Share Your Toys, Timothy!

"You're not going to ask me to dance with Michelle, are you?" Tim asked, suspiciously.

"No, of course not," Roger looked puzzled, "I suppose I thought you might have got around to it yourself at some stage, and I certainly wasn't going to object, if that's what you were thinking. Mickey needs to get out more; she spends too much time surrounded by children and seems less comfortable than she really should be around adults. Anyway, I hope she has a good time tonight, as she doesn't usually come to these events. I know Jenny has mentioned for weeks that she would very much like to match the two of you together. Not a problem, you dancing with her, is it?"

"Not at all," Tim grinned, "It's just that Abbey and Jenny have already asked me to dance with Michelle and I couldn't think of any other reason while you'd pull me to one side to ask me something that you perhaps didn't want the others to overhear."

"Ah," he nodded with a laugh, pausing before saying what he wanted to raise with him. "No, this is business, actually possible business anyway. I was playing golf with old Tom Johnson, the MD of Johnson Engineering, the other day and we had an interesting conversation."

"I know Tom quite well," Tim nodded.

"He told me something very interesting, that he leases all his company cars and vans from you."

"That's right. For most businesses leasing company cars and even larger vehicles works well because you can pay for the service out of revenue expense rather than tie up capital, which is better employed in your core business." Tim said, "We supply lease cars and trucks to many local businesses, large and small."

"Except my insurance company, which leases them from a large national organisation."

"Except your insurance company." Tim confirmed with a nod.

"Why not?"

"You will have to ask Glynn Hazel for that. He won't even let me quote speculatively for the business, let alone allow me to put together a specifically structured plan geared to your exact requirements like I do with all my other potential prospects."

"Why not?"

"Again, you'll have to ask Hazel. I have tried to quote for your business for the last ten to twelve years but he doesn't want to know. At Monroe's Motors we call him 'Hassle' rather than Hazel because it was a hassle trying to persuade him to give us the basic requirements so we could put together a realistic comparable quotation. Even my old boss Matt Monroe tried for a long while. I sent him any number of made up quotes based on similar situations without a single comment back and Mrs Monroe had told us not to bother wasting our time the last couple of years."

"Why do you think he won't even give you a basis to quote on?"

Tim paused for a while before giving an answer. "Do you really want my opinion?"

"I wouldn't ask otherwise."

"I think he is getting a substantial kick back from your current leasing company. MS Leasing never have and never will give any kick backs. Nothing is ever free, it affects the bottom line anyway and gets in the way of good business."

"Oh!" Roger said, his face grim.

"You asked."

"I did." Roger was thoughtful for a moment. "Integrity, that word seems to pop into my head every time I have a conversation with or about you."

"I'm not unique, any company worth its salt bases its principles on having an honest relationship with its customers. I think it is a matter of treating people as you would wish to be treated," Tim observed, "It's a simple philosophy, it's not rocket science. We will continue in business for a long while with or without dealing with people like Hazel."

"Some people seem to go out of their way to avoid treating people right."

"I can't be bothered with such people" Tim observed, leading the topic back to who they were talking about, "Is he here tonight? Our friend Glynn Hazel?"

"He never misses our Christmas party."

"All that free booze and food, I suppose," Tim commented, somewhat uncharitably.

"I think I'll ambush him while he's here in a good mood and make sure he contacts you with all the details you need first thing Monday. I'd be interested in seeing the figures and your contract conditions," Roger said, "Tom said he had always been satisfied in his dealings with Monroe's and he checks out at least two other leasing companies every year and has never been disappointed by going back to you."

"I am sure we can satisfy any leasing requirements you may have. It is invaluable obtaining regular check prices from competitors to make sure you are getting the best deal. I would always recommend getting another couple of suppliers' prices each year. Even the best supplier can lose his way if not kept on his toes. As far as conditions go we provide a personal service so the conditions that apply should at least match or more likely exceed what you have at present, without having to pay for Hazel's fortnight in the sun. I am sure we would be able to achieve cost savings for you and have the flexibility that only a small local organisation can provide."

"Always looking at the bottom line, provided it doesn't affect the service we get," said Roger.

"Also, you are not restricted as to make of vehicle. Although Monroe's dealership is Jaguar and Land-Rover, MS Leasing has no such exclusive arrangement and the workshop can take on any make, which would give you a one-shop-one-stop solution. We have two guys trained by Mercedes, for example, so we could take over your particular vehicle easily; there are standard agreements between leasing companies to take over vehicles when contracts come to an end to ensure you a seamless transition from one contract to another without even having to change your current vehicles. I'm confident that we would look after you satisfactorily."

"I am sure you would," grinned Roger, "You know, you should set up in business on your own, you'd do really well, I think."

Tim smiled. "When I first left Mac's to go to Monroe's, the dealership was in a sorry state. They had accumulated half a dozen dealership arrangements with mostly foreign car companies and were unable to sell enough cars for any one supplier to make any of them viable. I came on board with a proven track record and my sign-on fee was a 5% stake in the business. For that I held out for a year of negotiations before Matthew Monroe agreed and I left Mac's. Monroe's weren't in the leasing business at the time but within my first year we agreed to set up a separate leasing company, with a 40/60 share in Matt's favour at that time. I had the drive and he had the collateral, the garage guaranteed the bank loans we needed to get MS Leasing off the ground, starting small and growing year by year, for about ten or eleven years or so now."

Roger's eyebrows had lifted throughout the conversation. "So you have a substantial stake in the business, then?"

"Well, that was back then. When I joined Monroe's, Matt's son Matt Junior held the title as sales manager but his heart was never really in the business. He was a keen amateur rally driver and surfer at the time and he immigrated into Australia seven years ago, he now runs a successful business cleaning and refurbishing yachts in Melbourne. When Matt Senior died three years ago he left me a further 5% of the business in his will. I think he regarded me as his second son. Over the 10 years or so of MS Leasing, I gradually bought out Monroe's majority share so I now own that business outright. Mrs Alex Monroe moved to Spain shortly after Matt died and I have been using the profits from MS Leasing to purchase about 20% of Monroe's from her per year, so I reckon by next April I will own Monroe's to the tune of between 80 and 90% and the year after that own it outright."

"I didn't realise," Roger exhaled sharply and continued, "How come you stayed at Mac's for a year while Matt was trying to lure you away? I'd have thought you would've bitten his hand off."

"Well, Mac gave me my first big break and I was there for quite a few years. Mac's son Cliff runs the place now as Mac is semi-retired but Cliff was too young and pushy to run the sales side while I was there. I think I had proved my worth to the business and after a couple of years I negotiated a bonus of 1% a year stake in the business and currently still own 5% in the sales and scrap metal business at Mac's. When Mac saw how well MS Leasing were doing, he approached me to launch a joint venture leasing out trucks and specialist vehicles. He had the finance, I had the business model, and so that is another thriving business. I have been using the dividends from that little enterprise to pay off the mortgage on my house!"

By this time Tim's beer and Roger's whisky had been served as well as a fresh jug of iced water for the table, so they both felt they had done more than enough business discussions for one party. When they got back to the table, Roger made his apologies and disappeared, no doubt in search of the greedy and elusive Glynn Hazel.

Tim decided then to bite the bullet that he been given and invited Michelle to dance with him. She smiled very prettily indeed, with those startling dark blue eyes and pair of devastating dimples making Tim's knees more wobbly than ever.

Just their luck the first dance was a fast-paced one, but Tim was quite happy for her to show up his readily acknowledged shortcomings in the dancing department. He had to admit, though, that she rewarded his efforts with lots of smiles and the delicious view of her wonderfully lithe body moving rhythmically, clad in that sublime satin dress. Tim swore that he could happily have stayed out on that dance floor in front of her all night by choice, no matter how embarrassing his own performance may have been.

The next number was a slow romantic one and she made no move to leave the floor so Tim put his arms around her and pulled her into him. He held one of her hands lightly in his and moved his other hand to press lightly against the soft, warm bare flesh of her back, hoping he had made the right choice of hands.

Tim had removed his dinner jacket some time earlier, an action now amply rewarded as through her thin dress he felt the nipples of her small firm, clearly unfettered breasts describing tantalising arcs into his chest as they moved in time with the music. As he spoke into her ear his nose brushed against the silky softness of her hair, smelling her fresh invigorating scent of shampoo and perfume.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation to dance," he opened.

"Thank you for asking," she replied, "I was getting quite jealous as you had danced with everyone else before me."

"Even Finn," he chuckled.

"Finn?" she asked, her brow crinkled.

"Fraser, Abbey's date, to his friends he answers to 'Finn'," Tim answered, "We jived and jitterbugged earlier, he's a wild boy, that one!"

"I did see that!" she exclaimed, moving her head back so she could look at him, "You were both showing your moves and I was led to believe by Abbey that ... Finn ... was the quiet one and you were the one with the wild reputation."

"Where did you hear that? I'm definitely quieter that Finn. I can prove it, I'll have you know I've worked in a pin factory all my life and they rely solely on me to recover all the pins that are dropped!"

Tim tried to keep a straight face, but confronted by those beautiful eyes and delightful dimples he felt as though he was slowing melting into his patent leather shoes.

Michelle laughed and said that Abbey had expressed to all the girls her surprise at how interesting her new boyfriend had become after just a few minutes' talk with Tim and wondered if he had this effect on everyone.

"You can really only tell," Tim replied with a smile, "is considering whether I have any beneficial effect on you."

She was quite thoughtful through the rest of that slow dance and while she was considering the effect he was having on her he buried his nose into her wonderful hair again knowing all too clearly what effect she was having on him.

The number ended and the dancers all politely applauded the band as they announced they were taking a short refreshment break. The couple walked off with Michelle expressing disappointment at finally getting him on the dance floor and having to sit out the next twenty minutes or so.

"Oh, so you'd rather not have to endure sitting with me until the band have had their refreshments, then?" he enquired, employing his cheekiest grin.

"Oh!" she put a hand to her mouth, "I was just thinking to myself - and not too clearly! I hadn't realised I was talking out aloud!"

"That's alright," he chuckled, "I was thinking along the very same lines myself. Look, this seems to be a good opportunity to go directly to the buffet tables and grab some food while people are still absorbing the announcement that there's no more dancing for a while."

"That's a good idea. Actually, I think I am quite hungry now that you mention it. I worked all the way through lunchtime, then was rushed straight from work to the dress shop and beauty salon by Mum, and brought here immediately after. So I haven't actually eaten at all since early this morning."

Tim could see immediately that these insurance guys didn't stint themselves when it came to the catering; the spread of hot and cold buffet food was magnificent. Michelle and Tim moved along the trestle tables together, selecting food as much for each other as for themselves. It was gratifying for Tim to see that she was prepared to try different things while being very clear about what foods she loved and what she wanted to stay well clear off. She loved garlic but hated blue cheese; she enjoyed meat but was suspicious of the fillings of the cocktail sausages and mini-pork pies. Salads with thousand-island dressing were a must apparently, but she wasn't overly fond of tomatoes.

"That's a shame," Tim said as they sat down with their laden plates, "I always grow lots of tomatoes in my little glasshouse in his garden at home. So many that I freeze the surplus as sauces for warming soups, stews and pastas in the winter."

"Oh, I love pasta with cooked tomatoes," Michelle said, "It is only cold salad tomatoes that I am not overly fond of or even grilled ones. I think it is the texture that I don't like." She shivered and looked up from her plate and regarded Tim with an embarrassed smile, "Do you cook much?"

"I love to cook, but don't worry, I also do the usual male things," he chuckled, "King prawns and steaks on the barbecue in the summer, winter casseroles and a mean split pea and ham soup!"

"Wow!"

"I am a great believer in keeping myself busy and most years I do a stint of night school and have included a few cooking courses over the years."

"Was that just an opportunity to meet girls on these courses?" she asked coyly as she bit into a thousand-island dressing dipped celery stick.

"No!" he insisted, putting on a little exasperation at the very thought. The last thing I want to do, he thought, is put her off me, thinking I am still the playboy I once was. Tim grinned and added, "Not intentionally, maybe, but being an absolute gentleman I won't tell how lucky or otherwise I got."

"I bet you would want to keep that to yourself," she smiled back, "All those desperate housewives looking for something especially tasty on the menu, were they, huh?"

"I'll have you know that I am very particular about the girls I date," Tim replied imperiously, with his nose stuck in the air for particular emphasis. "Single, unattached ladies only. By the way, you are a single and unattached lady at the moment, aren't you?"

"I am very single and definitely unattached and have been for quite some time."

"Well, I assure you that, while I have been out of the dating game for some time, when I did I only dated single, unattached ladies," Tim stated, "Although I will confess to have been caught out unawares a couple of times when I was much younger, by some women pretending to be free of entanglements. As soon as I was aware of their deception I dropped them, without exception."

"A man of principle then, huh?"

"Is there any other way of being able to sleep soundly at night?"

"Depends on how much you want to sleep?" she commented with her dimpled smile.

"Well, I like my normal six or seven hours a night in the land of nod to be as untroubled as possible," Tim stated, "I don't live well with guilt."

Michelle looked around them; their table was empty as were nearby tables. Everyone was still at the buffet tables.

"So, what about the debacle at the old dairy the other night," she whispered, moving her delightful head close to his so he could smell not only her shampoo and perfume but hints of her own natural subtle but head-spinning scent, "Do you have any guilt attached to getting away with whatever happened?"

"Mmm," he moved his head even closer until they were almost touching, whispering, "And what do you think I would need to feel guilty about?"

"Dad said that a number of friends vouched for your presence well away from the crime scene at the time of the incident."

She looked deep into his eyes, watching for his reactions. Tim held her gaze confidently. To his mind, she seemed to have accepted whatever violence had happened in the alley but was wondering why his friends were prepared to lie for him.

"I didn't ask my friends to lie for me," he whispered back, "I know what I did and I'd be happy to answer for my actions if I have to, but persons who we know would be embarrassed by any revelations."

He wondered how much else he could say. He found himself yearning a relationship with this wonderful, intelligent, beautiful woman and, if such a wish reached fulfilment, it would have to be on a basis of open and honest trust. Just then he noticed Lesley and Geoff walk over balancing their own laden plates, with Jenny and Roger similarly encumbered immediately behind them.

"We can't talk about this now, but later tonight, or when convenient, I promise I will tell you everything," Tim moved his head away, adding "Will that be OK?" as he maintained eye contact with Michelle.

"Yes," with a nod was her simple reply, decorated once more with those adorable dimples.

Tim reached across and squeezed her hand briefly before looking up and exchanging pleasantries with Lesley, getting up and pulling out her chair for her, as Geoff sat himself down with his habitual good-natured grin. Then Tim scooted around to hold Jenny's chair for her.

"If you are going to eat all that," Tim commented, referring to Roger's plate, laden down as it was with chicken wings, a steaming steak, sausages and pork pie segments and only a token celery stick, "I'll have to take you out for another 18 holes!"

Jenny pricked up her ears at that. "Another 18 holes?" she directed at her husband, "You didn't tell me you had played a round of golf with Tim, Roger!"

"It was just business, dear," Roger replied with a smile, his mouth full of pork pie, "I don't want to bore you with every single game of golf I play."

Tim sat back down next to Michelle and grinned at her. Jenny was sat on the other side of him and wasn't going to let this little titbit go.

"So when did you play this game, then?" Jenny directed this question directly at Tim.

He looked at Roger before answering. Roger shrugged and nodded.

"Back in late September, early October, not sure of the exact day, probably a Wednesday or Thursday, my usual days off. Beautiful day, though, wasn't it, Roger?"

"It was," Roger confirmed, "The first Wednesday in October I think it probably was, clear skies but a sweet stiff westerly which helped make the most of my natural hook on the outer nine."

Jenny looked alternately at both of them in turn.

"So, just a week after Abbey bought her car from Tim?" she asked.

"Uh huh!" Roger replied, dipping his single stick of celery into a huge pile of smoked mackerel paté.