"Tell me," she said as she seductively sipped the chardonnay and looked into my eyes, "Why did you ask me out for dinner?"

"What do you mean?" I asked with my most convincing look of confusion. I knew exactly what she meant.

"Well look at you, Managing Director of a huge company, probably like a millionaire or something, and me, well I'm just the office cleaner." I shook my head and took a log drag on my cigar.

"Why should that matter? I always wanted to take you out." I lied.

"I've worked there for six years Mr Stone, why didn't you ask before?" I wasn't sure how to answer, so took a couple of gulps from my own wine. I liked the fact that she had been calling my Mr Stone all night. I wasn't about to correct that. I thought of a clever answer.

"I guess I have always been a little shy. I always thought you were a little too young and pretty for me."

"Give over, I'm-" she moved closer and practically whispered "I'm forty you know." I have to say I was surprised to learn this. I thought she was older. Still, she wasn't too bad for her age. She had a decent pair of legs and wore nice perfume, which helped.

"Forty?" I whispered back, "Goodness me, I thought you were at least ten years younger than that. You look great for your age Julia." She smiled from ear to ear, and continued the deep stare into my eyes. I knew that she was coming home with me that night. Step one complete.

The wine had clearly done its job on Julia. She was holding on to my arm and leaning her head on my shoulder as the lift doors opened.

"I can't believe you live in these flats Mr Stone, they are like the most expensive in the city." After a few glasses of wine, my name was sounding more like "Misser Stow."  I didn't mind though. I unlocked the door and pushed open the door, allowing Julia to walk in first.

"Welcome to my home." I announced as I closed the door behind us. Julia stood frozen while she took it all in. There was a small pathway of wooden floor left to be seen, the rest of it (and there was a lot) was covered with rubbish. In some places, it was literally floor to ceiling. I took the time to look at it all for myself, as I couldn't usually bear to. The newspapers and take away packaging dated back for as long as I had been in the flat, which I worked out to be about 15 months. The majority of my stuff had never been unpacked; instead boxes and clothes were spread all over, making the flat look like a place occupied by squatters. I remember that there had been a wonderful view over the city from the window at the far side, but this was now completely covered with boxes.

"It's nice." Julia said quietly. "A bit cramped, but nice."

"I like to call it comfortable." I said while putting an arm around her shoulder. I turned to face her and tried to give her the same kind of eyes that she had given me in the restaurant. It must have worked as she returned it with a warm smile. I brushed the greying hair away from her eyes and moved in for a slow and gentle kiss. "There is a lot more space in the bedroom you know."

"Show me the way." She whispered as she took my hand.

The sex had been pretty good; then again I suppose it would be after having been without it for two years. If you gave a starving man a slice of bread, he would surely describe it as the nicest thing ever to pass his lips. Julie seemed to be quite pleased with it too. It was good to know that I had not lost the old touch in the bedroom department.

I was straightening my tie as Julie walked into the living room wearing nothing but one of my t-shirts. Her hair was wild and the makeup from the night before was long gone. She looked every bit her age and then some. Her half open eyes and baby steps were a sure sign of a hangover.

"You don't look well," I said passing her a glass of water. "Maybe you should take the day off."

"I can't, what about Tracey?"

"Julia, I'm the MD, I'll tell her you called in sick before she arrived. You can spend the day here if you want." She nodded and walked over to kiss my cheek.

"You are so good to me." She said with a hug. "What have I done to deserve you?"

"You didn't have to do much, it was decided when I first set eyes on you." She seemed to melt at the words and kissed me again. "I am so glad that I plucked up the courage to ask you out. I want us to see more of each other, but I think we should keep this between ourselves for now."

"That's fine, no problem." She said with a grin. The idea of a secret relationship seemed to appeal to her.

I set of to work, hoping that I would never again have to see my flat in that state again.

I was wrong. I returned to find the flat exactly as I had left it. The only difference was a hand written note from Julia, it read:

I screwed up the note and tossed it into the array of rubbish in my living room. I changed into jeans and one of my tighter t-shirts and waited for her to return. I decided that a few cans of lager would help and quickly consumed four in the hour that I spent waiting.

Julia arrived wearing a long black dress and high heels. With her hair freshly straightened and her make-up reapplied, she looked rather nice. Instead of sitting around the disgusting apartment, I took her for another meal. Once again we ate fine food and drank wine. The evening passed in very much the same manner as that before. Julia's level of arousal seemed to increase along with the wine intake. I seized the opportunity and asked for the bill soon after the main courses were finished. In much the same fashion as the previous night, Julia and I proceeded straight to the bedroom and spent the best part of the night having sex like teenagers. The bread still tasted quite nice.

The next morning, Julia didn't appear to be as rough as she had been the first time. Instead she was very awake and was acting giddy.

"Come back to bed honey." She said as she grabbed hold of my tie and gave it a playful tug. "It's only early."

"Its half past seven, I am usually in the office by now." I said with a smile. I walked into the living room and made myself a cup of coffee. After enjoying five minutes peace, Julia walked in wearing the change of clothes that she had come with last night.

"Where's mine?" She asked, pointing at the drink. I passed the coffee over without answering and watched as she wrapped her thin fingers around the cup and took a sip. "How about a lift into work this morning?"

"I was thinking about giving you another day off." I responded.

"Why, I feel fine today. Anyway, I'm sure there is a load to do." She passed the coffee back to me and hugged me. Her ear pressed at my chest.

"Don't worry about the office, why not stick around here and give this place a once over. It's been a while since it's had a clean."

Julie withdrew in an instant. "Is this what all this has been about? Is that all you want me for?" I tried to pull a suitable I don't know what you mean type of face, but failed miserably. "I can't believe I have fallen for this. I can't believe you were using me." The colour had disappeared from her face. She stormed into the bedroom and quickly reappeared with her overnight bag. She flung open the apartment door and took a final look back at me. "I really thought you were genuine, I thought we were serious." With these words she slammed the door. I could hear her heels stamping all the way along the corridor to the lift.

I stood in silence, gawping at the lipstick mark left on the coffee cup. As I heard the ping of the lift arriving, I realised the consequences of what I had done to Julia. By the time I arrived at the office, everyone would know about it. I would be public enemy number one.

I bolted out of the door and sprinted towards the lifts. As I approached I could hear the doors closing. I could also hear Julie sobbing. I was too late to stop the doors, but I caught a brief glance of Julia's face, which had heartbreak written all over it. The doors clicked together and the lift began it's decent. I reached out and leaned against the adjacent wall, noticing instantly that I was unable to regain my breath. The pain to my chest and arm soon followed. I tried to scream but didn't have enough air in my lungs. Just like the lift before me, I started to drop.

The heart attack meant having to spend two days in hospital, which did not please me. The only visit I had in this time was from the sweaty breakfast lady. The very sight of her would have me declining cornflakes every time.

The hospital had run numerous tests on my heart, lungs and many other aspects of my body. I was also given countless lectures about my smoking, drinking and working hours. I am ashamed to say that each and every one was ignored. I am a creature of habit, and a Taurus is not fond of change.

I lit my first cigar as I stepped out of the taxi and walked up the stairs to my apartment. I decided that a little exercise wouldn't harm, and three floors were never going to kill anyone. It had been cold outside and the walk had warmed me up slightly. Despite having had more sleep than ever, the time in hospital had left me feeling drowsy. I unlocked the door and rubbed my tired eyes as I walked into the room. On removing my hand I was encountered with the sight I had never expected. I raised my hand to my face and rubbed my eyes again to make sure I was not dreaming. The room was absolutely spotless. The laminate floor shone like a movie set. The scent was a mixture of fruits and polish. Dumfounded, I staggered over to the window and looked out for the first time in well over a year.

"It's a lovely view." said the voice from the bedroom door. I turned to see Julia leaning against the door frame, holding a glass of water. "Welcome home James."

I had no idea what to say. I just wandered towards her. I felt so light that I just seemed to float across the room. Julia straightened up and took hold of my hands. She reached up and ran a hand through my hair. It was then that I found the words I was looking for.

"I love you."

Two years on, and now I call her "Mrs Stone." I think she likes it that way.