Starting Over Again

 

Chapter 12 – Back to work.

 

Sophie gingerly opened an eye as she felt the bed dip beside her.  A hand roamed her naked back, a kiss was delicately laid on the exposed chink of her forehead, “morning,” she whispered.

 

“Good morning, my ravaged one.”  Mack smirked, continuing the assault on her back as she eventually turned over, opened both eyes and greeted the day properly.

 

“How is it,” she began, propping herself up on the pillows, running her hands over her tired eyes and reaching out for the mug of tea that he’d placed on the bedside table for her, “that after a night of passion you look devilishly handsome and ready to face the world, whilst I must look like hell?”  A hint of a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.

 

“Because I’ve already been up for hours, sorting things out and making you breakfast.  And you don’t look like hell,” he prised the mug from between her laced fingers and replacing it on the cupboard, before leaning in for a kiss, “you look absolutely adorable.  If only we didn’t have to go to work.”  He teased, playfully cupping a breast and kissing her again.  “Why don’t you get up and have a shower, I’ll sort your case out and see if I can find you something to wear and then we can have breakfast together, ok?”

 

She nodded.  He got up and pulled the covers back.  She got out of the bed, smiling from the appreciative glances her husband was giving her as she padded across the bedroom and into the en suite.  She was soon washed and after towelling herself down and brushing her teeth she went back into the bedroom to find her clothing laid out on the covers of the now made up bed.

 

“What do you think?”  She called across the kitchen to Mack, as he busied himself with some paperwork.

 

He looked up, “you look astounding,” he beamed, she sauntered over to him, “but you look better with nothing on, in my honest opinion.”

 

“Thanks.  What have we got on for today then?”  She picked up a piece of toast and began to eat, taking a seat, perching herself against his left leg.

 

He held onto her and she began to feed him too.  “Well, that meeting I had yesterday with Marks and Spencer’s went great.  I’ve got to spend the morning going over the details with Trudy and some of the others – so I want you to sit in on that, we’re going to need some new designs for them too.  Obviously I’ve got to introduce you to everyone and then Peter’s coming over later.”

 

“Peter?”

 

“The man you saw my talking to the other day.  Peter Cochrane, my solicitor.  Whilst I was sorting out your stuff earlier I found your contract from the gallery.  Going to get him to take a look at it, make sure you can get out of it.”

 

“I’m out of it, Mack.”

 

“I know, petal.  But they might not take to your arrangement as readily as you did.”  He caught her eye, “I’m glad you’re back though,” he squeezed her gently to him.

 

“So am I.  Anything else?”

 

“I’ve also phoned up some estate agents, so there should be a good pile of details to go through when we get back.  I’m hoping we can get away from the factory fairly early,” he wiggled his eyebrows.

 

“Boring,” she mocked.

 

“Doesn’t mean we have to read them sedately,” he pinched her bottom, smiling wickedly so that she understood his meaning.  “Ready?”

 

“Yes,” she stifled a yawn, “am I going to get used to this?”

 

“What?”

 

“Waking up early every morning and having to clamber around the city with everyone else in the great rat race of life.”

 

“It’s just for a little while, till we’re up on our feet and whilst we’re still living here.”

 

“Why did you move in here?”

 

“Because it was cheap and convenient.”  He slid his arms into his jacket, whilst she straightened his tie.

 

“Convenient for what, exactly?”

 

“Food, man must eat,” he beat on his chest.

 

“And man must have woman?”  She asked sadly.

 

He held her chin forcing her to look at him, “do you honestly believe that I could make love to anyone else whilst I was pining away for you.”

 

“Doesn’t every man need sex?”

 

“Sophie, I am not that ex-boyfriend of yours.  Do you trust me?”  She nodded, “then why this?”  She shook her head.  “I love you, missy.  More than anything in the world.  Do you really think I would jeopardise that by sleeping with someone else?”

 

“No.”

 

“I could ask the same of you?  But I’m not going to because I don’t believe for one second that you even contemplated doing such a thing.”

 

“I would never … were you really pining for me?”

 

“Ask Trudy, she’ll tell you.  I’ve been a sullen bastard for ages.  Now come on, else we’ll be really late.”

 

“I think we’ll be ok,” she grinned, as he grabbed hold of her hand and walked her to the front door, “got a good thing going with the boss, I’m sure I can placate him in some way.”

 

“You really are a naughty girl aren’t you?  Maybe later, when he’s alone in his office?”  He asked hopefully.

 

“Maybe,” she agreed as they walked onto the waiting lift and into each other’s embrace.  She leant her head against his chest.  “Maybe.”

 

 

.oOo.

 

 

Trudy looked up to the door as she heard it open.  “Morning, Mack.  Morning, Sophie.”

 

“Morning Trudy, got the rabble ready?”  Mack enquired as she handed him the post, still holding onto Sophie’s hand as he ushered them into his office.

 

“I’ll get them into the canteen, now you’re both here.  Do you want a drink?”

 

“Tea please.  Sophie?”

 

“Yes, please, Trudy.  The same.”

 

Five minutes later and Trudy was knocking on the door.  She walked in, leaving the drinks on Mack’s desk.  “Ok, they’re all assembled.”

 

“Thanks, Trudy.  We’ll be there in a second.”  She walked back out, shutting the door behind her.  “You ready for this?”

 

Sophie nodded, the butterflies dancing about in her stomach.  “Yeah.”

 

“You sure, you look a bit white.”  He pulled her to him, “you’re going to be fine, you know.  They’re not going to chop you up and feed you to the pigs or anything.”

 

“I know, I just want to do a good job.”

 

“You will,” he kissed her; “I have no doubt you’ll do fine.  They’re going to love you.”  They walked through the factory to the canteen, Mack never letting go of her clammy hand.  He stood just inside the doorway.  “Right you lot,” he began, “I’ve got a very important person for you all to meet.”  He pulled her to stand in front of him, his hands around her waist.  “This is Sophie, my wife.”  A few gasps and mutterings ensued, but Mack carried on.  He looked down to her, his tone changing as he spoke.  “She’s been working away for a little while but she’s back home with me now, for good.”  The stern tone returned.  “Sophie will be more proactive than the previous Mrs Mackintosh for those of you who knew her, so I expect you all to respect her and answer any questions she may have, she is the reason you all have your jobs.  Her designs were used for the Selfridges range and that’s her main task here but she wants to know everything, God help her.”  Everyone laughed.  “Ok, then. That’s the announcement over with; you can all get back to work.”

 

“Wait,” Sophie shouted, everyone stood still again.  “I’d just like to add that I’m looking forward to working with you all.  I don’t know anything about manufacturing but I’m willing to learn and I hope that none of you will mind showing me.”  She looked to Mack, before getting him to loosen his grip on her and she walked closer to everyone.  “I realise that most of you don’t know me, but I want you all to know that just because I’m Mack’s wife I’m not the enemy, I just want everything to work, because if we all pull together then we can achieve something special and this company will go from strength to strength.  I’d like to think that if any of you had any problems or even suggestions that you would come and speak to either one or both of us.”

 

She looked back to Mack momentarily, before turning back to the assembly before her.  “I’ll let you all into a secret, that man,” she pointed back to him, “may act like an ogre some of the time, but he, as I’m sure some of you are already aware, is surprisingly caring and only wants what’s best for you all.  There may be some tough times ahead, but we’ll all benefit from it in the long term.  Just trust us and we’ll do all we can to make this work.”  She stepped back hoping that Mack would be ok with what she’d said.  He pulled her back into his embrace and laid a kiss on her neck.

 

“Is the happy couple going to have a party?”  Kev Leach piped up.

 

Sophie looked up to Mack, “are we?”  She asked.

 

“Do you want to spend time out of work with this lot?”  He joked, to loud protestations and shouts from the workforce.

 

“Of course, how else are we all expected to get on if we don’t know who’s working for us?”  She said in a hushed tone.  “Besides, we could have it as an anniversary party – a little early, I know, or a late wedding party.”

 

“That was something I wanted to speak to you about actually.”  He said, turning her in his arms so that she was facing him.  “How would you feel about having our marriage blessed?”

 

She looked down at their joined hands, at the rings on each of their wedding fingers before looking back up to him.  “Yes, I’d love that.”  She bit her lip before a wide smile spread across her face.  She turned back to the group.  “Would any of you be interested in helping us celebrate the blessing of our marriage?”

 

“Well, I’m up for it,” Barney Watson shouted.

 

Julie O’Neill spoke up.  “Does this mean we could have a post-wedding hen party,” some of the girls nodded in agreement.

 

“Yeah, bet you never got sent off Mack, like you should’ve been?”  Kev questioned.

 

“Now look what you’ve started,” he laughed into Sophie’s hair.

 

“Might be fun, I didn’t get a proper send off either,” she tilted her head up as she spoke.

 

“You sure you can cope with it?”  She nodded.  He addressed everyone, “it seems like Mrs Mackintosh won’t be pacified.  It’s all go for a post stag and hen do, we’d like you all to join us for the blessing and the piss up afterwards.”

 

“Three cheers for Mrs Mack,” Martin shouted.  “Hip hip.”

 

“Hooray …”

 

“Alright, alright,” Mack shouted, still laughing and motioning with his arms for everyone to calm down.  “Right.  Back to work.  Freda, Julie, Kev, Martin and Barney, would you lot join us for a meeting in 5 minutes.”

 

 

.oOo.

 

 

“So, we’ve got this order from Marks’ to put a new line into their stores in September.  And it’s not like Selfridges; they want our collection in 65% of their 448 UK stores in 12 months, and 100% by the end of 2010.”  Mack detailed.

 

“Jesus,” Kev uttered.

 

“Precisely!  Now I don’t mind if you lot go and have a chat about how we’re going to do this but I need answers by the end of Thursday.”

 

“How much do they want initially?”  Martin asked.

 

Mack looked at his notes, “they want our linen in 36 of their largest stores first with half a dozen different designs,” he looked to Sophie.

 

“I’ve already been working on some, got about 20 new designs for you to look through later.”

 

He face was a picture of astonishment.  “Ok, and they want,” he shuffled a few more papers, “6 of each size, single, double, king size and super king.  So that’s another 5184 units on top of what we’ve already got.  Plus they want the same number of sheets, both flat and fitted in 12 different colour ways and pillowcases too.  So we’re up to over 46000 units altogether.  And they have to arrive to them by mid August for distribution.”  He looked around the room; everyone seemed to be agog apart from Trudy and Sophie.  “What do you all think?”

 

“I’ll need another bod in stock and 1 in packing,” Kev said.

 

Barney was next, “I’ll need 2 full timers and 1 part timer in cutting.”

 

“Julie?  Freda?”  Mack asked.

 

Freda and Julie looked at one another, “when will we be able to start making up?”  Freda asked.

 

“We can start the extra pillow cases and sheets next week if we get the staff and if the stocks been ordered,” Barney said.

 

“Trudy, can you sort that out, 3 for packing and stock, 4 for cutting, we can move them about a bit if we need to?”  She nodded.  “Ok, I’ll sort out the ordering with Kev before the end of tomorrow, which means if you can start getting them through the following week to sew then that’ll be about 2500 units a week.

 

Freda stuck up her hand and Julie nodded, “we should be able to get away with 5 new machinists.”  Julie remarked.

 

“Ok, let’s see if we can get 7 machinists, seeing as they are probably going to need training.  Martin?”

 

“That all sounds fine,” Martin remarked, “I’ll sort out extra transport for the last week in July and first two weeks of August.  I’ll see about getting another forklift and driver.”

 

“Ok.  Right, I’ll sort out the details and hand everything over to Martin by the end of the week, direct any personnel issues to him, or Trudy or any problems to do with the order.  Give us details of any holidays as soon as possible on any of your sections.  One piece of this goes tits up, everything does and I don’t want to see that happen again – I don’t really think any of us do.”

 

“No, Mack.  No running off into the sunset this time?” Kev joked.

 

“Don’t worry he’s not going anywhere and this deal is going to go through without any hitches.”  Sophie pitched in.  “There’s going to be problems, there always are but we’ll get through it.  Martin is your first point of call, then Trudy, but if something big is on the cards then Mack and I want to know about it right away, ok?”

 

Everybody nodded, “ok, unless anyone has any questions then that’s it, meeting over.  Oh, and good luck everyone.”  The meeting closed and everyone filed out leaving Mack and Sophie alone.  “How do you think that went?”

 

“Very well.”

 

“And you, young lady.  You never told me you had plenty of design ideas already?”

 

“You never asked.”

 

“Yeah, alright.  It wasn’t the first thing on my mind when you walked back into my life yesterday afternoon.”

 

She sauntered over to him, he wheeled his chair back and around and she lightly placed herself in his lap.  His arms were around her waist as her hands went into his hairline at the base of his neck.  “And what exactly are your thoughts right now?”  She asked him teasingly.

 

“How well you did in that meeting.  You?”

 

“Much the same thing, although mine were a little bit more … indecent.”   His eyebrows hitched skyward, “like how masterful you were,” Sophie moved his tie to one side and undid a button at the centre of his chest.  “How in charge you seemed to be, what you’d do to me if you had to tell me off for doing something I shouldn’t.”  She opened up the two sides and teased him with her fingertips.  “I was thinking about how I could get you to make love to me in this office.”

 

“What, with everybody here?”  He writhed under her touch.

 

She nodded, “we are newly weds after all, and we’ve got a serious amount of catching up to do, don’t you think?”  She said, her voice husky with desire.  Her eyes became wide with anticipation.  She bent down and kissed him, only coming up for air when the need arose.  “Can anyone see?”

 

“No, mirrored glass, we can see out.”

 

“But they can’t see in?”

 

“That’s right.”  He lent back in his chair, eyeing her and wondering at her proposal.  He picked up the phone, “Trudy, hold all our calls and visitors for the time being.  Oh, and can you put Peter off until tomorrow.  Thanks.”  He put the receiver back down before moving Sophie so that she straddled him, her legs poking through the arms of the chair and her skirt hitched up her thighs.  “So, you’ve got me where you want me, what exactly do you want to do with me.”

 

She grinned wickedly, reaching down between them and running her hand over his arousal.  “What have you got for me James?”  She whispered into his ear, throwing her head back as his undid the buttons of her blouse, pulled back the cotton fabric, uncovered a breast and exposed a nipple, bending his head down so that he could suckle on it with his mouth.  “That’s not entirely fair?”

 

“You never said I couldn’t touch you,” he said coolly, reaching up to her core and seeking out the moist flesh beneath the lace of her panties.  “Sophie, you’re so wet.”  He kissed her roughly, nipping at her upper lip as his free hand squeezed her exposed bud.

 

“I’m wet because I loved watching you in action; I was writhing in my seat because I wanted you so badly.”

 

“Yeah?”  She nodded, sucking on a finger, “remind me not to take you to a sales meeting, I’ll have trouble with you as soon as we get out of the door.”

 

“You’ll have trouble with me now if you don’t do something quick.”

 

“What the hell has happened to that shy, retiring woman I met in France.”

 

“She got married and spent 9 months shrivelling because she couldn’t have her lover’s touch.  James?”  She pleaded, her hands attempting to release him from his trousers.

 

“Ok, woman,” he remonstrated, edging her up from him slightly so he could free himself.  He pushed her skirt over her hips and grabbed the thin lacey panties ripping them from her, “whoops,” he joked, throwing them into his open briefcase, “I’ll have to get you some more.”  His hands were on her hips as he positioned her over his erect cock, tantalizing and taunting her entrance with the tip until he could see that she could take it no longer.  His loosened his grip on her and allowed her to guide him into her as she took his full length.

 

She groaned in ecstasy, “oh, James, it never ceases to amaze me how you fill me up.”

 

“I’m glad that I please my woman so,” he beat out.  “Sophie, do it for me petal.”

 

She began her rhythm, allowing her hips to move herself up and down his penis.  She lent into him, her mouth at his neck, “talk dirty to me, like you did on the telephone.”

 

“Here, now.  I’ve never seen you so bold.”

 

She held herself away from him, “Don’t you like it?”

 

“Are you mad?  Of course I do.  Did all this come from our phone conversations?”

 

“Yeah, you really used to turn me on with all that stuff.”  She said coyly.

 

“Likewise, ok.  I want to feel you, feel your slick velvet walls encasing me, rubbing up and down my cock,” she was pumping him for all she was worth.

 

“Oh yes, James.”

 

“God, Sophie, mmm …”  She pressed her mouth over his, the last thing either of them wanted were eavesdroppers at the door.  Suppressing their orgasmic cries through their kisses they finally came back down to earth, gently rocking and holding each other.  “That was good,” he eventually said, “I’ve never …”  He shook his head, helping Sophie to straighten herself up before making himself good.

 

She smoothed down her skirt as she sat on the edge of the table, leaning into him and doing up the button she’d undone in the first place.  “You never had anyone in your office before?”

 

“No,” he grinned, “until now.”  He pulled at her hand, gently kissing the back.  “Thank you.”

 

“My pleasure, mind you I think I’m going to have to keep a spare pair of pants in my bag, just in case.”

 

“Come on,”  Mack said, getting out of his seat, putting his jacket on and closing up his brief case.  “We’ll take a trip to get you some lingerie on the way home.”

 

 

.oOo.

 

 

They were finally on their way home after spending some time wandering around the Trafford Centre, buying Sophie some much needed clothing and shoes; and in particular Ann Summers, before picking up some food to take home with them.  The rain had started and as they sat in traffic, watching the intermittent wipers clear the screen, Sophie sighed.  Mack looked over to her, “what’s up?”

 

“Nothing, where are we?”

 

“Didsbury.  Had to take a diversion because of an accident.”

 

“Are we near the factory?”

 

“Yes, about 15 minutes or so.  Why?”

 

“It seems ok, around here.”

 

“It’s not bad at all, would you like to look at a few places around here then?”

 

“Yeah, like that one?  Do you think we could afford something like that?”

 

“I didn’t think you’d want to live in something so modern.”  He said, looking up the driveway to a semi-detached property that wasn’t more than 5 years old.

 

“Well, you told me about the one Katherine had you buy, remember?  Do you like it?”

 

“Yes, I do.  I just can’t believe you do.”

 

“I’m practical at the end of the day.  I mean I know it’s not the vineyard but it will be warm, comfortable and they’ll be plenty of room for the family.”  She was still wistfully looking out of the window at the property.

 

“Sophie?”  Mack pulled the car over, on the side of the road.  “Sophie, what’s wrong?”  He pulled her head back to face him, catching a glint of a tear as it fell down her cheek.

 

“I just don’t understand why I haven’t fallen pregnant yet?”

 

“It’s been two days.  You really are impatient aren’t you?”  He attempted to joke.

 

She shook her head, “I meant from before, for 5 weeks we made love and I never caught then, either.”

 

“Are you sure?  You were working hard; the stress could’ve stopped you.”

 

“I suppose, I’m just being daft.”

 

“Well, I know you’re enjoying yourself with me and there wouldn’t be much point you falling pregnant until we were in our own place would there?”

 

“No, we should be settled first.  Do you think it will happen for us?”

 

“Of course, why shouldn’t it?”

 

She looked back out to the house, “I don’t know, I just have this feeling.”

 

“Look, take down the details and we’ll have a look through the paperwork we should have when we get home.  If there’s nothing in there then I’ll phone the agents tomorrow about that house.”  Sophie leant over into the back seat and got some paper and a pen out of Mack’s case, sniggering at her torn pants lying on the top of his paperwork.  “What you laughing at?”

 

She wrote down the details of the agents and the address of the property, “oh, just those knickers of mine still in your case,” her eyes were shining.  He put his hand onto her thigh and ruched up the fabric.  “What are you trying to do?”

 

“Hitch your skirt up?”

 

“Why?”  Her voice cracked from her heightening desire.

 

“I want to get to you, cheer you up a bit.”  His hand moved under the hem of her skirt, finding her soft inviting inner thigh as he edged his hand up to her centre.

 

She parted her legs as best she could within the confines of the car, pushing down the lever and sending her seat back a little.  “Isn’t this a little dangerous?”

 

“Technically, yes, but this is an act of public service I’m carrying out.”

 

“Really.”  She panted, as his hand reached her mound and slipped within her juicy folds.  “James?”

 

“Shh, just relax and enjoy it.  I want you happy and stress free by the time we’re home.”  He fingered her g-spot, looking over to her briefly as she threw herself back into the chair; she helped herself by riding his finger.  His thumb caressed her clit bringing her higher, her breathing now erratic and her rhythm getting faster.  “Come for me, petal.”  He whispered, bending the tip of his finger up to the sponge inside her, she rode higher continuing to climb until she screamed his name out.  He began to withdraw his hand and she grabbed hold of it keeping it where it was, she wasn’t ready for him to withdraw it just yet.  Finally she allowed him to take his finger out, he saw her watching him intently so he decided to put his finger into his mouth and lick her scent from his finger, his own arousal now coming to the fore.  “I hope we get home soon.”  He said.

 

“So do I.”  She pulled herself back together, “I want to return the favour.”