So soon? It’s too soon.
She refused to give into the internal weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. A quick and clean break would be for the best.
Forty minutes later, after power-walking back, she strode down the hallway to her apartment only to pull up short when she saw Jamie leaning against the wall beside her door. He straightened when he saw her. ‘Hi.’
‘Hi.’ She kicked herself forward to unlock the door. ‘Come in.’
‘Your paper came.’ He held up a folded newspaper and she gestured for him to put it on the coffee table.
‘I, uh...’ He shuffled his feet. ‘I wanted to apologise for our argument yesterday. I’m sorry I lost my cool.’
Oh, he hadn’t lost his cool. He’d channelled icy disdain like a professional. Though she kept that to herself. It was a pity she hadn’t been so circumspect yesterday. She’d allowed her concern for him, her horror at the life he was consigning himself to, to override her better judgment. Fool.
‘It was far from fair. I urged you to share your thoughts and then bit your head off.’
‘I should’ve kept my thoughts to myself. Your relationship with your parents, and how you choose to live your life, is none of my business. I’m sorry. I was out of line.’
‘I know it came from a good place, Christy. I know you were motivated by...friendship.’
But they weren’t friends, were they? They were business associates. And thinking they could be more was what had led her into this crazy mess. ‘Why don’t we forget about yesterday—put it behind us?’
He nodded, but his eyes narrowed at whatever he saw in her face. Before he could challenge her, she held up her phone. ‘My lawyer has given our contract the green light.’
He watched in silence as she printed the contract out. ‘Are you sure about this? If you need more time to think about it...’
She straightened from where she leaned over the contract, pen poised to sign. ‘I’ll admit to some nerves and some...’ she chewed her lip ‘...wistfulness, I guess. This is the end of a chapter of my life. I love what I’ve done with Beach Monday.’
‘As you should.’
‘But you can take it to a whole other level of success. And MA’s sponsorship of my village co-ops and education programmes can do so much good—more than I could ever achieve on my own—so...’ She dragged in a breath, her heart beating hard. ‘This is the right decision for everyone. You’re a man of your word, Jamie, and that means a lot to me.’ Despite their differences of opinion on love and happiness, she knew he’d keep the promises he’d made her.
Without another word, she signed the contract, although she couldn’t manage a flourish. She held the pen out to him and after the slightest of hesitations he took it and signed as well.
He set the pen back on the table. ‘What now?’
She tried to keep her shrug casual. ‘Now I go home.’
‘I still want to offer you that design position with MA.’ He widened his stance. ‘We’d be lucky to have you and...’
He trailed off as she shook her head. ‘It wouldn’t work, Jamie.’
He shifted his weight to the balls of his feet. ‘If you’re worried about me pestering you or pursuing you—’
‘No.’ That was the problem. The knowledge he wouldn’t was a burr in her soul.
As soon as he was back in New York he’d forget she’d ever existed. But if she went to work for MA she’d hear about him, maybe catch a glimpse of him in the distance every now and again. She’d never be able to forget all that he’d come to mean to her. She shook her head again. She wasn’t doing that to herself. ‘What I need, Jamie, is a fresh start.’
‘So—’ he shoved his hands in his pockets ‘—this is goodbye?’
She nodded and held out her hand. ‘It’s been a pleasure.’
He clasped her hand briefly, his face remote and his eyes cool. ‘The pleasure was all mine.’
And then he was gone and Christy was left rubbing her chest where her heart had once been.
* * *
Christy couldn’t get a flight out until that evening. She had a shower, packed up all her belongings, and had a cup of tea. And still had hours to wait until she needed to be at the airport. Jamie had very kindly organised for Robert to drive her there. Later.
She glanced at her watch. Much later.
Making another tea, she glanced around the room, her gaze falling on the newspaper Jamie had placed on the coffee table earlier. Maybe reading about world affairs would take her mind off her own petty tragedy for a few short hours.
Make up your mind—are the hours short or long?
‘Whatever,’ she muttered, slamming herself onto the sofa. Whether she considered the hours short or long, after today she’d never see Jamie again. A part of her wanted to be away from here as soon as humanly possible so she could start the grieving and healing process. The sooner she started it, the sooner she’d be over him. Another part of her remained frozen, crippled, unable to move.
No wallowing! She wasn’t allowed to wallow until she got home. Pulling the newspaper towards her, she started flipping over the pages and forcing herself to at least read the headlines.
Molto Arketa to ride Beach Monday’s
sustainability wave!
She’d already flipped to the next page before the words made an impression on her brain. She froze before flipping back. She read the article and her heart started to hammer and her stomach clenched. The article outlined MA’s imminent acquisition of Beach Monday and Beach Monday’s impressively progressive stance on issues of environmental sustainability, economic efficiency and social equity.
She hadn’t had a chance to talk to her mother yet! If her mum caught wind of this before Christy had a chance to contact her, she’d be worried sick. And devastated that Christy hadn’t confided in her. She’d be hurt.
Oh, God!
The article went on to say that an internal spokesperson for MA claimed this latest move was a bold statement indicating the company’s future direction, praising James Cooper-Ford for his foresight and social conscience, and implying that this move would quell any internal rumblings within the company.
Conscience? Did the man have one? He’d promised her this wouldn’t be made public until next week. He’d given his word!
She read a note at the bottom of the article directing the reader to the social pages. Her mouth dried as she turned the pages over, the agitated rustle filling the air, and then froze as she took in a half-page spread romantically linking her with Jamie. There were photos. One was a picture of her and Jamie leaving the MA store on Orchard Road, another in the beachside bar at Sentosa drinking cocktails; and the last—
She covered her face with her hands. The last was of that crazy impulsive kiss they’d shared down by the marina. They looked completely oblivious to the laser light show in the background. Because they had been oblivious! The caption read: Fireworks!
She’d been a fool. A damn fool. Jamie had played her with more finesse than Lewis ever had. And she’d let him! Her stomach pitched and for a moment she thought she might be sick. And then she grabbed the paper and stormed out of her apartment, taking the stairs to the penthouse level two at a time.
* * *
Jamie’s head came up at the sharp knock on his door.
Adrenaline kicked through him and a wild crazy hope that Christy stood on the other side...that she’d reconsidered his offer about coming on board at MA.
He was on his feet and had the door wrenched open before he was even aware of it.
He’d barely drawn breath when a newspaper was slapped to his chest and Christy advanced—her expression livid and her face thunderous. Her eyes flashed.
Whoa!
‘You got what you came for and now all bets are off, is that it? This is the way you work? My God, you had me fooled. You must’ve lau
ghed your head off when I told you about Lewis stealing my artwork. Did it give you ideas? Did you figure you could go one better?’
He’d seen flashes of temper over the last twelve days, but he’d not seen her lose control completely, and a part of him couldn’t help but note how magnificent she looked all fired up.
He pulled his wayward thoughts back. ‘Christy, I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’
With an inarticulate noise of...derision? Frustration? She seized the newspaper from him and spread it out on the dining table.
He took one look at the headline she pointed to and a stone lodged in the pit of his stomach. ‘What the hell...?’ He seized the paper, his eyes racing over the newsprint. With his heart thumping hard enough to leave bruises, he flicked over to the social pages. He didn’t bother reading the article—the pictures told the story. He closed his eyes briefly. ‘I knew nothing about this.’
Her snort told him she’d not believe a damn word that came out of his mouth any more, and he couldn’t blame her. He’d given her his word, and now—
And now she thought he was like Lewis. She thought he’d used her, betrayed her, and lied to her. She thought he’d sacrificed her and all she believed in—heartlessly and ruthlessly—to achieve his own ends. The realisation left him without breath and he momentarily felt rudderless, as if he’d lost his internal compass. He braced his hands on his knees and tried to get air into his lungs.
‘Then who—’ her voice was hard ‘—is MA’s internal spokesperson?’
He had no idea, but heads were going to roll.
‘That would be me,’ Denise said, striding into the room. ‘So this is what all the infernal racket is about?’
He straightened, feeling strangely cold. ‘You did this?’ He rubbed numb fingers across his brow. ‘That’s why you took the papers into your room this morning?’
She shrugged. ‘I knew you’d make a fuss. And I was hoping Ms Minslow would be in the air before she saw the article.’
He unclenched his teeth to say, ‘I told you I’d promised Christy that the news wouldn’t go live until next week. I gave her my word.’
‘But I didn’t. This attempted coup needed to be scotched before it could gather any more momentum. I’m sorry if Ms Minslow is displeased, but I took it upon myself to shore up your future.’
He clenched his hands so hard he started to shake. ‘This deal with Beach Monday and the internal wrangling of the board have nothing to do with you.’
‘Stop being ridiculous, James. I’m a major shareholder.’
‘But you no longer hold a position within the company.’
‘I’ve given my life to the company!’
‘And has it made you happy?’
The words left him on a bellow. His mother paled and he couldn’t believe he’d said such a thing to her. But he hadn’t been able to shift all that Christy had said yesterday. Her words had been going around and around in his head on an endless loop ever since—piercing his defences and demanding a hearing, an appraisal...and answers. One thing was certain—he did not want to become like his mother. Was he making a mistake in shutting love so comprehensively out of his life?
He was determined to keep the promise he’d made to his father, but... What exactly had he promised? The question pounded at him.
He ignored his mother and his own internal wrangling to focus on Christy. ‘I can’t apologise enough. I should’ve protected you against my mother’s insane ambition.’
‘Don’t you speak about me like that, James!’
He continued to ignore her. ‘If there’s anything I can do to make it right...?’
She’d lifted her chin, but her bottom lip gave an infinitesimal wobble and regret, guilt and a gut-wrenching pain tore him in two.
‘The damage is already done,’ she said in a voice he barely recognised.
He’d let her down. She’d not once asked for anything outrageous. She’d done nothing but give, and he felt as if all he’d done was to take and take from her.
For a little while I did think it had the potential to develop into something more, something deeper.
He’d let her down in every conceivable way.
He forced his chin up. At least he could keep the rest of his promises he’d made. ‘I swear to you I will abide by our contract. To the letter. I understand you no longer have any faith in my word, but I’m legally bound. You have no need to fear for your village co-ops or education programmes.’ He didn’t know what else to say to reassure her. ‘I will honour all that I agreed to.’
‘If you don’t, there’ll be consequences. I’ll be watching. If you contravene the contract you’ll be hearing from my lawyers. And I’ll go public with my outrage if there’s a need to. I can create a media storm.’
He nodded to let her know he understood. He wished she weren’t going to be watching from afar, though. He wished—
‘Would you like to come on board as a consultant?’
‘James, have you taken leave of your senses?’
‘No,’ Christy said to him, her tone uncompromising.
With what he could only describe as regal grace, she turned to his mother. ‘Do you really not care that you just made your son look dishonest and unprincipled in the eyes of a business associate?’
His mother sucked in an outraged breath. ‘I made him look strong.’
Christy shook her head. ‘You made him look ruthless. It’s not the same thing.’
With a shrug of dismissal, she strode across to the door and he heard her murmur under her breath, ‘My mother is ten times the woman you are, Denise.’
All the stories she’d told him about her mother rose up to torment him. ‘Your mother—’ he swallowed ‘—if—’
‘My mother is none of your concern.’
Her word were an icy lash and it was all he could do not to flinch. ‘Christy, if there’s anything I can do to make amends...’
She stilled, her hand on the doorknob. ‘Anything?’
‘Anything.’
She turned and folded her arms. ‘Then what I’d like you to do is tear up our contract.’
For one wild moment he considered it. And then all of the responsibility and the duty that had been ingrained in him since birth rose to the fore, making him hesitate. He’d promised his father he’d do everything in his power to look after MA. Before he made a decision as momentous as tearing up their contract, he needed to get it straight in his mind exactly what his duty was—to his parents, to MA...and to himself.
Her lips twisted. ‘So not quite anything, then. This is the world you want to live in?’ She gestured around at the penthouse apartment. ‘I hope it makes you happy.’
She left and he knew then that this wasn’t the world he wanted to live in. The world he wanted to live in had Christy in it.
You didn’t promise your father you’d be CEO.
‘Where are you going?’ Denise demanded as he strode towards his makeshift office.
‘To work. While you can pack your things. You’re staying at the Marina Bay Sands for the duration of your stay. From there you can’t interfere with what doesn’t concern you.’
‘How dare—?’
‘You wanted me ruthless, Mother. This is me being ruthless.’ He slammed the door behind him and locked it for good measure.
You didn’t promise your father you’d be CEO.
He’d promised to protect MA’s reputation. He paced the room. Could he find a way to safeguard that while also following the dictates of his heart?
He pulled to a halt as the vaguest of plans started to form. Was it possible...?
CHAPTER TEN
THE FLIGHT TO Australia took an eternity—as if they were flying through thick treacle or pea soup. Jamie glanced at the flight information on his private television screen to reconfirm that their current groun
d speed was actually nine hundred kilometres per hour. Admittedly New York to Sydney was a long flight, but this felt as if it were taking weeks instead of hours.
He drummed his fingers against the seat rest. The time gave him too long to brood, too long to second-guess himself...too long to twist his insides into knots. In the last fortnight he’d turned his entire life on its head, with no safety net and absolutely no certainty that he’d achieve his end goal.
He swore and dragged both hands back through his hair. What was he going to do if Christy walked away and told him she never wanted to see him again?
Forcing his head upright before the annoyingly conscientious flight attendant could ask him if he’d like a headache tablet—again—he pulled in a deep breath, trying to separate his thoughts and the alternating fears that twisted his gut.
First, and most importantly, the decisions he’d made in the two weeks since leaving Singapore were some of the best and most personally empowering he’d ever made. Regardless of what happened with Christy, they were still good decisions.
And regardless of what path he chose for himself from this day forward, he’d left MA in good hands. The company had committed to eradicating outdated and exploitative practices. MA would continue to thrive.
And finally, if he didn’t attempt to make amends to Christy, if he didn’t tell her how he felt, he’d regret it for the rest of his life. He knew that with a certainty that turned his hands to fists. She might refuse his offer. She might walk away from him, but at least he’d know he’d tried. Not that he expected that to bring him much comfort, but at least he wouldn’t die wondering. He’d know he’d given it his best shot.
One good thing to have come from all of this recent upheaval was his mother had given him her blessing on his current course of action. Even now he couldn’t quite believe it. After what he’d done, he’d expected her to shun him for at least a month as punishment or to try and bully him to change his mind—tell him he was making a miserable mistake he’d regret forever, while reminding him of all he owed to her and his father.
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