Clueless

Two could play at this game, but which of them would win?

- Ginny Swart

On her first day at work, Annabelle spotted a man who instantly stood out from the rest of the suits at Clarendon Computers, with his black hair tied in a ponytail and wearing boots with bright red socks. He was sitting at a corner table in the canteen, studying the newspaper that was lying open in front of him at the crossword puzzle page.

A fellow puzzler! She walked over to his table with her tray.

‘Mind if I join you?’ she asked. ‘I’m a crossword puzzle fiend too.’

‘Really? That’s excellent.’ He held out his hand. ‘Mike Harrison, from marketing. Today’s puzzle is a killer.’

‘Annabelle Martin. This is my first day in accounts. May I have a look..?’ she peered at the puzzle. ‘One across, Comfort food advised by a queen? Four letters.’

‘Um… comfort food? Pasta? Chocolate?’ he suggested.

‘Cake,’ said Annabelle firmly. ‘That French queen who said “let them eat cake”.’

‘Oh, of course. I knew that.’ He grinned. ‘A crossword fiend, eh? I can see lunchtimes are going to be a whole lot more fun now you’re here!’

If I have lunch with you every day, they will be, she thought. He was gorgeous, with warm brown eyes and a crinkly smile.

She took out her own pencil. ‘And number three across: Alcohol brings audible sounds of disapproval. Five letters. Um… oh, could be booze, couldn’t it?’

‘You’re quick!’ he said. ‘I can see I will need to up my game, Miss Martin.’