Fitting In

by Amanda Radley

  Her offer of a walk through Silver Arches was immediately accepted, and they had embarked on one of the slowest strolls through the upper level and towards the staff car park that Heather had ever taken.

  It seemed that neither of them wanted to end the evening.

  “While I joke about the roller coaster, I do feel a change of direction for Silver Arches would be prudent,” Scarlett continued.

  Heather couldn’t agree more. While she loved the retail sector, it was in decline. People’s habits had changed dramatically since the first shopping centres opened in the UK. Businesses needed to be nimble and quick to adapt, and that wasn’t the case for many of the big-name brands who were struggling.

  Silver Arches was essentially a building containing many businesses. If a number of those businesses were not profitable, then Silver Arches would suffer as a result. It was a familiar story up and down the country, with so many shopping centres either abandoned or becoming eyesores as they fell into disrepair.

  “I agree,” Heather said. “So, if not a roller coaster through the middle of the concourse, then what?”

  Scarlett thought for a moment. “The events space on the ground level could be turned into a series of seasonal experiences. It’s my understanding that a dry ice rink is put there at Christmas time, as well as a Father Christmas meet-and-greet, but this could be expanded.”

  “Sounds interesting. How would you see that working?”

  “A mixture of shopping, dining, and other experiences for guests, changing several times a year depending on the season, like Christmas, spring, Easter, summer, Halloween, and back to Christmas, as an example. We have the space to invite the local theatre companies to come and perform plays or musicals. Small stalls like the pop-up shops could easily be set up for stores of all sizes. The large retailers can select a small amount of seasonally appropriate products, and local crafts people can trade side by side with them. This would also allow contacts to be made between the two, perhaps allowing the smaller businesses to sell products to the larger businesses, which would be in everyone’s interest.”

  “That sounds very interesting. Have you been thinking about this for long?” Heather asked.

  “No. I just considered it now.”

  “Then you inherited your father’s business acumen.”

  Scarlett stiffened at that. “I’m sure he would disagree.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing that he isn’t here,” Heather said. “Because then I’d have to tell him that he’s wrong.”

  Heather slid her hand into Scarlett’s and squeezed it softly.

  “Not many people do that,” Scarlett said.

  “I’m not like other people,” Heather explained. “Sometimes people need to be told a thing even if it’s obvious they won’t like it.”

  “He listens to you. Respects you, I think.”

  “I respect him, too, in some ways. I can see he is a good businessman, but if I don’t agree with him, I’ll tell him so.” Heather hesitated a moment before continuing. “I don’t like seeing this obvious breakdown in your relationship with him. I know it’s none of my business, and I’m probably projecting because I have such a close relationship with my own father.”

  Scarlett didn’t say anything, and Heather realised she’d not directly asked a question.

  “Would you like a relationship with your father?” Heather added belatedly.

  “It’s irrelevant,” Scarlett replied. “We do not have one, and that is unlikely to change.”

  “But if it could, would that be something you’d be interested in?” Heather pressed.

  Scarlett seemed to mull this over, and Heather waited. She had noticed that certain questions which required a little more thought certainly got it. Scarlett wasn’t afraid to let her conversational partner wait while she considered a question from all angles.

  “I found the relationship you have with your parents… fascinating. I almost felt like a part of it, despite only knowing them for a very brief period of time. I’d like to experience that. But I’m aware that that kind of relationship with my own father is impossible, so I don’t think on it.”

  Heather opened her mouth to ask something else but snapped it closed again. She was heading into territory that was most certainly not appropriate for a first date.

  Her desire to see Leo and Scarlett reunited in any way needed to be slowed. She was aware that she didn’t have all of the information. Leo had told her bits and pieces while Scarlett was like a vault on the subject. Heather had to accept that there may be just too many obstacles to overcome. Sometimes families were never going to be close.

  “Maybe one day,” Heather said, hopeful but noncommittal.

  “Unlikely,” Scarlett replied, honest as ever.

  The loud, clattering sound of a security shutter being brought down on a nearby store made them both jump. The shops were starting to close.

  “Closing time,” Heather said, redundantly.

  “Yes.”

  “Can I walk you to your car?”

  “Ye—I’d like that,” Scarlett said.

  Heather smiled, noticing that Scarlett was at least making an effort to speak more.

  They walked in comfortable silence through the centre and towards the quiet staff car park.

  “I enjoyed this evening,” Scarlett suddenly blurted out.

  “So did I,” Heather confirmed. “I’d love to do this again, if you’re agreeable?”

  Scarlett nodded quickly. “I’d like that.”

  Heather maintained a grip on Scarlett’s hand as they walked across the car park. With Scarlett going from a supposed robot to one of the best dates she’d had in a long time, Heather couldn’t believe how enjoyable the evening had been.

  She distractedly wondered what Leo would think of them embarking on a second date, and maybe more. Then she thought of other staff members. Scarlett had made more enemies than friends, and now she was dating the boss. That wouldn’t be well received.

  Heather pushed such feelings to one side. That was something she would deal with as and when it became an issue.

  Scarlett came to a stop by a Ford Focus. “This is me.”

  Heather didn’t let go of Scarlett’s hand. She found the connection comforting and wanted to maintain it for as long as possible.

  Heather moved to stand in front of Scarlett, looking up at her and smiling.

  “I had a great night,” she said softly, hoping that maybe she’d be blessed with a good-night kiss.

  “So did I.” Scarlett didn’t give much away.

  “We’ll do this again soon,” Heather said.

  “Are we going to kiss?” Scarlett asked.

  Heather laughed. She leaned forward and placed her forehead on Scarlett’s chest. Why was she trying for subtlety for this woman?

  Heather swallowed the rest of her laughter and stood up straight again. Scarlett looked at her curiously, clearly still waiting for a reply.

  “I’d very much like to kiss you,” Heather admitted. “If you would like to?”

  Scarlett nodded sharply and leaned down to capture Heather’s lips. For some reason, Heather hadn’t expected Scarlett to react so quickly. Scarlett Flynn was definitely going to keep her on her toes.

  She quickly responded but made sure to keep the kiss light and appropriate for a public workspace. It had been a long time since she had kissed someone, and her body awakened at the touch. For a brief second she was glad she was in a public space or the kiss might not have been as chaste. And that could lead to things that neither of them was ready for.

  She ended the kiss and smiled softly at Scarlett. “Thank you for a lovely evening. I truly had a wonderful time.”

  “As did I.”

  “Have a safe journey home. We’ll talk more soon to set something else up,” Heather promised.

  “When?” Scarlett asked.

  “Sorry?”

  “When will we talk more about a second date?”

  Heather hadn’t consider
ed that and hesitated for a moment.

  “Unless you are merely saying what you think I want to hear so we can end this encounter on a positive note?” Scarlett suggested. “If you didn’t enjoy the evening, you can tell me now.”

  “No, not at all,” Heather reassured her. “Scarlett, I’ll promise you one thing; I’ll always be honest with you.”

  Scarlett smiled tightly, her eyes searching Heather’s, and Heather wondered if she was looking for an answer to her question or for any hint of a lie.

  “I will text you this evening,” Heather said. “And we will put a date in the diary then. Is that okay?”

  “I would like that.” Scarlett quickly leaned forward and placed a kiss on Heather’s cheek.

  She then turned and opened her car door.

  “Good night,” she said before she got into the car and slammed the door closed.

  “Good night,” Heather whispered in reply, smiling from ear to ear.

  She watched as Scarlett started the car and then drove away without giving Heather a second glance as she left.

  Heather dug her hands into her pockets and watched the red rear lights of the car until they were out of sight. Every time she turned a corner with Scarlett, she seemed to come up against a new mystery.

  She found that fascinating and exciting.

  Now she knew that Scarlett didn’t do long or mushy goodbyes. She simply left. Scarlett liked certainty. Scarlett also liked to steal an extra kiss.

  Heather couldn’t help but chuckle to herself as she walked to her own car. She got her phone out and set herself a reminder to text Scarlett that evening. She had a suspicion that forgetting to do so would have serious ramifications.

  She set another alarm to remind her to advise Scarlett of her forgetfulness. It was likely that she would forget something of great importance at some point, so the sooner she told Scarlett of that possibility, the better.

  Honesty, she thought to herself. It really is the key to all of this.

  38

  An Exceptional Night

  As Heather entered her apartment, her phone beeped to indicate a text message had arrived. She looked at the message from Ravi asking how her night out had gone.

  She smiled.

  She locked the door, removed her coat, and put her bag on the sofa. Kicked off her shoes and flopped into the armchair. All the while, she considered what she was going to tell Ravi.

  She typed in a couple of words and then deleted them before trying again. She paused and laid the phone down in her lap while she tried to focus her thoughts.

  Pleasant thoughts had been floating through her mind all the way home, but now she had to distil and explain those thoughts to Ravi.

  The night had been exceptional. There was simply no other word to describe it. Realising that nothing else would come to her any time soon, she sent that one word to Ravi.

  She’d promised herself that she would go into the date with no high expectations, but she’d ended the date hoping that something would come of it. She had a second date she needed to plan, which was a good start, but Heather’s heart was already several steps ahead of that and planning for a fantasy future that she didn’t know was even achievable.

  Still, she knew it was nice to dream.

  Even if Scarlett didn’t apparently think so. The woman had explained, at length, that she didn’t dream. Heather had argued that she probably did but was unaware of it, but Scarlett maintained that she didn’t. And she absolutely didn’t daydream.

  True or not, Heather didn’t know, but it was a fascinating insight and Heather was intrigued to find out more. If she was lucky enough to get that chance.

  Spying her laptop on her coffee table, she picked it up and quickly opened a new blank email. She outlined the event plan Scarlett had come up with, explaining that the event space could be a cultural centre of sorts. A rotating series of events would keep the space new and fresh, and would enable them to engage with large and small shareholders as well as the local community.

  She fleshed out the details a little and sent the email to Leo, asking for his opinion.

  Her phone beeped, indicating that Ravi had replied. She glanced at the screen and chuckled at his disappointment with the lack of details.

  Her reminder flashed up, telling her to text Scarlett and arrange a second date. She snatched the phone up, unlocked it, and quickly typed out a message to Scarlett.

  It was mind-boggling to her that her memory was so bad that she could forget about texting Scarlett while thinking endlessly about the woman.

  Still, that was why her phone had so many reminders set throughout the day and evening.

  She read through the message, asking Scarlett if she wanted to come over to her place for dinner one night, and then sent it.

  While having access to Silver Arches and all it had to offer was nice, it was also nice to get away from work. She hoped Scarlett didn’t think she was being too forward but assumed that Scarlett would immediately tell her if she was.

  It was refreshing to be with someone who didn’t have any walls or pretences. Scarlett was transparent and easy to understand once you figured out the best way to converse with her.

  An icon moving on her laptop caught her attention, and she noticed that Leo had replied despite it being nearly eleven o’clock at night.

  She opened the email and smiled to herself; he loved the idea and wanted to brainstorm it further to see how they could take the concept and make it into a full plan.

  She replied, informing him that it was Scarlett’s idea and that she would be putting her in the brainstorming group. She added that Scarlett probably had a lot of good business ideas and that they would both have to listen to her more in the future. Once she sent the message, she closed the lid of the laptop, as she didn’t expect another reply from Leo that evening.

  39

  An Olive Branch

  Scarlett approached the Gay Days pop-up and placed the book on the counter. “I’m returning this, in line with our lending agreement.”

  “Did you love it?” Nico asked.

  “No.”

  “Did you like it?”

  “No.”

  Nico furrowed her brow. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I honestly thought you would like this one. Do you want to try another, or do you think you are done?”

  “I think I am done,” Scarlett agreed. She had expected Nico to be more difficult to convince and had even prepared a series of statements to convince Nico to not try with a further book. Thankfully, that seemed unnecessary.

  “Sometimes, and it pains me to say this,” Nico said, “people just aren’t bookish people. I mean, I still like you. I’ll get over it.”

  Scarlett got the impression that Nico was teasing her and offered her a small, tight smile.

  “Is that your dad?” Nico asked, gesturing over Scarlett’s shoulder.

  Scarlett turned around and spotted her father with a group of people she recognised from Intrex.

  “Yes.” Scarlett turned back to Nico.

  “I looked him up online,” Nico said.

  “Why?”

  “I was curious. He’s investing in Silver Arches at a time when shopping centres are notoriously unprofitable. He must see something in them to be throwing so much money at it.”

  “And did your online research explain why he has invested in Silver Arches?” Scarlett asked.

  “No. It told me more about him, though,” Nico explained. “He has rarely put a foot wrong in the business world. Always turns a mess into a profit. Has a good eye for detail. That kind of thing.”

  “He has always been successful,” Scarlett agreed.

  “Do you two get on? I’m sensing not?”

  “We do not get on. We haven’t seen eye to eye for many years.”

  “Well, he’s coming over, so maybe things are looking up?” Nico said, taking a step away to tidy some postcards which didn’t need tidying.

  “Scarlett, can we talk?”

  She
looked at her father and nodded.

  Leo looked from Scarlett to Nico and then back. He gestured to a quieter area and Scarlett followed his lead.

  “Heather told me of your ideas for rotating events in the event space,” he explained once they were alone. He took a breath and scratched his head. “I’d, um, I’d like you to be a part of the committee that organises it. I’ll speak with your current line manager to split your duties, if that’s okay with you?”

  Scarlett stared at him in surprise.

  “Well?” he asked, irritation becoming obvious even to her. “Do you want to be a part of it?”

  “I would like that.”

  “Good, Heather said you would,” Leo admitted.

  A thought occurred to Scarlett. “Are you asking me to be on the committee because you want me to be, or because Heather has suggested it?”

  He bristled. “Does it matter?”

  “It does to me.”

  Leo maintained eye contact on a distant point beyond Scarlett’s shoulder. “Fine. Heather pushed the issue and I agreed.”

  Disappointment flashed through Scarlett.

  “Do you want the role or not?” Leo asked.

  Scarlett considered the question. It was an interesting diversion from her current duties, yet it stung to know that her father didn’t really want her to be a part of the committee.

  “Forget it.” Leo threw his hands up. “Forget I mentioned anything.”

  He stalked away and Scarlett watched him go. After a beat, she decided there was nothing else to be done about it and returned to work.

  40

  Consider It… Tracted

  Yasmin entered Heather’s office with a takeaway coffee mug. Heather looked up and smiled happily.

  “You’re a lifesaver.”

  “Scarlett Flynn is outside, and she wonders if you have some time. But she wants me to highlight that it is not an important matter if you are busy,” Yasmin said, obviously repeating Scarlett’s instructions verbatim.