Rohan walked out of the alley and into Charlotte Street. He couldn't wait to see Annie again and wondered if he'd have the courage to kiss her hello or goodbye. He ducked around a crowd of pedestrians as he thought of her.

"Oh, Rohan! Thank God!"

He came to an abrupt halt. Sally stood in front of him her hair looked a mess and there was a big wet mark on the front of her blouse making her lacy bra visible through the fabric. Tears rolled down her face. She put her hand in the middle of his chest.

Rohan grabbed her wrist to pull it away.

Before he could, she bawled, "You've got to help me, Rohan." She used her other hand to indicate behind her, and then wiped at her tear-stained face. "Someone just attacked me!" She gasped and put her face against his chest.

Rohan tensed.

"I was drinking my coffee and not taking any notice when this man grabbed my bag. He... he hit me and made me spill my coffee. He took my bag!"

Rohan had no idea what to do.

She looked up at him as she sobbed, "Can... can you take me back to the office. I'm too scared to go back by myself." She put her face against him again and slipped her arm around him as she burst into tears.

Patting her shoulder tentatively, Rohan, looked regretfully across at Ruby's but knew, no matter how much he wanted too, he couldn't leave Sally or make her go back to work by herself. She was probably suffering from shock. He stepped backward, put his hand in the middle of her shoulders, and then took her hand.

Rohan led her along Charlotte Street and into the alley saying, "Didn't anyone try to stop him?"

She shook her head. "It all happened so fast. I don't even think I'd recognise him again." Sally gripped Rohan's hand as she said, "I didn't know what to do, and then I saw you." She gulped back a sob and added, "I hope I haven't ruined your lunch."

Shaking his head Rohan thought, yes she'd ruined his lunch, but it wasn't her fault. "It's alright," he said. "You better ring the police when you get back to work."

"I will. Luckily it wasn't my normal bag. All my credit cards and stuff are in the one I left at home today."

"Girls have more than one bag?" Rohan queried as he frowned at her. He thought there was a lot more than just the physical stuff he didn't know about girls. Why would they need more than one bag? He'd ask Annie about this one day.

"Yeah," Sally chuckled as she said, "Men? You guys don't know much, do you?" She tightened her hold on his hand and grasped his forearm as she scuttled closer to him and grinned. "We like them to match the different outfits we have."

This was getting uncomfortable. Rohan peeled her hand from his arm and walked faster so he could put some distance between them. He didn't like the way Sally was looking at him and he no longer thought she was suffering from shock. In fact, she looked very happy with herself.

When they entered the Sykes building, he let go of her hand and took the stairs two at a time because he didn't want anyone to think they were together. He reached the doorway of reception and called, "Mercer. You better come and help Sally. Someone robbed her."

"What?" Mercer rushed to the door and stood beside Rohan as Sally slowly made her way up the stairs. She took two steps down and gushed, "Are you alright, Sally?"

Giving Mercer a sombre smile, Sally nodded and said, "Someone stole my bag. I'm lucky Rohan came otherwise I'd be a complete mess." As she took the last step, she put her hand on his chest, stood on tip toe and kissed him lightly on the lips murmuring, "Thanks, Rohan. I really don't know how to thank you enough."

Rohan stepped back the instant her lips touched his. "I don't need you kissing me, Sally, and me helping you doesn't change anything between us."

Sally burst into tears.

Standing stunned, Rohan expected her to come back at him with something vicious but Mercer took the lead.

"You're a bastard, Wayland!" she yelled. "Sally could have caused all sorts of problems for you after what you did to her but she hasn't. She's just thanking you so stop being such a prick. If it was me, I would have kicked you in the balls." She wrapped her arms around Sally and patted her on the back as she glared at him.

Rohan had no idea what to say but he didn't trust either of them. He was about to walk away when Sally lifted her head and looked at him.

"I just want a truce between us. We have to work in the same place so it would be better to be friends, more comfortable for both of us. I said I was sorry to you for everything and I'm sorry if I ruined your lunch. It wasn't my intention. I was trying to thank you when I kissed you. I wasn't doing anything other than that. I was grateful to see a familiar face and I'm trying to make it up to you, to show you how sorry I am for everything." She gulped out the words between sobs.

Rohan ran his hand through his hair. For some reason he felt really bad. He wasn't used to anyone, let alone a woman, who had treated him badly wanting to be his friend.

"Alright. I'm willing to have a truce to do with work but stay away from me because I'm not interested in anything either of you has going on."

Sally smiled and held out her hand. "Truce."

Rohan nodded and quickly shook it. "Truce."

They watched him walk down the hall and around the corner. Sally wiped her eyes and grinned at Mercer. "It won't be long. Give me a few weeks and he'll want more than a truce."

"What's going on, Sally? Your handbag is in your desk drawer," Mercer said as she followed Sally into the office. "I thought you said you'd already made it up with him."

"Hang on a minute I need to get out of this shirt." Sally unbuttoned her blouse. "I got the silly little bitch, Annie, at the café to make me a cold coffee so it didn't burn me." Sally snickered. "You should have seen the look on her face when I told her Rohan was my boyfriend and was conning her with his shy act."

"You did what? Why did you say that?" Mercer bent down for the bag and watched Sally slip her arms out of her top. "I hope you didn't ruin that bra. It's my favourite on you." She reached out and touched the lacy material and grinned at Sally.

"I've decided I want him, Mercer." Sally reached behind her and undid the clasp of her bra. She raised her eyebrows at the look on Mercer's face. "What?"

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Sally? You told me you hated the bastard." Mercer shook her head in disbelief. Her stomach clenched as she cried, "What about me?"

"Oh, Mercer. Don't be angry." Sally reached out and touched Mercer's cheek. "I know you won't believe me but I'm turning over a new leaf. I can't stop thinking about him and it's driving me crazy. I want Rohan Wayland so I'm concentrating on getting him."

"What about us?" A tear threatened to spill from Mercer's eye. She wiped it away as

Sally turned her back and shimmied her damp bra down her arms.

She turned to face Mercer as she wrapped the clean bra around her waist and did up the hooks. "I like you, Mercer but you're a girl. It's been fun but the truth is I'm a man's woman."

Mercer stormed away. She made her way to the ladies' toilets and locked herself in one of the cubicles. Tears rolled down her face. It was happening again. Another person had stolen her girl. Well, she wasn't going to put up with it. Not again.

*

Penny Macy stayed out of sight in the corner of her office. She shook her head in distaste and wondered what was going on. It definitely had something to do with poor unknowing Rohan Wayland. Penny wondered if she should warn him but she wasn't sure about what.

Sally is a conniving little cow!

Poor Annie :(

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