Skinny Dipping

“I was so worried you weren’t going to come,” Jessica said when Sophie and Carol arrived at the party. “You look absolutely fabulous, considering you’ve been sick for the last three days,” Jessica mused.

  Sophie shot Jessica a steely look. “Makeup works wonders. You remember Carol, don’t you?” Sophie pushed Carol forward, closer to Jessica.

  “Oh yes,” Jessica said. “I was at the filming with Carol. Everyone was so great down in Brighton,” Jessica gushed. A man hovered behind Jessica. “Oh, Sophie, I want you to meet someone,” Jessica said, suddenly shy. She stepped back, revealing the tall, dark, and incredibly handsome man. “This is John, my fiancé.”

  “Pleased to meet you, John,” Sophie said, and shook his hand firmly.

  “I’ve heard all about you, Sophie. I hear you’re very talented and have really been great about showing Jessica the ropes. She’s so thankful.”

  Sophie beamed. “Jessica’s a natural.”

  “Yes, and she’s passed all her exams.”

  “Shhh…” Jessica hissed. “This isn’t my night.”

  “Congratulations, Jess!” Sophie gushed, taking her into a hug. “You should have said something. This is a team party and should include everyone’s success, right?”

  “You’re so sweet, Soph, but it’s a wrap party—your big project,” Jessica said.

  Then out of the corner of her eye Sophie saw Matthew, in a tuxedo, looking incredibly handsome. Kelly was hanging off his sleeve, holding a glass of champagne.

  “Did you hear we got Barney’s Chocolate Bars?” Sophie commented, watching Kelly pull Matthew away.

  “Yes, I did. I told you that,” Jessica said. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

  Sophie nodded, but Matthew was flirting with Kelly. Suddenly she felt physically, painfully sick. “I got made redundant.”

  “No! You didn’t! Did you really, Soph? You couldn’t have, because you’ve brought in the Silver Chain, the whole lot, not just the hotels.”

  Sophie shrugged. “It doesn’t matter anymore, does it? That’s why Bradley took me to The Dorchester, to give me the boot.”

  “Oh, Soph, I’m sure he’ll change his mind,” Jessica said with concern on her face. “We all know how he growls every once in a while. He’s temperamental.”

  “I’m going to get a drink.” Sophie excused herself. She couldn’t talk about being made redundant, thinking this was her last wrap party. She loved the job so much. What was she going to do for work? “I’ll catch you both in a bit.”

  Getting a drink from the bar, she decided to look round the boat. She walked to the back and past Desmond and Bradley. Bradley waved in her direction, but she turned in the opposite direction. Why on earth would she want to talk to Bradley? He’d fired her and rehired Kelly. Bastard. Slimy, untrustworthy bastard.

  She sighed. She might actually have to be nice to Bradley, hold her tongue for a moment if she was going to get her job back. It was a recession. Look how long it had taken her dad to get a job. She might have to swallow her pride. But something inside Sophie made her not want to take the job even if he gave it back to her. Sophie tossed back her drink, forcing the alcohol down. If she could find a bit of false confidence, then she’d be all right.

  The boat’s engine roared into life, and Sophie brought a hand to her ear to block the noise. Her head throbbed, and she wondered why she’d come. Maybe she really was sick and needed a break from advertising?

  Bradley hollered her name. Sophie grinned tightly and swiveled on her feet to walk in the opposite direction. She paced the vessel. Again she found herself at the rear. Hearing her name being called, probably by Bradley, she noticed a set of steps to the lower deck and took them.

  Sophie descended the steps, holding tightly to the rail. There were voices below, but she couldn’t quite hear the conversation.

  A blond figure leant over the side of the boat. Female laughter echoed loudly, and the figure pointed with animation into the water. Someone else leant over the rail beside her. There were loud snorts, identifiable laughter, which could only be Kelly’s laughter. Sophie swiveled again, about to race back up the steps, when Kelly’s voice shouted something else. Did Kelly call the word dolphin? There wouldn’t be a dolphin in the Thames.

  Sophie’s chest tightened. Matthew always called himself a dolphin. Kelly wasn’t still with Matthew, was she?

  Sophie turned back round and once again descended the steps.

  Kelly stood up from her position hanging over the boat and talked animatedly to someone. The second person flung their body back up from over the rail. Sophie recognized all the features. Yes, it was Matthew.

  Kelly moved in towards him, positioned both arms around his neck, and flirtatiously played with the lapels of his tuxedo.

  He simply tittered, didn’t seem to mind at all as Kelly leaned close to him. God, Kelly was going to kiss him. This girl got everything, didn’t she? Although Sophie didn’t want to watch, she was unable to look away.

  Kelly tilted her head and noticed Sophie standing backstage, in the wings of the Kelly show. A slow, sly smile spread across Kelly’s face.

  “Hi, Sophie,” Kelly drawled. “I’m assuming you’ve met Matthew before?” Of course she had; he was her bloody client. “We’ve become very close. He swims like a dolphin apparently.” Kelly raised her eyebrows knowingly.

  Sophie felt her knees go out from under her like they were someone else’s. She grabbed the stair rail, almost collapsing on the steps. What a fool she’d been, first with Derek and now Matthew… She had really trusted Matthew too. She had thought he was in love with his ex. Not for one instant had she thought he was a player. But she supposed he was, because after he’d called her Rebecca and she’d fled his apartment, he hadn’t chased her. Although he’d sent her emails and text messages, words were cheap. Actions spoke louder than words, and he’d let her race from him, after they’d had sex, after she’d thought he might love her. But now she could see that all his efforts with the text messages were obviously just to smooth things over professionally. He had had her and now he was after someone else. For after all, he was with Kelly, so soon too. Of course their night together had meant absolutely nothing to him.

  “Ah, Sophie,” Matthew said, alarm in his voice. “We were just talking about the water. You know I love the water.”

  “Showing her a dolphin trick, were you?”

  Matthew raced to the steps and crouched down in front where she sat. “Sophie.” He laughed lightly. “Honestly, it was just a bit of fun.” His face searched hers, eyes wide and smiling. Her stomach turned. All handsome men were such salesmen, weren’t they?

  “You dared to call me a saleswoman, but I’m hardly like you.” She wiped a wisp of hair from her face and desperately struggled to control her expression. “Would you mind leaving? As this is a work function and I need to keep it together.”

  “Sophie, please listen, just for a second.” He reached for her wrist.

  She flicked him off like an insect. “Spare me the details. All men are the same, just looking for a bit of fun. I thought you were different, but of course you’re not.” Her voice was savage.

  Matthew stood up. “Is that what you really think? I’m just looking for a bit of fun?”

  “I don’t know what to think.”

  He pushed past with his shoulders pressed back, not bothering with a final glance. His sandalwood aftershave lingered behind after he’d ascended the steps, away from her.

  Sophie felt overwhelmed with sadness, because surely if nothing had happened with Kelly he would have insisted on explaining, insisted that she listened? But he had just walked away, hadn’t even put up too much of a fight. He couldn’t have cared about her that much. Not really. But then again, she’d seen it before, when he’d let her run out of his apartment. At least everything was clear now.

  She swallowed, clutching her hands tightly, pressing them together. She wouldn’t cry. Matthew had never been hers to cry over.

&nb
sp; With a puzzled expression on her face, Kelly turned from the scene and faced the river. She continued to sip her drink. “Kill joy,” she said.

  Sophie folded her arms. “Kill joy?” She bit her lip. “Why do you always have to rub it in? You got the guy. You’ve been reinstated in your job. Isn’t that enough?

  Kelly laughed, and her snorting was even heard over the engine revving. Kelly dropped her glass and whooped with joy, making Sophie’s stomach turn. How could Kelly simply laugh when her heart felt like it had just been ripped out? Kelly reached for the glass, stupid girl. She climbed over the boat rail and stood on the edge of the boat.

  “What are you doing?” Sophie asked, calling out to her.

  “I’m doing the scene out of Titanic.”

  “Don’t, Kelly. It’s not safe,” Sophie urged.

  Kelly stepped out up onto the rail at the end of the boat, extending her arms. “Just because you’re a big scaredy-cat doesn’t mean I am. I got my job back. Did you, Sophie?” She thrust her hands out like she was flying. “I’m the king of the world, the queen of advertising. I take chances in life. The way you’re going, I’ll even get the guy.”

  Kelly teetered on her toes, and Sophie noticed she was extremely drunk. “Kelly, you should come back from there. Besides, I’m not sure I wanted to beg for my job back after Bradley fired me. I mean I’ve got more pride than to just take it.”

  “Your choice, but I know where I’m going in this world.” Kelly shrugged, standing with her back straight, looking straight into the Thames.

  “Come on, Kelly, come back from there.”

  “I’m having fun.” Her hair flew in the wind like a golden-headed goddess. She looked mesmerising, beautiful. No wonder Matthew had gone for her. Any guy surely would.

  The boat lurched.

  The force pushed Kelly. She lost her footing, falling forwards. Stupid girl. She wasn’t even holding the rail.

  It happened so suddenly. Kelly flew off the edge and into the water. Sophie jumped up from the steps. Did that seriously happen? Did Kelly really tumble off, or was she hallucinating? Yet the boat still moved. Sophie raced to the rail and dared a look over the edge.

  “Girl overboard!” Sophie pointed at Kelly bobbing in the water.

  No one seemed to have heard her. The engine was now in full force, much too loud to shout about passengers being thrown overboard. Kelly’s figure was getting farther away as the boat sped farther away along the Thames.

  “Help! Someone’s overboard!” Sophie shrieked. She couldn’t just leave Kelly there. She needed to get someone, find some help; but by the time she did, Kelly might be miles away in the water.

  Sophie frantically looked around. Where was Matthew? Where was the team of lifeguards and expert swimmers who had all been invited to the bloody wrap party? Where were they now when they were needed, for an emergency?

  Swimming was for living, wasn’t it, and she could actually swim. “Jeezzzzzzzuss,” she whispered, snapping into action, throwing off her heels.

  She grabbed the rubber ring from the side of the deck and ran to the edge of the boat, contemplating her next move. She couldn’t exactly just jump in and rescue Kelly, could she? She really wasn’t a deep sea swimmer, or even a Thames river swimmer. She was merely a beginner, intermediate if she stretched it.

  “Girl overboard,” she screamed at the top of her lungs. She stood on the edge of the boat, still hopeful someone else would come as she clutched the ring. There was no one else. Sophie closed her eyes. “Girl overboard,” she hollered again. How many times did she have to shout before someone else came?

  Sophie’s heart beat rapidly. Could she do this, plunge into the murky black depths of the Thames? Could she, Sophie Smart, conjure enough magic, be brave and courageous like someone else? Anything was possible. She couldn’t let Kelly drown.

  She exhaled. She jumped. “Girls overboard,” she screamed, hoping someone, anyone, would hear. Otherwise, they’d both be wading in their finery up the muddy bank of the Thames.

  The water was cold. Icy. Sophie felt her ribcage contract, and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. As her head bobbed in the water, she exhaled like she’d been instructed. She tried to shake off the fear, and the next breath seemed to come quite quickly, quite naturally. Holding the life ring in front of her like she’d practiced with her kickboard, she eyed Kelly, thrashing toward her.

  Bloody Kelly. If she was going to get hyperthermia or Weil’s disease from the dirty river water of the Thames, couldn’t she at least be rescuing someone else, someone she liked? What if there were sharks lurking beneath this water? Goodness, death by shark, or eel. Quite an unexpected turn of events.

  Sophie pushed the thoughts from her mind. “Positive thoughts. Positive thoughts,” she said to herself. Do not think about the frightfully low water temperature, the possible drop in body heat, the low circulation.

  “Kick,” she whispered. Her legs were not going to cramp, not here and not now. “Kick harder.” Sophie and her red life ring reached Kelly. “You okay?” Sophie panted as Kelly’s manicured hand clutched at the ring. Kelly’s eyes shone wide with fear, her lips blue, and her hair hung bedraggled. “Kick your legs. Keep warm.”

  A speedboat flew past, waves rising, coming in their direction. “Hold tight,” Sophie said, trying to sound calm and in control. What had possessed her to think she could be the heroine in a crisis? And why wasn’t the bloody speedboat stopping to pick them up instead of sailing on past? She was waving after all.

  Terror filled Sophie’s body as the waves from the speedboat approached. Sophie thrashed her legs, remembering the safety skills she’d been taught. She needed to relax and feel the rhythm of the waves. Rise and fall. Rise and fall.

  Kelly clutched at the life belt, pulling the ring with a jolt. The ring suddenly slipped from Sophie’s grasp.

  Sophie screamed. Water splashed into her mouth and choked her. Lifting her body with all her might, she thrust her body out of the water, her nails scratching the side of the ring. She missed. She wasn’t made to be a bloody lifeguard. She had a real water phobia, a fear. What the hell was she doing saving someone’s life? She fell back into the depths, sinking into the Thames.

  Sophie’s head sank below the surface and she swallowed a mouthful of water. She clamped her mouth shut; she didn’t want to swallow any more. She’d die from drinking the polluted river water, probably filled with rat urine or something equally disgusting. She needed to spit it out, or else she’d get some type of infection, or virus, and she’d end up in critical condition in the hospital. Not from drowning, but from the filthy, stinking Thames. Dying. Oh God. She was probably already dying, because she was surely sinking, struggling in the Thames.

  Surely someone would rescue them? This wasn’t it, was it? The place she would drown? She wasn’t going to die with her greatest achievement being Kelly’s rescuer. And how could she be the rescuer if she didn’t actually finish the job?

  She was still alive, and she would have a long and lovely life ahead of her. She propelled herself up, her head thrusting itself above the surface. She spluttered, spat, feeling cold and very anti-river. A polluted river was not the place for recreational swimming.

  Suddenly a large hand grabbed and steadied her. “Just breathe. Sophie, just breathe.” She turned to see her lifesaver. Matthew. “I went back to talk to you and saw you jump off the boat. It’s okay. The boat will rescue us. I’m here if you need me.” He squeezed her hand for reassurance.

  Sophie felt a surge of anger, her gaze darting between Matthew and Kelly. “I don’t need you to rescue me. You know perfectly well I can swim, because you forced me to learn.” She felt her eyes blaze, her anger suddenly warming her body, moving from the depths where she had hidden her feisty rage that first day when she’d struck the swimming lesson bargain with Matthew.

  “I gave you a choice. I didn’t force you,” he muttered.

  Her anger rose from the depths of her thrashing feet and bubbled out
in her voice. “Just because I was the consultant and you were the client didn’t mean you could simply demand that I face my fear of the water. That was your position of power and you used it against me.”

  Matthew looked pale. “So in times like this, you could survive—and you’re doing really well. I thought you’d forgive me after you’d learned.”

  She swallowed, realising she was sounding very ungrateful, and looking around she saw she was indeed safe, with her head above water. She bit her lip. “Thank you for teaching me. You have saved my life, and I will be eternally grateful.” She lifted her chin. “Obviously I no longer feel the same amount of fear in the water. As you can see, I’m dealing with it.”

  “Well,” he said slowly, “I’m here to help anyway, just in case.”

  “Oh, no.” She shook her head vigorously. “No, thank you. I’m absolutely fine to make my own way back to the boat now that it’s stopped, thank you very much,” Sophie stated, still treading water.

  “Sophie, you don’t have to swim back. The boat will turn to find us.”

  “I’m not a cause just because one day I might need rescuing.” She felt her face, hot tears springing from the corner of her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. “I’m not someone to convert, someone who needs to love the water just like you do. I’ll never be a mermaid. I’m not a princess. I’m not a bloody prude, either. I’m just a girl, and I like the land and everything that goes with it. If you liked me, at all, you would have respected me for that, and you would have taken me for what I was, for what I am. What does it matter anyway? I was wrong, so terribly wrong. I thought you felt the same way I felt about you, but people make mistakes.” Sophie stretched her arms forward and swam, hiding her face, which was hot from tears streaming down into the cold water, as she did her very best freestyle, heading toward the boat, which hadn’t turned around yet.

  She didn’t need Matthew. She would be fine to get back on board. She’d be fine without him.

  Chapter 26