Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
LONDON
The Boss
The following week found Vic back in London, sitting opposite Ray in his glass office. Penny had already left for the school run.
‘How’s it all going?’ Ray enquired. ‘I have to say it’s far too quiet in here without you.’
‘To remedy that, if it’s OK with you, I may still come in and work when I need to –once the flat lease is up, that is. The signal at Mum’s place is so shite.’
‘Of course, that’s a given. You know that. Did you manage to sort out Jerico?’
‘Er, yes. I’m hoping he’ll be happy with this design without any alterations.’ Vic reached in her bag for a brown envelope and handed it across the table.
He opened it up. ‘Donkeys, eh?’ Ray laughed. ‘But I love that. Well done. And you’ve expertly drawn it in a way that makes it fit with the series.’
Vic’s smile was abruptly washed off her face with Ray’s next enquiry. ‘So, I take it you won’t be giving this to him yourself, then.’ She squirmed under his knowing gaze, but didn’t say anything. ‘That’s fine. I’ll sort it’ – he smiled – ‘but now you have to tell me the reason why. You haven’t been upsetting my clients already, have you?’
Vic felt her face twist, and Ray peered at her sternly. ‘Victoria Sharpe, I know you so well. Has something happened between you two?’
Vic grimaced. ‘Just a tipsy kiss.’
‘How delightful.’ Ray smiled.
‘It kind of was, but in the cold light of day, I’ve realised I’m not ready even for tipsy kisses.’
Ray looked right at her. ‘Is that your head or your heart telling you that?’
Vic groaned. ‘I… I… er… I just can’t. It’s work as well, and I don’t want it ever to be awkward.’
‘OK.’ Ray nodded wisely. ‘But you don’t have to worry about me in that equation. If you’re happy, I’m happy – you know that. And, well, what’s a few lost cover designs between friends, if it does go tits-up?’
‘That’s very sweet, but not forgetting, I have to tell anyone I decide to have sex with that I have HIV.’
‘Lady, are you telling me you want to have sex with Jerico Flint? I mean, I don’t blame you at all if you are. I’d leave Marcus for him if he was of my persuasion.’
Vic wiped some coffee froth from her mouth and chose not to answer directly. ‘It will take him at least another three months to write his next book, so he won’t need another cover until at least then. Oh, and just another small thing: Nate wants me back.’
‘Shit.’ Ray reached for the glass of water on his desk and took a swig. ‘But you’re surely not contemplating it?’
‘Maybe better the devil you know isn’t such a bad option for me. At least he knows about the diagnosis.’ Vic grimaced and checked her watch. ‘Sorry for the flying visit – I have to go. I’m having dinner with the girls later and I need to pop into the estate agent’s first, about the inventory on the flat.’
‘No worries.’ Ray thought for a moment. ‘And the only chink of wisdom I can offer on what you’ve just told me is what my old mum used to say to me, bless her dear heart. I can hear her as if it were only yesterday, and I did all right with my Marcus, so maybe you should heed it.’ He began to relay in a deep Ghanaian accent: ‘“Raymond, don’t settle for the one you can live with, wait for the one you can’t live without. You hear me?”’