Chapter Twenty-Seven
Oliver
I let out a deep breath as I waited for the Teams call to connect, nervously tapping my pen on the open notebook next to me. I’d asked Brian for a meeting, framing it as an update about my living situation, but I hadn’t told him any more than that.
I knew I was probably about to blindside him by telling him I wanted to stay in Heather Bay, but I didn’t know how to explain it in an email, especially because I wanted to keep my job.
I’d spent the whole morning making a long list of points in my favour.
Now, all I had to do was hope Brian was receptive, but I also knew it wasn’t completely his decision.
He might have been Crimson Star’s publisher, but the imprint was part of a larger publishing house that had policies Brian needed to adhere too, even if he didn’t always agree with them.
The call connected, and Brian’s face appeared, the blind-covered windows of the meeting room filling the rest of the screen behind him.
Usually, Brian’s background was the enormous bookcases behind his desk, so it was clear he’d figured out this was a private discussion and had gone somewhere the rest of the small office wouldn’t be able to hear.
“Hey, Oliver,” Brian said, giving me a smile. “How’re you? How’re things?”
“They’re good, thanks,” I said. “Really good.” I gave him a quick update on the progress of the cottage and how the kitchen was finally starting to take shape despite the torrent of miscommunication and the endless fuckery by the kitchen company.
Brian nodded and chuckled, asking me the odd question. I’d been open with him about everything from the start because, although he was my boss, I also considered him a friend. He’d done a lot for me, and I always wanted to be honest with him.
“So,” he said as I finished my round-up. There was a knowing smile on his face that almost seemed tinged with sadness. “Is this where you tell me you’re not coming back to London, and you’re handing in your resignation?”
Bollocks. I’d been wondering whether he’d figure it out ever since I sent the initial email asking for a meeting. Clearly, he had, and he’d just been waiting for me to spit it out.
“Sort of.” I looked at him sheepishly. “I’m actually hoping we can work something out because I really don’t want to leave Crimson Star, but I don’t want to come back to London either.
” I resumed the tapping of my pen on the notebook, casually noticing that I’d started leaving dots of ink on the page that were slowly starting to connect.
“What I’d really like is to be able to continue doing my job remotely, from here, with the understanding that I’ll make the trip to London whenever necessary for meetings that can’t be done via Teams or Zoom.”
Brian hadn’t immediately shot me down, so I took a sip from the glass of water I’d put next to my laptop before I continued.
“I know it’s a bit of a shock, and I know we’ve always focused on working in the office, but I genuinely think this can work.
There’s absolutely no need for me to be in every day, and I know it’s only been just over a month, but I think I’ve proved I can work just as well from here.
We can easily do meetings like this, and I’m always available via email or a message.
And when I’m editing, I don’t speak to anyone anyway.
I wear headphones and silently wish you’d all be quiet. ”
“You’re not as silent about it as you think,” Brian said with a chuckle. “But I know what you mean. We keep the office as quiet as we can, but it’s never going to be silent, and someone is always going to want something.”
“Usually just help fixing the bloody printer. Which wouldn’t keep breaking if they didn’t keep shoving half a tree into it. Putting more paper in to ‘save time later’ doesn’t actually help. It just makes it worse.”
Brian snorted and shook his head, picking up his giant Star Wars mug and taking a sip of what I knew was the strongest black coffee known to humankind—the sort that wasn’t actually fit for human consumption.
“Okay,” he said. “Talk me through it again. I think it’s a solid idea, and I don’t have a problem with it, but I need details to take to the people on high.”
“Seriously? You wouldn’t have a problem with it?” I asked, unable to keep the sheer glee out of my voice. I’d thought Brian would put up more resistance than this.
“Of course not. I understand the whole ‘office working being good for the team’ philosophy, but I think it’s bullshit to be honest. I know some people prefer it, but it’s really not necessary.
” He thought for a second. “In fact, I might suggest it as a whole team approach. I know some of them need to be in to sort samples and things, but most people don’t.
I know Lindsey’s mentioned it in passing before, so she’d definitely be on board. I think Cal would be too.”
“I know when Lindsey’s typesetting or doing cover stuff that she hates being disturbed.
She’s literally got that red paper flag she sticks to one of her monitors to make it clear she doesn’t want to be interrupted unless it’s a life-or-death situation.
And even then, she’d probably think about it before responding. ”
Brian chuckled. “Ah, the red flag of doom.” He sipped his coffee again, and I tried not to think about how well this was going. I’d never expected Brian to pick up my idea and run with it, but it sounded like it was something he’d been thinking about for a while.
“What about you?” I asked, testing the water. “Would you prefer to work at home?”
“I’m not sure,” Brian said. “I’ve always worked in an office, even when I haven’t wanted to, so the idea of giving up my desk feels weird.
But I’ll admit, I’ve been thinking about it more and more.
I bloody hate getting the train and the Tube, and it sucks up so much of my day, especially when it’s delayed.
I just can’t decide whether that’s because I’m old and grumpy, though, or whether it’s a valid point. ”
“I think it’s valid. You wouldn’t be the only one who hates commuting. Plus, it’s so expensive.”
“I’m guessing Heather Bay is a lot cheaper?”
“Yeah. I nearly cried when I was looking on Rightmove and saw some of the house prices. They’re going up around here, but they’re still at least half the price of London in some places.”
“Maybe I should move,” Brian said. “Okay, leave it with me, and I’ll see what I can do.
I’ll do my best, but I can’t make any promises.
But if it’s a choice between letting you work from there and losing you, then I’d happily let you work wherever you want.
You’re a great editor, Oliver, and I don’t want to see you go. Not if I can help it.”
“Thanks.” I smiled, my chest flooding with warmth and pride. I knew I was good at my job, but hearing that from Brian felt special. It wasn’t every day your boss offered to try to implement a major policy change just because they wanted you to stay. “I really appreciate it.”
“No worries.” He took another sip of his coffee. “How’s everything else going? Anything else to catch me up on while I’m here?”
We spent another hour on the call talking about various projects, the schedule, what we were looking to acquire and whether anything in the slush pile might fit as well as spending twenty minutes chatting about events and appearances.
WorldCon, one of the biggest science fiction and fantasy conventions, was coming to Paris in August, and we were heading out for a few days to meet people.
Brian had been invited to do a panel too, and I’d chuckled because they only needed to ask him one question, and he’d be off for an hour.
When we finally hung up, I flopped back in the chair, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief.
I knew I still had to wait for an actual answer, but I was one step closer.
Just having the initial discussion and not being immediately rejected felt like scaling a massive hurdle, and it helped knowing Brian was on my side.
I grabbed my phone from where it was resting on my notebook and opened my message thread with Lane.
Oliver
Talked to Brian, and he said working at home is a definite possibility! He needs to talk to the higher-ups, but he’s in favour and said he’d rather let me work wherever I wanted than lose me, which is a bit mad tbh! Hopefully I’ll find out soon. xx
Lane
That’s awesome!! So proud of you! Knew you could do it.
Lane
Also you’re fucking great at your job, so I’m not surprised Brian wants to keep you!
Oliver
Thanks. It’s nice to hear at least. How’s things at the cottage? xx
Lane
[Sent a photo] That’s your kitchen right now x
The picture showed half-installed cabinets, all missing the doors, that looked like they were maybe in the process of being fixed in place.
I saw Gary kneeling next to one with what looked like a drill in hand.
It did look like a bit of a mess, but I could already see the finished shape starting to come together, and it would look lovely when it was done.
It was making me itch to start shopping for the finishing touches, even though I wouldn’t need them for a while.
I had a few nice bits in my London flat, but there were more things that I wanted.
Like a fancy coffee machine, and a bread maker, and one of those giant stand mixers I’d seen on The Great British Bake Off.
The kitchen had a modern blue-grey vibe, but it still respected the history of the building. I wanted to give it some pops of colour to really bring it to life.
I suddenly remembered Nan had once had a load of old copper pans and jelly moulds that had been her mother’s from when she worked in service as a cook.
I had a sneaking suspicion I’d seen them in a box we’d packed up for storage but hadn’t decided what to do with.
They’d look lovely all polished up and hanging on a dark blue wall, shining in the sunlight.
I made a note to myself to try and dig them out or ask Mum where they were.
I still hadn’t told Mum I was staying. Everything had happened so fast over the past few days, and she’d been busy exploring and travelling. But I knew I needed to tell her soon before word somehow got back to her.
And as if she’d magically been able to hear me from five-thousand miles away, my phone flashed with a WhatsApp video call. When I opened it, I saw my mum’s beaming face surrounded by soft predawn light and swaying palm trees.
“Hey, Mum,” I said, trying to think where she currently was. “How’s LA? A bit early, isn’t it?”
“Hot! But nice,” she said, brushing off my question about the time. “The place we’re staying in is amazing. You’d love it. How’s things with you? How’s the house?”
“Good, I’ve actually got an in-progress photo of the kitchen to show you.”
“Oh, did it finally turn up?”
“Yeah,” I said. “But without any warning. Lane wasn’t impressed.
” I’d only mentioned Lane casually to her the last couple of times we’d spoken, not wanting to give her any ideas because I’d known the second I gave her a hint that we were together, she’d jump on it, and I hadn’t wanted to explain it was only a temporary thing.
Mum and I were close, but not so close I could explain to her I was hooking up with my first boyfriend just for fun. I’d gotten the feeling she’d read more into it than it being just sex, especially if I’d mentioned living with him.
She’d basically have figured it all out before I did.
“I can imagine,” she said. “How’re you two getting on? Still working together okay?”
“Er, yeah. We are,” I said, unable to stop myself from smiling. Mum looked like she was biting her lip, and I knew she already knew. She was just waiting for me to say it. “We decided to get back together. And I, er, I decided to move back here.”
“You did? Honey, that’s amazing. I’m so happy for you!
” She was beaming at me, and the phone was shaking like she was trying to contain her excitement and failing.
“I always knew you two would end up together. You were always so happy when you were with each other, and it was so awful when you broke up.”
“Thanks.” I decided not to ask how she knew because I wasn’t sure whether she actually did or whether it was just one of those mum things that got said because she was happy for me. “We’ve still got some details to work out, like my job, but it’s good. I’m good.”
“You sound it,” she said. “You look so much happier too. Now, tell me everything!”
“Don’t you have a trip to do?”
“I can take an hour out to talk to you. Besides, it’s too early to do anything here. I’m only up because my body still isn’t sure what time it is.”
I did some quick mental maths. “Mum, it’s half-four in the morning.”
“I know. That’s why I called. I thought you’d be on your lunch break,” she said with another smile. “Come on. I’m still waiting. Tell me everything.”
I shook my head. “By the way, I know you engineered this by not telling me it was Lane.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I hummed but let it slide. I knew she’d have a million questions for me, but it was nice to be able to share most of what had happened with her. It made it finally all feel real, like this was really happening.
I didn’t think I’d ever quite get used to it.