Pictures of Lily

welcome.’
    He smiles at Mel and me and looks towards Nicola, but her head is still buried in her computer.
    ‘Have a good day.’ And then he’s off up the stairs.
    ‘What was all that about?’ Mel asks excitedly, pulling out her stool.
    ‘Are you alright?’ I check the burn, concerned.
    ‘Oh yeah, don’t worry about that.’ She waves her hand dismissively. ‘Tell me,’ she insists, so I fill her in. ‘You held his diary,’ she says dreamily.
    ‘I also noticed that he’s buying his wife flowers for their anniversary on Thursday.’ I nudge her jokily.
    ‘Talk about kicking her in the guts,’ Nicola snaps spitefully.
    Mel and I glance at her in shock, then Mel gives me a look that says, ‘What the hell’s got into her ?’
    I shrug and avert my gaze, not wanting to say anything. I hate confrontation and Nicola’s nastiness instantly makes me feel quite nauseous.
    ‘Sorry,’ Nicola mutters, so I dare to look up again. She glances from Mel to me and back again. ‘Josh didn’t want me to have his number. Or email address,’ she adds. ‘I’m a bit mortified.’
    ‘Well, he does have a girlfriend.’ Mel states the obvious.
    ‘I know.’ Nicola looks away, embarrassed. ‘It’s just that I put so much time and energy into getting an Orgasm . . .’ Her face breaks into a grin and we all crack up. ‘Bastard,’ Nicola says under her breath when our laughs subside. Then she grins again and relief washes over me. ‘So, when are all these sexy photographers coming in?’
    Mel has to organise a conference this morning so she has no choice but to leave me to liaise with Jonathan. It all goes swimmingly until the fourth photographer needs to use the toilet and then walks into the lift without his portfolio. I rush after him, but the doors close in my face.
    ‘I’ll bring it up!’ I shout, not sure if he can hear me. I push the button to call another lift and step inside when the doors swish open. The black portfolio is heavy in my hands. I glance down at it and am on the verge of unzipping it to have a quick look when the lift stops at the third floor and someone gets in. We travel up to the fifth and I walk out, but there’s no one waiting on the landing. I dither for a moment and watch the red light display above the lift the photographer took. It’s now on the ninth floor. I glance at the door to Marbles magazine and go through, remembering that the editorial assistant is ill so there’s no one to immediately ask. Jonathan’s office is on the other side of the room and I feel self-conscious as I walk past all the trendy magazine people. Through the glass I can see Jonathan sitting at a desk along with the Picture Director, Guy Jenson. I knock on the door and push it open.
    ‘Sorry,’ I say as they stare at me questioningly. ‘David Snide, your eleven-thirty, forgot this.’ I place the portfolio on the table and let it go with a slight thump.
    ‘Ah, thanks, Lily,’ Jonathan says as we glance out of the glass divide to see a flustered Mr Snide enter the Marbles quarters. He looks around, panicked.
    ‘I’ll go get him,’ I say, grinning.
    Jonathan smiles back, a twinkle in his eye.
    The next day when Jonathan appears for work he walks straight up to the reception desk, eyeing me with a look of determination.
    ‘Good morning,’ he says brightly.
    ‘Good morning,’ I chirp back, giving him an inquisitive look and wondering what this is about.
    ‘Lily, our editorial assistant Bronte has appendicitis and she’s going to be off all week and quite possibly next week too.’
    I can feel Nicola’s curious eyes on us. Mel, thankfully, is off making tea.
    ‘You seem very capable,’ Jonathan continues. ‘Much more capable than the last two temps we’ve had in to cover for people. Would you be up for working at Marbles until Bronte’s better?’
    ‘Aah,’ I start. ‘I’d have to check with my boss.’
    My boss boss, i.e. the person who employed me, is the Head of Human Resources, Darren Temper. He tends to leave us to it with Nicola at the helm.
    ‘I hope you don’t mind,’ Jonathan continues. ‘I know Darren well and asked him last night. He has no problem with it if you don’t.’
    The chance to work at a magazine – an actual magazine, with a whole team of people: photographers, picture editors . . .
    He’s standing there, waiting for an answer.
    ‘In that case, I’d love to!’ I beam. Shit, is Mel going to kill me?
    As soon as he’s gone, I turn to Nicola and