by Simone Jaine
“I’ve given a lot of thought about who I wanted to join me in Christchurch but before I announce the lucky person I want to let you all know the benefits they will be receiving.”
Nate paused, this time to take a sip of his coffee.
“My sister’s husband is a market gardener and their home was far enough away from the CBD to get through the quakes relatively unscathed. Although I will be living in their guest house I am pleased to inform you that despite the housing shortage the person getting the promotion will also receive free accommodation. My sister and brother- in-law have converted their barn to housing and the chosen person will share that with a family of seven.
“I looked into getting a company car but the insurance was going to be a bit much with some of the roads needing to be travelled not up to scratch. My brother-in-law has kindly offered us use of his old Toyota ute which they haven’t needed since they stopped pig farming. Great vehicles Toyotas. They keep going like the Energiser Bunny. It was a lovely red when it was new and I’m told if you keep the windows down you don’t notice the smell overly much.”
Nate looked around the room and beamed. Everyone made sure not to make eye contact, even the reps on screen and Mark who was suddenly more interested in scratching his head.
“In the end the choice for these promotions came down to two people and I insisted upon having first choice. In the last few weeks it became clear that this person was prepared to go the extra mile to get things done so my choice should come as no surprise to you.”
Nate paused for effect.
As the moments passed, members of staff glanced at each other up and down the table. Murmurs grew louder. Jem felt several pairs of eyes touch on her, some even pitying. She closed her eyes as if she could shut everything out and once again her stomach rolled.
Please not me, Jem silently begged. When I wanted an overseas promotion I meant travelling further than across Cook Strait.
The room became silent enough to hear a pin drop. Jem opened her eyes to see Nate holding his hand up for silence. He began to speak.
“Without further ado I want you to help me congratulate Mark Walton for securing this promotion.”
There was another moment’s silence before a burst of laughter came from Brett on screen. Some people saw Angela touch the keyboard in front of her before the screen went black. In the meeting room the applause became thunderous and several employees rose to give Nate’s decision a standing ovation.
Very much relieved, Jem stood up to join them.
Mark just sat in his seat looking shell shocked.
Nate stood there looking very pleased with himself. He put a hand on Mark’s shoulder and Mark looked up at him.
“You’ll have to bring your golf clubs down. I may let you in on the odd game,” Nate said generously and removed his hand to take his seat.
A few minutes later after the noise had died down and everyone had returned to their seats Martha stood. She looked at Nate above her reading glasses.
“After your announcement this one is going to be anticlimactic,” she told him just as the Sydney screen came back online.
“I’m a hard act to follow,” Nate replied, earning a burst of good natured laughter.
“I would have liked to discuss this with the person we have chosen first but it seems I have been overruled,” Martha said, her blue eyes flashing at an oblivious Nate who was patting Mark on the shoulder as he whispered something in his ear.
“I would like to announce the staff member who will have the task of setting up our Hong Kong office, employing staff and assuming a management role.” Martha paused. “With the talent we have this was not an easy decision to make.”
“We know that already. Get on with it,” said Brett cheekily from on screen.
Martha waved a finger at his on screen image.
“I’m not beyond pulling the plug and leaving you in the dark,” she warned, belying the reprimand with a smile.
Brett mimed zipping his lip and everyone laughed.
“Then without further ado let’s congratulate, Jem Flint,” Martha announced.
Cherie cheered and threw her arms around Jem.
“I knew it!” she cried.
Jem sat there feeling a little like Mark had looked earlier. People were coming out of their seats to congratulate her and she accepted their well wishes without really hearing what was said.
Inside she wasn’t as calm as she appeared. She knew her new job would be for two years after which she had the option of staying there or moving to set up the next office. This promotion was the culmination of everything she had ever wanted and would open many more doors for her if she ever decided to change careers. She should be ecstatic. So why wasn’t she?
The smell of the hot chocolate in front of her made her suddenly nauseous and she pushed the mug away. Oblivious to her discomfit, people around her took the meeting as being over and started filing out of the conference room.
“Congratulations again, Jem,” Martha said and held out her hand to shake.
Jem took it and heard herself make the appropriate appreciative noises and didn’t notice Cherie sitting back watching her with a speculative look on her face.
The rest of the day was a blur. She spent the afternoon with Martha going over the business plan and only found herself back in her office shortly before it was time to leave for the day. After clearing the most urgent work on her desk she finally checked her email to see if Martha had forwarded the documents they had discussed and found one from Cherie labelled New boss.
Opening it, she saw Cherie had asked her to look at her seat allocation and to thank her later. Attached was the e-ticket information for her flight to Hong Kong. Jem opened the PDF file and saw she had been booked business class which was a nice surprise then noticed the flight date. She was leaving at the end of the following week.
Too soon.
A rap on the door made her look up to see Eben waiting in the doorway.
“Cherie said you were still here and I wondered if you would like to come out to dinner with me and share any news you may have,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
He knew she would be leaving and it didn’t bother him.
Jem used her years of practice of hardening herself to Coco’s indifference to push the feeling of deep hurt away. Instead she became angry with herself for getting involved with him instead. She nodded stiffly and logged out of her programs and turned off her computer. Silently she gathered up her coat and shoulder bag.
You knew it would be a mistake to get involved with him but you had to take a chance didn’t you?
“Is something wrong?” Eben asked as they waited for the elevator. “You’re pretty quiet.”
“No,” Jem lied. “I’ve just got a lot of things on my mind at the moment.”
“Well I can’t wait to hear them,” Eben said as the soft ding announced the elevator’s arrival.
He ushered her in and before she knew it they were walking out of another elevator into Orbit restaurant at the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower. The waiter knowingly escorted them to a table by the window away from other diners.
Now that they were here Eben felt nervous and he thumbed the velvet covered box in his pocket to give him courage. The engagement ring inside had been chosen for his grandmother by his grandfather when he had returned from the war. His grandparents had always been an extremely close couple and Eben was looking forward to enjoying the same enduring love with Jem. He hoped she would like the single stone in its delicately etched platinum band.
Asking for the ring had certainly pleased his mother. She had been thrilled to give it to him and not just because it meant his sisters wouldn’t fight over who got to inherit it. She was mostly happy that he was ready to settle down.
Should I propose now or wait until dessert? How should I ask?
Eben mentally slapped himself. Although he’d been waiting for this moment for years he had never considered the specifics.
The waiter returned with the menus and filled their water glasses while Eben ducked over to the restroom. His nerves were getting to him.
When he returned Eben looked at the drinks on offer and decided on champagne.
What better way to celebrate Jem’s promotion and their engagement?
As soon as their orders were taken, Jem seemed content to look out the window at the city view slowly changing beneath them. The lights from streets and buildings made the night sparkle in hues of yellow, red and blue.
Why is he so quiet? Is he planning how to dump me?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the waiter filling her glass with champagne.
Eben sat there doubting his strategy. He should have got the champagne after she had accepted his proposal so they could toast to their future.
Don’t forget her promotion, he reminded himself.
“Did anything interesting happen today?” he asked.
“I got the promotion to Hong Kong,” Jem said.
As if you didn’t know.
“You must be excited,” he prompted.
Jem shrugged.
“I think it is still sinking in.”
Eben drew his glass up for a toast and Jem slowly followed suit.
“To new beginnings,” he declared and tapped his glass to hers.
He’s finished with me.
All Jem could do was to sit there and force a smile when inside she wanted to knee him in the family jewels.
They quietly sipped the fizzing champagne, each lost in their own thoughts. Despite being aware that she wasn’t overly animated and didn’t seem as enthusiastic about her promotion as he would have expected Eben was still preoccupied with how best to propose to question her further.
Should I get down on one knee?
Stick the ring in her drink while she isn’t looking?
Nah. Who knows what cleaners have been used on the ring and what if she didn’t see it and accidentally choked on it? That would go down well. Not.
He still hadn’t decided how to propose when their meals arrived. They both ate, happy to have a reason not to get into any heavy conversation when they both had so much on their minds.
Feeling unsettled, Jem mostly pushed her food around on her plate. By the time Eben had nearly finished eating he couldn’t wait any longer. The moment had arrived.
Chapter 26
Instead of the words Eben had been planning, nerves prompted him to say something completely different.
“Could you please excuse me for a minute? I have to go.”
Without waiting for a response Eben hurried towards the restroom.
That’s the third time in half an hour. Does he have a bladder infection? Maybe he just doesn’t want to be with me and is looking for an excuse to go home. Perhaps we should, I don’t feel that great myself.
Jem sighed and looked around the restaurant only to see Nate and Mark with Martha and Cherie waiting to be seated. Martha spotted her, tapped Cherie on the shoulder and pointed out Jem. Within moments Cherie was heading towards her.
“Howdy stranger,” Cherie drawled. “Where’s Eben?”
“He had to use the facilities. Why are you all here?”
“I was about to go home when Nate and Mark decided on a business dinner and wanted me there to take notes,” Cherie said, annoyed. “Heaven forbid one of them holding a pen and writing their own.”
“It’s unlike them to include Martha too,” Jem noted.
“That would be because Mark has an agenda. He’s been working on Duh-boss all afternoon and I’m sure before the night is out he plans to convince him and Martha that your promotion destinations should be swapped.”
Jem looked at the group and unintentionally made eye contact with the one person she really didn’t want to talk to.
Darn it. He’s coming over here. Hurry back Eben.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Mark said as he arrived at the table. “You must be very pleased with yourself.”
“I’m working on it,” Jem told him honestly then added politely “Are you looking forward to shifting to Christchurch?”
“You’ve got to be kidding! Nate’s made a mistake but it should be sorted before the end of dinner.”
Mark put his hands on the table and leaned towards Jem.
“A word of advice; don’t put your winter clothes in storage just yet.”
He stood up and walked back to join Nate and Martha who were being shown to their table.
Cherie watched him in disgust.
“I had better join them,” she said apologetically. “I am very much looking forward to booking him on a one way flight to Christchurch and I want to make sure he doesn’t say anything that will get him off that plane.”
Eben turned the corner in time to see Cherie walk from their table to join the others. He looked back and saw the expression on Jem’s face. She didn’t look too happy.
Great. There goes the intimate setting for my romantic proposal. Whatever the reason they’re here, their arrival has killed the mood, he thought glumly as he approached the table and sat down.
Upon Eben mentioning seeing Cherie walk past, Jem explained Mark’s agenda. Unsurprisingly neither of them ate much more after that and when the waiter returned they declined dessert.
Next time take a chance on wetting yourself and don’t miss the opportunity to propose, Eben berated himself as the elevator went down.
When they got home Jason came out of the office to greet them in the hallway.
“How was dinner?” he asked.
“Lovely thanks,” Jem said woodenly as she shook off her coat and hung it on the hook by the front door.
Jason raised an eyebrow at Eben in surprise. Eben quickly shook his head. Jason widened his eyes and raised his brows, silently asking for more details. Eben shook his head again. Jason put his hands on his hips and scowled at Eben. Eben scowled back.
Giving up, Jason moved to the next topic. He clapped his hands and started rubbing his palms together.
“You’ll never guess what,” he said. “Jess can come home tomorrow!”
Jem spun around.
“Really?” she asked.
The one day I don’t visit her…
“Yes. She’s sick of being in hospital and misses her own bed.”
“Will she be well enough to come home?” Jem asked over her shoulder as she went into the kitchen and turned on the kettle. Jason obligingly followed her.
“With the kids around I didn’t think it was a good idea because she’d be up to do things for them but we reached a compromise,” he said.
“You’re going to tie her to the bed?” Eben asked from the doorway.
“No. That’s Plan B. Plan A is that Aunty Beryl will stay until she’s well enough to do things on her own.”
Jason’s aunt was a registered nurse and ruled over an empty nest now that her youngest had moved out to go flatting. Uncle Ted wouldn’t mind getting away with making a mess for a while and Jess would be in good hands.
“I guess you’ll want your guest bedroom back,” Jem commented, trying to ignore the unsettled feeling inside her as she withdrew three mugs from the cupboard. She walked to the fridge and opened the door.
“No hurry,” Jason assured her and winked at Eben. “The more the merrier. Besides she can sleep in the Murphy bed in the office.”
“What Murphy bed?” Jem asked, standing in the middle of the kitchen with the half full bottle of milk clutched to her chest.
“You know, the one that folds out from the panel above the desk,” Jason said. He nudged Eben. “Go on. Tell her how we kept opening it up and putting it back because all the computers on the desk looked cool lowering to the floor and then raising up when we put the bed away.”
Jason turned back to Jem who had dropped the bottle of milk on the bench.
“It’s very Thunderbirds,” Jason told her when Eben didn’t say anything.
“Show me,” Jem demanded and led the way to the office.
“T
hanks,” Eben muttered to Jason as they followed in her wake.
“Why wouldn’t you want her to know we had another… Never mind, I’ve figured it out,” said Jason. He slapped Eben on the back as they walked into the office. “Very smooth.”
“Now where is it?” Jem asked as she looked around the room.
“Right here,” said Eben. He pulled out two chairs from a long desk that had a deep bookshelf above it.
Jason grabbed a handle below the shelf and Jem watched in amazement as the desk covered with computer equipment lowered to the floor and a bed folded out above it.
She walked over and patted the end of the made up bed.
“It even has a proper mattress,” she commented.
Jem turned and looked at Eben.
“You would have been quite comfortable in here. I don’t know whether to commend you or thump you.”
Eben looked at her sheepishly.
“How about a hug?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” she said and walked towards the door. Thinking unpleasant thoughts reminded her of something. Jem stopped and turned to look at Jason.
“Have you phoned Coco about Jess coming out of hospital?” she asked.
“I hadn’t even thought about it,” Jason replied. “I don’t suppose you’d do the honours?”
She wasn’t in the mood to deal with her mother but at least she was less likely than Jason to be overtly offensive. She sighed.
“Okay. I’ll phone her then bring in the drinks. I may be a while,” she added.
Jason raised the Murphy bed to continue working while Eben followed Jem into the hallway and grabbed her around the waist.
“Please don’t hold it against me. After all I was a good boy the first few nights,” he said earnestly. Eben thought of what he tried to do the second night they shared a bed. “Or meant to be a good boy.”
Would someone planning to dump me behave this way? Hardly.
Jem smiled with relief at his words. She didn’t even pause to consider why he had been so preoccupied. She turned in his arms and hugged him to her.