Everything You Want: Everything For You Trilogy 2 (28 page)

Libby nods. “Is that wise?”

I’m doing this by the book. “It’s the only way I can do this legally. If it comes to it and he has to go, I don’t want anything, like a lawsuit, to get in the way of his smooth, legitimate removal.”

“Anything else?”

“Postpone the five pm meeting and you can check if Brent even told them, as instructed, while you’re at it. We need to keep a record of his unacceptable behaviour. Re-arrange the meeting for all staff in the boardroom tomorrow at noon. That should give me time to work out an outline proposal for a way forward.”

“You’ve got it, Miss Caid.” She walks to the door, turns back and smirks at me. “Welcome back, honey.”

“Thanks, Libby. I’m delighted to be back.” For the first time since Harry died, it’s true. I have a new sense of optimism about the future, at least as far as CaidCo is concerned. Jack is a whole other matter.

I get on the phone to caterers and order a buffet lunch, a celebration cake and Champagne to be delivered before midday tomorrow. I intend to start with a charm offensive and a new note of confidence and positivity. My time spent being mentored by Jack hasn’t been a complete waste of time, after all.

* * *

The next few hours are spent catching up on things and sketching out ideas to turn CaidCo’s head into the wind to make for twenty-first century shores. I don’t even stop for coffee. The cup Libby brings sits cooling on my sticky-note-strewn desk.

I’m so busy I ignore every phone call leaving Libby to sort the essential from the mundane. It’s encouraging to discover a few members of staff stop by briefly to welcome me back and offer their congratulations on my engagement before they leave to meet clients or head home at the end of the day. Perhaps the added clout of being associated personally with Jack Keogh is surfacing but it feels reassuring nonetheless. It seems many still don’t want to cross that bully Brent by openly offering me support, but a few, at least, appear to be having nobler thoughts. It’s a start. I make a mental note of who is likely to remain in one or other of my two new divisions.

Libby enters. “I’m to tell you to answer your phone.”

I glance up at her strange manner. “By whom?” As if I couldn’t guess.

“Jack Keogh has been calling you since five o’clock. He’s getting a bit…”

I snort. I know exactly how he can get. “Tell him I’m busy. I’ll see him back at Belvedere tonight.”

“He said you’d say that.” She looks a little hesitant. “He also said if you don’t pick up the phone to him, he’ll be straight round to speak to you in person. Sorry, honey. I tried but he’s not an easy man to stall.”

“Tell me about it. He’s plain bossy. Expects his own way. All. The. Time.” Especially with me. Maybe now’s the time to stand my ground there too.

At that precise moment my desk phone’s red light flashes. I’ve had the sound muted. Libby and I stare at each other.

“Do you want me to try telling him again, you’re busy?” she asks warily but gamely.

I even consider it for a few seconds, just to let him know he can’t push me around in my own company. Then I shrug, sigh and pick up. Libby leaves.

“CaidCo. Tabitha Caid speaking.” I say it as casually as if I have no idea who is on the other end of the line.

“I expect to be able to reach my fiancée without having to jump through hoops.”

I adopt a neutral tone but my heart races just talking to him. “Jack? Is this important? I’m rather busy right now. Couldn’t it wait until tonight?” At this point I’m teasing him.

“No it couldn’t. You said you were remaining at Belvedere this afternoon.”

“Actually you suggested it. I only said I might, if I remember. But I changed my mind.”

“Typical.”

He sounds so annoyed with me I can’t help myself. I hang up and wait, staring at the equipment. It rings again immediately. Does he have my office on speed dial?

I go through the process again, grinning. “CaidCo. Tabitha Caid speaking.” For some reason I’m in high spirits and can’t help tormenting him.

“Cute. If you hang up on me again, the next time you hear my voice I’ll be standing right behind it.”

“Not if I run.” I just can’t help myself.

He goes silent for a second. “You gave me your word...” His voice is low and cautioning. “When I phoned Belvedere and was told you were gone –”

He thought I’d fled again, like last Monday. I know immediately I’ve stepped over one of his lines in the sand. “I didn’t run, Jack. I won’t. I changed my mind about staying indoors and came to work, that’s all.” I wonder if Lenuta deliberately misled him about my departure. What was it she said? Don’t give him everything he wants. Make him want it more. “I’ll be home soon.”

“I thought you were busy.”

“I am. Did you want something?”

“You didn’t wait for Blackstock to drive you.”

“I took the underground. I didn’t want to be a problem.”

“You’re not a problem but you don’t have your car. I need to know what time to pick you up.”

“I’ll take the underground home again.”

“I’m not having you travelling by underground.”

I’m taken aback. “I got here by underground. I’ve travelled that way hundreds of times.”

“You’re engaged to me now. You won’t be travelling like that again.”

That presumption really gets on my nerves. “Just because you think you’re
all that
in your chauffeur-driven Bentley, doesn’t mean I’ve changed. I’ll take public transport any time I like.”

“No you won’t.”

“For goodness sake, Jack. It’s perfectly fine. I don’t want to become something I’m not just because I’m temporarily linked to you.”

I hear him huff down the phone. “You’ll do as I tell you.”

That makes me mad. “I won’t. I’m not one of your employees. You can’t order me to do anything.”

“You’re my fiancée and yes I can. You’re not taking the underground. Blackstock will pick you up. All I need to know is what time.”

“No time. I’m taking the underground train!” I realise I’ve been raising my voice. He’s so exasperating and I don’t want to be overheard, especially saying the wrong thing. It’s hard work living a lie. But Jack needs to know that I’m not going to adopt his lifestyle just to change it back again once he’s through with me. I quieten my voice. “Can’t we talk about this tonight?”

“There’s no point. You won’t change my mind.”

“Well you won’t change mine.”

“Tabitha.” He gentles his voice too. “You’re making this sound like I’m being unreasonable.”

“That’s probably because you
are
being unreasonable.”

“I’m doing this for your safety and protection.”

“What possible harm can come to me on public transport in rush hour? I’ve done it perfectly safely thousands of times.” He didn’t care back then.

“That was before you were publically linked to me.”

“What difference does that make? God, Jack, I don’t know how many broken-hearted females you think will be lying in wait for me on the London underground.” I can think of one right off, though. “Or why I should suddenly think I’m too good to travel on public transport just because I’m associated with you.” Amanda wouldn’t argue with Jack about being chauffeur-driven everywhere. It isn’t good to think she’s so much more suited to his lifestyle than I am. It’s almost like admitting they belong together, not him and me.

“I’m not saying you’re too good.”

“Are you saying I’m not good enough?” I’m not sure if I’m looking for a fight now or he is.

“It’s got nothing to do with not being good enough. Of course you’re good enough. Too good.”

Is that the lame excuse he’ll give the press for why he eventually rejects me, without making him seem like a complete heel? “Then what’s the problem?”

I hear his hesitation. “There
is
no problem.”

If he won’t tell me what’s bothering him about me taking the train then I’m not going to give in on it. “Then I’ll come home the same way I got here. By train.”

“If you’re going to be so obstinate, I’ll just send the car for you now. It’s almost six o’clock anyway. Blackstock will be there within half an hour.”

“So how will you get home? By train?” I throw out the challenge with an impertinent tone.

“I’ll be in the car too, Tabitha.”

Blast. I’m not giving in so easily or he’ll always think he can outmanoeuvre me to get what he wants. “Well I won’t be here.”

“What do you mean, you won’t be there? Where will you be?”

“I’m going for a drink with Libby.” I make it up as I go along.

“I have the car, Tabitha. I can pick you up from wherever you are.”

He doesn’t intend to give in on this. Neither do I. “Don’t bother. I don’t know how long I’ll be out.”

“How long are you planning to be out?” He actually sounds concerned.

“Not long enough to get drunk if that’s what you’re implying.”

“I wasn’t. I’m just trying to make sure you stay safe.”

“Now you’re beginning to worry me. What is it you’re not telling me?”

“I don’t want you worrying.”

“I wasn’t until you started,” I point out.

“You have nothing to worry about.”

I still don’t like the sound of that. “Good. Then I’m going for a drink after work and I’ll take the train home.”

“You’re not taking the train home at night, after you’ve been drinking.”

“All right! I’ll take a taxi.”

“Why won’t you let me pick you up?” He sounds quite suspicious. Does he think I’m meeting a guy?

“I told you. I’m going for a drink with Libby. She wants to get a closer look at the engagement ring.”

“Christ, you’ve not been riding the train with that diamond on your finger have you?”

“You said people will expect to see it. I can’t win with you.”

“Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?”

“If that stupid ring is so damn precious to you then you can send the car to pick the ring up. I’ll be going for a drink!”

“It’s not about the ring.”

“Then why bring it up?”

“I didn’t bring it up. You did.”

“Why are you arguing with me?”

“Because you never do as you’re told.”

We both sit in exasperated silence for a bit, snorting down the phone at each other.

“Tabitha.” He sounds so conciliatory I sort of give in.

“Okay, I won’t take a train. I’ll take a taxi. Happy?”

“There’s no need. Blackstock is already on his way.”

“You’re impossible.” I haven’t even asked Libby if she wants to go out. I was simply making a point. But I’m ready to give in. Just hearing his voice makes me want to be near him.

But I hear another voice I recognise at his end of the line. I’d know her shriek anywhere. It’s twenty-four seven Amanda. When I hear her call him darling, I seethe. I picture her standing behind him at his office desk with her crabby hands massaging his argument-tensed shoulders. His reply to her becomes garbled. He must have his hand over the phone so I can’t hear what he says to her.

Well he can stuff it.

When he acknowledges me again I sound totally cool. “Tell Blackstock he’ll find the valuable object you’re so concerned about in the top right-hand drawer of my desk. I’ll be down the pub when he gets here.”

“Tabitha…”

“Getting stinking drunk!” I throw that in for good measure and hang up. I don’t answer the immediate redial. I stuff the ring in the drawer, grab my handbag and go through to the outer office.

“Fancy going for a couple of drinks to iron out the kinks?”

“Perfect way to end a Monday,” she says. “Let me get my bag.”

“Perfect way to celebrate our new company too.”

We link arms and leave. As we’re the last two out of the building we set the alarms and lock up. I don’t give the stupid ring or Jack a second thought. As neither of us has a car we walk to a great pub we know nearby: The Prince Albert.

“Do you want to eat too?” Libby asks me.

“D’you know, I think I do. I don’t really want to drink on an empty stomach.” I haven’t eaten since the croissants on the plane this morning. I never even got a bite of Lenuta’s cheese sandwich before she shoved me out the door.

We find a cosy table in a corner. The place is popular with locals and is packed already with the after-work crowd.

“Fancy a cocktail? My shout.” I dig out my purse as she smacks her lips and I head to the bar.

As I wait to be served I remember those delicious Clementine Crush cocktails Jack ordered at brunch the last Sunday I was in London. I pick up the cocktail list. Although there are no Clementine Crushes, everything on it reminds me of the pair of us. My eyes scan Dark and Stormy, Hurricane, Pink Lady, Jack Rose and Orgasm. I slam the card back on the bar and order the first random cocktail that comes to mind.

“Pina Colada please. Can I have a jug and two glasses?”

“Sure thing, sweetheart,” the bartender tells me. He’s cute and fresh. He looks at me in an interested way so I give him a shy smile.