Flatmate Fiasco
I stood in shock as I took in the scene.
A heap of bursting bags and boxes filled my living room.
'Don't worry, Jess. I'll get this sorted!' my friend Kirsty trilled.
I wondered how the heck Kirsty's stuff was going to fit into the small spare room!
We'd met two years ago when she'd worked at the same finance company as me. She'd left the company, while I'd stayed.
She now worked in digital marketing, often earning big bonuses.
Back to the situation... I recalled our conversation a week ago.
'Now Rob and I have split, I need a place to stay,' she'd began.
'Come and stay with me', I'd said.
Her face had lit up.
'Oh that's so kind of you, Jess. I don't want to rock up at my parents with my tail between my legs. They tried to warn me about him, but I wouldn't listen,' she'd said.
It was his gambling habit they'd worried about.
When she'd moved into his grubby terrace, I too, had tried to warn her - I'd heard Rob was a womaniser, too. I'd met him - he was good looking dude. I reckon he wouldn't have any trouble attracting women.
'He admits there's been girlfriends, but that's in the past. As for his gambling – he likes a flutter, but don't we all? Look, once he settles down, he's bound to change.' She'd smiled to reassure me, but I wasn't convinced.
The womanising rumours were proved correct when Kirsty had caught him at it with a female neighbour.
But Kirsty was so messy!
I regularly came home to an avalanche. Not pleasant after a stressful working day.
Books, shoes, make- up, clothes and magazines were flung about, and biscuits crumbs scattered the sofa.
'Could you tidy up please, Kirsty?' I carefully ventured one evening.
'I can't fit everything into that tiny room,' she complained.
'There's two drawers under the bed and a shelving unit on the wall,' I pointed out.
'They're all full,' she said.
Also, a few nights ago, she'd spilled red wine over my lovely cream carpet. She'd apologised and had scrubbed the stained patch, yet she'd only made it worse!
'Something stinks in the kitchen. Have you emptied the bins?'
'Have you?' She had a sour look on her face.
It was her turn, but I didn't want to start an argument. 'I'll do it.'
'Rob never nagged me like this,' she mumbled.
Why wouldn't she consider going back to her folks? I thought. She had a really spacious room there. They'd understand about Rob, surely?
I guessed it was a matter of pride.
I began to hatch a plan... if Kirsty wouldn't clean for me, maybe she would for someone else... Carl was a new hunky recruit at work - attractive, brown- eyed with charm, warmth and wit.
In fact, he reminded me of someone, but I couldn't think who...
'Carl,' I began at breaktime. 'I need your help with a problem I have at home.'
'Oh yes?' he grinned suggestively.
I blushed, yet launched in.'I know this sound strange but I'd like you to meet my flatmate,Kirsty. She's a good friend and has recently moved into my flat. But she's untidy and won't do any housework. Could you call round to my place? If Kirsty takes a fancy to you - and I think she will – she'll be more likely to listen to you, as she'll want to impress you.'
He preened. 'Well, it won't be the first time I've used my looks to influence a woman.'
I gulped. I had to admire his honesty!
'Okay. You want me to give the impression that I've taken a fancy to her, too?'
I shifted. 'It sounds a bit underhand, but yes.'
He nodded. 'Look, why don't I pretend to be your brother? That might work better.'
I thought about it.
My brother Adam had been working abroad in IT security for the past two years. Kirsty had never met him.
Adam and I chatted on the phone, but we didn't zoom or face time - so she didn't know what he looked like, either.
So Carl's idea would be perfect!
The plan worked like a dream.
I primed Carl beforehand, and given him details about Adam's job – (according to me, he'd transferred back to the UK) plus, his likes and dislikes.
On Saturday morning, he popped round and pretended to be my neat- freak brother.
In reality, Adam was a chilled- out slob and like Kirsty, never bothered opening the curtains in the morning or putting empty takeaway packaging in the bin.
When he spotted the wine stain, Carl drew attention to it.
'OMG! Who's spilled red wine and didn't clean it properly?'
'I'm afraid it was me', Kirsty admitted.
'If I were you sweetie, I'd deep clean here with a carpet shampooer. Or else this nice cream carpet of our Jess's will be ruined forever. Now I must fly – it was great to meet you, Kirsty. I'll drop in again soon!'
After he'd left, I noticed Kirsty's soppy expression.
'Wow. You never told me that your brother was so gorgeous,' she purred.
'He's single at the moment,' I chirped.
'Is he? Right, I'd better tackle that pile of washing up. After lunch, I'll pop round to my mum's. She's got a carpet shampoo machine I can borrow.'
As a result of being smitten with 'Adam', Kirsty kept my flat clean, neat and tidy. I was thrilled!
Apart from one thing - she kept pestering me for his number.
'After Rob, do you feel ready to jump straight into another romance?' I asked.
'There was a strong spark between us,' she insisted, as she made us a coffee.
'Oh, Adam's naturally flirty with women', I said.
The real Adam wasn't flirty. His career had taken priority and he was often shy with potential girlfriends.
'Has he asked for my number?'
I shrugged. 'No, sorry.'
'I'm going to search for him on social media and send him a message,' she declared.
I almost spluttered over my coffee. Crikey, she was keen!
'He's not on social media.'
She frowned. 'Not on social media?'
'No. Think about it, Kirsty. He works in the IT security sector. His company discourage it. How was your mum?'
Kirsty had stuck to her word – she'd borrowed her mum's carpet shampoo machine and had cleaned all the flat's carpets with it.
'Ok. I told her that I'd left Rob, and that I was flat sharing with you. She mentioned that it'd be cheaper if I moved back in with them.'
'Well, that's something to take into consideration,' I said subtly.
'Especially as I've earned a few bonuses recently,' she announced proudly.
'Oh, that's great!'
Luckily, that took us away from her favourite subject –Adam.
Strangely, after Carl had helped me out, at work, he distanced himself.
He began to share his breaks with a set of senior colleagues. I wondered why... maybe he fancied the glamour puss in the pack?
Then one day, he muttered: 'You owe me a favour, Jess.'
It wasn't said in a light- hearted way. In fact, it sent chills down my spine...
Then something happened to take my mind off Carl. One Friday evening, Adam turned up, out of blue.
I couldn't believe it when I opened the door and found him standing there!
'I've been given time off good behaviour,' he grinned.
'What a surprise!'' I hugged him and pulled him into the kitchen. Kirsty was doing the ironing.
'This is Kirsty, my friend and flatmate.'
He smiled. 'Hi.'
I thought quickly.
'This is Carl, an ex boyfriend of mine. Shall we go for a drink to catch up?' I grabbed my shoes, bag and jacket and hastily hauled Adam off to the pub.
'What was all that about?' he asked.
My mind whirled. I couldn't let the real Adam and Kirsty meet!
'Kirsty's just ended a relationship. She's off men and vulnerable.'
He nodded. 'I see. Why change my name though?'
I improvised wildly. 'Oh, the name's just got stuck in my brain! I have a colleague called Carl and -' I froze as Carl himself sauntered in through the door.
He didn't see me, but approached a group that included that senior glamour puss from work and - my pulse raced – Rob!
How the heck did Carl know Rob? Studying them together, I understood why. They looked alike.
That's who Carl had reminded me of – Rob! Kirsty hadn't mentioned a brother, so a cousin seemed highly likely.
Then the penny dropped. That's why Carl had distanced himself- when he'd discovered that Kirsty was Rob's ex!
If he was friends with Rob, I thought, Rob would have probably mentioned the name of his ex. Yet when Carl had met Kirsty, he hadn't said a word to me about his connection to Rob. Why hadn't he? I mused.
There was something strange about all this ...
I subtly kept an eye out and when we finished our drinks, I glanced at my watch.
'Shall we call round to our parents for a cuppa? I bet they'd love to see you.'
Adam smiled. 'Sounds good.'
The next day was Saturday. I awoke to find a surprise.
Kirsty had packed up her things.
'I'm moving to my parents. My dad's coming with a van in an hour,' she announced.
I was hugely relieved. 'It's been great having you here.'
She hugged me. 'I'm sorry I've been difficult. It was so silly of me to try and wrangle a date with your brother! That reminds me – how did it go with Carl last night?'
'Ok - but we're not getting back together.'
Her dad arrived and we bid farewell.
I enjoyed the peace and quiet until Monday morning at work when there was a sense of unease, urgency and panic in the air.
'What's happened?' I asked a colleague.
'Carl and some others have done a runner with a lot of client's money. He secretly recruited an inside gang,' he explained.
I paled. Then my mobile bleeped with a text.
It was from Carl. I suddenly felt cold and sick.
'I need to call in that favour now, Jess...'
I'm fifty- something, happily married and I write short stories to help me deal with anxiety.