Career Girls Read Free

background, to be honest. He wasn’t the type she’d expect to be interested in Topaz Rossi, nor he in her. Still, by all accounts he was drop-dead gorgeous.
    ‘Yes,’ said Topaz. She blushed. ‘I really like the guy. He’s pretty.., pretty interesting.’
    ‘Pretty spectacular, you mean,’ said Rowena. ‘Let’s not kid ourselves.’
    They turned into the pub, grinning at each other with perfect understanding.
    ‘Nicejol, Topaz!’ called Rupert Walton from the bar. ‘I heard about The Titnes.’
    ‘Cheers, Rupert.’ Topaz waved to her deputy editor. ‘Hey, Rupe,’ Rowena called. ‘Madam President,’ he said.
    ‘Bloody hell, don’t say that,’ Rowena protested, fighting her way through the crowd. ‘Gin and tonic, Labatt’s, and whatever Rupert’s drinking, please. You’ll jinx it.’
    ‘Nothing can jinx it after the piece on him I’m running next week,’ he said smugly ‘It’s not even editorial condemnation. It’s just a long listofhis own quotes, starting with “Working mothers are responsible for the crime rate,” and ending with “Oxford was designed for the sons of gentlemen, and it ought to be kept that way.”.I’ll have a Guinness, please. Thanks.’
    They threaded their way back to the table, nodding at friends. Chris Johnson and Nick Flower, two of Rowena’s candidates, were sitting next to Topaz.
    ‘Look out, Rupe, hacks in the area,’ she teased. ‘You go out for an innocent drink with Miss Gordon, you end up in the middle of a slate meeting.’
     
    II
     
    ‘Right,’ said Rupert. ‘You’ll wind up civil servants, the lot of you, and serve you right. No fate is too bad.’
    ‘How’s it looking, guys?’ asked Rowena. ‘Ignore the budding Fleet Street scum over here.’
    ‘Christ Church is solid,’ said Nick, ‘as ever. Oriel’s not.’ ‘Surprise.’
    ‘Hertford’ll give you a hundred and fifty line votes.’ ‘God bless Hertford,’ said Topaz. ‘Amen,’ Rowena concurred.
    ‘We’ve got Queen’s, Lincoln, Jesus and St Peter’s wrapped up. Balliol’s a problem. So is John’s.’
    ‘Why?’ asked Chris.
    Nick shrugged. ‘Because Peter Kennedy’s decided he wants to support Gilbert, and he’s mobilizing the old school ties.’
    ‘ A slight chill fell over the table and Rowena felt her heart sink. Gilbert, really, had never been that much of a threat. Peter was another matter.
    Topaz touched her sleeve. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll go see him, talk some sense into him. He’ll be cool.’
    ‘Thanks, sweetheart,’ Rowena said, wondering what she’d do without her. She didn’t want Topaz dragged into a political row between her best friend and her boyfriend. ‘But I’ll do it. This one’s really my problem. I’ll sort it out.’
    Peter Kennedy versus Rowena Gordon, Rupert thought, looking at the two beautiful girls. Now, that will be interesting.

Chapter Two
    ‘Can you tell me where Mr Kennedy lives, please?’ asked Rowena politely.
    The porter touched his bowler hat gravely, whether in deference to herself or Peter Kennedy she wasn’t sure.
    ‘Certainly, madam. Mr Kennedy has rooms in Old
    Library, number five on the first floor.’
    ‘Thank you,’ said Rowena.
    She took a quick glance at the spacious lodge, littered like most of O:ford’s college entrances with leaflets advertising lectures, plays, jobs and pizza discounts. It was Friday, which meant that a large pile of that week’s Cherwell had just been delivered, dumped underneath the window next to the noticeboard. She grabbed a copy before they all disappeared.
    He would be at Christ Church, she thought.
    It was the largest, most prestigious and most arrogant college in the university. Only St John’s was richer, and only Oriel more despised by everyone else. Not that either of these things bothered the House, as it was traditionally nicknamed; John’s was full of ‘grey men’, hardworking, brilliant undergraduates destined for fellowships and research po.sts-boring idiots in