Saorsa

by Kerry Heavens

  “Fancy that. It’s the little American,” she sneers.

  “Excuse me.” I move to the side so she can pass me. She follows so she’s still standing in front of me.

  “Don’t think you will ever get between Rhys and I.”

  I hold up my hands. “That’s the last thing I want. I’m not after your man.”

  “Good because you aren’t refined enough for him.”

  “Sweetheart, he isn’t even my type.” Ugh, as soon as I say it I regret engaging with her.

  “Darling, he is everyone’s type. Everyone with any taste that is. Maybe you should just go back to ‘Merica,” she says with a fake accent.

  My jaw tightens. “I’m a grown woman. I won’t sling insults like an ignorant child.” I move past her.

  She curses something vicious under her breath that I miss, but I don’t really care what she thinks of me.

  I pause at the stall entrance and turn around to glance at her. “You might want to wipe your nose. Unless you want to advertise to everyone what you were doing in the bathroom.”

  Her eyes go wide, her hands flying to her face as she rushes over to the sink turning the water on. I smirk to myself closing the stall. She slams the door as she leaves the bathroom and I finish up as quickly as possible. This evening has had a little too much excitement for my taste.

  As I’m washing my hands, the bathroom door bursts open and Louise’s eyes snap to mine.

  “Everything okay?” I quirk a brow.

  “Cami just saw that Lisa woman storm out of here. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “Aww. Were you going to be my knight in shining armor?”

  “Bitch,” she hisses.

  “Always.” I laugh. “I think I’m ready to go home now.”

  Five

  I wanted my transition to life in London to be as smooth and quick as possible and part of that is being self-sufficient and not relying on Louise for everything, which is how I find myself on day two of my new life, navigating the busy underground, alone. I’ve used the network plenty of times with Louise, but I’m nevertheless proud of myself for getting here unaided, and because I was extra, extra careful with my timings, I have almost an hour before my interview. Maybe I’ll take in some of the sights before my meeting.

  Knowing that St. Paul’s Cathedral is in this neighborhood, I stop outside the tube station and take in my surroundings. I’m taken aback when I see the vast building looming only feet away down a narrow side street. I expected it to be stood in sprawling grounds, but instead find it like everything else in this city, tightly surrounded by the hustle and bustle.

  Turning the corner, the cathedral rises into the sky before me. I’m in awe as I shield my eyes from the sun and take in the vast domed roof. Edward would love this building, I think to myself.

  In fact, I know he would love it all as much as I do if I’m honest and I realize my friend is perhaps the only thing I will miss from home. Deciding to share it with him, I blindly dig into my purse grabbing my phone and snap a picture.

  Me: Miss you. - I attach the picture and hit send.

  Almost immediately I get a reply.

  Edward: Miss you too. When is your interview?

  Me: About forty-five minutes.

  I frown then, not recalling having even told him about the interview. Everything was such a whirlwind in the few days before I left, maybe I just can’t remember. I must have since he knows.

  Edward: You’ve got it in the bag.

  Me: We’ll see.

  I’m grateful for the faith he has in me, but it raises my nerve levels. Attempting to stay calm, I begin to walk around the cathedral, taking in the facade. As much as I’d love to see inside, I don’t think I should right now. I don’t have enough time to fully enjoy it and I need to stay focused on the interview. I need this to go well, not for my security. I have the money to kick back and enjoy life. But free time and I are not good bedfellows. I need challenge. I need work. I need this job for my sanity.

  I make my way through the gates to the churchyard and in the dappled shade I pass ancient tombs and sculptures. A bench opens up as I reach the rear of the building and I take a seat in the sunshine. It’s an absolutely perfect place for me to sit and go over my presentation. I’m confident, but there is always that little twinge of doubt that creeps around in my head. I just have to keep reminding myself that they sought me out.

  “Do you mind if I share your bench?” a familiar voice asks.

  Looking up, the sun blinds me until he steps in front of it, shielding me from its intense light. I stop squinting as soon as I see his face.

  “Rhys?” I ask, surprise evident in my voice.

  He chuckles. “It is I.”

  “How did you find me?”

  His eyes are piercing, a girl could get lost in those pretty blues.

  “I work around here. It was simply luck I spotted you as I was passing.” He sits down next to me.

  I wonder if he works at a local tattoo shop or something. He’s wearing ripped jeans and an old band t-shirt in such an effortless way, he looks like he could fit in easily somewhere like that.

  “You have to admit it’s creepy how we keep running into each other.” I frown.

  “Or the stars are aligned in our favor.” He smirks, using my words from last night against me.

  I giggle, but he doesn’t look to be making a joke. “Uh huh, sure.”

  A slow smirk appears on his face after a beat. “Are you not a believer in fate, Mrs. Rose?”

  I’m surprised at the thrill that goes through me as my name rolls off his tongue and I don’t miss the direct attempt to coax my marital status out of me once again. “It’s Ms. Rose,” I inform him, throwing him a bone. “But please, call me Charlotte.”

  “You didn’t answer the question, Charlotte.” His brow raises and he waits for me to answer him.

  The way my name sounds in his accent gives me goose bumps, but I force myself to snap out of my daze. “No, I don’t believe in fate. I think hard work pays off and the rest will come with it.”

  “Ahh a cynic,” he muses. “Are you staying around here?”

  Interesting change of subject. “No, I’m living with my best friend Louise right now, near Covent Garden.” Why am I telling him this? I’ll admit he doesn’t feel like a stranger, but still I’m usually not so forthcoming.

  “What brings you here then? The church?” He motions over to the cathedral.

  “No, I have an interview.” There you go again, Charlotte! Button up your mouth. Flustered, I look at my watch. I don’t do flustered. I need to get out of here. If I leave now I’ll be obscenely early, but I can live with that. “In fact, I better get going.” I jump up from the bench like a scalded cat.

  “Would you like to meet later for coffee?” he asks hopefully.

  “Sorry, Rhys, I have plans.” I start to walk away and his voice travels with me.

  “Until we meet again then.” It’s a promise, not a wish, and it stirs an army of butterflies inside me.

  Shaking my head, I walk away, crossing the courtyard at a brisk pace. As I head back toward the street I came from I begin to regret my haste. Coffee wouldn’t hurt. I can be friends with someone and just talk over coffee, right? I pause, giving myself a pep talk. You can be friends with Rhys, he seems harmless. Raising my chin higher, I turn back to Rhys, then stop in my tracks.

  I watch as a familiar reedy form approaches him. He stands to greet her and she slips her arms around his waist and while I don’t know him at all, I can read his body language from all the way over here. He tenses and firmly takes her forearms away from his sides, setting her back a step and looking down into her face with an expression of regret. I’m too far away to hear what they’re saying. If I’m honest with myself, I don’t want to know. Some things aren’t worth the baggage they bring, there will always be time to make new friends later.

  I turn on my heel, re-focusing on the task at hand and shaking all thoughts of a cozy
coffee with a Scottish Laird away. I look at the street sign and know from my exhaustive preparations that I only need to follow this street down and around to Old Bailey. The brisk walk doesn’t take much time at all and before I know it, I’m looking up at what I hope will be my new workplace.

  Rhys and Lisa vanish from my mind the minute I step foot into the building. The company has been trying for the last three years to get me to interview for their Chief Financial Officer position. As soon as it became known that Henry was trying to buy me out, the offers began to pour in. Some attractive offers I have to admit, but none like this one. None that would bring me to the place I’d dreamed of living since I was a small girl. This company was the only one I considered.

  I did my homework, but I couldn’t find much on company policies, or a day in the life of a coworker, or who the owner even is. Whoever runs this company does a great job of keeping their name separated from the company. I can appreciate that, having spent the last decade with my name at the center of a large corporation, I know there are heady pros and heavy cons to that life. I was so proud of my baby when we started, of course I wanted to mark it as mine, but I can see the appeal of a more reclusive path and I respect anyone who chooses to take it to the top.

  I straighten my jacket, stiffen my spine and hold my head up high as I walk through the door to the office and go directly to the reception desk.

  The young lady has a warm, but schooled smile on her face as she recites the required greeting. “Welcome to Liberty. Can I help you?”

  “Yes, I have an interview at two.”

  She looks down at her computer screen then back up to me and smiles once more. “Ms. Rose?”

  “Yes, that’s me.” My voice is a lot calmer than I feel. The ultra modern interior of the reception area promises a work setting which is completely foreign to me. The Cole Financial offices were modern, yet homely. Here I feel hyper-aware of myself against the cool, sleek decor.

  She nods in confirmation, typing rapidly.

  “I’m sorry, I’m early,” I apologize feebly and curse myself for sounding anything other than confident.

  “That’s quite alright, Ms. Rose. If you’ll have a seat someone will be right out to take you in.” She motions to the line of modern sofas in the lobby.

  “Thank you.” I give her a tight smile and walk over to take a seat.

  As confident as I am in my ability to get this position, I feel like a fish out of water. I have been the head of a large corporation for most of my adult life, I’m not used to feeling like the shaky hopeful. There is still a chance I could blow it, simply with my lack of interview experience alone, or because I’m used to being at the top of the boardroom table, not the bottom. I’ve seen it when interviewing employees time and time again, candidates come in too cocky and I fear that could blow it for me. My name is well respected in the financial industry in America, but that chapter is closed. Getting into this company will start me on a new path to my career in the U.K. To achieve that I know I have to start at the bottom.

  The company hit the market just like mine, I sigh and correct myself. Cole Financial is not mine anymore. I visualize the numbers I researched and repeat them in my head. I’m prepared, I’m more than qualified, I just need to interview well.

  “Ms. Rose?”

  I look up at the gentleman standing in the reception waiting for me and plaster a friendly smile on my face. Game on, Charlotte.

  “Yes.” I get to my feet carefully and walk toward him.

  He puts a hand out and shakes mine firmly. I’m quietly impressed, men tend to give me weak handshakes because I’m a woman and that immediately makes me lose respect. His grip makes me feel he respects me and that we are on equal ground.

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” he says with a surprising amount of enthusiasm. “Come this way to the conference room.” He motions me through the frosted glass doors. Pausing inside the door, I let him take the lead. In his enthusiasm I notice he hasn’t given me his name. I don’t want to assume he’s the owner and look like I haven’t done my research, but I dislike not addressing people by their name, it feels unprofessional. Entering the conference room he motions me to take a seat.

  “I’m John Tesi,” he tells me, allaying my concerns. “We’ve been exchanging emails.” He pulls out a chair for me and then walks around the table and takes the seat across from me.

  “It’s a pleasure to put a face to the name.”

  “Likewise. I’m happy we were finally able to get you here for a meeting. Unfortunately, Mr. McAllister had a last minute emergency.”

  Inwardly I groan, I was mentally prepared to interview today and get moving on the work scene before I get too comfortable staying at home.

  “Would you like to reschedule?” I offer politely, keeping my composure and not letting my disappointment show.

  “No. That won’t be necessary. I’ve prepared a packet for you. Having you come into the office was simply a formality we didn’t want to bypass.” He shuffles a packet of papers in front of him.

  “I’m confused, John. I thought I was interviewing for the CFO position today.” I frown, hoping I haven’t wasted my time. I’m thoroughly confused as to why they would have a packet for me if there was no interview taking place.

  He softly chuckles. “Ms. Rose, we have been watching you for a long time, we know everything we need to know about your work ethic and you come highly recommended on a personal level. Our decision has already been made. We wanted to have you come in to the office today for your formal offer.”

  “You don’t want to ask me a series of ‘tell me about a time’ questions?” I almost let my mouth hang open. Mr. Tesi has thrown me completely off-guard.

  “The recommendation letters we have received are more than enough. We know you’ll be a great asset to Liberty, that is if you accept.” He pushes a packet across the table toward me, then folds his hands in front of him expectantly.

  I don’t reach for the packet, I can feel my hands shaking in my lap and my heart is beating in my throat. “I accept,” I blurt, with a certainty that shocks even me.

  “Don’t you want to review our offer?” John raises his eyebrows in surprise.

  My nerves fade away. I know I’m not being hasty here. Somehow I can just feel it. They wanted me. I was the best in America and now I will be the best in England. My mouth curls into a smile and I feel an air of confidence that I can be sure isn’t undue cockiness, surround me.

  “Tell me, John, is this a competitive offer?”

  He has schooled his features and I think there is a faint twinkle in his eye. “Ms. Rose, our offer would top any competition, I assure you. You were sorely underpaid in your last role, owner or not.”

  I incline my head. “I pride myself on trusting others until they prove me wrong. So I trust that this offer won’t offend me and I accept the position.” I stand up and reach across the table to shake his hand.

  He clasps my hand firmly. “I look forward to working with you, Ms. Rose.”

  “Please, call me Charlotte. When would you like me to start?” I sit back down. I don’t know how much longer I can contain my excitement.

  “Well, we would like to begin the process as soon as possible. How long are you in town for?” He moves his notepad in front of him and picks up his pen to take notes.

  “Oh, I have moved here indefinitely,” I tell him, folding my hands together so I don’t restlessly tap on the table. “I don’t plan to return to the US.”

  The look of surprise on his face brings a smile to mine. “I see. Have you already found a place to stay?”

  “My best friend lives here. I’ll stay with her until I find an area I’d like to live in. My possessions are in storage with a shipping company until I’m settled.”

  He nods, scribbling a note on his pad. “If you need some suggestions, I can assist there.”

  “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” I get a good vibe from John, I’m usually a good judge of ch
aracter and the way he is showing interest in his employee’s well-being shows he has a decent respect for the people he works with.

  “We should discuss getting you a work visa then. We want to make sure everything is official. That is a top priority. We will of course sponsor you and I don’t anticipate any issues.”

  I give him a satisfied smile as I know all my hard work and preparation for this moment is about to pay off. “That won’t be necessary, John. You see, my father was British, so I have used my hereditary right to apply for citizenship. I received my British passport last week. I’m free to stay here unsponsored. If you have more information on what other documents you’ll need, I’ll gladly supply them for you.”

  John laughs. “Well, it seems you are five steps ahead of us, Charlotte. We missed that little gem in our research on you.”

  “I like to be prepared in advance.”

  “Splendid. This is going to be a fantastic partnership.” He looks down at his notes and scrubs his pen over them, realizing all of the items on his to do list are already taken care of. “Well since there aren’t weeks of procedure to get through, how soon would you like to start?”

  “I can start as soon as you’d like.”

  “Right then, we are very keen to get you on board. We’re going into the weekend now so what say you start fresh and clear on Monday morning? It will just give us a day or two to prepare for your arrival. Will that work for you?”

  “That will be perfect. Do we start at seven am?”

  “No. We start our day at eight.”

  “I’ll be here,” I confirm, trying my hardest not to bounce in my chair. A whole new challenge awaiting me after the weekend is more than I had hoped for out of today and the thought of sinking my teeth in has me bouncing with excitement. “I just want to thank you for this opportunity, John,” I tell him, controlling my voice.

  “Charlotte, I’ll be honest, it is us who should be thanking you. The minute word went out that you would be leaving your company we knew we had to have you as part of the Liberty family. This is an excellent company to work for. I have been here since the start and every year it just gets better. I think you’ll enjoy working with us.”