“Thank you for the apology, but as I said, I really don’t need any help.”
“Okay, well, could I use the bathroom before I go? I’ve come all the way from Brixton, and I’m busting for a pee. It’s also cold as balls out here.”
She looked up into the security camera, her big blue eyes pleading, and I had a brief pang of conscience. Even if she did annoy me, it wasn’t pleasant to make a journey only to be told to go home as soon as you got there. Grandma raised me to be a gentleman, and the least I could do was allow Afric to use the facilities before she made the journey back.
“Okay, then, I’ll buzz you in.”
I pressed the button to release the door then headed out to show her where the bathroom was.
“This place is fancy!” Afric exclaimed as she entered through the lobby. “Is this where posh people go when they want to see a movie? How the other half live, eh?”
“The ladies’ bathrooms are just through there,” I said, gesturing down the hall.
“Oh, yeah, I don’t need to go,” she waved me off. “I just said that so you’d let me in. Now, pull that stick out of your arse and let me help you. I know you can’t handle everything on your own.”
My lips formed a straight line as I levelled her with a hard stare. So, this was where being chivalrous got me. Tricked. I didn’t want her here, but she was right. Preparing for tonight’s event would be difficult to do solo. Perhaps I could just give her tasks and interact with her as little as possible.
I ran a hand down my face. “Okay, well, if you insist on being here, then come with me.”
I led her to the office at the back of the building and handed her the bundle of programs. “Place one of these on each seat inside the theatre.”
“And after I’m finished doing that?”
“Come find me, and I’ll give you something else to do.”
She saluted me. “Righteo.”
Afric left, and I was surprised by how easy that was. Maybe this would be okay. About twenty minutes later, I was taking a quick break to check the messages on my phone when someone crept up behind me.
“Who’s Annabelle?”
I bristled, stomach churning as I turned and found Afric standing behind me. How much had she seen? “Don’t you know it’s rude to read people’s messages like that?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m nosy. Can’t help it. So, what’s next?”
I glanced at the clock. “The caterers should be here any minute. Go wait out front and let them in when they arrive.”
She nodded but hesitated to leave, eyeing me with what appeared to be curiosity. “Is she your girlfriend?”
I frowned. “Who?”
She rolled her eyes like I was being dim. “Annabelle, who else.”
My lips firmed, and I shifted from foot to foot under her scrutiny. “No. She’s just a friend.”
Afric started to smile. “But you’d like her to be your girlfriend?”
“That’s none of your business. Now, will you please go and wait for the caterers?”
She placed a hand on her hip and cocked her head. My attention wandered to the bottom half of her hair, which was still dyed bright blue. The top half had grown out a little, displaying her natural blonde roots. The blue ends matched her eyes, and they were … Okay, so I could admit her eyes were kind of spectacular. So bright they almost sparkled. I shook myself from the thought.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a bit rude?” Afric questioned.
“I’m rude?” I scoffed. She was one of the rudest people I’d ever met, and I worked as a PA for reality TV stars, so that was saying something.
“Yes, you are. I think you’re a bit of a snoot, too, to be honest,” she went on, a light behind her eyes like she enjoyed giving it to me straight.
I gaped at her. “I am not a snoot.”
Afric chuckled. “Oh, really? You’ve been looking down your nose at me since the day we met. If that’s not a snoot, then I don’t know what is.”
“I have not—” The loud noise of the buzzer for the front door went off, interrupting what I’d been about to say.
Afric smirked. “I better go answer that.” She turned and left the room, then reappeared a second later, her head peeking around the doorframe. “Did you know you’ve got this little blood vessel in your forehead that pops up when you talk to me? I wonder what that’s about.”
Then, with a chuckle, she disappeared again, not allowing me a chance to respond. I rubbed at my forehead and wished I’d never fallen for her trick and allowed her into the building in the first place.
Michaela seriously owed me big time for this.
Afric
Once the caterers were gone, I took my time checking out the food for the night’s event. Glancing over my shoulder, I stole a stuffed grape leaf and shoved it in my mouth. Mmm, free food was always so much more delicious. They’d splashed out for the good stuff, too.