Page 11 of Kicks

Another of Alistair’s grand schemes gone awry.

Eddie got to his desk.

“Are you ready?” James asked.

James stood tall at six foot three with silver hair and blue eyes. It made for quite an arresting sight. He couldn’t be more different to Eddie, who just managed a little over five foot ten, had brown dreadlocks and brown eyes.

“Will I need my laptop?”

James shook his head.

“I have to say, I’m intrigued,” Eddie said. If he wasn’t mistaken, James seemed nervous. Something Eddie had never encountered from him before. Ever.

Kat, the social media manager, glanced up at him. She also looked worried. Eddie instantly wondered if a conversation had been had while he was at lunch.

With a leaden feeling in his stomach, he followed James into one of the meeting rooms that lined the main wall.

He shut the door behind them and sat.

“How’s your day going?” James asked.

“Oh, amazing,” Eddie replied. “I’ve been forced to sign up for Barry’s bloody football team.”

A twinkle of amusement flashed in James’ eyes. “How on earth did you get stuck with that? The others have been swerving him all week.”

“He busted me for throwing cake,” Eddie replied. “Yes, I am thirty-six years old next birthday.”

“At least I can say someone is representing the department. That’s something, I suppose.”

Eddie hadn’t considered that it might actually be a good thing.

“Of course, that was my first thought.”

James raised an eyebrow. “You’re a terrible liar, Eddie. Makes me wonder how you can be such a decent salesman.”

The rain had died down a little. Eddie saw blinks of sunlight breaking through the clouds. Maybe he should go for a jog when he got home. If he had to return to the football pitch, he would need to improve his fitness levels big-time.

“So, what can I do for you?” Eddie said. “The anticipation is killing me. Nothing too terrible, I hope.”

Stop babbling.

James sighed. “I’ve already spoken to Brad and Kat. I’ll deal with the others this afternoon.”

So it was bad. “Don’t tell me we’re all losing our jobs,” Eddie said. He had only been half joking.

“Not quite,” James replied. “I’ve decided to take early retirement.”

Eddie thought his jaw might hit the floor. James had been with Pleasure Seekers since its inception fifteen years ago.

“Are you mad?” Eddie said. “Things are the best they’ve ever been. You’ve worked hard for this time.”

“That’s the point,” James said, rubbing his hands together. “I’m not cut out for this new world. Since the pandemic, things are crazy. There’s even talk of moving to bigger premises. The warehouse is struggling to cope with the demand.”

Eddie’s heart rattled like a machine gun. “You can’t leave. What will we do without you?”

“That’s very kind, Eddie.”

They hadn’t always seen eye to eye over the years. Still, James was the only boss Eddie had ever really known. His career history could be described as chequered, to say the least.