Chapter 17
Normally, supermarket shopping seemed like a chore.
Trying to think about what was for tea was one of the things that adults, particularly mums who more often than not were the primary cooks in a family, hated the most. We used to laugh when Helen, one of my colleagues, came into work in a morning ranting that she would kill her teenager if he uttered those words ‘what’s for tea, Mum?
’ once more. She used to say that she hadn’t even started her workday yet, let alone thought about what to cook for tea.
One of the other parents said that she had to do a weekly food planner as it was the only way that she could stop her family asking her, and her murdering them all in cold blood.
Wasn’t it funny how it’s the smaller things that sometimes tip you over the edge?
I found it hard enough just thinking of having myself to feed and cook for, let alone having a family to think of, and even when Demetri had been around, shopping and meal planning was something that I did on my own – the time we did spend together when he wasn’t on shift was so precious that we didn’t want to waste it doing mundane things like shopping.
Walking around the supermarket with Makis was fun and did actually lift my spirits.
He was a bit of a clown, always making me laugh.
At one point when he unexpectedly leant across me to reach something, I realised that we were so close I could smell his aftershave.
He even smelt like his brother. It was quite bizarre and almost took my breath away.
I told myself to calm down and that he was just charming and funny and it was in no way flirty.
After all, I was his brother’s ex-girlfriend and that was out of bounds. Or was that just girl code?
When we got to the checkout, he never reached for his wallet, so I just paid.
He must have forgotten that he’d said he would and I would have been paying normally anyway, so I just put it to the back of my mind – despite the fact we’d spent more than I would usually spend because there were two of us.
He did help me unload into the car and then carried the bags into the kitchen too, and I awkwardly moved around him while I put everything away, and he made us both a hot drink.
After I’d said ‘excuse me’ for what felt like the hundredth time, he sat at the kitchen table with the two mugs and patted the chair next to him.
‘It’s very kind of you to allow me to stay, Michelle. Demetri chose well with you.’
My smile was bittersweet.
‘But still he went to Greece,’ I replied.
‘There are things that you clearly don’t know about our family. He has a tie to Greece that I have never had.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, cocking my head to one side.
He seemed to have something more to say but then stopped himself.
‘Not my story to tell. I’m sure it’ll all… What is it you say in England? Come out in the washing up?’
I laughed, forgetting that English wasn’t his first language although he spoke it so eloquently most of the time.
‘Yeah, something similar.’ He grinned back and I had to tear my eyes away from his face. At times, his expressions were so similar, it hurt to see.
He clapped his hands together, making me jump.
‘Right, let’s get down to business, shall we? Let me tell you about what experiences I’ve had in the past, so you know a little more about me. Then perhaps you could tell me again your expansion plans and why you said you can’t do them right now. I want to hear everything.’
It was so nice to have someone so enthusiastic about my work.
Jo and Emma, while they encouraged me, glazed over a little when I talked about forecasts and figures, pretending that they knew what I meant, but I got the feeling they hadn’t really a clue.
And that was fine. Your friends can’t be great at everything.
It was also good to keep things separate so work didn’t become your everything.
That’s why it was nice to help Emma with The Lonely Hearts Club group, which was growing and going from strength to strength.
And now she had this barn dance idea too, which she’d fully thrown herself into organising and dragging Jo and me into everything that she could.
We made out that she was badgering us into helping her, but the truth was that we loved it.
The three of us gelled so well that it was a joy to work on something together and see the results for the whole of the community.
We were all looking forward to the barn dance.
‘So, you can only do all of this with the hiring of staff?’ he asked. ‘How many?’
‘At the very least one, but I could really do with two to be able to scale up.’ I gave a loud sigh. It felt huge to take this step and I wasn’t sure I could afford it financially.
‘And obviously then you’ll have to have all the complications of what having staff means. The managing of them, training them, wages etcetera.’
I nodded.
‘Yeah, all of that. I go either one way or the other. When I moved down to Cornwall, my vision was to do something part time. I was working myself into an early grave and all for someone else. I wanted to set up on my own and slow down a bit from a work point of view, but I feel like it’s growing exponentially and I need to make some decisions.
It’s one of the many reasons why I couldn’t just up and go to Greece with Demetri.
People are relying on me to help them to grow their own businesses. I feel a responsibility towards them.’
‘I can understand that, Michelle. And if you don’t mind me saying, very selfish of my brother to expect you to give up everything to follow him.’
I started to defend Demetri.
‘Well, I’m sure he wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t feel it was necessary.’
His swift raise of an eyebrow, and the way he quickly moved the conversation on, made me wonder about the relationship that these two brothers had.
‘So, I have a suggestion here if you’ll allow me to share, as someone impartial.’
‘Of course,’ I replied. I was never too conceited to listen to advice from someone as successful as Makis clearly was.
‘Have you ever thought of making wise investments?’
Now that made me sit up and take notice.
It wasn’t something I’d ever considered and was a very interesting idea.
I chewed the inside of my cheek, a habit I had when I was pensive.
It always used to make my mum smile when I was a child, and I wondered what advice she would give to me had she still been alive.
She was incredibly wise, and when I searched deeply, I knew in my heart that she would advise me to get as much information together so I could consider everything in a fully informed way.
‘I know a few people who have been investing in some low-risk funds and really, do you say, reaping the rewards? Is that the right expression?’
I smiled. ‘It is.’
‘No pressure at all, but at least you could get some facts and see how it would work, should you decide that it’s the right thing for you.
You might decide that it isn’t and that you want to stay where you are.
You don’t have to grow. You can be perfectly happy at the size your company already is.
I could get some information for you. To be honest, it’s how I’ve made most of my money.
No pressure though. Have a think and let me know. No rush at all.’
He had definitely given me something to think about. Maybe if I did get some more information, it wouldn’t hurt.
‘Thank you, Makis. I’d appreciate that very much.’
‘I know we’ve only just met, Michelle, but I can honestly see why my brother saw something special in you. He was a fool to let you go.’
I could feel the beginnings of a blush crawling up my neck and into my face, so I averted my eyes.
‘Honestly. Your vision is exciting and infectious. I deal with a lot of people in the business world and there are lots out there that don’t have the enthusiasm and dreams that you have.
Some, you know immediately that they’ll never succeed.
But you are different. And not just a pretty face.
Brains and beauty. What a powerful combination.
’ He stared deep into my eyes and I had to look away. Again.
I spent a few moments deep in thought.
‘What if I’m not ready though, Makis?’
‘You don’t have be 100 per cent ready. That’s something that I’ve learned along the way.
You just have to be 70 per cent, and you’ll manage to work the rest out.
Most of the best businesspeople I know are those who are prepared to take a risk.
A comfort zone is called that for a reason, you know.
You just have to push yourself out of it.
Take a leap of faith. That’s where you change; transform; grow. It’s where the magic happens.’
I chewed the inside of my cheek again. I didn’t know if I had the confidence yet to deal with any of this. Did I have the courage within me? I suppose I’d been on my own for so long without anyone personally believing in me that I’d begun to doubt myself along the way.
‘Answer me this. You said earlier that you worked your way up to a director level within your last company.’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
He continued. ‘And the person who gave you that job, what did you think of them?’
I wondered what he was getting at. It was a bit of a strange question.
‘Wise, bright, savvy, brave.’
He nodded. ‘And do you think they would have made you a director if you weren’t worthy of the position? Just gave it you because they liked you?’
‘No, I suppose not.’
‘Well, there you go then. Michelle, I totally trust that you have what it takes to make a really successful business. Already, after just a short time in your company, I totally believe in you.’
He rubbed his chin and I could see that he was chewing the inside of his cheek.
‘OK, I have just had a thought,’ he said. That would explain what must be his pondering face.
‘Go on…’ I invited.
‘Why don’t you make a small initial investment to dip your toe in the water? Just a couple of thousand pounds or so.’
I blew out air through my cheeks. Even a couple of thousand pounds was a lot to me. It was almost as if he could read my mind.
‘I know it’s still a lot, but what if I made it more appealing to you?’ He tilted his head to one side and smiled that charming smile that lit up his face and made my tummy a tiny bit fuzzy.
‘How so?’
‘If we do a quick transaction, take a high-risk opportunity and it works and you see growth, then that’s perfect. But I will offer to pay you back, in full, if it tanks, which I don’t think for one minute that it will. What have you got to lose?’
My face must have showed the shock that I was feeling.
‘I couldn’t ask you to do that,’ I replied, thinking what a nice thing for someone I hardly knew to offer to do. He was clearly just as kind and generous as his lovely brother.
‘I’m offering, you’re not asking. In fact, I insist. It would be totally risk free for you.
And you’d get to see how things work. Not that I think you need to.
What do you think?’ He laughed. ‘Let me know later and we can kick it all off. I know you know it’s the perfect solution. You’re such a smart woman, Michelle.’
Whilst it was nice to get these compliments from someone who clearly knew his way around a business plan and a spreadsheet or two, it was time to crack on with some work before my mind got carried away.
It was Friday and later that evening I was meeting with the girls and I wanted to talk it over with them and see if they had a view at all.
Excusing myself, I headed through to my room and started to work through my to-do list.