Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
A week later Gracie sat opposite her boss in Marcy’s. To avoid the elephant in the room she began talking about everything from the weather to the forthcoming summer party for their biggest client – until Rob cleared his throat and said casually, ‘Just so you know before you make any rash decisions, she’s gone.’
‘What do you mean, she’s gone?’ Gracie took a sip of her cooling coffee.
‘Annalize. She’s gone. Resigned.’ Rob Warhurst wiped cappuccino froth from his beard.
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really. Now come on, finish your coffee, I’ve been flying solo for too long and I could really do with your help,’
Rob Warhurst had never been a very good liar. Of course Annalize hadn’t resigned; she had been on good money at Lemon Aid and was very much a career woman. But Rob’s heart was stronger than his head. She had upset his lovely Gracie and he couldn’t bear to have her anywhere near him, much less lose his favourite employee. Gracie was a fantastic, empathetic events organiser. He could replace a salesperson such as Annalize more easily than her, he hoped.
He had made Annalize redundant with immediate effect. She hadn’t kicked up a fuss probably because he had offered her a tidy pay-off in order for her not to threaten a lawsuit, which he assumed she would try to do. He was sure that her passive exit had nothing to do with guilt, as he was doubtful that that was an emotion ever to have troubled her.
Gracie lightly put her palm on top of her kind boss’s hand. ‘Well, that’s a relief. I thought I may have to resign. I do need to ask you something, though.’
‘Go on.’
‘I’d like to be a bit flexible with my hours, if that’s OK? I’ve found a running group on the common, but they seem to not fit in with the nine to five. I haven’t been yet but I want to try and go as many times as I can. I will make up my hours – start early, work late…’
‘Gracie, of course that’s fine. I know you know the devil’s in the detail with events. You’re experienced enough to work out what needs doing when, and you sure enough put in the hours, even weekends when needed. And I certainly don’t want to lose you. You’re special, you know.’
Gracie felt herself welling up. ‘It’s going to take me a while to get over this and I love you a little bit more now, you know that.’ Gracie kissed her boss on the cheek, which she noticed reddened immediately.
Gracie was putting on her coat when Maya approached.
‘Gracie, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, hi. How you doing? I’m so sorry, I’ve forgotten your name.’
‘Maya, I’m Maya.’
Gracie had nose-piercing envy as the diamond in the young Czech girl’s nose caught the sunlight that was streaming through the café window.
‘I promise I’m not being nosy, but I did overhear about a running club and I really could do with getting fit. I bloody smoke too much. My lungs could do with an airing.’
Gracie smiled. ‘It’s on Wimbledon Common. They set off at eight thirty and four thirty. The meeting point is the Windmill Café.’
‘Perfect. I can do the later one. That’s great, thank you, Gracie. Hope to see you there.’
Rob was making ‘hurry up’ gestures.
‘I’d better go. The boss has got ants in his pants.’ Gracie smiled.
As she sat back at her desk, Gracie felt momentarily peaceful. Work was sorted, tick! And she need never look at the harlot that was Annalize Good ever again; she was going to get fit and may even have made a new friend to boot. Then a dark cloud of realisation swept through her. Who was she kidding? Peaceful? Lewis had messaged her earlier wanting to take her out for dinner on Friday night.
This was probably just the calm before a very big storm ahead.