The Stress Cure (part one)
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Id had the day from hell at work and now I was late. I glanced at my watch as the taxi moved with agonising slowness through the rush hour London traffic. If it werent for the fact that I was wearing my heels from the office Id have gotten out and walked as Im sure that would have gotten me there faster. Common sense, that and the cold grey rain clouds that threatened to pour down any second kept me in the taxi. Anyway in the neighbourhood I was going to it was probably better to travel by car. I twisted my wedding ring nervously on my finger, worried that I wouldnt get ther on time.
Deciding to try and make productive use of my time I unpacked my laptop from my briefcase beside me and started reviewing the Anderson account. Someone somewhere had forgotten to file the court papers needed for next week. They could still be done in time but Id be working all weekend reviewing it. As head of the legal compliance team it would be my head on the block if anything went wrong with the upcoming merger. Staring at the pages of closely written text soon made my eyes begin to ache and I took off my glasses to rub them.
God I was tired, not so much physically but emotionally from the stress of working such stupid hours. That was why I was so desperate to take a break in the best way I knew how. Id been thinking about it all during the meeting in that afternoon, my mind drifting away from the talk of facts and figures to a daydream world of fantasies. Fantasies I was soon to do my best to fulfil.
Maam
Maam?
I awoke to find the taxi driver hammering on the glass partition and I realised I must have fallen asleep. Still feeling slightly groggy I paid him, along with a request booking to come and collect me at the appointed hour. The last thing I wanted was to have to walk home at one in the morning. Still, Id tipped him well enough to ensure that hed be here waiting, come what may.
I was in a fairly dull street in South London with a row of shops and bars along both sides. I quickly made my way down a narrow alley way and knocked on one of the back doors. There was a momentary pause and then it was opened by a large guy in a tight tanktop and leather trousers. He was six foot three and towered over me.
Hi ya Rachel, youre late. He spoke in a weird transatlantic accent that betrayed his New York origins and the 15 years hed spent in England.
Hi Otis, blame the traffic. I moved past him as he held the door open for me, his eyes glancing nervously back and forth in case anyone saw.