72 Hours or Bust (Closed to thelaughingcat)

[CFMB_fan]

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Name: Adrian
Age: 52
Height: 5'13
Build: Tall, stocky but over weight
Hair: Black, cropped
Profession: It Consultant

Adrian parked the car where X marked the spot on his Sat Nav. He looked around at the 1960's council house estate. One side of the road were typical council houses, with small gardens. On the other side small blocks of council flats, three or four storeys high.

As he surveyed the scene, he saw a man walk purposefully to his car, moments later he drove away, leaving the street almost deserted. Reaching for his smartphone, he wanted to check, confirm the house number where he would find Lorna's abode.

But as he studied the detailed directions, he soon realised that the house number where Lorna lived was actually a few yards down the road, in a series of old Victorian terraced houses and shops. He got out of the car and started to walk the street, looking at the house numbers on the old wooden doors that prevented entry into these ageing properties.

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[thelaughingcat]

Name: Lorna
Age: 29
Height: 5'10
Build: Tall, curvy and athletic
Hair: Blonde and wavy, falling past the shoulders
Profession: Digital and Print Media Consultant

The door slams and the girl sinks down, back to the wall, staring out through the whorled glass pane.

'What the hell am I going to do?' She can't seem to quite catch her breath as her thoughts wander back through the conversation she had just had.

"You've got until Monday to come up with the full amount," the guy had said. He hadn't looked like a weasel at all with his bluff, craggy features and buzz cut hair. Still, he had not been even slightly sympathetic to her plight either though.

"Where am I supposed to find over 700 quid in three days?" she had wailed.

He had lifted an eyebrow suggestively, "There's always a way love. Non-payment of Council Tax is a crime - would you rather I came back in half an hour with the bobbies and a warrant?"

Just remembering that threat had her heart in her throat, pushing the heels of her palms into her eyes in exhaustion. Not for the first time, she found herself cursing Dan.

His bloody gambling addiction had put her in this mess and now he had gone and done a disappearing act, leaving her on the hook for two year's worth of utilities, council tax and a couple of credit cards he had taken out in her name. She had spent the last month hocking everything she had owned from CDs to her silver jewellery. She only had the basic furniture left, she knew there was no way she was going to find £728.13 in the flat.

'And you're not going to find it on the doormat either, girlie.' She gives herself a shake and unwinds her long limbs, pushing herself up the stairs and back into the flat.

She starts going through the remaining items in the living room, mentally appraising them as goods in lieu. Shaking her head, she catches sight of her reflection in the large mirror over the fireplace.

She knows she's not bad looking, just the good side of average she normally says; at 5'10" she'd always been tall but never had the lankiness that usually goes with it. 'Well, no one could ever accuse me of being flat chested anyway.' She grins, the smile sliding off her face as the bailiff's insinuations come back to her.

She tries to appraise herself the way she had been doing to her furniture. Tall, curvy, great tits if you like them on the big side, long, bottle blonde hair, though the roots are starting to show. Hundred quid highlights were in short supply these days. Her best feature was definitely her eyes, the cat shaped baby blues shining, setting off her wide jawline and high cheekbones.

'What are you thinking, you wouldn't know how to begin to do that, even if the notion was at all remotely appealing! What are you going to do? Stand outside your local and offer the regulars a little something extra with their pints?'

Without realising, she barks out laughter, short and sharp. Her face falls in the reflection and she chews her bottom lip nervously...what the hell am I going to do?

Through her living room window she hears thumping on the door, followed by a low muttering.

'Oh god, he must have realised I couldn't pay and come back with the cops. Shit. What the hell do I do?' She remains frozen in the bare living room for a few moments, listening to the sounds outside.

Then the thought of her landlord's face if the downstairs door is destroyed swims into focus and she panics, pelting out the flat and down the communal stairs for the front door.

She wrenches it open, "I thought you said I had until Monday!"

 

[CFMB_fan]

Adrian had parked his car just outside Lorna's home, it turned out to be located above an old Victorian shop front in a row of terraced houses. He had heard a few rumours, gossip from her father, and his friend from school. He had known Carle since they were ten or so, and had kept in touch, even when their lives led them on completely different paths.

He wanted to find out exactly what was happening for him self, and to see if there was anyway he could help. As he parked, he saw a rather important looking man emerge from the door; smart trousers and complimenting jacket, with some ID tag around his neck. He watched him get into a small car and drove away, before he emerged from the car.

Purposefully he walked over to the front door and rand the doorbell, and waited, pulling his fleece jacket tight over his torso, trying to keep the Easterly wind of the North sea at bay.

As the door opened, he knew he would look down over Lorna, but not that much, she was tall and broad, not fat at all, but just well built.

'I thought you said I had until Monday!"

"Wow Lorna, what is that all about?"

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[thelaughingcat]

"Wow Lorna, what is that all about?"

With a start, she found herself not looking down at the bailiff who had just left, but rather up at someone she knew far too well. Adrian, who'd always been round for family barbecues when she was younger, and off to the occasional match with her dad. He'd always made time for her, asking after school and commiserating whenever her team lost. In return she had developed the most embarrassing crush on him when she hit her teenage years and worse, she was pretty sure everyone had known. She hadn't seen him in years now.

Face colouring, she mumbles an apology but doesn't move from the door.

"Ummm...hi Adrian." <Genius Lorna, absolutely A1 for coherency here.> Feeling her face flush afresh, she tries again.

"That? Oh, that was nothing, I'm fine, how are you? Is everything ok? Oh god, you must be freezing, would you like to come in? <Oh great, because babbling like an idiot was such a step up there.>

Shaking her head and wondering if she could come across any worse, she abruptly stops and breaks eye contact, scuffing her socks across the doormat.

 

[CFMB_fan]

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"I'm good thanks Lorna, though I gather you are having a bad time...."

He pauses as he meets your eyes....

"Why don't you quickly put some shoes on and let me be your agony uncle for an hour or so? I sense you could do do with an ear to moan to and a shoulder t cry on?"

His voice is soft full of calm and consideration.....

"I may even buy you a steak Lorna, if you are still tempted by one?" He was aware that Lorna was a semi vegetarian, though she wasn't as religious about it as maybe she ought to be.

 

[thelaughingcat]

"I may even buy you a steak Lorna, if you are still tempted by one?"

She looks up at him, sharply. Agony uncle? Adrian? He's stood there looking just as calm and concerned as he ever had when something had gone wrong at school.

<It could work, as long as he doesn't worry Mum and Dad with it all. It would be good to get things off my chest.> Releasing a breath she didn't even know she had been holding, she tries for a smile and backs away, holding the door open for him, letting him in.

"I'll need to grab my boots and nip to the loo and I'll be ready. Erm...make yourself at home I guess?" She looks over at his tall, stocky figure, butterflies dancing. He'd thickened around the waist a little since the days she'd harboured her schoolgirl crush but he still looked good for all that. It fit him, just like the steady look in his eyes and the deeper crow's feet around them.

<Good god girl, get yourself under control, this is not the time!> She berates herself under her breath while she runs up the stairs to her flat. Flying into her bathroom, she shuts the door behind her, collapsing against the smoky pane of glass. She can hear him moving around outside but can't tell where he is or what he is doing.

<Smooth, real smooth, leaving him out there like that.> Shaking her head, she flushes the toilet as an excuse for her hasty departure and looks into the mirror over the sink. A quick dab of brightener to take away the circles under her eyes, a brush through her hair and a touch of blusher to put some colour back into her cheeks and she nods at her reflection, satisfied. <Not that I've had an issue with colour in my cheeks recently.> She muses, giving a rueful shake of her head.

Unlocking the door she heads out into the hallway, grabbing her favourite mid calf, brown leather heeled boots. It gave her an extra couple of inches she didn't need but they were so damn warm and comfy, and it really didn't hurt that they made her long legs look fantastic.

"Reeeeadddy!" She sings out, looking for Adrian.

 

[CFMB_fan]

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"I'll need to grab my boots and nip to the loo and I'll be ready. Erm...make yourself at home I guess?"

Adrian found what looked like the living room, but some how lacked finesse, furniture. It fitted in with what Lyona's father, Carle had told him over a pint the over day.

He saw a credit card statement, around £4,000. Next looked like another letter demanding money for something or other. He didn't pick them up but noticed the dates on both, and they ere very recent. He moved over to the window and looked out onto the council estate.

"So she is in debt, poor gal" he thought to himself. He was aware that her ex had disappeared leaving her with the debts of his gambling addiction. There was evidence for them to get the money from him, if they found him, but that would be slow and laborious. She needed money. Her parents were both unable and unwilling to help her any more.

"Reeeeadddy!" She sings out, looking for Adrian.

Adrian turned to face her in his smart chinos and short sleeve shirt, his wedding ring on display.

"So where do you fancy going Lorna? Coffee first or what?" He knew in principle she was a vegetarian, but she also never had the will poser to give up that red piece of meat.

He met her eyes as she entered the room and smiled.

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[thelaughingcat]

"So where do you fancy going Lorna? Coffee first or what?"

She bounces into the room as he asks her a question, turning away from the window overlooking the busy road outside, the glare casting his features into shadow.

"Let's grab a coffee, I know a great little place, about a half hour away. If you are willing to go that far?" Lorna looks up at him with relief evident in her smile.

<Thank god he gave me that out, I really couldn't afford a steak. I can stretch to coffee though...just.> Her smile falters as she remembers the bailiff and her predicament.

Sighing quietly, she smiles again and crosses the room, giving him a hug.

"Thanks for coming over to check on me, Unc'aidy," she says softly, using the old pet name. "It's not exactly been easy, but you know me, always get back up again!" She tries to grin.

"Now, you do have Sat Nav, right? Otherwise, we're going to get very lost!"

 

[CFMB_fan]

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Adrian smiled at the Unc'aidy, reply and was slightly taken aback by her hug, her show of affection... As she walked towards him, he couldn't help notice how good she looked in her tight skinny jeans, the blue denim contrasting against the mid tanned knee high FMBs, her V neck jumper sliding of her shoulder exposing the strap of her camisole, as well as her bra strap, the delicate embroidery exposed to him

He returned the hug and as he held her as much in a fatherly hug as he could he whispered in her ear.

"I am aware that you have a slight problem or two as a result of your ex. You can trust me," he paused. " But what ever we discuss tonight will remain between us UNLESS you tell me otherwise. I want to help you Lorna if I can, and so we both need to have that level of trust.... hope I'm making sense?"

"Oh and of course this afternoon, evening is all my treat Lorna. - No arguing, not up for discussion!"

Lorna told him the place she was thinking of as they walked to the car.

"Yes I know it, and no I don;t need Sat Nav." he replied smiling. One thign that frustrated Adrian was the over reliance on sat nav these days, the art of map reading and planning in advance was gone it seemed.

But as he sat in the car, he connected his phone to the windscreen mount, and soon had his waze app running. Not so much for the route but rather traffic status, traffic reports.

He soon started to drive, initially in silence before Adrian turned to Lorna.

"So how is the job Lorna?"

He wanted to settle her down, make her feel relaxed enough to talk to him, to tell him her problems. He knew what they were to some degree but wanted her to tell him, as they say a problem shared is a problem halved.

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[thelaughingcat]

Exhaling as she hugs his solid, comforting frame, Lorna relaxes a little. She feels the hug returned, just a touch too much? No. She shakes her head slightly, putting it down to her imagination. His mouth comes down to her ear, his breath starting a team of butterflies fluttering in her stomach, distracting her from his words.

"...what ever we discuss tonight will remain between us UNLESS you tell me otherwise. I want to help you Lorna if I can, and so we both need to have that level of trust.... hope I'm making sense?"

She sags a little in relief as she pulls away from the hug, throat prickling as she swallows.<I can finally tell someone.> "Thanks Adrian, that would be really...good."

"Oh and of course this afternoon, evening is all my treat Lorna. - No arguing, not up for discussion!"

Lorna looks at him sharply as they walk to the car, muttering something non-committal. <Oh, for god's sake girl, it's not like you can afford anything right now and it's not like he doesn't seem to know about what's going on, let the damn pride go for once...wait a sec...how does he know?>

She dismisses the question and makes an effort to smile. "I'm sorry, that was churlish, thank you Adrian. Have you been to The Angel before, up in Hetton? Bit of a drive but the place is definitely worth it!"

"Yes I know it, and no I don't need Sat Nav." he replied smiling. His smile lit up his face, his gaze certainly a little appreciative as she bent to get into the car. Lorna found herself smiling back until she remembered her predicament. <Get those thoughts out right now missy, how interested is he going to be when he realises quite how badly you messed up this time? Once he finds out that you've somehow hit thirty with a mountain of debt and your house deposit gone, he's not exactly going to see you as a grown up, is he? Oh God, maybe this wasn't such a good idea...>

The car starts, pulling away smoothly from the kerb. Lost in her thoughts, she stares out of window at the matchbox houses filing past, the grey sky fitting her mood perfectly,

"?..job Lorna?"

She spins her head round, realising that he is talking to her.

"I'm so sorry Adrian, I didn't catch a word of that, were you asking after my job?"

He takes his eyes off the road for a second to nod at her with an amused snort.

She starts talking about her job, handling accounts for colleges, universities and schools across the country, helping with their print and marketing needs, becoming animated as she talks about the creative side of her job as well as the data analysis models she has been working on.

"...so the interactive maps I developed allow the sales teams to see what other education establishments have in the vicinity of their target institution so they can refine their pitches... and oh god, this is really boring, isn't it?"

She laughs, the sound lighting up the inside of the car. She knows exactly why the man next to her set her up with a neutral subject to chatter about but it just feels so good not to be thinking about the last four weeks.

Running her hands through her hair and across her scalp as the tension dissipates, she drops her head back against the rest and looks over at his profile.

"What about you, Adrian? How have you been these last, what, fifteen years? You still playing around with computers?" She pauses, remembering the wedding ring, "and how's Angie these days?"

 

[CFMB_fan]

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Adrian listened intently as Lorna described her job, especially the interactive map.

"Actually that does sound interesting, and something that I have suggested to some of my clients recently, how to manage their data and more importantly how to interrogate it more constructively..."

He his watching the road, but every now and then glances at her, especially when her v neck top slides down her shoulder slightly. He nods and moans in the right places, indicating that he is listening intently even at times not replying - at least in detail.

He notices a subtle easing of tension in her voice, his tactic seems to be working.

"Oh Angie is fine, and sends her regards" he replies partly in truth but partly a white lie as well.

"She is now a teacher, for her sins, teaching those awkward teenagers.... And yes I am still in computing, sort of a manager and consultant helping local small businesses who cant afford to have their own IT guy. Pays well and allows me to manage my time...."

The roads are clear and it isn't long before he turns into the Angel's ca rpark. An old pub but has been extended, into a gastro pub one half, the other half suited for the local farmers and those who are literally rambling or cycling through and want a snack or an ale.

With the car parked, Adrian gets out and quickly walks round opening the door for Lorna.

"So coffee to begin with?"

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[thelaughingcat]

"Oh Angie is fine, and sends her regards"

His voice seems to catch slightly and Lorna looks over at his impassive face. <Well, there's a story there.>

There's no time to dwell on it though, as Adrian ploughs on, talking about his wife's job and sharing a couple of anecdotes from his own work. With a shared background in computing, it isn't long before they are debating the relative merits of various analysis suites and the current issues facing the security sector.

In what feels like no time to Lorna, the car is pulling up in front of the stocky, bluff stone building. As she struggles with the seatbelt, Adrian quickly heads round the back of the car to open her door.

"Thank you Adrian!" her lips quirk in amusement. <I can't remember the last time a guy opened my car door for me...actually, I don't think a guy has ever opened a car door for me.>

"So coffee to begin with?"

"Sounds like a plan, sah!" Taking his arm, she links hers through and marches them towards the door to the bar.

Eyes adjusting to the sudden gloom, the dark but well-kept interior is quiet on the grey Friday afternoon. A cheerful fire is crackling away in a corner beyond the bar and well burnished brass reflects the soft light warmly from every wall. Some well curated pieces of local art for sale adorn the walls and the bar has several nooks and crannies hiding tables from view.

A pleasant face swims into view from behind the bar, clutching menus hopefully.

"Table for two in the restaurant?"

Lorna smiles, but shakes her head, "No, thank you, just one of the tables in the bar would be fine."

The young lad leads them round the bar and seats them at a table by the back, half closed from view by the banquette that stretches round. Taking their order, he disappears around the corner, leaving the two sat facing each other across the table.

Lorna studies the raft of papers on the table, pinned into a standing clamp. A leaflet for the local art show, an advert for the cottages for hire opposite the pub, owned by the same people, a copy of the upcoming festive menu.

Pushing them aside, she takes a deep breath and raises her eyes to meet those of the man sat opposite.

"So, how much do you know?"

 

[CFMB_fan]

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Adrian glides into the pub with Lorna on his arm, some one young enough to be his daughter if he and Angie had been able to conceive; with a soft smirk on his face.

The place was quiet, and slightly dark, but Adrian insisted on being in the conservatory, and a view of the lovely dales of North Yorkshire in view.

The bar steward took their order, Adrian ordered a Large latte and a white chocolate cheesecake.

But almost as soon as they were alone, the piped mellow music barely audible Lorna asked.

"So how much do you know."

Adrian smiled.

"Not much to be truthful, other than your ex was, is a scumbag and left you with his debts... And I've spoken to a friend in London. If he pops up, he will let me know where.. and please don't ask."

"I saw your parents the other day, and well they are concerned for you, and that they are not in a position to help you any more than what they have already done, other than for you to move in with them for a year or so to allow you some breathing space..." His voice was softly spoken and devoid of any real emotion, speaking in a 'matte of fact tone'.

As he finished, the bar steward arrived with their order and placed the drinks and nibbles on the table before leaving them back alone...

He sipped his latte, leaving a frothy mustache on his lip before he continued.

"So i thought I should come and well give you an ear to melt, a shoulder to cry on... I guess..... As I said earlier, I am not on a spying mission for your parents. I am here because I care."

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[thelaughingcat]

Bracing herself for the worst, she watches the man opposite as he starts setting out what he knows. He looks concerned, genuinely concerned, even with his soothing monotone.

"I saw your parents the other day, and well they are concerned for you, and that they are not in a position to help you any more than what they have already done, other than for you to move in with them for a year or so to allow you some breathing space..."

Shoulders slumping, she drops her head in her hands. Muffled, she mumbles, "Shit, do they know how bad the financial situation is? You know what mum's like, she'd remortgage the bloody house if she thought it would help, and with all the problems with Alex they really don't need any more."

As he explains the vague rumours that have floated around about Dan leaving her in a bind, she starts breathing a bit easier.

"Ok, I can live with that, I can at least refer to money issues when I'm talking to them...even if I don't tell them how bad it really is. I've talked to dad about moving back but my career's here...I can't move to a four hour commute every morning and I can't do my job from home, I'm stuck here while the mess plays out."

She stares out of the glass window pensively, chewing a little on her bottom lip.

They are interrupted by the barman, bringing the drinks. She smiles up in thanks. Taking her teaspoon, she scrapes some of the chocolatey foam off the top of her cappuccino, letting it rest on her tongue for a moment, brow furrowed.

Looking up, she giggles at the foamy mustache on Adrian's upper lip. "I'm not sure the Magnum PI look was a good one first time round mister!" Without thinking, she wipes it off with a finger, licking it clean, blushing furiously when she realises what she's done. She speeds on to try and distract him.

"Ummm...so...yeah, not great, I know you saw some of the letters at home. I spent the first week dealing with the bailiffs he had been conveniently concealing from me, the second week wiping out my savings and in the third week I pretty much sold everything and this week I've been making payment arrangements on the rest. Apparently keeping meticulous paper records of all my financial dealings in the same house as a gambling addict is a bad idea, or so I've discovered."

She sighs and sips her coffee, "Every time I think I've got a handle on it, something else pops up. I had run down everything on my credit report when that man showed up today. Apparently Council Tax isn't on your credit report. And refusal to pay comes with a criminal conviction and jail time, or so the bailiff informed me. I'm at my wit's end now. If your 'friend' in London finds him, do me a favour. Tell me first? I want the first piece of him; anyone else can get in line, coppers included."

Shaking her head, she finishesThe whole thing is a bloody mess and I'm now stuck trying to find more money than I could put away in 6 months, all by Monday.

 

[CFMB_fan]

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Adrian nodded as he listened to her tales, his face pretty emotionless other than when she stole his creamy mustache!

After she had finished, he sipped his coffee before he asked his next question or two.

"So how much money has he effectively stolen from you? And well how much do you need to get your own finances and reputation back on track Lorna?"

His eyes met hers over the table.

 

[CFMB_fan]

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Deleted

 

[thelaughingcat]

"So how much money has he effectively stolen from you? And well how much do you need to get your own finances and reputation back on track Lorna?"

His eyes met hers over the table.

She can feel the trepidation worming through her stomach, the coffee sitting slightly nauseatingly on top of roiling coils.

"He ended up taking me for over fifteen grand," she almost whispers. She clears her throat, cheeks stained with two small spots of red, and carries on, stronger now, "Taken pretty much everything I have. I think I've weeded it all out though I'll have to call the council on Monday and check that that £700 is all. I can survive until bonus time next September with the arrangements. I just need to figure out a way to pay off that tax bill over the next few days and I should be fine. Don't suppose you fancy taking up a new career as a bank robber, do you? We wouldn't need much," she grins up at him, half serious.

 

[CFMB_fan]

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Adrian sipped his coffee and started to munch on his white chocolate cheesecake as he listened. He had a couple of questions he wanted to ask, but for now the last thing she needed was interruptions, but rathe r to let her go with her flow, to tell her yarn.

IT seemed she had spent upwards of 16 grand to cover the oxygen thief's debts, and as a result her finances were is a precarious situation. She had no savings it seems, but seemed rather candid about her situation.

As Lorna finished answering his question, he sipped his coffee, licking his top lip.

"So okay, you could do with a grand now to cover the council tax, I can lend you that not a problem. But what I am concerned is that you have no savings of your own left for a rainy day? What if your car engine blew up? YOu have a spare room, could you get a lodger in for a while? What I am asking I guess is what do you need to get your OWN finances back in order?"

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[thelaughingcat]

"So okay, you could do with a grand now to cover the council tax, I can lend you that not a problem. But what I am..."

Lorna chokes on the last of her cappuccino, almost not hearing his further sensible entreaties to her fiscally responsible side. She'd been trying her hardest to ignore that little voice since the whole nightmare started anyway.

"Wait..wait..Adrian..back up there. I can't borrow that kind of money from you, don't be ridiculous! You've not even seen me in fifteen years for God's sake. And like I said, I don't get my bonus pay for another ten months, until the summer print run comes in and even that might not cover the arrangements - I can't be owing someone without knowing when I could even pay them back, no, but thank you..."

The lodger idea was a good one, one she hadn't thought of before. She was pretty sure her lease forbade subletting but she could always tell her landlord that they were her partner. Not exactly upstanding but it sure beat being penniless and the less time she owed those companies, the better. If only she could come up with that money this weekend...

She sinks into a reverie, planning her next move, her eyes glazing over slightly, oblivious to her surroundings.

 

[CFMB_fan]

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Adrian smiled at the rejection, he was expecting it.

He sipped the remainder of his coffee....

"But yoy never answered my other question, how much would help you to be able to enjoy life as opposed to living on the bread line for 12 months?" His voice wss soft but had an edge of frstration, he was used to people asnwering his questions.

"So are we talking three grand, five or even seven?"

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[thelaughingcat]

His quiet voice cuts through her dreaming.

"But you never answered my other question, how much would help you to be able to enjoy life as opposed to living on the bread line for 12 months?" His voice was soft but had an edge of frustration.

Lorna giggled in spite of his earnest expression. <Fair enough, I'll humour him> Seven grand, that was, like, £700 a month extra. She'd barely know what to do with it. An extra twenty quid a week would mean she could buy some fresh veggies and a bit of a change from the same meal of frozen veggies, Basics frozen sausages and mash that she'd been eating every day for the last three weeks. That was, what, £850? Then getting her hair done a couple of times would be another £200, and maybe going out for dinner or the cinema with friends every couple of weeks or so - £400? Switching Sky back on would be an extra £75 a month so that's another £750, and an extra £200 to cover Christmas coming up and birthdays through the year. Round it up to cover any extras...

Chuckling, she totted it up in her head, leaning onto her elbows on the table "Yeah, £3500 should cover everything including the bill. Now, while I'm at it, can I also order a flying pig and a winning lottery ticket, pretty please?"

 

[CFMB_fan]

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Adrian glanced at the Bar steward and indicated two more coffee as he thought.

"So Lorna, in total as a result of the oxygen thief, he has cost you so far around 16 grand including the council tax. And I couldn't help notice on the table another credit card statement with four grand on it."

He paused "but I don't know if that is because of him or whether that is a new card you are using on zero % interest. But if not that is £20 grand."

"You must still be fond of him deep down maybe and also have a strong sense of pride which I like, and appreciate. But the fact is that as a result of him, you are now both in debt and lost your savings; your mortgage deposit. - how much was that?"

"So, I suspect that ideally you could do with more than thre and a half grand... more like five or even seven?"

"And regarding the council tax money, I am happy for you to start paying me in 12 months time if need be....."

 

[thelaughingcat]

"So, I suspect that ideally you could do with more than three and a half grand... more like five or even seven? And regarding the council tax money, I am happy for you to start paying me in 12 months time if need be....."

<Five grand? Seven grand? Is he being serious? I couldn't take that kind of a loan on...could I?> Lorna swallows visibly, the muscles in her neck moving with an exaggerated motion as her grin fades.

"You are joking, right Adrian? I couldn't possibly accept even a tenth of that." Her voice is quiet, all trace of her former humour gone.

She stares across the table into his inscrutable eyes. There is...something there, but she can't figure out what. For the first time since he'd knocked on her door that afternoon, she feels nervous.

Outside the conservatory windows the sun finally broke through the grey clouds, coating the room in warm, sepia tones.

Holding his eyes, she tries to make her voice as firm as she can.

"I just couldn't stand to owe you that kind of money."

 

[CFMB_fan]

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He looks at Lorna, clearly suspicious of him, and rightly so. The change in the tone of her voice, her body language is clear evidence of that.

"Well I am 53 next year Lorna. And well I have heard stories of older guys being picked up by a stranger, some one much younger than themselves..... Or where a younger female have gone round to seduce the older man. Either of which has not happened to me." He pulled a slight face as he finished speaking.

He inhaled deeply as he played, fidgeted with his cup in his hands before he took a sip of his coffee.

"Well Angie and I still have an active sex life but it is mundane, vanilla. I have often in the past wondered what it would be like if some one like Diane, Cherry or even your self came round and seduced me Lorna.... OR that we met coincidentally whilst out shopping.... Guess I am a dirty older man wanting to sleep with some one younger... Bad hey? But I cant help being curious I guess , and well you are as pretty, alluring as ever Lorna."

He gulped as he finished talking. He was essentially asking her to prostitute herself.

"So that is how you could help me Lorna."

He sighed deeply, his offer on the table. As he looked at her, her jumper off her shoulder exposing the spaghetti strap of her camisole, and bra exposed. Her look at the moment was a look he found alluring, suggestive.

 

[thelaughingcat]

"So, that is how you could help me Lorna"

She sits back, shocked, coffee forgotten as she stares at the man in front of her who doesn't seem able to meet her eyes. <No, not shame, he's staring at my bloody bra strap, the bloody cheek of the man!>

With that, a wave of pure anger sluices over her, spurred on by the humiliation of his proposal. Never, in any of her torrid schoolgirl fantasies, had she been offered cash to sleep with him.

With an angry jerk she pulls up her sweater, colour high in her cheeks, hissing in a low tone, spitting each word out of thin lips, "I think I'd like to go now, Adrian. I don't know where you get off, using my situation like this."

With that, she pushes away from the table, stalking out of the bar, pride bristling with every step.