‘I got it yesterday ... when I went to the loo? I was away for quite a long time. Perhaps you didn’t miss me.’
‘I didn’t realise you were away for that long. What can I say?’
‘Thank you ... will do nicely.’
‘Well, thank you then. It really is gorgeous.’
‘I’m glad you like it. And equally delighted you didn’t say you couldn’t accept it.’
‘No way. I really wanted it yesterday, but decided my credit card would be maxed out.’
‘Wise lady. Now, do you want to change your mind about going out for dinner?’
‘We have a pizza delivery on the way, or I might have changed my mind.’ She leaned back in her chair again. ‘We need to eat and then get back to your facts and figures. I won’t say any more now, but we do need to make plans. And I’ll need to speak to my parents. I’ve said nothing so far, and I fear Dad’s going to ring me later this evening.’
‘You’re right, of course. A fine entrepreneur I am.’ He hung his head for a moment. ‘But I am going to sort this lot out. Melissa will have to answer for herself, and she can take diddly squat from this deal. If Tyler are some invention of her own, then she’s been paid well and truly already. And there, on cue, are the pizzas.’ The doorbell down below was ringing as he spoke. He went over to the video panel on the wall and pressed it. He released the door and the pizza boy came up the stairs. He paid with his credit card and came into the kitchen with two enormous cardboard boxes. ‘Come on,’ he invited, ‘while they are hot.’
‘Goodness, I’ll never eat all that.’
‘Then do your best.’
They sat down and began to munch the delicious food. They were well into it when Melissa came in, no knock at the door or anything to announce her arrival.
‘Oh good, food. What have you got? Great.’ She sat down and helped herself to a slice of Fiona’s pizza. ‘How’s it going? You feeling better now, darling?’ she asked Adam.
‘I’m fine, thanks. We have some questions for you. Some things we don’t understand on the accounts.’
‘I’ll look tomorrow, darling. I’m off out again soon. A gorgeous new man. He took me out last night, and he’ll be picking me up later. This pizza’s good,’ she said, cramming it into her mouth. ‘Really good. I’ll have another slice, I think. Then I must be off. I must change or he’ll think I live in jeans ... albeit Versace ones.’ She gave a laugh. ‘Where do you buy yours?’
‘Oh, usually down the market,’ she said in a typically cockney style. Adam stifled a laugh.
‘Really? They look too good for the market.’ Then she saw them both laughing and smiled weakly. ‘I’ll go now. Ciao.’
‘God I hate the way she says ‘ciao’ whenever she’s leaving.’ Fiona let the words slip out without realising.
‘There are lots of things I hate about Melissa.’
‘Do you want to tell me some?’ Fiona said with a laugh.
‘Maybe I will one day. Not tonight though. We’ve got too many other things to do.’
‘I suppose so. I really can’t eat any more of this.’
‘I’ll eat some of it,’ he said polishing off the last of his own. She passed over her box and he soon ate the last two slices.
‘You have quite an appetite don’t you?’
‘I didn’t have lunch.’
‘Melissa ate yours, I told you.’
‘What was it?’
‘Only smoked salmon and salad. Hope you don’t mind. I found it in the fridge.’
‘What’s mine is yours, fair maiden.’
‘Well, thank you kindly, sir. Now, shouldn’t we go and get on?’
They worked through until nearly ten o’clock. By this time, they had printed off copies of several sheets, and everything seemed to be in much better order. They looked at the proposals for purchase, and, when they had worked out the profit, it meant that Melissa and Adam would get a paltry few thousand each.
‘Well, I can tell you one thing. Melissa will not be happy with that as profit. But I doubt four thousand will satisfy her.’
‘Tough. If as we think, she took the payments to Tyler Inc, she’s been paid well and truly. There’s nothing else but to tell her. I think the price my Dad was proposing is reasonable, and, if he’s is happy with that, then I can’t see why it shouldn’t all go ahead. He’ll have to suck up less profit than he’s expecting, but this is business. In the current climate, he’s done okay.’
‘We’ll see Melissa tomorrow. Tell her the bad news. Let’s have a bottle of wine now we’ve done. I’ll go and find something.’
Fiona stretched and switched off the computers. She felt as if she’d earned her keep today. She felt tired, in fact, her previous night without a lot of sleep catching up with her, but she got up and went into the lounge area. The lights were low, and he’d put some soft music onto the stereo. She sat on the large sofa and curled her legs underneath her. This was perfect. Adam came to her with a large glass of red wine and handed it to her. He sat down beside her and they clinked glasses.
‘Here’s to a perfect working arrangement,’ he said.
‘Cheers,’ she replied.
‘Music okay for you?’
‘Perfect. Though I may fall asleep. It’s been a long day.’
‘Sorry. I did have a long night though.’
‘No complaints. I think if you hadn’t mentioned your problems, it would have taken me longer to find out what I did.’
‘I found it all last night, but I wanted you to find it for yourself. I keep kicking myself for leaving it to that woman. I mean to say, how stupid can I be?’
‘Stop tormenting yourself. She’s a clever woman. She covered herself brilliantly.’ She put her hand on his arm as she spoke, and he turned to look at her.
‘Why didn’t I meet you till now?’ She felt herself blushing. ‘You are beautiful and so straight. I bet you never tried to claim a single thing you weren’t entitled to.’ He reached over and took her wine glass away. Then, joy of joys, he leaned over and kissed her. She felt her heart lifting as she kissed him back. His mouth was so soft and yet firm. He drew away and apologised. ‘I’m so sorry. That was unforgivable.’
‘I forgive you immediately,’ she said.
‘No, I should never have done that.’
‘I think you were fully entitled to do it. In fact, I invite you to do it again.’
‘I’m sorry. I can’t.’
‘Oh for heaven’s sakes. Why not?’
He rose from the sofa and gave her wine back to her. He sat on the opposite end and tried to talk normally. He was pretty unsuccessful.
‘You know something?’ she said suddenly. ‘I am my own woman. I’m the one who decides when and if I like someone. I like you. I suppose my father extracted some promise from you about behaving like a gentleman. I’m right, aren’t I?’ He looked sightly sheepish.
‘Well, yes. You are right. Your father didn’t want you to face any risk. It was the condition he allowed you to come and live here. I must not touch you in any way.’
‘Good job he isn’t here then, isn’t it?’
‘I’m not sure what you mean exactly.’
‘Please come here and kiss me again. I enjoyed it the first time.’
He moved back to be close to her and, gently, he leaned over to kiss her.
‘Thank you. That was very nice, but now I must go to bed. On my own, I hasten to add.’
‘I’d expect nothing more,’ he said with a smile. ‘I really do like you though. Please know that.’
‘And I feel the same about you. I’m not under any illusions, however. We’re here to work and to sort out this deal. Or, at least to make sure the deal we have sorted is going to work. Once we’ve seen Melissa tomorrow, I’d like to visit the shops. I can’t wait to see what and how they work.’
‘Fine. We’ll try and see Melissa early and get out to the shops. I’m not sure we’ll manage to see all of them. Maybe we should spend a day at Brent Cross, anyway. I
need to talk to the manager about the television programme.’
He was back to being manager of everything again, smiled Fiona as she listened to his chatter. Whatever else he spent his time working on, he had a definite love of this business. She could see why he wanted to keep at least some fingers in the pie.
‘I really do need to go to bed now. It’s almost midnight, and I didn’t sleep very well last night.’
‘Sorry. I’m wittering on. You get yourself off to bed.’
‘And thank you again for the dress. I promise to wear it very soon. When we’ve actually got time for a dinner out.’
She went to bed and once more, found she couldn’t sleep. She hadn’t phoned home today, she realised. She should remember to do it tomorrow, though quite what she was going to say, she hadn’t yet decided. She heard Adam going to bed and tried to imagine what it would be like going to bed with him. At last, she fell asleep, dreaming of tall dark man who seemed to remain beyond her reach.
It had been a wonderful summer so far, but, when she awoke the next morning, it was raining. She got up and went into the kitchen, clad in her dressing gown, or what passed as her dressing gown. It was a filmy lace one that matched her nightie. There was no sign of Adam as she made coffee. She was really getting the hang of this machine now, and it was soon ready. She poured herself a cup and took it into her room. She had a shower, another spaceship type of experience, and then dressed. She put on her suit again, ready to meet with Melissa.
There was still no sign of Adam and she went to see if he was in the office but that too was empty. She called out to him but there was no response. She made some toast and sat eating it. At last, there was a rattle at the door, and he came in, dressed in running shorts and panting. He pulled his earphones out and said,
‘You were well away when I left. Hope you didn’t feel too lonely. I must shower now, and then I’ll get some breakfast. You look nice. All ready for work.’ He went off into his room, and she heard his shower power start up. Half an hour later, he came out, dressed in his suit and ready to go. ‘I’ll call on Melissa. If she’s there, of course.’
‘Don’t forget to have something to eat.’
‘That should get her over here. Make some toast and she’ll come running.’ They both laughed. ‘I’ll go and give her a knock.’ He went across the landing and rang her doorbell. Nothing happened. ‘She’s not there. At least, she’s not answering. So, we shall have to wait. I’ll make some toast, and then we’ll get off. Okay?’
‘Fine thanks. I’ll take my brief case and at least try to look efficient.’
‘You always look efficient. I bet you don’t take any prisoners.’ He popped some bread into the toaster and poured himself a coffee. ‘Honey today, I think.’
She watched his economy of movement. He was like a graceful animal, she thought, as he reached for things with a minimum of effort. When he had eaten, he loaded his plates into the dishwasher and switched it on.
‘Remind me to empty it when we get back,’ he muttered more to himself than to her. ‘I’ll go and brush my teeth and we’ll hit the town.’
They drove to Streatham first. They parked outside at the rear of the shop. He’d certainly been right about the size of the shop. It was less than half of the one they had in Norminster. Keeping her face impassive, they went inside.
‘This is Fiona Theobald. Her father is buying the shops from us. Fiona, this is Declan O’Riordan, our manager.’
‘Hi, pleased to meet you.’
‘Pleased to meet you too.’ He had an amazing Irish brogue that she instantly fell in love with.
‘I’d like a look round if that’s okay.’
‘Sure thing. Let me know if you need any help.’
She wandered round, feeling the fabrics as she always did. There was something about seeing rolls of fabric that compelled her to touch them and feel their very nature. Once she had been round the shop and seen their range, she went back to the office.
‘So what is your purchasing policy? I mean, do you have the freedom to buy what you want, or is it all bought centrally?’
‘Oh no, bless you. I deal with the reps myself. I’ve been in the business long enough to know what will go and what won’t. It’s a very particular market round here. I have a budget, and often buy up ends of rolls if I think they’ll suit, and I know a chap who sells remnants. They are very popular round here.’
‘I see. Interesting. You have a nice collection of fabrics, and I see you have a small amount of haberdashery.’
‘I try to keep a few things folks are going to need. Nothing sophisticated. It wouldn’t be the right area for too much.’
‘Do you want to see the books?’ asked Adam. ‘I know you’ve seen the computer printouts, but the books themselves will give you a better idea of the turnover.’
‘Thanks. That would be good.’
‘I’ll settle you down with them and make you some coffee. Or would you prefer tea?’
‘I’d love some tea, thanks. Haven’t had any tea for ages.’
‘Sorry,’ said Adam. ‘I forgot about putting out a list of things you’d might like.’ She grinned.
‘I’m quite into coffee these days.’ She settled down to look at the books. It was all very simple and straightforward. She flicked to the monthly returns and found it all in perfect order. ‘It looks good. Enough monthly turnover to keep it going satisfactorily, and Declan is clearly on top of things. Excellent.’
‘Looks like you have the seal of approval, Declan,’ Adam told him.
They all chatted for the next half an hour, and she felt as if things were well on target here. The lady who was serving seemed very proficient, and very polite, if not even a little nervous of the Big Bosses, as she thought of them. Fiona wanted to giggle when she almost curtsied to her, but managed to control herself. Afterwards, she mentioned it to Adam
‘Melissa instils it into them to respect her, and probably does expect a curtsey from the girls who work there. Right, shall we go to Camberwell now? Or do you want some lunch?’
‘Let’s get some lunch. I’m starving.’
‘Fine. There’s a nice little pub along here.’
‘Do you know every pub in London?’ she asked.
‘Not every one, but quite a few. Come on then, in here.’
Chapter Seven
‘I’ll pay today. I can’t keep relying on you all the time,’ said Fiona as they sat down.
‘Of course you won’t. I don’t take a lady out to eat and expect her to pay.’
‘Nonsense. Where were you when women’s lib started out? I said I’m paying. Don’t argue.’
‘You look very fierce. I almost daren’t argue with you.’ He was smiling as he spoke, which slightly irritated Fiona.
‘Then don’t try. I’m not Melissa, you know.’
‘We still have to see her. I wonder if she’s home yet.’
‘Let’s not spoil lunch thinking about her. I’m somewhat dreading having to tackle her.’
‘Then leave it to me.’
‘Not sure about that. She seems to twist you round her little finger. She’s got away with it for the past few years at least. And the petty cash. That really annoyed me.’
‘No longer. I’m so angry with her, I really mean it this time. She won’t get away with anything else.’
‘Well, that’s something at least. Oh good, here comes the food.’
‘You seem quite different now,’ Adam said as he munched his sandwiches. ‘Much more in control of everything. I can’t believe you’re the same person who was sitting so quietly when we drove down here.’
‘I’m getting into it all now. I know it’s only a few days, but this is where I wanted to be. Not serving in the shop in Norminster. Dad has always been in charge of everything. James did get pretty involved in running the shop, but I was superfluous ... just another assistant.’
‘You were wasted then. I’m glad he decided to send you down here. I can see you have real potential. I
might even let you see some of my portfolio. See what you make of that.’
‘I’d be pleased to take a look. Okay, I’d actually be flattered. Does Melissa get involved in that side of things?’
‘If she did?’
‘Nothing. I was just wondering.’
‘Don’t let her get to you.’
‘I’m not.’
‘I suspect you are. But let’s not talk about her any more. The Camberwell shop is quite different to this morning’s place. I’m slightly afraid I’m not getting the whole picture there. It’s one of Melissa’s favourites.’
‘Melissa again?’
‘Sorry. She’s always taken a particular shine to this one. I suspect there’s been a bit of fiddling going on. Perhaps I should have left it to you to see for yourself.’
‘Okay. Don’t say any more then. Let my x-ray eyes see what I can see for myself.’ She was speaking in her own sort of spooky way, which made Adam laugh.
‘You’re quite a case aren’t you?’
In good humour, they drove to the next shop. As part of a row of shops, it was a larger place than the last one. Fiona liked the window display, and told her companion. They went inside, and were met by a lady who greeted them in a friendly manner.
‘’This is Mrs. Dainty. She’s our manager here.’
‘Hallo Mrs. Dainty. What a nice name. I’m Fiona Theobald. How do you do?’
‘Hallo. What can I do for you?’
‘I’d like to have a look round, see your stock, and then take a look at your books?’ Mrs. Dainty looked questioningly at Adam. He nodded.
‘Fiona’s father is buying into the shops. She’ll probably be the new boss.’
‘Really? I thought Melissa was in charge.’
‘Not really. She and I have been partners but we have agreed to sell.’
‘She was here yesterday, or was it the day before? She never said a word. Nothing. I consider that to be a bit off. How long have you known about this takeover?’
‘It’s been on the cards for a while now. Mr. Theobald only agreed the deal in principle, early this week.’
‘Well, really. You might have told me. I’ve worked for you for a long time. Didn’t I deserve to be told?’
Accounting for Love Page 7