by Debbie Flint
Damn Peter Galloway for putting doubts in her mind.
‘Why would we not do the deal?’ He sidestepped the issue. ‘You wouldn’t have had a better offer by any chance, would you?’
Sadie couldn’t believe her ears. Were they all spying on her?
‘Who have you been …? How did you know …?’
‘Because I followed you, Sadie.’
‘What?’
‘I’d come back to get you, as it happens, to come with me to a crunch emergency meeting – to find Bill Galloway and get him on his own. But you’d already gone off arm in arm with his son, as soon as I was out of the room.’
‘You spied on me?’
‘I’m not proud of it, but I’m glad I did, considering what I heard.’
‘Yet you didn’t have the decency to come and ask me about it? You didn’t give me the benefit of the doubt? You obviously think very highly of me.’
‘Actually, I do. But that’s precisely why I came back here, to ask you just what had happened with the slimy toerag. Just in time to find he’s been to your room!’
‘I told you he was just—’
‘Save your breath, Sadie.’
She flushed. This was a full-scale lovers’ tiff. And they weren’t even lovers. Not any more. She picked up the nearest bottle of water and walked across the room, glugging it back. Almost trembling, she closed the open door Mac had flounced through. She rested her back against it and wrapped her robe around her body defensively.
‘I thought—’
‘Sadie, it doesn’t matter. I’ve got to be honest with you. I heard and saw quite enough today. There’s no doubt in my mind what you thought. What were your words again? “It’s a tempting offer, Peter … no, I don’t really know Mac at all, do I, Peter?” I heard it all, Sadie.’
‘There was … a reason for that.’
‘What reason could there possibly be for being tempted by that scumbag? So you could play him along? Just in case my deal didn’t work out for you after all?’
‘No, Mac,’ she said softly. ‘I did it for us – for you. In case there was any chance I could make some difference that would maybe persuade him that ours was the best option. That you were the best option.’
‘Sure. You say that now. From what I heard it sure didn’t sound like it.’
‘Well, eavesdrop correctly next time and you’ll know I didn’t accept.’ Sadie was flushed but calmer now, the full heat of the argument had passed. She was mortified he’d overheard her – it removed any chance of a proper explanation. But she felt aghast that he’d been spying on her. And angry he hadn’t come to find out her side – what was one of her favourite sayings?
‘Seek first to understand then be understood,’ she told him.
‘You didn’t accept?’ he said, quietly.
‘You’re not much good at stealth work, are you? Next time get the professionals in.’
‘I do only have your word.’
‘Are you calling me a liar, Mac?’
‘A liar? You?’ His eyes narrowed. ‘“Sam”?’
Sadie went red, and said nothing. Counting elephants wouldn’t help now.
‘And sure, maybe you didn’t say yes. But did you tell him “no”?’ he pressed.
She hesitated and bit her lip.
‘Did you tell him where he could stick his offer? Did you tell him no?’
Ouch.
Now it was Sadie’s turn to squirm. No, she hadn’t told him no.
‘Not yet. I told him “not yet”—’
‘Not yet?’
She froze and felt like a rabbit in the headlights. Sadie hated confrontation. She’d known why she’d played Peter along, but now it just came out like she was betraying Mac. How could she convince him? She opened her mouth but nothing came out.
‘Your silence says it all.’
‘Well, what it doesn’t say is that I was only trying to convince Peter about the implications of the early trials – it’s even got a slightly different boiling point, for goodness sake! And that we need to do it right. If we do, we could change the face of hydration around the world.’
‘Very noble. Spoken like the scientist you are. So?’
Sadie could feel the angst rising up like bile in her throat, she was making such a hash of this. She knew she had to get him to understand. She went over and took his hand. He didn’t move.
‘Mac, I was trying to get him on our side – to explain how important my studies will be in all this.’ Sadie stood in front of him and looked pleadingly into his eyes. So close, the energy between them rose up again like the elephant in the room. He took her hand and pointedly removed it from his.
‘How important you are in all this.’ Mac turned and walked away from her.
‘I … I didn’t know that. It’s not my fault he offered me that bonus.’ She was downcast now.
‘It’s a bribe, Sadie, not a bonus.’ He almost spat the words out.
Again his vehemence cut through her like a knife.
‘I didn’t take it,’ she said in a small voice, and sat on the edge of her bed, sipping some more water. Mac strode over and kneeled down in front of her. For a split second her hopes rose. Then he opened his mouth and spoke.
‘Look, I can’t stop you. If you choose to go over to Tremain’s side on this deal, that’s completely up to you. I’ll lose out, but there will be others. Like there always are.’
‘Deals? Or women like me?’
He paused. Went to reply then stopped. Then he spoke. ‘Either.’
Her eyes welled up and she turned away, gathering her thoughts. She began to feel just a little bit sick.
Dammit. Why were the words so quickly out of his mouth? Habit. Mistrust of beautiful women. The need not to commit? The need not to seem too keen? Or was it just being around this particular beautiful woman that made him act completely out of character.
A woman whom, if he opened up his heart and was truly honest with himself, he just wanted to scoop up into his arms and reassure it would all be okay. The burgeoning bubble of heat in his heart threatened to swamp him, to stop his breathing, to make his head burst. He hated this, hated it. Wanted to just hold her. Despite the fact that she’d nearly betrayed him. If she had. God, he wasn’t used to being this indecisive.
But he didn’t know her, not really, so how could he be certain? There were others in the past he’d been adamant about. So sure they wouldn’t hurt him, despite warnings from friends. But still he’d been burned.
Now this one comes along and turns his certainty upside down. Looking into her green eyes, welling up with tears and anguish, he felt so bad. It shouldn’t be like this. Not with her. Of course he knew her. Deep down, he felt like he had known her all his life. That they should be together. Wow, where did that come from!
Mac stood and walked to the window, thinking. It was simple really. If he did the deal, being together would be impossible – because of his own stupid rules.
Or would it?
Was Mac too long in the tooth to change? Was it too late?
Was it too late to pay heed to his instincts, to his gut, which was crying out stop, stop!
But what Sadie did next gave him his answer. She held her head up high and stood up.
‘Mac, can you please go to your important meeting, you have business to attend to. You stick to your principles and I’ll stick to mine. I’m on your side – and always have been. A part of your team – for as long as you want me there. I will inform Peter Galloway he can go stick his bribe, and if you can persuade Bill before it’s too late, you will have your deal. Assuming he hasn’t signed up with Tremain already. But you’ll have to help out with funding probably more than you realised, because of what he’s been threatening to do to Bill and the company’s cashflow.’
‘Go find Bill. Peter told me they’re meeting Tremain tonight. Presumably you’re out of the loop on that one.’
Mac frowned.
‘Not nice, is it?’ Sadie added. ‘To be kept out of the loop.’
Ooh that was a dig. And it hit home. But he didn’t respond, so she continued.
‘But don’t worry, it’s not my business. I’m a minion. I’m a Derek or a Graham. I’m not even an Alexis, am I?’ she said. ‘Small print or no small print.’
She was on a roll, gesticulating and walking around flashing her thighs in the robe. Mac just listened. ‘I won’t ask you to explain it all to me. Who am I but a ditsy woman? No, you can rest assured I will not get in the way of your business any more. Now it’s time for you to leave.’
And with a dignity Mac had never seen in someone he’d just hurt so badly, she walked elegantly to the door, head held high, and opened it for him.
‘Sadie, I—’
Mac stopped when they saw a bellboy appear at the doorway, holding a delivery. Sadie made an ‘excuse me’ motion, and closed the door again. They both dropped their voices.
‘I think we’ve said enough to each other, don’t you? You go do your business, I’ll do mine. And after this, we can both keep out of each other’s way and live happily ever after,’ she snipped, in a tone he’d not heard her use before.
He went to say something else and thought better of it. ‘You’re one hell of a woman. You deserve much better than me.’
‘I’m also a mother, Mac, so you need someone other than me.’
She opened the door and he left.
Sadie closed the door behind him. Immediately, she rushed into the bathroom to throw up.
Outside, Mac was leaning back against the door, chin in the air, eyes looking skyward. Dammit! Should I just walk away? Or go back in?
He angrily pushed himself upright, and went to leave. Then stopped and turned back. Goddam women. Goddam Galloway.
‘Room 241?’ said the bellboy coming back up the corridor now the coast seemed clear. He held out a small box. Mac nodded.
‘Delivery for Ms Sadie Turner from Mr Peter Galloway? There’s a message on top.’
‘Thank you, I’ll take it back in,’ said Mac, tipping the lad generously as he scrawled on the receipt, and then taking the box from the bellboy who skipped happily away towards the lift.
Mac considered the parcel before him. He raised his hand to knock on the door, but curiosity got the better of him. He was about to be unethical again. But dammit, there was more than just a business deal at stake here. And the biggest of snakes had sent it.
Walking a little way away from the door, he peeked inside the envelope attached to the top of the box.
Sadie
Please reconsider my offer for dinner.
I’ll keep asking until you say yes. We could meet at nine? I want to know what you think about my baby – my own Red Frish. Here are some more in case you run out. I think my version is much better than my father’s formula, and it would give me great pleasure to hear you say so.
And to kiss you again.
More importantly, regarding what we discussed earlier, Tremain would indeed like to meet you. I have some urgent business to attend to, but I’ve written his number on my card. Call soon. It may be just the news you’re looking for.
And I hope to see you later.
Yours affectionately
Peter xx
Mac shuddered. Unprofessional, a slimeball and persistent. Or maybe there’s something going on after all. A bubbling fury began to boil inside him and he knew exactly what to do. He turned tail and headed off swiftly down the corridor, dumping the bottles of Red Frish in a trash can.
It was make or break. Time for some straight talking.
Peter Galloway stood at the window of his father’s office, fidgeting. He peered through the blinds and watched as the rear view of an ambulance disappeared out of sight, its light flashing. He had beads of sweat on his upper lip and forehead, despite the noisy air-conditioning unit overhead being on full blast. It was a balmy night.
Moments later, the figure of Mac came in sight, bounding up the steps towards the office door, taking two at a time, seemingly impervious to the humidity outside. He seemed composed. Unlike Peter, who had a slight tremble in his hands as he wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
Before Mac’s knuckles reached the door, it opened, revealing Peter Galloway’s smiling face. In fact it was more of a sneer.
‘Where’s your father? He’s agreed to meet me. And that doesn’t include you.’
‘There’s been a slight change of plan, Mr Anderson, I’m afraid. You see we all knew my father was ill—’
‘The ambulance. That was him? Is he—’
‘Yes, he will be okay, but he has had one of his turns. Quite a serious one this time. They’ve been more frequent these last few days. It’s the stress, you see.’
‘You didn’t go with him?’
‘No, he took his assistant, Makini. I wanted to be here when you arrived. To give you the news.’
‘What news?’
‘It is with regret, but my father has decided to go with the offer from Tremain Group.’
‘Well, with regret, and with all due respect, I can only accept that from your father.’
‘Ahh, but that may prove a little difficult, seeing as how my father is incapacitated. Before he had his funny turn, he made me the acting head of the company.’
Mac couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How suddenly fortunes turned.
‘He what?’
‘I have this signed affidavit.’
Mac took it from him and saw it had indeed been signed by Bill, and witnessed by the assistant. Mac took out another piece of paper from his pocket and put them side by side. It may have been a more shaky version of the old man’s signature, but it matched the one on the note Bill had sent Mac earlier that day.
Mac turned towards the window and ran his hands through his hair. His body ached from tension and lack of exercise. His mind ached from the maelstrom of the last few days.
And his heart ached too – but he refused point-blank to dwell on it.
Peter continued, ‘So you might as well ship out now. It’s over, Anderson. Tremain has won.’
‘And Sadie?’
‘She is meeting me for dinner tonight – a feisty one, for sure – but with you out of the picture, I’m certain I will find that, like most women, she will turn her attentions to where her bread is buttered, as you English say.’
‘If I find you are lying to me about any of this—’
‘Yes? What will you do? Your threats are idle. Tremain holds all the cards. Tremain is the one who will make our miracle water – my miracle water – a success around the world. And, yes, including the studies – and if Sadie will not do them our way, well, we shall just replace her.’
‘You might find she’s not quite the pushover you imagine her to be. Dinner or no dinner.’
‘Ahh, you are speaking from experience, I can tell. Well, my own methods of “convincing” a woman may be slightly more effective than yours.’ And with that, Peter picked up a tumbler of whisky and swigged it down. He slammed the glass back on the desk triumphantly and smacked his lips, reaching for a top up. His hand accidentally knocked over several medicine bottles – tablets and herbal remedies, and an empty bottle of Red Frish. Peter saw Mac looking at it.
‘You are curious about my own creation, are you not? Well, in time it may be even more successful than my father’s. Too bad you won’t be a part of it.’
Mac turned towards the door, his head reeling.
‘Now, before you go, no hard feelings, huh? The best
man won! Join me for a drink and we can part amicably. You never know, with your sports event not far away, we may even be able to sponsor you and give you some free water … my water.’ Peter poured another huge tumbler for himself and a second one for Mac. But when he turned back round holding the drinks, it was too late. Mac was gone.
Outside Mac was already on the phone. His head hurt, his heart ached, and more than anything else, he could feel a building desire to run. He wasn’t used to losing. He wasn’t used to being pushed away by a woman. And he wasn’t used to this throbbing feeling gnawing away inside of him, one he couldn’t ignore. No matter how much he rubbed at his stomach, his chest, it continued unabated. In fact, it was only getting worse. There was only one thing for it.
‘Alexis?’
‘Mac, at last. I need to see you.’
‘Well, first get a car to take my surfing gear to the beach for me.’
‘Surfing, Mac? At night? Skinny dipping again? If I remember rightly, last time you and I did that a certain lady had just broken your heart. History repeating itself again, is it? Anything I can do to help, Boss Man? You know you can count on Alexis.’
No wonder she’d never look after his small print again.
‘Not now, Alexis. But there is something you can do for me.’
Chapter Fourteen
Back at the hotel, Sadie had started packing. It was half-hearted, as she kept putting things in the case then taking them back out again. Throwing up in the bathroom wasn’t helping – the stress, she supposed. She wiped beads of perspiration from her forehead. Then her new mobile rang.
‘Mum? … Oh, Simon!’ she said, and suddenly she found herself brimming up with tears. A friendly voice. He’d be there soon, so hold fire … and had anyone seen Mac? Sadie quickly filled him in on what had happened so far, Peter’s jumped up ideas about Red Frish and how she’d fallen out with Mac. He then left Sadie to continue packing, but very soon he was back on the phone to her again.
‘There’s something you should know,’ Simon said.
He told her what no one else had, revealing Bill’s sudden hospitalisation, Peter’s coup and the fact that Mac had gone missing again, and suddenly at least one part of the puzzle began falling into place. And now Sadie knew what she had to do – if time permitted.