Unravelled (17 page)

“You’re not angry?” There’s hot chocolate waiting for me on the kitchen table and if there’s hot chocolate, there might be forgiveness. He looks up from his book and gives me a half smile.

“I’m not angry at all. It’s just a car, Alex.” He puts the book down and hands me my hot chocolate. “What I don’t understand is why you are lying to me.”

“I’m not lying.” I say with my eyes roaming the ceiling of the kitchen. “I’m telling you my truth.”

He laughs. I sigh and look at him with my lips sucked in waiting for another onslaught, but once again he surprises me. How many more times is this man going to do this? “I will accept your truth as long as there will be no, and I mean no legal complications.”

“There will be no legal complications.” I say as fast as I can without spraying chocolate everywhere after a big sip of hot chocolate. I look at him over the rim of my mug. “Thank you.”

“Hmm.”

Chapter 14

“You are making me a rich man, doll.” Ray struts into the office like a proud rooster and waves a handful of bills under my nose. I frown in irritation. It’s been two days of negotiating my way through the committee’s differences on the opening day and all I have to show for it is a headache and a swaggering assistant. I sigh in resignation, take my hands off the computer keyboard and give him a look that could wither a cactus.

“You won the bet.”

“How do you know?” He sounds put out. “I thought you…”

“You thought that since I’m absent-minded I don’t pay attention to what’s happening around me. Well, let me tell you what I know. I know that you made photocopies for your neighbour’s daughter yesterday. The day after we received the memo telling us explicitly that private copies were out of the question.” The abashed look on his face is comical. “I also know that you had lunch yesterday with Gillian Howard.” Gillian Howard is quite a famous head hunter in these neck of the woods. I don’t know why Ray went to meet with her. He has a good position in this company and I have no doubt that he’ll work his way to the top within a few years. “Should I continue?”

“How do you know these things?” His dismay at my knowledge had gone straight to his vocal chords and the question came out with a strangled quality.

“I’m psychic.” I say dismissively, but the truth is that I saw the photocopies on his desk, and I drove past the restaurant just as Ray and Ms Howard came out. Pure luck, but good luck. “Care to tell me about the head hunter?”

“Alex, you won’t tell, will you?” He sounds genuinely worried. “She phoned me a few days ago and insisted on meeting. I don’t want to leave here. To be honest, the thought actually hasn’t even crossed my mind. I’ve been too intent on working my way up here.” He throws the money on his desk with distaste and sits down on his chair in his usual controlled manner. “I was just curious what Gillian Howard could possibly want with me? It turns out that she heard about the progress with the festival, the role I’ve been playing and wanted me to work for her.” If I couldn’t hear it in his voice, his face told me what he thought of that prospect, so I decide to tease him.

“And are you tempted?”

“Alex, I will swallow swords before I work for that woman. She is a b…witch.” It’s true. This woman has a reputation that has reached us in the city as well. She is a ruthless ladder climber with no regard of whose head she crushes on her way to the top. These are qualities some might deem necessary for the trade she is in, but it sure does not endear her to anyone. I look at the money on his desk and sigh inwardly.

“How many times did the pot roll over?” The people working in this company really have a gambling problem. Since day three they’ve been placing bets on me and it’s been getting progressively worse. Or better, depending on who you’re asking.

“It’s been rolling over for almost two weeks. You’ve been so erratic – some days you were perfect and the next you would come in with so many fashion faux pas that we decided to just let it roll over.” He picks the money up again and waves it at me. “There’s enough here for a night out for two people.”

“Good lord, that much?” Maybe I should also start placing bets. My self-esteem levels are high today, so I decide to bite the bullet. “So… what’s wrong today?”

“Your earrings don’t match.” I have to stop myself from ripping my earrings out, so I slowly take them out and smile-groan. I silver ring and a dangling earring made of blue beads. Not even a close match. I sit with the two earrings in my hands and smile at Ray who looks at his lucky charms with a huge grin. “I must admit I was lucky.”

“I thought you were my friend in this godforsaken company where everyone conspires against me and my sense of fashion. I feel betrayed, Ray.” I turn to my computer in mock disgust, but my acting is interrupted when the phone rings.

“Alex Fields, hello?”

“Alex, it’s...um...Jamie.” He sounds so nervous – poor thing. We haven’t spoken since the car incident.

“Hi! How are you?”

“Um...well. Is everything ok?”

“Do you mean about the...”

“Yes, about the...”

“Everything is fine, nothing to worry about.” Except the guilt I suffer from for lying to Adam. And trying to have this conversation without saying anything incrimination in front of an obviously eavesdropping Ray, is no mean feat.

“Oh, wow!” He sounds so relieved. “I was so scared that there would be a huge problem.”

“There is no problem.” I decide to just speak frankly and deal with Ray later. “The insurance company agreed to pay for the damage and things have eased up considerably since.” When Adam came home last night, he was so friendly towards me that I was a little scared. He is no stranger to the art of negotiation, or in my language: manipulation, and got his insurance company to cover the damage to his car. I don’t know and I don’t want to know how he did that, but I’m glad for both our sakes and for Jamie’s bank account that things turned out like this.

“Does that mean I won’t have to pay for anything?” He sounds even more relieved.

“That is exactly what it means.”

“Oh, wow!” he says again, much chirpier this time. “That is the best news I’ve heard all week.”

“I’m also glad about it. We’ll talk again later.” I need to end this call because Ray looks as if he’s left ear has grown three inches from the strain of listening to my conversation, but can’t help myself from asking, “Did you do something on Saturday?”

“Um...no. I couldn’t ask her. Not after what happened.”

“We definitely have to talk again soon.” And I mean it. I don’t usually interfere, but they seemed like they would make such a good couple. I finish the call and ignore Ray’s expectant look for as long as I can, which isn’t very long. He’s unbelievably tenacious and I squirm under his scrutiny until I ask defensively and a tad to loudly, “What?”

“What was that all about?”

“Personal.”

“Alex, you never take personal calls here and if you do, you end it as soon as you smell me.” He gives me the most suspicious look he can organise on his face at such short notice. “What was that about?”

“Ray, mind your own business and go place a bet on me or something.”

“I think I should. You’ve been a good luck charm for me, m’lady.” He considers for a few moments and then makes a decision. “Do you know that there is an accident pot?”

I know I should not ask, but I can’t help my self. “What accident pot?”

“The one that caused such severe damage to Mr Montgomery’s car. There is more speculation about that than the photocopy incident ever had.”

“No!” Do these people have nothing else to talk about? I’m outraged.

“Yes, my dear, and if you would be so kind as to tell me what happened, what really happened, I will make sure that you see you share of the winnings.”

“Are you bribing me?” I know I sound as indignant as I feel. I can’t believe this! “What would all your gambling buddies do if they knew what you just suggested to me?”

“Is it just me, or are you avoiding the car issue?” Ray’s been trying very hard to get me to talk about Adam’s car, but I’ve steadily refused. I don’t know why he insists so much to hear my side of the story. Is it because he is genuinely interested, or because he stands to make more money off me. This is one instance where no one will hear anything from me. At least that is one thing I am good at, keeping secrets.

“It’s just you. Now get back to work. You’re distracting me.”

“I plan to distract you quite a lot today. With these winnings.” He picks up the cash from his desk again and smiles at me in a I’m-a-spider-you’re-a-fly kind of way. “We are going to paint the town red. You might not approve of all this, but I’m glad I won the pot. It is perfect for what I’ve planned.” A little niggling feeling start making me feel very wary of what I’m about to hear. “It’s going to come in quite useful tonight.” No, not tonight! I wanted to wax my bikini line and that needed a few hours of self-pity and alcohol afterwards. I was looking forward to the hours afterwards.

“Ray…”

“Don’t you even dare say no!” He gets out of his chair and starts addressing me as if he was an evangelist and I needed converting. “You’ve been pining away since you came from the funeral a week ago.” He gets a bit gentler and sits on the corner of his immaculate desk as I marvel that it’s been a whole week since Pam’s funeral – it feels like yesterday. So much has happened since, including that bloody car incident. “I know what it is like to lose a loved one, but you need to get out again. You’ve been working like a … like… like Mr Montgomery!”

“Ouch. That hurt, Ray. I have not worked that hard.”

“Yes, you have. You’re always here before us, and I can’t remember when last I saw you leave with us. You seldom have tea with us and people are worried. Even Agatha has been talking about it.”

“She has not!” That woman would be happy to see the back of me. I’m sure she sees me as a huge interruption in the smooth running of ‘her’ company.

“You’re right, she hasn’t, but I’m sure she’s thinking about it.” He’s standing again. “I’m worried about you. You need to dolly yourself up and get out.” His evangelistic finger is in the air pointing everywhere and finally directed at me. “You missy, are going out tonight!”

“Ray, no. I have plans. I was going to…”

“Nothing you planned is as good as what I have in store for you. We’re leaving early this afternoon – I’ve cleared it with the boss, and we’re going to get you all tarted up for a night on the town.”

“This town?” I ask sardonically.

“But of course not! We’re taking you to Heaven.”

“We? Wait. Back up a bit first, and then we’ll talk about the ‘we’.”  Sometimes I’m a bit slow and only now something he said earlier is registering and raising alarm bells. “You cleared this with Mr Montgomery?” As the sentence comes out, I get progressively more exasperated until the last word comes out as a half-roar – a bit louder than it should have.

“Yes, he did.” A voice says from the door. “Don’t be angry with Ray, Alex. I think it is a good idea that you get out.”

Adam is leaning against the door frame in that infuriating casual way of his. How is it that he always arrives at the most inopportune times?

“You think it’s a good idea? Who asked you?” Half roar.

“Ray asked me and I suggested that he takes you to Heaven. I think it will be a good break from all this work.”

“How is it that all of a sudden everyone knows what’s best for me? Don’t you think that getting this project off the ground successfully might be good for me and everyone here?”

“Of course it is. But no one wants to see you burnt out in the process. No one is trying to tell you what to do, Alex.” The corner of his mouth does something funny that I’ve not seen before and I get ready for something bad, really bad. “I could always borrow
Erin
’s cats to live with us. Blossom might like the company.” His innocent tone belies the menace behind the words. He’s threatening Blossom! He knows how scared Blossom is of cats. I did not know he would ever go that low.

“Are you blackmailing me?” I ask slowly

“If that’s what it takes.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. What would be the most sterile way to kill someone? I take another breath and start counting: one, two, three, four, five, six…

“What are you doing?” Ray looks concerned.

“I’m counting to thirteen.”

“Why?”

“Counting to ten has never worked for me.”

“Oh, come on Alex. We don’t want you to have a mammogram. It will be fun!” Ray’s voice has now taken on a cajoling tone and I know myself well enough to know that I’m going to give in. I was going to cave in after a playing hard to get for a bit, but Adam’s arrival complicated things. I feel confident in bestowing withering looks today and Adam is now on the receiving end of one. I turn it on full blast and allow my voice all the snootiness it ever desired.

“Going to Heaven will be a far superior choice than staying home tonight with someone who reduces himself to threatening innocent animals.” It was an attempt to gain some ground in this argument and I’m sad to say that it did not work. Not by a long shot. The two men look at each other triumphantly and I let my head fall back against the back of my chair. Defeated.