‘At the start of last winter we hadn’t had a kidnap threat for months so I took them off you. Stupid decision because something did happen. The security guards at the gate were openly avoiding holding a conversation with me; Alfred couldn’t look me in the eye. I didn’t press it because in my heart, if it concerned you and it was bad, I didn’t want to know. Foolish of me I know, but all I cared about was that you were safe. So what did happen?’
Sally explained everything that had happened that frightening night when she met David, how she had been attacked, how he’d helped her, how the Mini had been trashed and how he’d fixed it for her without asking for any money or thanks.
After the story was finished, Mr. Gallagher contemplated it for a few moments. ‘In that case I’m in full support of your relationship. To help and support you like that shows he is a good, strong character who is obviously kind and caring. But that wouldn’t have happened if the security had been following you. I know this was a random attack, but I know for a fact that my security has stopped a handful of well planned attacks on our family over the years, some of these attacks directed at seizing you.’
‘I’m sorry dad, I had no idea.’
Leaning forward he lifted his glass and took a sip of the rich liquor. ‘No need apologise. Perhaps I should have told you, but I didn’t want to worry you. What’s the point of worrying you when it can all be done covertly?’
‘True. That doesn’t excuse the fact that I lied to you. I’ll understand if you withdraw my privileges for a long, long time.’
‘No, it’s fine. I think you’ve learned your lesson. Anyway, you’ll need your privileges to keep that boy of yours accustomed to the life he’s going to be entering. I spoke to him about it, after you’d gone. Considering his background, a mechanic from an average family in an average part of town he doesn’t seem too overwhelmed, which again is another good sign to me that he’s got a strong head on his shoulders, a strong character. I think he’ll fit in well here. I presume he knows about your birthday ball?’
‘Of course! We both can’t wait!’
‘Good, good. Right, although I promised myself a full night off I can’t cope.’
‘Huh? What do you mean?’
‘I’m going upstairs to my office.’
‘Oh daddy! Give yourself a break!’
‘I have. I had a nice evening with you, until, well, you know, and I’ve had a nice chat with you to clear the air so now I need to check that my subordinates haven’t managed to bring my company to its knees!’
‘I’m sure it can survive one night!’
‘You clearly don’t know these subordinates my dear!’
With a laugh Sally stood, kissed her father on his forehead and they wandered together up to the third floor of the mansion and she left him outside his office which he entered. Quickly he sat down behind his desk and picked up the phone and dialled a number.
‘I thought you were having the evening off and spending it with Sally and her boyfriend? The big first meeting?’
‘We met. That’s why I’m calling James. It’s still early days, but I think I’ve found my successor.’
‘Has Sally come round at last after your years of gentle persuasion?’
‘No, she’ll never come round. She doesn’t want it, but someone close to her might be persuaded to become a very good apprentice…’
Chapter 39
Sally was stressed. It was the morning of her birthday ball and she had popped in to speak to her father about a small matter. Now, on top of ensuring everything was perfect for the evening, she now had the added stress of listening to the reason why her father had told her boyfriend to quit his job. ‘Why didn’t you tell me, us, you had this in plan? Why have you decided to drop this bombshell today of all days?!’ She was stood in his office in the mansion, leaning on his desk towering over him with her fists clenched.
‘I thought it would be a nice surprise for you, give a good finishing touch to your day.’
‘Daddy, I love him to bits, but he has no, none, zero academic qualifications. He’s got good common sense though, but he’s not a Cambridge or Oxford business school graduate that you usually employ! He’ll be totally out of his depth!’
‘Neither have I.’
‘Neither have you what?’
‘I don’t have any academic qualifications. Neither does James. What we do have, as you’ve said, is plenty of common sense. Look at, Bill Gates.’
‘What about him?’
‘Dropped out of Harvard, self made billionaire. Warren Buffet. Nothing special, standard degree, a Masters too, but self made billionaire. Carlos Slim Helu…’
‘Who the hell is he?’
‘Watch your tongue and show him some respect!’
‘Sorry.’
‘You’ve met him. A few years ago now mind. Mexican, started as a taxi driver and is at the moment second richest man in the world. Limited academic qualifications too. Self made billionaire.’
‘Right. What’s your point?’
‘My point is that the top three richest people in the world have limited academic qualifications and are all self-made!’
‘Right. So how does David fit into this?’
‘I’ve not worked my arse for the last few decades only to see my company handed over to a group of business school graduates who couldn’t make a correct decision between the lot of them! I want and the company needs a successor. You’re not interested; the only other people I meet are these business school graduates who try numerous different ways to impress me and fail miserably!’ He stopped for a moment and looked at Sally intensely. ‘I need someone fresh, someone with no pre-conceived ideas about how a company should be run that others think they know. I need someone I can groom, someone I can train to fit into the shoes that I’ll be leaving empty one day.’
‘You need an apprentice.’
‘Yes! Exactly that. And he’s perfect. He’s got good common sense and I can tell he’s got a good character. And what better barometer do I need apart from the fact that you’re dating him?!’
‘And if we break up?’
‘Is that likely?’
‘Right now, no. But you never know do you?’
‘You’re right, you don’t. But we can cross that bridge if we come to it.’
‘That will be a little awkward if I catch him sleeping with someone behind my back and then he’s taking over my father’s company.’
‘True and if you do break up for some reason like him sleeping with someone else then I’ll fire him, but this is my decision. Starting from Monday he’s working for me.’
‘That’s it?! You’re not even going to ask for my opinion?!’
‘I know what your opinion is.’
‘Oh yeah?! What?’
‘You think I’m crazy.’
‘You’ve got that right in one.’
‘Look,’ he stood and walked round the desk to take one of her hands and place the other on her shoulder, ‘I’m going to be paying him a salary which is double what he earns now. I’m going to lay out the ground rules to him that if this does not work out he’s back fixing cars. He presumed that anyway.’
‘Hang on. He’s already accepted?!’
‘Erm yes, although I didn’t tell you that.’
‘Well this gets better and better and better!’ She pushed away from him and walked towards the door.
‘I’m sure he’s got it in plan to tell you…’
She did not reply. Instead she stormed out of his office slamming the door behind her and made her way in furious anger through the mansion. One of the maids saw her coming who was well used to her mistress’s moods and with one glance at her face the maid scuttled out of her way. When she reached the door to her bedroom she flung it open and David jumped as he was stood there naked having just got out of the shower.
‘And when the hell did you plan on telling me about my dad’s offer?’
‘Huh?’
‘Don’t huh me!’
‘Can I get
dressed?’
‘No, you can’t.’ She grabbed his Calvin Klein underwear, a present from her to him, and threw them to the other side of the room. ‘Well?!’
‘Sally, calm down. I was…’
‘Don’t… tell… me… to calm down!’ She grabbed one of his shoes and threw it at him.
‘Ouch! Okay, sorry. I was going to tell you now. I was going to tell you directly after I’d spoken to him but I couldn’t find you!’
‘You’re as bad as him!’ Her voice screeched as she threw another shoe at him which this time he managed to dodge. ‘Scheming together behind my back!’
This time the thrown hairbrush did connect with his lifted arm that was protecting his face from inbound missiles. ‘Ouch! Jesus! Look, let’s sit down and we can talk about this…’
‘We’re talking now!’
‘Right, okay, okay. He called me up to this office about an hour ago. He spoke to me about his plan. He told me to think about it, discuss it with you. I came down here to talk to you but you weren’t here. I then realised there was nothing to think about and went back up to accept his offer.’
‘Without speaking to me?! How dare you!’
‘Owww! Stop throwing things at me!’
‘No!’
‘Owww!’
‘And what happens if we break up?! Have you thought of that?!’
‘Is that likely?’
‘Right now, yes it bloody is!’
‘Great. I’ll get my things.’
‘Don’t be stupid.’ Sally sighed and dropped her hand to her side which was holding a perfume bottle. ‘Just talk to me about things like this!’
‘I tried, but you weren’t here. I guessed you would have said yes anyway?’
‘I might have done, but you never know. And what if I said no now?’
‘Then I’d go straight upstairs and revoke my acceptance and find another job.’
‘Find another job?’
‘Yes. I’ve already quit the garage.’
‘What?!’
‘Ouch!’
‘Another thing you should have spoken to me about!’
‘Okay, okay. No matter what and how obvious it is I’ll always speak to you first. Okay?’
‘Good. He’ll be an arse to work for you know?’
‘I can imagine.’
‘I only worked for him as an admin assistant and he had me run ragged.’
‘I can imagine.’
‘You shouldn’t imagine, you should know. You’ll be working long, long hours.’
‘I do that anyway.’
‘You’ll never be home.’
‘I’m always here now.’
‘Well you’ll never be home or here.’
‘That’s fine. But to work with your dad, surely that is too much of an opportunity to miss?’
‘It is. But it is going to have a bad impact on our relationship. Oh my, it will be like being married to my dad! I’m not sure I like this. I’ve seen the hours he works. He’s never home. I’ll never see you.’
‘You will. I’ve negotiated with him.’
‘You’ve negotiated with him?! I would have loved to have seen that! And did your negotiation work?’
‘Yes. He talked about the impact it will have on my life and our relationship. But he’s also said that it won’t be as bad for me as it was for him because the company is already set up. He’s said that unless I really have to he’ll never expect me to work past six, and never on Sundays, but to expect occasional Saturdays. Of course there will be long nights and some days I won’t make it home, but thousands of couples do that and survive.’
‘I suppose we can see how it goes.’
‘Of course we can. And if it doesn’t work then I can quit and go back to fixing cars. Sound like a plan?’
‘I suppose.’
‘Cool. Can I get dressed now?’
‘Yes, sorry.’
While David was getting dressed Sally flopped on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She was not sure about this new development because she had seen over the years how hard her father had worked, but she did not want to block this astonishing development and opportunity in David’s life. As she propped herself up on her elbow, she looked at him as he got ready and she could already see that something in the young man who she had grown to know a lot and love a lot had changed.
Even now, only a few hours after finding out her father’s plan, he seemed to be holding himself differently or was it just the tuxedo he was not used to? Either way, what definitely could not be denied was that there was a glint in his eye that had not been there before, a feeling and an aura of confidence about him.
For a few moments she watched him as he struggled with the bow tie until she called his name and patted the bed beside her. Muttering and cursing under his breath he waved away her offer of assistance so instead she started to count down from ten in her head. Exactly as she reached one, for the final time he muttered and walked over to sit next to her.
‘How do you know how to do this?’ he growled at her. ‘Done it for other boyfriends?’
‘No my jealous boyfriend. I’ve done it for my father loads of times. He’s rubbish at it too!’
‘Pardon me?! How dare you!’
Quick as a flash he turned round and leapt onto her, forcing her flat onto the bed, pinning her arms while straddling her across her stomach. For a few moments she wriggled and kicked under him but he was far too strong for her. She stopped and stared into his blue eyes with a look of anger at being manhandled in this manner and as they stared into each others’ eyes he leaned forward to kiss her. She flung her head to the side so his kissed missed and as he readjusted his aim she flung her head the other way.
Changing tack, he pulled her wrists together so he could hold them in one hand and with his other hand gently grabbed her jaw to keep her head still. He kissed her, running his tongue over her lips, not feeling any response at first, but then her lips parted slightly and he felt her relax under him. Her tongue met his and soon each of their tongues were in and out of each of their mouths, running around and along lips.
Sally was only wearing a thin cotton t-shirt and David glanced down as he moved his lips to her neck and noticed how her nipples were pressing firmly against the cotton top. David’s lips gently kissed her neck, flicking out his tongue against her warm flesh and as he did this he stroked her right nipple with his thumb. She gasped and was reaching for his belt before her hands stopped and pressed against his chest.
‘Stop David, please stop. I need to get ready.’ She could not help notice the flash of emotion across his face. ‘Tonight we can carry on from exactly this spot. I promise.’
Smiling he rolled off her and cradled her head in his arms, stroking her hair for a few moments. ‘I love you very much Sally.’
‘Me too David, very, very much.’
They cuddled for a little longer until there was a knock on the bedroom door.
‘Miss Gallagher. The beautician is here. She is waiting for you in the dressing room.’
‘I’ll be there in a minute. Are you going to take the tuxedo off?’
‘Yeah, of course. The party is not for hours. I only put it on to see what it was like. Never worn one before. What colour are you going to have your hair tonight?’
‘What colour do you want me to have it? I’ve got a selection of gowns that I can pick to match.’
‘I love it when it’s copper red. You know that.’
‘Then copper red it shall be.’
‘Perfect.’
‘I’d better go.’
‘No worries. See you later.’
With a kiss Sally left David in the room and walked the short distance to the dressing room. The room was wall to wall mirrors with a seat in front of an ornate dressing table with another mirror on it. Here Sally’s beautician waited for her and when she entered the room she was told to sit at the table.
For the next hour or so Sally had a full makeover. She was manicured and pedic
ured; she was plucked and waxed in all places including her most intimate areas. Attached to the room was another smaller room with sinks and this was where her hairdresser waited. Her hair was washed, deeply conditioned and coloured from black to the copper red that David requested. This took another couple of hours, and while she was waiting, Adrienne, who had been flown in especially so Sally thought, paraded gown after gown in front of Sally, chattering away at her about the pros and cons of each gown.
In the end, after much deliberation, she opted for a beautiful baby-blue coloured gown, with real pearls and diamonds dotted around the gown that gave it a shimmering effect. When her hair was ready and had been lightly curled and her nails painted and polished to match the gown, she returned to the dressing room where Adrienne measured her while she was naked. ‘I never forget sizes Sally, and in the last few months since I last measured you you’ve put on weight.’
‘Really? I hadn’t noticed.’ Sally had noticed and in fact her weight had only been gained in the last couple of weeks since she had started taking the contraceptive pill for the first time in her life in preparation for tonight.
After the measurements had been done, Sally dressed and was dismissed by Adrienne so the necessary adjustments could be made to the gown. When Sally returned to her room David had been chased out by one of the maids as instructed by Sally so she could finish getting ready without the added distraction.
In private she tried on numerous different sets of lingerie and eventually after much deliberation and a frantic call to Michelle as well as some picture messages being sent, she opted for a set of rose lingerie from the Victoria’s Secret range.
Once this decision had been made all she had to do was wait for Adrienne to adjust the gown and she was ready for her ball. Anxiously she made a call to the organiser her father had hired and she was informed that everything was proceeding as planned. With her mind slightly more at ease Sally sat and stared out of the window over the lawn to where the large marquee had been erected. Even her mansion was not big enough to hold the number of people that had been invited, but the marquee had been kitted out with wall to wall oak flooring along with ornate tables and chairs. The number of people who were working around the marquee surprised her when viewed like this from her room from a detached point of view. The waiters and waitresses walked quickly between the marquee and the house carrying plates, or glasses or bottles of champagne and other such items.
Everything to Nothing Page 40