“Can you blame her though? I mean, she suspects that her husband is cheating on her. Then she discovers he really is cheating on her and that it’s with another man. It’s bound to mess up your head!” explained Mark.
Brian looked at him, “Has she told you anything?”
Mark shook his head, “Nah. She’s pretty much kept herself to herself!” shrugged Mark, “During the day she is stuck in her room after work and at night I can just hear her crying. It’s heartbreaking really!”
“Really?” frowned Brian, looking at her. She was up getting another drink again.
Mandy spent the next hour and a half talking to others from her department. She was downing her drinks like water and was now at the stage where she couldn’t stand up without swaying. She looked at Brian and walked over to him. He was talking to Sam.
“Hellooooo! Great party huh?” she shouted above the noise. She was swaying and her drink was spilling from her glass.
Brian and Sam stared at her, “Errr, yeah. It’s great!” smiled Sam, looking discretely up at Brian.
“I am having such a great time, despite my ex husband and his boyfriend being here too!” grinned Mandy, looking at Brian. Sam looked at Brian, who looked at her too and then at Mandy. She smiled, “Um, that’s great!”
Mandy laughed and grabbed Brian’s hand and kissed it, “Isn’t he just great?” she squeaked.
“Yeah, the best!” laughed Sam.
“Yeah, I agree. And he is so sexy and so…so nice and…so lovely and kind…and he’s fantastic in bed too!” she winked.
Mark who had joined them seconds earlier snorted loudly.
“Mandy!” gasped Brian, blushing heavily and looking around uncomfortably.
“I mean, he is very well endowed too, if you know what I mean” she giggled nudging Sam, “And he really knows how to use it! Not many men do!” She continued, not realising how much Brian was cringing.
“OH god!” he mumbled to himself, “Get me out of here!”
Sam was now at this stage bent over laughing and Mark was supporting himself on the wall to stop himself from falling with laughter. Mandy just looked at them laughing and grinned.
“Yeah he is the best shag I have ever had!” she continued, laughing slightly.
“Jesus!” gasped Brian. He grabbed her hand and pulled her alone, “Come on you.” He picked her up and took her to the other side of the room. He put her down and looked at her.
“Jesus Christ woman. What are you trying to do to me?” he moaned.
“What? I am only telling a few home truths. You’re supposed to feel frattered. I am making you sound like a hewo here!” she grinned.
“All you are doing is embarrassing me, Mandy!” he sighed.
Mandy looked at him, “So I embarrass you now? First I play with your feelings and then I embarrass you. Anything else I do to annoy you?” she snapped, changing moods rapidly.
Brian sighed, “Mandz, come on. Don’t ok?”
“And why not? You obviously hate me!” she moaned, wiping her tears away.
“You KNOW that’s not true. You KNOW how I feel about you!” he sighed, grabbing her hand.
Mandy shrugged her hand away, “get away from me!”
“Everything ok here?” asked Nicky, joining them , seeing the commotion from far away.
Mandy turned around and looked at him, “What the fuck has it got to do with you?” she growled.
“Well, I saw you arguing and I thought you were in trouble!” he sighed.
“Well, I am not, so you can go back and have your little conversation with your boyfriend over there!” she sneered.
“Mandz!” sighed Brian, grabbing her arm.
Mandy pulled away. Nicky stared at her, “Why are you being like this?”
“Because I do not appreciate HIM stealing you away from me ok? Now fuck off and go back to him. Go on. I don’t need you anymore. You’re nothing but a g…” she shouted.
“Mandy, don’t!” interrupted Brian with a warning tone to his voice.
Everyone fell silent and stared at her.
Mandy panted, turned around and stared at Brian, “What you’re on his side now? Is he fucking you too? Huh? Is screwing Charlie not enough now that he has to screw you too?”
A loud gasp was heard in the room. Nicky looked around uncomfortably, as did Mandy. He looked at everyone’s shocked faces. Brian closed his eyes and bowed his head down, “shit!” he muttered to himself. Mandy straightened up and screwed up her face, “Yeah that’s right. My husband is gay. His lover is Charlie, from accounts. They are a couple now and they love each other.” She announced.
Brian grabbed Mandy’s arm once more and tried to get her away, but Mandy fought him and stood on her spot, her eyes bearing into Nicky. She had her face screwed in anger and her eyes were shooting daggers.
Nicky gave her a nasty look. “Thanks a fucking lot Mandy!”
Mandy was about to answer, when Brian picked her up ad took her away “Come on. Enough is enough. We’re out of here!”