Can You Keep A Secret?

'Oh. Oh right!'

Suddenly I feel a bit better.

Jack Harper used to skive? I would have thought he was too busy being a brilliant creative

dynamic genius, or whatever he is.

The lift stops at floor 3 and the doors open, but no-one gets in.

'So, your colleagues seemed a very pleasant lot,' says Jack as we start travelling up again. 'A

very friendly, industrious team. Are they like that all the time?'

'Absolutely!' I say at once. 'We enjoy cooperating with one another, in an integrated, teambased

… um… operational…' I'm trying to think of another long word when I make the

mistake of catching his eye.

He knows this is bullshit, doesn't he?

Oh God. What is the point?

'OK.' I lean against the lift wall. 'In real life, we don't behave anything like that. Paul usually

shouts at me six times a day, and Nick and Artemis hate each other, and we don't usually sit

around discussing literature. We were all faking it.'

'You amaze me.' His mouth twitches. 'The atmosphere in the admin department also seemed

very false. My suspicions were aroused when two employees spontaneously started singing

the Panther Corporation song. I didn't even know there was a Panther Corporation song.'

'Neither did I,' I say in surprise. 'Is it any good?'

'What do you think?' He raises his eyebrows comically and I give a little giggle.

It's bizarre, but the atmosphere between us isn't remotely awkward any more. In fact, it almost

feels like we're old friends or something.

'How about this Corporate Family Day?' he says. 'Looking forward to it?'

'Like having teeth pulled out,' I say bluntly.

'I got that vibe.' He nods, looking amused. 'And what…' He hesitates. 'What do people think

about me?' He casually rumples his hair. 'You don't have to answer if you don't want to.'

'No, everyone likes you!' I think for a few moments. 'Although… some people think your

friend is creepy.'

'Who, Sven?' Jack stares at me for a minute, then throws back his head and laughs. 'I can

assure you, Sven is one of my oldest, closest friends, and he's not in the least bit creepy. In

fact-'

He breaks off as the lift doors ping. We both snap back into impassive expressions and move

slightly away from each other. The doors open, and my stomach gives a lurch.

Co

As he sees Jack Harper his face lights up as though he can't believe his luck.

'Hi there!' I say, trying to sound natural.

'Hi,' he says, his eyes shining with excitement, and walks into the lift.

'Hello,' says Jack pleasantly. 'Which floor would you like?'

'Nine, please.' Co

holds out his hand. 'Co

later on today.'

'It's a pleasure to meet you, Co

ours.'

'You're so right!' says Co

with you the latest research findings on Panther Sportswear. We've come up with some very

fascinating results involving customer preferences on fabric thickness. You'll be amazed!'

'I'm… sure I will,' says Jack. 'I look forward to it.'

Co

'You've already met Emma Corrigan from our marketing department?' he says.

'Yes, we've met.' Jack's eyes gleam at me.

We travel for a few seconds in an awkward silence.

This is weird.

No. It's not weird. It's fine.

'How are we doing for time?' says Co

Jack's eyes falling on it.

Oh God.

'… I gave him a really nice watch, but he insists on wearing this orange digital thing …'

'Wait a minute!' says Jack, dawn breaking over his face. He stares at Co

him for the first time. 'Wait a minute. You're Ken.'

Oh no.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh-

'It's Co

'I'm sorry!' Jack hits his head with his fist. 'Co

me '— are an item?'

Co

'I can assure you, sir, that at work our relationship is strictly professional. However, in a

private context, Emma and I are… yes, having a personal relationship.'

'That's wonderful!' says Jack encouragingly, and Co

the sun.

'In fact,' he adds proudly, 'Emma and I have just decided to move in together.'

'Is that so?' Jack shoots me a look of genuine surprise. 'That's… great news. When did you

make that decision?'

'Just a couple of days ago,' says Co

'At the airport,' echoes Jack Harper after a short silence. 'Very interesting.'

I can't look at Jack Harper. I'm staring desperately at the floor. Why can't this bloody lift go

quicker?

'Well, I'm sure you'll be very happy together,' Jack Harper says to Co

compatible.'

'Oh we are!' says Co

'Is that so?' says Jack thoughtfully. 'You know, I can't think of anything nicer in the world

than a shared love of jazz.'

He's taking the piss. This is unbearable.

'Really?' says Co

'Absolutely.' Jack nods. 'I'd say jazz, and… Woody Allen films.'

'We love Woody Allen films!' says Co

'Yes,' I say a little hoarsely. 'Yes, we do.'

'Now Co

If he says 'G spot' I will die. I will die. I will die.

'… presence here distracting? Because I can imagine I would!' Jack gives Co

smile, but Co

'As I said, sir,' he says, a little stiffly, 'Emma and I operate on a strictly professional basis

whilst at work. We would never dream of abusing the company's time for our own… ends.'

He flushes. 'I mean, by ends, I don't mean… I meant…'

'I'm glad to hear it,' says Jack, looking amused.

God, why does Co

The lift pings, and I feel relief drain over me. Thank God, at last I can escape-

'Looks like we're all going to the same place,' says Jack Harper with a grin. 'Co

don't you lead the way?'

I can't cope with this. I just can't cope. As I pour out cups of tea and coffee for members of the

marketing department, I'm outwardly calm, smiling at everyone and even chatting pleasantly.

But inside I'm all unsettled and confused. I don't want to admit it to myself, but seeing Co

through Jack Harper's eyes has thrown me.

I love Co

him. I run my eyes over his face, trying to reassure myself. There's no doubt about it. Co

is good-looking by any standards. He glows with good health. His hair is shiny and his eyes

are blue and he's got a gorgeous dimple when he smiles.

Jack Harper, on the other hand, looks kind of weary and dishevelled. He's got shadows under

his eyes and his hair is all over the place. And there's a hole in his jeans.

But even so. It's as if he's some kind of magnet. I'm sitting here, my attention firmly on the tea

trolley, and yet somehow I can't keep my eyes off him.

It's because of the plane, I keep telling myself. It's just because we were in a traumatic

situation together; that's why. No other reason.

'We need more lateral thinking, people,' Paul is saying. The Panther Bar is simply not