"Are you working late too, Sally?"

"Yes. I have a few things to catch up on."

Mercer huffed. "More like catch up with Wayland."

"Maybe." Sally giggled and twirled her hair around her finger dreamily. "He was more responsive to me when I fixed his nose."

"How do you think you're going to get around Bill? You know he's working late too."

"I know, Mercer!" Sally snapped. "Stop being such a negative bitch."

"Have you dumped him yet like you dumped me or are you still leading the bastard on like you're trying to do with me?"

"What's it to you? It's none of your God damn business who I'm interested in!"

"Yeah," Mercer huffed again. "You got that right. It's none of my business. Bill might take exception to the fact it's Wayland you want to fuck and not him."

"Look, Mercer. I don't want us to fight but ever since I told you I liked Rohan you've done nothing but act jealous and put obstacles in my way."

"Obstacles...! You're kidding right? How is pointing out the obvious putting obstacles in your way. The man has a 'girlfriend' and you've got a 'boyfriend'." Mercer held up her hands and made inverted comas with her fingers. "I would say they are two very big obstacles, wouldn't you?"

"I've already had it out with Bill. Sort of. So, one obstacle down." Sally mimicked Mercer's hand signals. "And that little bitch 'An... nie...' at the café isn't quite his girlfriend yet. Once Rohan has a taste of me, he won't look at her again." She giggled and licked her lips.

Mercer clenched her teeth. "Fuck..." A low growling sound rumbled in the back of her throat. "I don't know what I saw in you. I can't believe how selfish you are. I loved you, Sally. Bill probably loves you but you don't give two shits about anyone other than yourself. If you get Rohan to fall for you, you'll do exactly the same thing to him, and then the poor bastard will be back to being the blithering idiot he was before he met that girl at the café."

"I love him, Mercer!" Sally stood up and moved across the floor. "You don't know anything about me or how I think!"

"Oh... for fuck's sake, Sally!" Mercer laughed and shook her head in disbelief. "I know you're a sick perverted cold hearted nymphomaniac bitch. I think that pretty much covers everything there is to know about you."

Sally slapped Mercer across the face.

A surge of rage pounded in Mercer's head, she lunged at Sally and grabbed her by the throat. They fell backwards. Sally's arm flung out and knocked her in-tray off her desk. Its contents flew across the floor. Mercer brought her fist down and caught Sally on the cheek.

Penny Macy listened at the door. She knew the girls thought she had gone home but she had to tidy up the accounts before the financial year was upon her. She had little time to get the books in order and tie up all the loose ends.

She wondered if she should let them know she was still in her office but wasn't sure how to go about it without looking like she'd been hiding on purpose. Penny peered through the crack in the door when she heard a loud slap. She quickly leaned back against the wall. What to do? She looked again as Sally's in-tray flew across the room. Penny hurried to her desk, dug around in her top drawer, and then pulled out her IPod. She pushed her ear phones into her ears. As casually as she could she opened the door.

"Girls have you seen... girls!"

Mercer quickly jumped up and turned at the sound of Penny's voice. "Penny!"

"My goodness me! What's going on?"

"Like you don't know, you stupid old bitch!" Sally stood, flicked her head and pushed her hair away from her face. Her chest heaved up and down.

"I'm sorry, Sally. I don't know what you mean? I've been listening to my IPod. I didn't know you were fighting."

Sally laughed hysterically. She put her hands on her hips and sidled towards the older woman. Penny backed away.

"Oh... you make out you're so innocent don't you, Penny. Don't forget I know all your dirty little secrets. I know you listen at keyholes."

"That's not true, Sally. Look, you're obviously upset perhaps you should go home. We're all tired and under pressure and you probably need a good night's sleep."

"Of course, she does, Penny." Mercer laughed sarcastically. "Gosh the amount of men Sally fucks it's a wonder she gets any sleep at all."

"You bitch!" Sally turned to face Mercer; her hand raised. Mercer had her letter opener held out in front of her.

"Just try it. Go on. I dare you to hit me again because I would love nothing better than to put a nasty scar on that pretty little face of yours." Mercer sneered. "I wonder how many men would want to fuck you then."

"Enough!" Penny stepped forward with her hands held out in front of her. "It's enough. Let's all calm down and talk about this without the threats."

"Okay, Penny. Let's see. I'm a slut. Mercer's a thieving lesbian but what are you?"

"I'm not part of this, Sally. I've never judged either of you. Live and let live is my motto." Penny narrowed her eyes. "Perhaps the two of you could learn a thing or two if you followed in my footsteps."

Sally flung her head back and laughed. She sat behind her desk and glared at Penny. "Mm... if I followed in your footsteps, Penny, I wouldn't have to fuck old men for extra cash now, would I?"

Penny gave Sally an indignant look and inhaled. As she exhaled, she turned to face Mercer. "I think you should go home, Mercer."

"I can't, I've got a shit load of invoicing to do!"

"Well, you both need to calm down. Please get on with what you have to do and ignore each other for now. Hopefully you'll be able to work out your differences tomorrow." Penny faced Sally once more. "If you can't work it out between you then I'm sorry, but I'll have to report it to Jack."

Sally stiffened her back and held her chin loftily. "Well... I might have to do some reporting of my own. You're not the only one who listens at keyholes, Penny. Jack's not a man who's easily swayed. Believe me." She smirked at Mercer. "I've learnt quite a lot of things about a lot of people who work in this stinking little hell hole."

"Shit! You've fucked Jack too!"

Sally stood up proudly taking her handbag with her. "I'm not saying that at all, but like I said, Mercer, there are things you don't know about me." She swayed her hips purposefully as she made her way out of the office and down the hall towards the toilets.

When she came out, she headed into the staff room to make herself a cup of coffee. Rohan was there doing the very same thing. He gave her a curious look.

"Do I look that bad?"

"Ah... no." He sipped his coffee and took a step towards the door.

Sally blocked his way. "I do look bad, don't I?"

"You look upset."

Sally burst into tears. "That's because I am upset. Mercer just laid into me. She hit me."

"Oh?"

"You're not even going to ask me why?"

"It's not my business, Sally." Rohan was going to walk away but when she sat down dejected at one of the tables and continued to cry, he froze. Something told him to stay put but he didn't know what to say. It reminded him of Annie crying at the movies. She had said she just needed a cuddle. Rohan put his coffee on the table and crouched beside Sally. He didn't want to cuddle her so he patted her on the back instead. "Are you okay?"

Another burst of tears erupted from her. She swung around and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Rohan. Everyone hates me. You, Bill, Mercer and even Penny."

Rohan blew out a breath of air. What could he say? "I don't hate you, Sally. I just don't trust you."

His words caused her to sob harder and snuggle closer. She put her face in the crook of his neck. "I'm so sorry, Rohan. It's to do with my upbringing. I think sex is the way to get approval but it's just caused me a heap of problems." She sniffled and let her lips press lightly against his skin.

The sensation caused Rohan some concern. He wanted to pull away but she was holding on tight. "I've got to get back to work, Sally. I'm sure you and Mercer will work it out." As he pulled away, she clung tighter.

"I was raped by my uncle. When I was fourteen."

Rohan frowned. Why was she telling him this? The thought that he and Sally had more in common than they realised sent a wave of anxiety through him. The ripple effect theory flashed in his mind. Two similar circumstances causing two different ripple effects, moulding two people's lives in complete opposite directions.

"Will you kiss me, Rohan?"

Before he could pull away Sally had her lips on his.

A chair being toppled made them both look around. Penny grinned nervously and scurried away.

Rohan stood up. "I've got to get back to work. Maybe we'll talk later, Sally."

OMG, these two are on the verge of hating each other.

Photo - dreamtime.com