‘Jake?’ asked Clem and Paige in unison.
‘Who’s he?’ Paige added, trying to recall Olly mentioning anyone by that name.
Olly seemed to brighten up a little. ‘He’s a good friend. I think you two would get on well.’
Paige shook her head. ‘I have more than enough going on right now, thanks, Ol,’ she said, not adding that she was too wrapped up in her confusing feelings for Sebastian to want to get involved with anyone else.
Paige had a nervous few days when deliveries from her supplier were delayed due to a postal strike on the mainland. ‘It’s the worst part of living on this island,’ she moaned to Olly. ‘They only arrived late yesterday afternoon, just before I locked up for the day.’
Olly slammed down a copy of the Jersey Society magazine. ‘Page twenty-three,’ Olly said, licking his finger and scuffling through the pages until he found what he was looking for. ‘Look, it’s him.’
Paige sighed. ‘I’ve never known a man so interested in local gossip. What is it now?’ Looking down she saw a photo of Sebastian with his arm draped around Sara’s shoulders. She was gazing up at him, happiness emanating from her large eyes, and he, in turn, appeared to be very relaxed as he stared directly into the camera lens. The by-line said, ‘Mr Sebastian Fielding and friend, enjoying the recent Jersey Business Awards Ceremony’.
She swallowed hard. He was only doing what she had told him to. Well, not the finding a girlfriend bit, but did she, in all seriousness, expect Sebastian never to have another relationship after her? Of course not. It hurt though to see him with someone, however platonic it may have been. ‘I suspected as much,’ she murmured half to herself.
‘What?’
‘She runs the restaurant Seb took me to. I could tell she had feelings for him, even though she tried to hide them.’
‘They look pally more than anything else,’ Olly said, eventually.
‘Sara is his business partner.’
‘Oh, OK.’ Olly narrowed his eyes. ‘She doesn’t look his type anyway.’
‘If you mean she’s different from me, then you’re probably right.’ Paige studied the picture more closely. ‘She’s very glamorous.’
‘If you say so, but I think you’re far prettier than she is.’
‘That’s because you’re my friend and trying to cheer me up,’ she said, smiling at him.
Olly scanned the other pictures. ‘It looks like it must have been great fun. Why don’t we ever go to events like these?’
Paige shrugged. ‘Probably because no one ever invites us? You usually have to be a member of some club, or at least mix in the right social circles, and we don’t do either.’
‘True.’ Olly flicked through the following pages, commenting on a couple of people he knew. ‘She’s had work done, that’s obvious.’
‘How can you tell?’ she asked, taking another look at the woman in question. ‘She looks perfectly natural to me.’
‘Put it this way, she didn’t look like that the last time I saw her buying a fortune’s worth of make-up a couple of months ago.’ He pointed at a painfully thin redhead. ‘Wonder what made her think she looked good in that get up?’
Paige shook her head slowly and smiled. ‘And you can’t understand why no one ever asks you to join their party.’
‘You’re sulking because Mr Whatshisname isn’t pining after you,’ he teased, unknowingly stating exactly how she felt.
‘You know, Olly, I’m not sure I don’t prefer you quiet and miserable, rather than all bitter and twisted like you are today.’ Paige turned to go to the storeroom.
Olly was right, although her most pressing problem right now should be what would happen to her shop if she was included in those tenants to be given notice. If only she hadn’t taken up the shorter three-year lease, she wouldn’t now be in this predicament. She was not going to keep moping around after him. For all she knew, she could soon be looking for new premises. That would be her focus from now on, she determined, not worrying about the social life of a handsome man in a well-cut suit, even if he made her heart hurt more than anyone else had ever managed to.
Having given herself a talking to, Paige started to feel a little more positive. Olly took back the magazine and returned to his office, leaving her to dust her shelves in peace and work on her plans for the future of her shop.
The following day the company’s senior secretary visited each tenant, handing them an envelope marked ‘Urgent’. Paige opened hers and was interested to read that a meeting had been called on the Friday at six o’clock. Just after closing time. ‘Sebastian’s giving a presentation of the proposed plans for De Greys,’ she murmured as she read. ‘This should be interesting.’
Maybe she would finally discover the fate of her concession. Not sure if she was ready to deal with Sebastian’s decision, she did know that if it wasn’t the one she hoped for, then it would definitely mean a big change for her and one that would mean taking her shop in a completely different direction to what she’d expected.
Chapter Sixteen
Sebastian tapped his pen against the notepad on his desk. He could hear Olly’s familiar voice coming from the boardroom doorway.
‘Hurry up,’ Olly said, waiting impatiently by the door. ‘I don’t want to miss a minute of this.’
Sebastian looked away as Paige entered and made her way to the back of the room to stand next to Olly. He’d known all the tenants would want to hear as soon as possible when any decisions had been made. He didn’t blame them, he’d be the same.
She seemed to be trying her best to be less visible to him by standing among the men at the back. Paige pulled a face at Olly as he leant against the wall, his arms folded. He looked ready for battle.
‘Thank you all for coming,’ Sebastian said, motioning to the screen next to him. He clicked for the first slide. It wasn’t going to be easy selling these particular future plans, but he never shied from doing his job, even if this time it was proving a little more personal than usual. He took a deep breath and focused his thoughts on the matter in hand, determined not to make eye contact with Paige and her intense questioning gaze.
‘Before I begin, I wanted to let you know that the cause of the fire was due to faulty wiring, and an apprentice not being properly supervised while working on repairs in one of the storerooms.’ He looked around his audience as they nodded and confirmed this. ‘Naturally, we’ve taken steps to ensure an incident of this nature won’t be repeated.’
He indicated the slide. ‘This is De Greys as it stands now.’ He clicked for the second and third slides. ‘This is how we predict it will look.’ He waited silently as they studied the clean lines of the newly arranged concessions. ‘As you can see we’ve kept the original architectural detail, such as the plaster mouldings on the ceilings, as well as the ornate balustrading, but at the same time giving the space a more contemporary feel that we believe will work well.’ The mutterings displayed a little surprise, but they seemed favourable.
‘I can confirm that the final due diligence has been completed and all necessary paperwork signed, and as some of you have probably guessed, the handover phase has now been completed. Letters will be forwarded in the next week to those whose concessions at De Greys are to be given notice.’ He waited for the murmurs to calm down before continuing. ‘I’m sure you’re all aware that quite a few of the commercial tenancy leases are shortly up for renewal, and the board are hoping that most of those contacted will see this as a positive progression for both De Greys and themselves.’
‘That’s a matter of opinion,’ shouted a voice from the middle of the room.
Sebastian waited for the person to make themselves known, but when no further comment was made, he continued. ‘The board of directors have also considered those tenants who had already used the break clause in their contracts last year, and who had therefore already given twelve months’ notice. Most of you will carry on as you have been doing, but to make the changes we feel are necessary, we will be giving
notice to those whose leases are soon up for renewal, or who have break clauses in their contracts and maybe come to a mutual agreement to terminate these leases, sooner rather than later. There are those leaseholders who have expressed their intention not to renew their lease, and in certain cases compensation will be discussed. Some of you have, I gather, already located alternative premises, others have decided to close down, but I’m fully aware that not everyone will feel this change to be a favourable outcome.’
Someone cleared their throat. ‘I think you’re referring to those of us who are unable to afford to relocate our businesses.’ Paige said, staring at him.
He could see Olly nudge her before mouthing, ‘Go, girl.’
Sebastian clenched his jaw and took a moment to consider his reply. ‘I appreciate your concerns, Miss Bingham, but unfortunately, in the present economic climate, it falls to me to provide a solution that will ensure this one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old company remains viable. I want to assure you that these decisions haven’t been taken lightly.’ He looked around the room at the unsmiling faces gazing back at him. ‘As chairman of the board, I can assure you that without immediate reorganization, there is little, if any, chance for De Greys to survive as it is beyond the next twelve to eighteen months.’
Groans and whispers filled the room. Sebastian waited for them to finish. He’d done this sort of thing many times and it was always difficult, but somehow this time it seemed far harder to put the process in to action. ‘We have also appointed a steering committee who have spent months deciphering legal reports and working out the best way to put these plans into action. My team and I are nearing the end of this stage of the project. Whether we like it, or not, some businesses will work better as a concession in the new version of the store.’
Sebastian waited for the uproar to calm down. ‘I do understand how you must be feeling, and I’m aware how difficult this is for the people involved. My aim and that of the board is to assist each of you in any way we can, either by helping you relocate, or finding other avenues to explore.’ He glanced at his assistant who was watching everyone in silence. ‘Should you wish to discuss anything with me, please contact Miss Spencer, my personal assistant, and she will set up a mutually convenient meeting for us. Any questions?’ he asked, taking a deep breath and looking around the room at his audience.
Most of the tenants shouted at once. Sebastian pointed to someone sitting at the front, recognizing him as an older man who had been selling millinery since the end of the occupation. ‘Mr Jarvis,’ he greeted him, hating that the dignified man must be going through so much anxiety. ‘I appreciate that your shop is one of the stalwarts of De Greys and that you have recently retired and handed the running of your shop over to your son.’
Mr Jarvis cleared his throat. ‘Yes, and he feels unable to start again elsewhere. I want to know how you intend helping him, if he is to leave De Greys.’
Sebastian listened as the ensuing uproar caused by the valid and emotive question died down. ‘Mr Jarvis, I can assure you that each case will be looked at independently, and we will certainly aim to help your son as much as possible.’
He could see Paige whispering to Olly and then she put up her hand. Out of all the delegates in the room, he’d been dreading her asking him a question, but knew instinctively that she would. Paige was a fighter, and not someone who would take on a challenge without doing her best to find a way to win it.
‘Miss Bingham?’ He was determined to keep his expression neutral. He could see she was looking for something in his gaze, but wasn’t sure exactly what.
She stared at him for a second, the challenge in her face unmistakeable. ‘What I want to know, is how you can be so certain that by making all these drastic changes you’ll manage to save De Greys? What if you end up putting several small companies out of business and wiping out years, in some cases decades, of demanding work for the people here this evening?’
Sebastian couldn’t help feeling impressed by her force.
‘Hear, hear,’ shouted Olly.
Sebastian looked from Paige to Olly, and back to her again.
She held up her hand. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I haven’t finished.’
He had to concentrate on not smiling. She looked as if she could slap him, and the last thing he needed was to infuriate her further. If only she knew how much he admired her fire.
‘Can you be sure this is the best way forward, and the only way to save this company?’ She jutted her chin out slightly, obviously waiting for him to find a way to answer her question.
Sebastian liked a challenge and whether these people trusted him or not, he had to do something to make this floundering store a success. He shrugged. ‘I assure you that no decisions have been made lightly. We’ve looked into this in depth, and I promise you I’ll do my best to ensure everyone is treated as fairly as possible.’
‘That doesn’t answer my question,’ she snapped.
‘Bloody scandal,’ said someone he couldn’t see. ‘You wealthy entrepreneurs come over here to our island, buy everything, make changes, and once you’ve made more money, you bugger off back to England.’
‘Not quite,’ Sebastian argued. ‘I have family who’ve lived on this island for decades and a great affection for Jersey.’ He looked round the room at the expectant faces waiting for him to reassure them. ‘I want this to work as much as you all do. Whatever you may think, I will be working to find a way to make sure that this is as painless as possible for everyone involved.’
He peered through the crowd, locking eyes with her for a moment. ‘I do bear in mind the effect this is going to have on everyone involved, but what would you rather me do? If I left matters running as they are, I can assure you De Greys would be forced to close in its entirety, putting you all out of business.’ He paused. ‘My only choice is to take all the financial aspects into consideration, determining which of the concessions here do not contribute in any way to the board’s future plans, and try to help them come to a mutually acceptable solution.’ He waited for the muffled response to subside once more. ‘If I don’t make these changes, someone else will be brought in to do so. There is no question, these changes will be put in place, and soon.’
There were gasps of rage and anger, and Sebastian had to raise his voice slightly to be heard. ‘It’s not a perfect solution, I agree, but it’s the only sensible one open to us.’
Chapter Seventeen
At the end of the meeting, Paige watched as everyone filed out of the room, looking sombre, but sounding less antagonised.
‘It’s typical. They only tell us what they want us to hear,’ Olly said, standing back to let Paige go in front of him. ‘While we’re fretting about our work, the board will be making decisions, and you can guarantee they’ll only tell us information when they’re ready, not before.’
‘I just hope I’m not one of those who’ll have to move like some sort of sacrificial lamb,’ she said. ‘At least your job should be safe.’
‘Thankfully they’ll always need an IT Department.’ He bent down and lowered his voice. ‘His assistant has already told me not to worry.’ Olly tilted his head to indicate Sebastian. ‘In fact, the three of us in the department were spoken to earlier, but I didn’t have a chance to let you know before now.’
‘Good. I’m relieved,’ she said honestly.
She was about to step out of the room, when a hand took hold of her arm and gently eased her back through the crowd.
Olly frowned. ‘Hey,’ he said, turning to see who was pulling her back.
‘It’s OK, Ol,’ Paige waved him away, trying to bring as little attention to herself as possible. ‘You go ahead. I’ll meet you later.’
Olly looked across at Sebastian and raised his eyebrows. ‘Whatever you say.’
Paige sidestepped away from the others and looked up, knowing as soon as she’d felt the pressure on her arm that it had been Sebastian. She let him guide her, unwilling to pull away from his grasp, irritated with hersel
f for enjoying the pressure of his hand on hers.
The Jersey Scene series box set Page 46