Under New Management

by June Hopkins

  Johnny and Serena met for the first time over dinner the previous evening. Johnny was bowled over, as most people are. However, the surprise was that Serena was equally so. It turns out that Serena loves football and coincidentally Johnny plays for her favourite team.

  Of course she knew that Johnny and Megan were a couple but she hadn’t shown any great interest when Kieran had told her. She had mentioned that she supported his team, but that was all.

  Kieran hadn’t got around to mentioning the other dinner guests before going down and was amazed when Serena had shrieked excitedly as she spotted Johnny. He hadn’t realised she was capable of being star struck herself which was quite endearing. That was the first time that she had actually done anything to make him think that she possessed that trait. The feeling had worn off soon enough though, as the evening quickly turned into a mutual admiration society. The two of them monopolised the conversation for the rest of the evening, forcing Kieran to drag Serena to bed early before Megan said or did something she might regret.

  Megan had not been amused. She wasn’t normally the jealous type but Serena Bonart was a different kettle of fish.

  Kieran isn’t happy that Serena is upsetting Megan but they can’t put off the meeting. They have to make some decisions before the interviews tomorrow and they need to decide how many staff to retain. He has no good reason, therefore, to stop Serena monopolising Johnny for the day.

  He shakes his head at himself, he is worrying over nothing. They’ll be fine, the rest of them have work to do.

  The four of them lock themselves away in the large library. Using a couple of flip charts to brainstorm, they dissect the possible future of the Hall and the options.

  Kieran lays his cards on the table from the start. He explains his ideas and throws it open for discussion. To his delight the others are not against it. They spend the morning analysing and arguing about each possibility.

  By the time they break for lunch the decision is unanimous. They are going to keep the Hall. Marylyn is especially keen, as she loves the old place. She sees herself spending a lot of time here.

  Decision made, they spend the afternoon going over money-making opportunities. In order to justify keeping it as a home, the estate has to pay for itself.

  Excitement grows and the ideas come thick and fast. By the time they leave the library at five thirty, they have a plan, and the four of them are very pleased with themselves.

  Kieran is especially happy, as they are all in complete agreement that Mollie should be brought back to manage things. Jack is sworn to secrecy and has agreed to keep quiet until Kieran has worked out a suitable deal to entice her.

  Jack isn’t opposed to the idea of Mollie working at the Hall. He knows she will be brilliant and he also knows that by the end of the week she will be his girlfriend.

  Tuesday’s interviews go exceptionally well. With Mollie’s help and advice on Sunday, Kieran knew who he wanted to retain. Only two people had question marks over them and Kieran decided better to be safe than sorry.

  When he arranged himself in a cool, indifferent manner at his desk at ten thirty, Kieran felt like a complete fool. He had waited for Angela to knock and bring in Mollie. He waited expectantly, hopefully, for around five minutes before he had a stern word with himself. He went to the kitchen to get himself a coffee. He knew she wouldn’t turn up. Why would she? After all, he told her himself he didn’t know if he had a job to offer her, not to mention the small issue of the weekend and Serena. He’d be lucky if he ever saw her again.

  Now, of course, he did have a job offer for her. He only needed to put the package together. It would have to be a good one, he knew that. Mollie was a proud woman and there was every likelihood that she would tell him to stick it... He decided that he would phone her later that afternoon, test the water and see if he could arrange a meeting with her later in the week.

  Putting thoughts of Mollie to the back of his mind he got on with the interviews. By the middle of the afternoon he had reinstated the gardener, his apprentice and the two gamekeepers. He asked if all of them could return to work immediately and fortunately they all agreed. The two housekeeping attendants would return the following Monday and Sedgwick Hall would return to normal. The two staff with question marks over them luckily didn’t show up for interview which saved him having to let them go.

  All he needed now was Mollie to agree to come back and help him run the estate. But would she?

  Chapter 21

  It is Wednesday morning and Mollie has spent the last couple of days at home, eating junk food, watching films and chilling out. She has refused to take phone calls from both Jack and Kieran. Lindy had told both of them to kindly give her a few days. Both were reluctant but agreed.

  At nine, she is still dozing in bed when an excited Jim shouts up from the bottom of the stairs, telling her to get her arse downstairs immediately.

  Mollie is annoyed at the rude awakening but, nevertheless, pulls on her trackies, knowing that she’ll get no peace unless she does as he says.

  A pungent, floral smell greets her in the hallway and as she enters the lounge she blinks, just to be sure that she’s awake. The room is full to bursting with flowers.

  “What the hell is going on?” she calls to her Dad through the foliage.

  “There’s more coming love,” Jim calls back.

  Mollie pushes her way through to the front hallway and peers out of the door. A florist’s van is parked on the drive and a man is heading up the path towards them with possibly the largest bouquet she has ever seen. He struggles to get it through the door. Jim takes it from him as Mollie stares wide eyed at the spectacle.

  “That it, mate? Hope so, or I’ll have to build another extension,” Jim laughs heartily. He moves past Mollie and deposits the bouquet on the floor, next to the others.

  Mollie dares to peer out of the door again and jumps back as the man returns, obscured by foil helium balloons of various colours. He holds the ribbons out for Mollie to take.

  “Are you Mollie Brown?” he asks from behind the balloons.

  “Um yes, that’s me,” she says awkwardly as she takes the ribbons from him and pulls the arrangement into the hallway before letting them go to float on the ceiling. She peers at the man who has the name ‘Bernard’ on his name badge. She is wary of what he is going to produce next.

  Bernard is a rather large, perspiring man. He puffs out his red cheeks and Mollie feels her Dad move behind her.

  “I’ve got to read a poem for you,” Bernard informs her with a slightly mortified air.

  He pulls out a piece of paper and clears his throat. Jim snorts with contained laughter.

  Mollie jumps to the rescue and, rushing forward, she grabs the paper from the poor man and tells him that it really isn’t necessary and that she can read it for herself.

  Bernard looks both relieved and slightly scared at the same time. Scratching at the minimal clump of hair on his head, he says, “Eerrm, well if you’re sure, only you won’t tell anyone will you? I need this job.”

  Mollie assures him that her lips are sealed.

  He smiles widely now. “Ah, thanks. That’s great. You have no idea how embarrassing it is when I gets a poem or a song. Songs are the worst, I have to do a little jig then and it’s not pretty.” He informs her as he gives her a look that explains how awful that particular scenario is.

  Jim loses the fight with the laugher and guffaws loudly. Mollie elbows him in the ribs as she smiles sweetly at the delivery man.

  “Well thank you. I certainly won’t be expecting you to sing or dance. I think that I have been entertained more than enough for one day. See you then,” she says as she gives him a little wave. She watches him turn back to the van and closes the front door before collapsing against it. What the hell is going on? Jack, it has to be Jack.

  Roses are red, Violets are blue,

  Please phone me, I really miss you.

  Love Jack xxx

  Mollie throws the card onto t
he kitchen table in frustration. What is he thinking, the idiot?

  Jim on the other hand is made up. His excitement is irritating the hell out of her. He keeps going on about how she’s won the jackpot, how she’s going to be made for life, pointing out all the things she will be able to buy when she marries Jack. He asks her if he should start writing a wish list now... or would that seem a bit forward?

  Mollie shakes her head, “Dad I am absolutely not going to marry Jack, do you hear me?” she tells him through gritted teeth.

  “Don’t be daft our Molls, the bloke’s good looking, fun to be around and bloody well loaded! Why don’t you think about it? You could marry him for a couple of years, and then divorce him. You’d be minted. That wouldn’t be so hard, would it? Although he might make you sign one of them pre-nup thingies, but that don’t matter. They reckon they ain’t worth the paper there written on anyway.” He stops and puts his hand on his chin as he ponders the accuracy of this statement.

  Mollie explodes, “Dad that is enough, stop being a plonker! I don’t love Jack, haven’t done for years. He’s a big kid and I do not want another relationship with him. I am certainly not going to get back with him just because he’s loaded.”

  Jim stops and stares at her with his mouth open, “Molls, for God’s sake! Loads of women do it. It’s not as if he’s old or ugly, and he obviously still thinks the world of you. Have you looked at these flowers, for crying out loud? They must have cost thousands. You don’t go round making gestures like that if you don’t really like someone. Give him a chance, eh?” he implores her with his puppy dog face.

  Mollie sighs loudly, “Dad, he’s just showing off. That’s nothing for him with all his money.” She flings her arm in the direction of the new hothouse, “I mean, I’m surprised he didn’t throw in a couple of exotic birds while he was at it.”

  She sits down at the table and puts her head in her hands.

  Jim stays quiet as he waits for her to come to her senses. He can’t understand her. Jim likes Jack, always has done and in all honesty after the whole David thing he is desperate for Mollie to be happy. Lindy would do cartwheels if he made a gesture like this, even half of it. Jim is finding it hard to understand why his daughter isn’t bowled over by a room full of expensive flowers, not to mention a good looking boyfriend who she adored years ago and who is now clearly sorry. Jim thinks that perhaps Mollie is still wounded by that git of a David. Jim would like to put his hands around said git’s throat and squeeze but perhaps if Jack is serious he can make Mollie come round. It all depends on whether the lad is determined or whether he gives up easily. In fairness, if it’s the latter then as far as Jim is concerned he can bugger off. As impressive as all that money and charm is, Jack still has to prove he’s man enough for his Mollie.

  Eventually Mollie peers up through her hair at her Dad, mainly because he’s been silent for a few minutes, which is odd. “What are you thinking, dad?” she asks suspiciously.

  Jim gazes at her, “Nothing love. I worry about you, you know. I want you to be happy and I got a little carried away with the excitement. I like Jack and I suppose I thought maybe you two could carry on where you left off. I don’t like the thought of you being alone, Molls. But if you don’t like Jack I won’t push it, I promise. Just don’t dismiss it right away, eh?” He moves towards her and leans down, pulling her to him in a big hug.

  Mollie snuggles in, “Thanks Dad. Obviously I’m flattered, but it’s too over the top. I think Jack and I should stay friends, at least for now. God, I’ve only been on my own for a few weeks, I’m not even divorced yet. Give me a chance, eh? Surely you don’t want me to go for the first person who shows an interest, do you? Even if he is a millionaire!”

  Jim laughs and gives her a squeeze. “Well love, if you’re going to fall for anyone I would prefer him to be a millionaire but I’ll go with whatever makes you happy. Now, what the hell are we going to do with all these flowers?”

  Chapter 22

  As Mollie is being inundated with flowers, Kieran is having breakfast with Serena, his mother and Jack, who is looking a little too pleased with himself this morning. It’s making Kieran nervous. He’s asked him what he’s up to, but Jack has just smiled an irritating self satisfied smile and said, “If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you,” which hasn’t improved Kieran’s mood any.

  Jack makes a show of looking at his watch for about the fifth time and then smiling. Kieran loses his temper. “For God’s sake Jack! Either bloody well tell us what’s so sodding funny or bugger off out of the way. You’re getting on my bloody nerves.”

  Jack just smiles again forcing Serena to pipe up. She puts her hand on Kieran’s arm, “Darling, don’t let him wind you up. Ignore him and he’ll go away, hopefully.” She smiles sarcastically at Jack, who just grins wider.

  Marylyn sighs loudly, “For goodness sake, you are acting like a child Jack. Haven’t you got something useful you can be doing?”

  “Nope,” Jack answers as he shoves a forkful of egg and bacon into his mouth, his eyes shining.

  Serena throws Jack an irritated look. “Right, well if you insist on being ridiculous Jack, I will change the subject.” She turns to Kieran, “Darling, I want you to hold a dinner party for me on Saturday night. I want to meet some people before I leave. You must have some friends by now, surely. Jack, you can bring Polly.” Serena directs her stare back at Jack across the table.

  “Her name is Mollie, as you well know Serena and yes I like the sound of that.” Jack tells her nonchalantly and Serena gives him a sly smile.

  Neither of them notice Kieran stiffen at their exchange.

  Marylyn however doesn’t miss much. She has realised that the sulkiness in her son is caused by the missing Mollie. She also heard Jack on the phone yesterday ordering flowers. She didn’t get the entire conversation, but she did hear the demand for nine o’clock. Putting two and two together isn’t difficult and it explains Jack’s clock watching and his excitable mood. She is fairly sure that Mollie is getting the surprise of her life this morning. Jack doesn’t go in for half measures, and it wouldn’t surprise Marylyn if Mollie’s house didn’t resemble Kew Gardens right about now. She shakes her head sadly. She hates the thought of the two boys falling out.

  Glancing at Serena as she demands her dinner party, Marylyn is filled with dislike for the woman. Beautiful she may be, and Marylyn will admit to being bowled over when she first met the actress. Who wouldn’t be? It hadn’t lasted though. Within approximately an hour of meeting her, Marylyn had her pegged. She is a diva in the true sense, bitchy, demanding and certainly not right for Kieran.

  The sad thing is that Mollie would be perfect for him and Marylyn knows this, even though she hadn’t actually been introduced. She knows though, she feels it in her waters. Call it a mother’s intuition. Question is, would Mollie wait for Kieran to do the right thing or would Jack win her round?

  It will be interesting to watch, that’s for sure and Marylyn doesn’t feel sorry for Serena in the least. She does, however, feel very sorry for Mollie who is about to embark on a rollercoaster ride, pushed and pulled between two gorgeous men. One doesn’t really deserve her, and the other isn’t free to have her.

  Marylyn pushes the remains of her breakfast around her plate and tunes back in to the conversation.

  Jack has clearly taken to the idea of the dinner party and is now furiously making plans with Serena. Kieran is staring out of the window looking slightly defeated and not contributing to the exchange.

  Marylyn sighs again, better not to interfere. She would just watch and wait and only get involved if absolutely necessary. She would be there for Kieran if or when he needed her, and it appeared that he might well need her on Saturday evening, as Jack is now excitedly dropping Mollie’s family into the mix.

  As Serena and Jack continue to discuss the dinner party and possible guests, Angela arrives to retrieve the breakfast dishes. Receiving a nod from Marylyn to confirm they are finished, she moves quietly to the s
ideboard and begins to pile the silver dishes together. She pricks up her ears as she grasps the gist of the conversation and inwardly smiles a self satisfied smile. A dinner party for Serena Bonart! What a fabulous opportunity for her to show off her cooking skills. Angela’s imagination takes flight and her heart rate picks up. Perhaps if she were to really pull out all the stops and impress Serena, she might whisk Angela away. Admittedly the woman was a complete bitch and ate like a bird but Angela could put up with that if it meant living in Hollywood.

  She had bent over backwards the last few days trying to please Serena, preparing her food, what little she ate, to her exact standards. Even if that possibility wasn’t on offer, Angela was desperate to impress the McLaren’s, especially now that she realised the sort of company they kept.

  Angela had nearly passed out at seeing Serena at the table when she had arrived on Monday morning. She’d remained poised on the outside, refusing to show her elation and had not missed a beat when Serena had demanded an egg white omelette to be cooked without fat. Angela had knocked it up in no time, presenting it with a flourish to a disdainful Serena.

  She hadn’t made a fuss when Serena had demanded an audience with her in the sitting room. Standing in front of the goddess, pen and paper poised, she had quickly made a list of food requirements. Serena knew exactly what she wanted, exactly how it was to be cooked and for exactly how long. Angela was ordered to obtain the ingredients immediately from Fortnum & Mason. She gave instructions on how this was to be accomplished and sent Angela on her way. Following Serena’s directions, Angela had procured all the ingredients, comprising caviar, quail’s eggs, oysters and ostrich meat. All of which were delivered by courier from London by four that afternoon. Angela had been gobsmacked but excited by the possibilities. This was how the rich and famous lived and Angela wanted to be a part of that.