Skinny Dipping by Alicia M Kaye Page B

didn’t learn how to swim considering I personally developed his ‘ Swimming is for Living’ campaign.”
    Jessica was sceptical. “When are you going?”
    “We’ve postponed until next week, Thursday.”
    “Okay, you can have this particular package of sporting equipment. What time are you tearing yourself from your desk?”
    “The lesson starts at eight o’clock, so I have to leave by seven,” Sophie said quietly.
    “I want you to send me video footage of the first dip or I’m not delivering you any more mail. I’m returning it all to sender.”
    “You can’t do that. I get work mail sent here.”
    “Oh, but I can. I may be the lowest pleb in the office, but I’m also custodian of the mail.” Jessica gave Sophie a menacing look, wicked, pure evil.
    “You wouldn’t.”
    “Wouldn’t I? You know Sophie, if you gave me a little bit of advertising work so I could get some experience I might not be so caught up in other people’s mail.” Jessica flopped back into her chair, shaking her head. “Think how I, a student of advertising can help you. Let me help you.”
    Sophie nodded, she’d heard Jessica’s pitch before. “Help me to help you,” Jessica repeated. She wanted to help on campaigns. But Sophie would have to teach her, and time was important. “And Sophie, you need my help, so you can find some work-life balance. You got chucked because you have no time. You don’t want to be spinster Sophie do you?”
    Sophie felt her face flush. She got chucked because Derek cheated. She quickly snatched the items together from Jessica’s desk, placing them back in the cardboard box. With the box to her chest she turned away.
    “Francine, are you still there?” Jessica’s voice sang through the office as she picked up the telephone.
    Sophie carried the box to her desk. Sitting behind the computer, she looked at the cardboard box with distain. She noticed an envelope in the package, and wrinkled her nose like the envelope smelt like garbage instead of the new plastic smell from the kickboard.
    Jessica’s words had gotten to her. She was single. Spinster Sophie. She’d even lost Derek, he’d strayed, he’d cheated. Was it because of her work? She’d simply thought Derek was being a controlling arse.
    Sophie pushed the thoughts aside, she didn’t need an envelope to know who the package was from. She removed the handwritten note:
     
“Dear Miss Sophie Mermaid Smart,
     
Just a quick note to wish you well. Good luck for the pending introduction into the water. You may want to have a go at trying these things on before the lesson.
     
    Cheers,
     
Mr. Matthew Dolphin Silver.”
     
    “Mr Matthew Dolphin Silver? How old is he?” she muttered, words barely audible as she read the note. “A dolphin. Really? A dolphin?” Yes, he mentioned his favourite animal was a dolphin. Dolphin made sense. Dolphins were friendly to humans but when they came to the water, he was more like a sea anemone, attractive and pleasing to the eye, but get too close and he’d sting you with a lovely but scary offer of swimming lessons. Would she regret them?
    Or was he more like a dangerous barracuda, lean, long, and a hunting machine. Hunting every poor person with a fear of the water. Didn’t he get it, she was traumatized!
    Or maybe he was a moray eel pouncing and snaring prey with toothy jaws. Getting remiss girls in the water because he was simply a perve. That was always a possibility. After all, she now knew she couldn’t trust guys. Couldn’t take them on their word.
    The gift was not cute, or nice. Although she knew it was. The more she thought about the gift, the sweeter he seemed, like he’d given her an olive branch, knowing she would secretly hate him because he’d kindly offered her a way to learn how to save her own life, and save herself from the water. The olive branch was in the shape of a kick board, swimming cap and goggles. But she was allergic to olives.
She opened her email. Manners were