Double Glazing

"You have the evidence?" Eve nodded.

"Yes, all the details, and she even managed to get some photographs. It has been going on for a couple of years, but I only got suspicious six months ago. That's when I employed the detective. My solicitor said it was important to establish if it was a regular arrangement. He's been going off every six weeks for two years. I assume that many of those trips were to see this woman." She sobbed. "I should have known that his going to all these seminars was a lie." Wiping her eyes she observed sadly. "No wonder he wouldn't come to bed with me. I may have noticed the bruises."

I went and started making some toast and poached eggs, needing time to digest that shock. I had already chopped some Rocket salad, and made a light dressing for it and with the dressed salad on top of the toast, and the poached egg placed on top of the salad it made an appetising sight and light meal. Eve ate hungrily. The conversation was light, until we finished eating and I had made more tea.

"You said Aubrey tried to get you sacked?"

"Yes," I replied, "for divulging his whereabouts to an unauthorised person."

"Who was that?"

"You!"

"Me?"

"Yes. I was accused of telling you that Aubrey was not at a Fenestra seminar that weekend of Atcham. Only Aubrey didn't inform Bob that you were the unauthorised person." She laughed at this.

"So a wife is unauthorised to know if her husband is cheating. He has a bloody nerve. I am glad I told you now."

"Well I may not be working with him too much longer." I suggested. Eve looked at me sharply.

"Why? What's happened?" I explained Bob Sellick's decision, and how it affected me.

"Why would he do that?" Eve was puzzled.

"Because my dad made loans to him in the early days when Bob was starting the business. Dad never said anything to me, but Bob didn't forget, and has decided that he would rather I run the business than anyone else. His son Andrew is more than happy to leave it on my shoulders, he's a Veterinary Surgeon, and he doesn't want to get too involved. So when Aubrey finds out that I am in effect his boss, I suspect he will leave." Eve was looking at me with a questioning face.

"And if you and I get together, he will jump to the conclusion that it has all been a plot against him. Perhaps we should forget about us. Aubrey can be very vindictive you know." Later I wished I had listened more carefully.

"No! Rather than that I will refuse the partnership. I can, you know."

"You would give up that opportunity for me?"

"Gold or glister, I'll take gold." Eve's eyes glittered.

"You are a lovely man, John. I cannot think of another man who would forgo the chance of a lifetime for a woman's sake. But you can't do that. I won't let you. We must think of a way around it. Is Aubrey so important to Sunrooms?"

"Yes and no. He brings in more business than any of our other agents, but at the same time the profit on his jobs is lower."

"Why?"

"He gives too much away."

"Oh."

I had been thinking about this since my talk with Andy. A glimmer of an idea came to me. The investment my dad had made was secret. So there was no reason for the partnership details to be general knowledge. If, as Bob had inferred, that I ran the business anyway from my office, there was no reason to change the perceived status. If the other employees didn't know, and just assumed that Andy had taken over, then Aubrey wouldn't know either. It would piss him off that he didn't have the same access to Andy, as he had to Bob, but he would have to get used to that. I explained my thinking to Eve.

"Do you think that will work?"

"Possibly. It is a private company, and there is no need to divulge the actual owners except on Company House returns, if nothing is seen to be changed except Bob's retirement. Then I think it could work. I will have to get Andy's agreement, but I doubt that will be a problem. He doesn't think much of Aubrey anyway."

"It's funny really." Eve mused. "No one has much time for him, yet Aubrey seems to have an influence on all our decisions."

"I've noticed." I added wryly.

It was time for Eve to go. I was seeing her to the door, when she turned and pulled me to her. We kissed, her mouth opened and tongues duelled for possession of the other's mouth. As she drew back she watched my face for an indication of my feelings. Used as I was to hiding my feelings I had to put into words that which my face could not show.

"Eve, you mean so much to me. My life will never be the same now, and wherever it goes, I want you there, with me." The right quotation from Shakespeare came to me. "I would not wish any companion in the world but you." She smiled.

"Yes John, I will be there, and you are the companion that I need. I don't understand how this has happened, but I know that with you I can be a real person. That's a good feeling. Let's get this over with, and we can be together. These last few weeks I have come to realise that going through all this shit is worthwhile only because you and I will have a chance." She raised her face for another kiss. Then she was gone. It was hard, this forbearance. I had the same question as Eve. I didn't understand how this had happened. How was it possible that our common interests led us to this place? That a friendship could suddenly become a passion, almost without either of us noticing?

I called Andy Sellick. The following day to set up a meeting with him and his father, telling him that I was minded to accept the partnership but with strings attached. The meeting happened two days later. I referred to the conversation I had with Andy about Aubrey, addressing Bob.

"It seems ridiculous to allow someone who is not an actual employee to shape our decisions, but Aubrey is one of the most productive agents we have. Andy and I are concerned that Aubrey would not care to work under my aegis, and resign his agency. That would be like cutting our collective noses off to spite our faces. Therefore I propose that I accept the partnership, but remain as I am, with no official announcement of the change in ownership. Allow all the staff and agents to believe that following your retirement, Andy has taken over, and that all staff, including me report to him." Bob wasn't happy about that, but Andy could see the sense.

"Dad. I think John is right. For the time being we have to ensure that we retain Aubrey's order input. John would still be doing the job he has always done. You said yourself that he ran the business, and he would continue to do that. Nothing would appear to have changed. The only difference would be that he was now a partner, and as it's a private company, there is no reason for anyone else to know that. I will make time to show my face frequently, and John can keep me up to date on any issues that we need to decide upon jointly. The most important thing is that it keeps Aubrey onside." Bob was still unhappy, but accepted the proposal.

"Well at least I know the business will be in good hands." We shook hands, and I promised him that signed agreement would be in the hands of Brian Mills within a few days.

A week later it was a done deal. The announcement to the staff was quite simple. Mr. Robert Sellick was taking a well-earned retirement, and his son Andrew Sellick would take over the reins. No mention of me at all. Aubrey was quick to remind me of my precarious position.

"You by rights should no longer be here. If Bob was not such a pussycat you would be looking for another job right now. But don't worry, Birch. Your time will come. I doubt that Andy will be such a pushover as his dad." I kept my blank face. Aubrey would go too far one day. It was only his success rate that kept him here, and I had plans in mind that would put a dent in his smug arrogance.

*

Chapter Seven

Up to this time commission had been paid according to the value on paper of the order. Bob had instituted this, years ago, and had never envisaged a situation where the average gross profit margin of forty-five percent could be eroded. However Aubrey with his manoeuvrings often reduced the margin, sometimes to dangerous levels. I had put the facts in front of Bob on a number of occasions, but he wouldn't act on it. Now I put it to Andy that commission should be paid only after the true costs were established. He was sceptical at first until I showed him real examples. I had removed the agents names not wanting to be seen as partial in my criticism. He may have been a Veterinary but he understood the concepts of profit and loss.

"Bloody Hell, John. After we have paid commission on some of these jobs we are down to about thirty percent. This can't go on. Who is doing this?" I said nothing. Then the light dawned on him. "Aubrey!" He exclaimed. "It has to be Aubrey." I remained quiet, allowing him to make a decision. "Institute your scheme immediately. Draft a letter to the agents and I will sign it."

I suppose some would call this payback. To a certain extent it was, but it was the company I worked for that was being short-changed. My partnership in Sunrooms demanded that I take action. I prepared for the shit to hit the fan.

Aubrey stormed into my office, if anything more florid of face than usual. I would imagine that his blood pressure was hitting something like one hundred and ninety. He was waving the letter from Andy.

"You sneaky little turd. This is all your doing I know. Faking up figures to fuck me over. Well that is it. You are going this time and no mistake. I am going to tell Andy that if he doesn't sack you, I am going to resign. Then where will your precious business be?" I sat there calmly. How I did it I don't really know but I managed.

"Aubrey." I explained in as calm a voice as I could. "I was asked for a breakdown of the work we had carried out over the last year. I provided it, as it was a request from my employer. The records had no name, nor addresses on them so that individuals could not be identified. Andy has acted to protect his business. If you have a problem with that then you had best take it up with him. Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do."

Andy phoned me at home a week later.

"I had a visit from Aubrey today, at the Surgery."

"That was nice for you." I commented dryly.

"Yes. You should be flattered to know how much he worries about you, suggesting that you were not up to the job, that you were probably cracking up, making all sorts of mistakes in your paperwork, and that it would probably be best for you if I put you out of your misery, and allowed you to leave." I could hear Andy laughing now. "Oh, it was a jolly meeting."

"What did you tell him?"

"Well I said that if mistakes had been made, we would put it right. I asked him to come in one day with his order copies and we would compare them with ours. He went quiet at that point. Muttered something about it could all be an oversight, and he wouldn't pillory anyone for that. Then he left. John. Is there a possibility that he could go elsewhere?"

"It would be difficult for him, Andy. I was at a Fenestra conference about a year ago. I got the feeling that our competitors wouldn't touch him with a bargepole. They seemed to know about the tricks he plays."

"Not from you?"

"No. But someone has talked. They mentioned actual cases, so whoever it was had lots of information."

"Did you mention this to dad?"

"No."

"Why?" I remained quiet. Eventually Andy seemed to get the picture.

"I see. He wasn't as gullible as he appeared at times, was he?"

"No, Andy. He wasn't."

Bob Sellick was one of those people who never appeared to be quite with it. I had often thought that he cultivated this guise to relax people and put them off guard. Bob could well have let slip, purposefully, details of Aubrey's machinations. Others would think he was being absent-mindedly indiscreet. I would imagine it done to protect his business, deterring competitors from poaching his best salesman. The fact was that whatever the reason, he had made it nearly impossible for Aubrey to obtain an agency with another company.

I was surprised at myself for taking so easily to the subterfuge and machinations of business. My life had changed completely. I still acted the part of the humble cog, yet now made decisions that affected those around me, albeit as a covert partner. That thought brought to mind another change in my life. Despite Aubrey's insinuations, I had a healthy interest in the opposite sex, and had enjoyed a number of relatively long-term relationships. This experience was sufficient for me to know that Eve was different. I had a connection with her that seemed to spring out of nowhere. A connection that surpassed any of my previous love affairs, she seemed to see in me the same. It gave me a warm feeling to know that she was as eager as I to take our relationship further. Was my life falling into place? Or was fate preparing me for a momentous downfall?

Our work went on. None of the other agents complained about the re-structured commission scheme, and Aubrey went quiet. Despite his bluster, he was no fool, knowing that his copy orders would not stand up to scrutiny. I had one of his orders for a conservatory in front of me. Aubrey had charged only for normal glass, but building regulations specified armoured glass for windows that came down to within a metre of the floor level. Armoured glass was much more expensive than ordinary plate. Under the old system Aubrey would have got commission on the value on paper of the order and Sunrooms would have made a loss. Now he would get almost nothing, as he would be paid according to the profit in the job.

I was desperate for news from Eve. I phoned her at her flat. She had told me she didn't have a direct line to the flat only a call box on the ground floor, where any of the residents could answer. I spoke to a young lady who seemed not to know Eve by name, but guessing that she was the one who moved in a few weeks ago. She agreed to leave a message for her.

Eve phoned me that evening.

"John, I am so pleased you called. I was going to phone you, but you beat me to it. Can we get together, please?" She sounded very down.

"That's why I phoned, Eve. I wanted to see you so much. Can I come to you, now?"

"Not a good idea. I'll come to your flat. Is that ok?"

Twenty minutes later she rang my doorbell. She was straight into my arms, and locked this way we walked into the living room and fell onto the settee. Our lips came together, and by accident my hand brushed her breast. I removed it immediately.

"No, don't John. I want you to touch me, hold my breast please?" Happily I cupped her breast. "Oh my darling, that feels so good." She murmured between our kisses. I stretched slightly and Eve responded by turning to lie alongside me. In this position I could no longer caress her breast, instead held her tightly to me. Soon the urgency to hold tight faded and we got comfortable, laying next to each other, yet able to talk. She took my hand and placed it back on her breast. She smiled.

"I like the feeling of your hand there. It is very comforting."

"It is for me as well." I replied. "It's like plugging into each other and making a connection." She nodded.

"Yes. It joins us. I haven't been touched for years. I told you we had separate bedrooms, didn't I." I nodded, she had told me that. "I realise now that as an ornament, I couldn't possibly be sullied by base bodily functions." We lay quietly for a while, enjoying the closeness. I murmured quietly.

"Oh that this too, too sullied flesh could melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew." Eve sat up.

"Hamlet!" I nodded. "Ok, Mr Clever clogs. What act, and what scene?"

"No idea." I grinned and Eve smiled easily. She lay back in my arms again. I could feel her quiver with humour.

"I haven't been sullied in a long time." She looked up at me. "I am looking forward to being sullied, by you!" I kissed her.

"I got the Decree Nisi yesterday. Six months and it will be absolute." The silence was heavy with thoughts of what that would mean for us. "I don't know if I can wait that long." She stirred and our eyes met. "I want to go to bed with you, John. I want to be with you, naked. I want you inside me, taking me, making love with me. Is that so wrong? To want you so much." The vision of Eve and I in bed, perspiring with passion crying out to each other in our delight filled my mind. My emotions told me to take her into my bedroom, now! Then the reality broke over my dream. She was still another man's wife!

"Eve, my love. It is just ten feet to my bedroom, but that ten feet could be ten thousand miles for all it matters. We must wait. The Nisi has been granted, but until Absolute you are still married. We cross that ten feet and we will have descended to the same level as Aubrey, adulterers. When we do make love, I want it to be without guilt." Eve sadly agreed with me. I was gutted, until a thought struck me. I could be wrong, but I was certain that one of the fitters had been divorced in a little over three months.

"Wait a moment." I got up and switched on my computer. Eve looked perplexed. I looked over my shoulder and told her what I had heard. I logged on and searched for a site which covered the topic of divorce in the UK. After trying a couple I finally found a site which explained the procedures simply.

"Look!" I pointed at the relevant paragraph. The Petitioner could apply for Absolute after Nisi had been granted in six weeks and one day from the date of Nisi. Eve had the biggest smile.

"I shall talk to Mr. Gaunt tomorrow. I may have misheard him, but I am sure he said six months." She turned to me. "If it can happen that quickly, can we go away for a week or two immediately after? Find somewhere quiet, and just love each other?"

"How about a cottage in the country, or do you want to go abroad? We could get a villa in the Mediterranean somewhere, quiet, with its own swimming pool."

"Secluded?" Eve suggested. "Then I can run around in the nude. I've always wanted to do that. I can get naked with the man I love, and he can have me whenever and wherever he wants." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "And would he be nude also?"

"If the woman I love is on offer whenever and wherever, it would be silly of me to wear anything. Clothes would only get in the way." Eve's eyes were so expressive, and now they gleamed.

"I love it. It all sounds so deliciously decadent. And I have never been decadent."

I searched for Mediterranean Villas. There were plenty, but most were for families. Eventually I found some. A couple on Formentera and a few more on Majorca. Eve liked the look of the two on Formentera, as the beaches close by were classified as 'clothing optional'.

"I have always had this urge to wander around naked. Aubrey wanted me dressed in the best and made up to the nines. All I wanted was to get out of my clothes and make up and be completely natural. If you don't have a problem with that, John, I think I would like to try."

"Why should I have a problem with seeing you 'au naturel'?" I asked. "The only problem I can see is that I will be showing everyone how much I desire you."

"There is a way to solve that problem, John." She replied archly. "I shall exhaust you before we go on the public beaches. That will take care of you, and I shall be extremely happy as a result." She giggled. "Bugger! I am getting wet just by thinking about it. I had better go before I forget myself."

Her leaving was a long drawn out affair, neither of us wanted to let go of the other, and our lips clung together. One kiss was never enough, another then another was claimed, firstly by Eve and then by me.

She phoned the next day.

"Book the Villa, my darling. In six weeks and one day I shall be free, and ready to make free with you."

"You have obviously talked to your solicitor."