"I'll speak to the payroll office, but you could call them today and have them send it to the hotel I'm sure they'd hold it for you if you like.'' "Maybe, I'll do that, it's something anyway."
"Well, I've got to hurry, but I'll be home tonight right after work.
Chill some martinis and I'll bring home steaks, and we can spend a relaxing evening with the stereo or television."
"Sounds delightful," she grinned, glad that he didn't want to go out again.
She waited until he had dressed and finished in the bathroom. Then she drew a hot bath and soaked in the tub for about half an hour. She was just drying herself when she heard the telephone ring. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to answer it. It might be Duncan and he would worry if she weren't there. If it was anyone else, she could tell them it was the wrong number and hang up. She picked up the receiver.
"Gillian," a woman's voice asked.
It was Jessica.
"Jessica, yes, it's me, I was trying to disguise my voice. How are you, where are you?"
"I'm just down the street. May I come up? I've got to talk to you.
Duncan told me you'd be there. I called him at the office, this morning."
"Sure, I'm just getting dressed, but tell the door-man to let you come up."
She hung the telephone and wondered what Jessica wanted to discuss. She hoped that she wouldn't rehash the events of last night. It would be embarrassing for both of them.
In a few minutes, she heard Jessica's knock at the door.
"Coming," she called and ran a comb through her hair and let her in.
"Hello," Jessica said, embarrassed, but still smiling.
"Have a seat and I'll get you some coffee."
"I'd rather have a drink if I may."
"Sure, I don't know what he has, but I'll check."
She went to the bar and poured her a tall scotch and handed it to her.
"Gil," she began, "last night was pretty awful for all of us and I don't want to discuss it anymore, but I did want you to know that you weren't the reason I left the hotel. I hope we can still be friends and we do need each other in this mess. Andrew thought it would be best for me, and for you, to get out there."
Gillian smiled at her and said: "Well, I'm going to be staying here with Duncan for the time being while I look for another job. I think that the men can handle Wiles and the farther we stay away from him the better."
"Good, I feel the same way, and I'm glad that you and I can still be friends. I wouldn't want to destroy a relationship over one misfortune. no matter how dramatic."
"Me, either." Gillian agreed, "You're the only girl I know in this big, confusing city."
"Another thing, Duncan's a nice fellow, treat him right. You couldn't do much better than him, and he's single and in love with you!"
"I know that," she told her, "and I do care for him, it's just that I don't want to be hurt again, so I'm playing it slowly."
"Well, I hope that things do work out for your sake, and I'll keep in touch."
"What are you going to do, Jessica?" Gillian asked. "Are you going to find another job?"
"I really don't know right away, I may just stay home for a while, Andrew is pretty generous with me, especially now, so I don't want to go back to work if I don't have to."
"It would be nice to stay home for awhile, but I did that for several years when I was married, so the career girl routine is new and exciting to me. Besides. Duncan can't support us both, he's struggling to get ahead now."
"You've got the right answers. darling," Jessica told her. "Let's see if we can straighten out our present mess fairly quickly."
"I don't see how Wiles expects to get away with it Jessica. He's bound to be caught, but he does have those awful pictures. I shudder every time I think about it, it's too horrible!"
"Andrew has an idea and he'll tell Duncan in a day or two after he checks a few things out and knows whether or not it will work."
"I hope it does, for all our sakes," she added. It's not a very pretty situation!"
"I do too," Gillian whispered, almost like a prayer.
"Well, I've got to run, but I'm glad we could talk and as soon as I get my telephone installed, I'll call and give you the number."
"That would be nice, and maybe we can have lunch one day next week."
"Great, I'll look forward to it."
Gillian closed the door behind Jessica and she was glad 'that her former roommate had come over after all, it made her feel better and she silently prayed that Andrew would come up with an answer to their problem, he just had to!
She decided not to go out that day, but busied herself preparing a luscious desert for their evening's meal. She wanted to please Duncan, she wanted him to know how much she appreciated his help and warmth and love.
She mused for a while and wondered if what she was beginning to feel for him was just gratitude or whether it was possible that she was falling in love with him after all! Only time would tell that, but she hoped that she could love him, she wanted to be able to love him.
At about six, Duncan arrived to the flat carrying a bouquet of winter flowers and a large brown bag with steaks, salad vegetables and two bottles of wine.
"It's a celebration," he laughed, "Your housewarming."
She showed him the mousse that she had prepared for dessert and he hugged her tightly.
"See, you're acting like a wife already," he blushed, "but I love it!"
"Jessica came by today," Gillian told him, "Andrew has gotten her a place to stay and she may look for another job too."
"I know, she called me this morning. I hope you don't mind that I told her where you were."
"Of course not. Jessica's my only girlfriend and I was glad that she came over."
"Just so long as I'm your only boyfriend," he teased her.
"You've got nothing to worry about on that count," she told him, and kissed him affectionately on the cheek, and took the flowers from him and looked for a vase.