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about Dave?’ Jimmy asked her in a hushed voice, leaning over the bar slightly to bring himself nearer to her.
    ‘ Oh I don’t like to listen to gossip, and it isn’t really ethical to talk about people behind their back, particularly your boss. I don’t think you should tell me,’ Samantha said immediately.
    ‘ Personally, I think Dave comes across as being a good manager because he’s got a strong team around him. Obviously I can’t comment on your colleagues, but from what I’ve seen today, I think you might just be holding him up,’ Jimmy told her.
    ‘ Well that’s very nice of you to say Mr Lloyd, but that really isn’t the case. I just do my job and that’s that. Would you like any snacks?’ Samantha offered, grabbing hold of one of the newly arranged trays and placing it on the bar in front of him.
    ‘ Call me Jimmy won’t you? And what about you? Are you a Samantha or a Sam?’ Jimmy wanted to know.
    ‘ Erm, I don’t know, I…’ Samantha began, having never been asked the question before by anyone at the hall.
    Her pondering on the answer to his question was interrupted by Jimmy’s mobile ringing. He excused himself, got down from his stool and went across to the corner of the bar area to take the call.
    Samantha was glad he’d gone, she felt terrible. Her heart was hammering, her face felt like it had been under a sun bed for twenty four hours and she had an awful headache. She was obviously going down with a bug. She hated being ill, unlike Cleo, who positively embraced sickness because it meant she could lie in bed all day and have Samantha bring home comfort food and Lemsip.
    Was she a Samantha or a Sam? What sort of question was that? She had a name badge didn’t she? Why couldn’t he just use it like everyone else did? And what was with all the small talk? Worst of all he knew she ate her lunch in the sound booth. Or should that be he knew she used to eat her lunch there, she couldn’t eat it there ever again, not now someone knew. Her privacy had been violated.
    She was still polishing the glass she’d just washed up when Jimmy returned to the bar and gulped back the remainder of his herbal tea.
    ‘ Thanks for the tea and the chat, see you tomorrow. Save me an ice cream for the interval,’ he said with a smile.
    ‘ I can’t guarantee it. I mean they go quite quickly and I couldn’t reserve one, it wouldn’t be fair,’ Samantha informed him.
    Four thousand Berry Fruits could theoretically go in one night if everyone in the hall bought two point five each.
    ‘ That’s OK, I’ll send someone out to queue for me,’ Jimmy responded, preparing to leave the bar area.
    ‘ Well, I suppose…’ Samantha replied.
    She watched him walk towards the exit. He was very tall, and lean with it. He reminded her of Patrick Swayze. A young Patrick Swayze. Patrick Swayze in his prime, with shorter, more fashionable hair. Samantha was just reminding herself to share this comparison with Cleo when she got home when Jimmy stopped walking and turned back round to face her. He looked at her and smiled, as if something was crossing his mind and Samantha froze, afraid that her thoughts were suddenly transparent. She knew she was grimacing but she couldn’t change her expression now he was looking at her. It felt like she was gurning.
    ‘ By the way, in my opinion - I think there’s a Sam lurking under that Samantha,’ Jimmy told her.
    ‘ Thank you,’ Samantha blurted out and then she felt herself blush violently.
    Thank you?! Thank you?! What on Earth was she saying thank you for?! It wasn’t a compliment, it was a statement, his opinion. She was a complete idiot.
    ‘ By the way, apparently there’s a new wine bar opening tonight - might be where your customers have gone.’
    ‘ Thank you,’ Samantha repeated, unable to say anything else.
    Goodness she really needed him to leave.
    ‘ See you,’ he replied, still smiling at her. Then he left the building.
    She felt completely faint now,