Lockdown! 27

2.43 PM

Stunned, horrified, appalled. These were just some of the emotions Paul felt as he took hold of the pen with his trembling fingers. Looking over at Gwen with pleading eyes, he searched for some kind of reprieve.

“Come on, precious,” Gwen encouraged, “hurry up and sign so we can get out of here. We’ve taken up enough of this kind gentleman’s time already.”

“Oh no. It’s no problem,” the suited man across the desk remarked, “I don’t have another appointment until three. Please, take your time, ladies.”

Really struggling now to keep a hold of the pen, Pauls’ whole body shook as his eyes darted around the room. His mind was racing as he desperately tried to conjure up a way out of signing the legally binding document laid out on the desk in front of him.

“Is there a problem, dear?” Gwen questioned in a slightly menacing tone as she reached down to grab Paul’s inner thigh.

“Erm… no,” he squeaked, feeling her apply a little pressure.

Feeling like the walls in the stuffy little office were closing in on him, Paul felt faint. And with all eyes in the room staring at him, he realised he was out of options. Bringing down the pen, he scribbled his name on the dotted line and almost threw up in his mouth.

2.46 PM

With a face like thunder, Paul stepped outside and quickly thrust down his arms to secure the flimsy skirt of his plunging mini dress. He was just in time as a strong gust of wind blew in, threatening to reveal his rather racy undergarments to the world.

Waiting for the wind to dissipate, Paul watched dejectedly as Gwen happily skipped on down the steps in front of him. God, he hated that woman with a passion. Not only was she ruining his life, but she was also batshit crazy. Kind and caring one minute, only to flip out the next, scolding him like a naughty child over the smallest thing.

“Come along, Penny,” Gwen called out as the skirted man struggled to traverse the steps of city hall on his perilously high stilettos pumps. “I’ve made a reservation for afternoon tea at three fifteen. If we don’t hurry, we’re going to be late. We can do a little shopping after. You deserve a treat for being such a brave girl in there.”

(See image 37)

6.48 PM

Following Lizzy through the doors of the trendy inner-city bar, Kamsi looked down at his nylon encased legs and wondered if he’d made a mistake listening to Lizzy's fashion advice. Looking around, he noticed the place was nearly empty, but with the few eyes that were in the place scanning up his exposed legs, Kamsi felt half-naked in his skimpy hotpants and plunging top.

Ignoring the lecherous looks, the sparsely dressed man straightened his back and reminded himself why he was there. After a tiring week of serving drinks, he and his fellow casino waitress companion had arranged to hit the town and have a little fun.

After confidently strutting over to the bar, the pair ordered a couple of cocktails before finding an empty table on the left side of the room. And with their coats and bags arranged neatly on one of the empty chairs, the eye-catching duo took a seat and began chatting.

“So, how’s the drink, Babes?” Lizzy asked while flicking her long blonde hair in an attempt to flirt with a handsome man she had spotted looking at her from a nearby table.

“Strong,” Kamsi replied after taking a sip through his pink straw. “A few more like these, and I’m going to be plastered.”

“I told you this was the place to go, right?” Lizzy boasted. “The barman is a friend of a friend. He always makes me the best drinks.”

Wrapping his shiny lips around the straw, Kamsi took another sip. The cloudy pink concoction clutched within his long-nailed fingers tasted sugary and sweet but with an almost overpowering aftertaste of vodka.

Wondered if it was too early to start drinking such strong drinks, Kamsi placed the glass back on the table and folded his glistening legs. In the old days, the question wouldn’t have even crossed his mind. But these days, things were different. Going out as a woman, wearing flashy outfits, drew a lot more attention. He needed to keep his wits about him to avoid getting into any dodgy situations. Or just to repel any unwanted male attention that usually came his way, like the spotty man with the man-bun who had been staring and smiling at him ever since he stepped through the door on his sky-high boots.

“So, how’s it going with the kid?” Lizzy announced, having lost the attention of her admirer. “Are you still getting along with the Dad? What was his name again, Ashley?”

Kamsi smiled awkwardly at the mention of the name Ashley. In his mind, assuming the role of Mira's mother was only a white lie. Justifying it by telling himself that he could hardly tell his new best friend that he was her father. That would have led to a very awkward conversation he was keen to avoid.

“Really good, I’m over there three or four times a week these days. Me and Ash are getting on really well, and Mira is such a sweet little girl,” Kamsi stated, the smile on his face warm and genuine.

“That’s great, Babes,” Lizzy cried, smiling back. “A little girl needs her mum. I’m so happy for you. So, any chance of you and the dad getting back together?”

Taking a second to think about the question, Kamsi took a slurp of his drink before answering. “No, I don’t think so. Too much has happened, and it wouldn’t be fair on Mira.”

“Awww, you’re such a good mum putting little Mira first like that,” Lizzy cooed. “But then again. Perhaps you have your eye on someone else? Someone a little more European?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Kamsi replied coyly, rolling his eyes and pouting. “But what I do know is. Someone's drinking slower than my grandmother tonight. Come on drink up. It’s your round!” he added before placing his straw between his pouty lips and draining the contents of his sickly cocktail.

7.52 PM

Back at the Bar, Kamsi and Lizzy stood waiting while the barman made them their third drink of the evening. Leaning his plump backside against a stool, a slightly tipsy Kamsi gave his elevated feet a momentary rest.

“I've told you already, but your hair really does look amazing like that, you know”? Lizzy blurted out, starting to slur her words. “Didn’t I say that style would suit you?”

Bringing his hand up, Kamsi ran his dark acrylic nails along the side of his shaved head. At the time, he wasn’t sure about the idea of having such an edgy hairstyle, thinking it would make him stand out even more than he already did. But after getting used to it and all the looks it brought, he was starting to enjoy the attention. “Well, what can I say. You’ve either got it or you haven’t,” he replied, making a V-shape with his fingers, and posing.

Chuckling, Lizzy shook her head. “God, girl, you’re such a flirt.

"You're one to talk," Kamsi joked back, "You're much worse than me. I bet there's not a single man in here tonight you haven't eyed up."

"Just checking out the talent, honey," Lizzy japed. "But when it comes to teasing, I'm not even in your league. I bet that hunk of a man walking through the door behind you would agree.

Instinctively turning his body, Kamsi glanced through the corner of his dark sultry eyes, making a confused, questioning kind of sound.

"Oh!" he added, seeing Lorenzo's smiling face peering back at him.

“Oh, that man wants you bad, girl,” Lizzy added in a low gravelly tone. “someone’s getting lucky tonight.”

“What?” Kamsi mumbled, unable to keep his eyes off the exotic Italiano heading in their direction. “What did you say?”

(See image 38)