Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
NOT THIS TIME
Scarlet
My working week had never been so long. Ally and I resumed our voice and picture messages, and I roamed head office’s halls with an ache in my chest and my mind hundreds of miles away.
My parents’ mansion was empty, with them having taken Mathilda’s twins on a short holiday, and by Thursday, I couldn’t take the loneliness anymore.
Previously, I would’ve filled my time with friends and nights out, and endless days in the office, but with my internship winding up soon, work had slowed.
I was going out of my mind.
Above it all, I needed Ally.
An email landed in my inbox, rousing me from my slump. It was from Philip, Dad’s colleague, inviting me to join him for a chat. I’d asked both him and my father for a review meeting, but with Dad’s unexpected break from work, hadn’t expected it to happen yet. I slipped my heels on and left my desk.
Devon smirked as I passed. He’d found out about the Hong Kong trip and had whined to anyone who’d listen about being left out. But since yesterday, his attitude had done a one-eighty, and he was now as smug as sin, sending me smarmy smiles like he had some big secret.
Whatever. I wasn’t interested.
I’d been thinking endlessly about my future and had my own big plans.
Toby waved at my approach across the executive suite. He had his headset on and was taking a call. I waved in response and reported in to Philip’s PA. She sent me straight in. At the glass doors whooshing open, Philip lifted his gaze from his screen.
“Scarlet. You asked me for a formal meeting this week.” He steepled his hands in front of him.
“I did, thanks for finding time. I assumed this would be with my father.”
Philip blinked. “Would you prefer we wait?”
“No, it’s fine. The internship ends soon. I wanted to talk about my future.” I held his gaze, though my pulse thrummed.
“I thought you were considering a move to Hong Kong?”
“Yes. I was, but now I’ve changed my mind.” I sounded like the worst kind of spoiled brat. “Not on everything,” I hastened to add. “Just the location. I still want to work for Storm Enterprises. I’m proud of all I’ve achieved and I know I have a lot to give.”
The older man smiled. “I am very glad to hear it. Your father started this organisation over thirty years ago, and it would be a great pity for there not to be a Storm on the books when he retires.”
I stared, my jaw dropping open. “Retires? Dad won’t ever do that.”
Philip shifted in his seat. “Ah, I see I’ve spoken out of turn.”
“Wait, do you know something?”
He picked up his tablet and scrolled to the top of a long document and handed it to me. “The agenda for the board meeting next week has an item proposed by your father. He is formally announcing his retirement plans.”
The screen confirmed Philip’s news.
“I didn’t know.” I handed the device back over. Then, because Philip was Dad’s friend as well as a colleague, I allowed myself to slump a little. “He’s been busy with his grandchildren, and Mom’s been trying to get him to slow down.”
“It seems she has succeeded.”
I forced a smile, because this was a conversation I needed to have with my father, not Philip. “That makes it even more urgent for me to wind up my internship.”
“Indeed. Where do you see yourself, if not in Hong Kong?”
“I’d like to take on a trainee management position in Storm Force in Edinburgh. It is a lovely office, and I love Scotland, and there is so much opportunity for me to grow there. The people are great—”
Philip held up a hand. “The principle of this is fine, and I will happily support you in a similar role. But unfortunately, that vacant job has been appointed.”
I gaped. “No!”
He pulled a face. “I’m sorry, but Devon asked for an interview yesterday and put himself forward. He’s produced some excellent work in the past few weeks.”
My whole body drooped. “Devon got the Storm Force job?”
What work had he done? Very little, from what I’d seen, but somehow, he must have written and submitted a report entirely off his own bat.
I’d told him to do it. More fool me.
“I’m sorry. We already agreed and, legally, I can’t back out without a very good reason. You’ll have to choose another part of the business. I have to say, with your track record, all doors will be open.”
Yes, but none of those other doors were in Scotland.
I thanked Philip and found my feet, then left the office. Toby was off his call now, and I dropped into the chair next to his desk. “Hi.”
“Oh, so blue! What happened?”
“Devon got the job I wanted.”
My friend pulled a horrified face. “No!”
“Fact. So I’m miserable. Plus, I seem to be the last to know about Dad’s retirement.”
Toby wrinkled his nose. “If it helps, I only knew because we had a call on Tuesday and he asked me to put it into an agenda. Way to find out I’ll be out of a job.”
Instantly, my issues changed perspective. “No way. Dad wouldn’t let that happen.”
“He thought I’d want to go to Hong Kong with you. Everything is messed up.”
Oh shit. We both blew out a long breath.
“Let’s get out of here. Can I buy you lunch?” I offered.
“No can do. I have a date. On that note, why don’t you take the afternoon off and go see your boyfriend?”
Well, that was an idea. I sat taller. “I’m going there tomorrow and staying the weekend. We’re picking up the baby for a sleepover.”
“Does this conversation mean you’re thinking about how to parent said baby?”
Fright mixed with excitement shot down my spine.
“I’ve never thought about having babies.
I’m twenty-two. But honestly? Yes, I think about it when I go to bed at night, wondering what it would be like to go to a job on interrupted sleep.
I think about her at mealtimes, when I try to remember when my sister’s twins went onto solid foods.
Yesterday, I spent the whole of my lunchbreak picking out tiny baby clothes.
I bought a whole wardrobe’s worth to be delivered to Ally on Friday when I see him.
” I fished out my phone to show him a picture.
Multiple voice messages blipped on the screen, and I flushed, knowing they’d be from Ally.
I dismissed them and found a picture of Cait.
Toby’s smile grew. “She’s a sweet little thing.”
“She is! I held her and fed her, and she fell asleep in my arms.” At that moment, I’d gotten a similar bloom of sensation in my chest as when I’d realised I was falling for her dad.
Toby’s phone trilled, and he peered at the display. “Ugh. This might take me a while.”
I leapt to my feet. “I’ll leave you to it. Thanks for cheering me up.”
“Do what I suggested. You have a ton of leave saved. Go nuts.”
I returned to my desk. The disappointment over not getting the Storm Force management job had knocked me for sure, and Devon’s evil smiles now made sense. That jerk. Well, it wasn’t like he knew my plans. I’d get over it and find something else.
Even though that would mean more time away from Ally, assuming he and I worked out.
My happiness returned in spades as I plugged in my headphones and listened to his messages.
Ah, lass, I have the best plans for this weekend. Expect pure debauchery on Friday, where every inch of your skin gets acquainted with every inch of mine. By the way, that’s a lot of inches.
I snorted a laugh and moved onto the next.
I’m betting you’re in a meeting right now. Are ye wearing a pinstriped miniskirt? Can’t lie. The idea of ye looking like that gets me through the cold and lonely nights. Multiple times.
I jumped to the third message, heat swirling in my belly.
Then, on Saturday, we’ll fetch Cait, have a wholesome family day, and learn how she sleeps with two people in the house. Again, no lie, she sleeps in bursts of about an hour. The night she stayed over was a lot of fun.
The final message had my heart overflowing with love.
Basically, I cannae wait to see ye. So get your arse on a plane, and I’ll fetch ye at the airport tomorrow.
Please.
Devon loomed at the side of my desk. “I’m convening a working party to advance a number of improvement ideas.
I need you on that team. We’ll start this afternoon, but I fear it will take several days.
Probably into the weekend.” He straightened his tie.
“I wanted to make sure there are no hard feelings, hence this request—”
“Excuse me.” I pushed back my chair and stood, ignoring Devon and his damn request. No way was I giving up my weekend to work on his projects.
I slipped out to the corridor then recorded a message of my own for Ally. My voice trembled, but I didn’t care. His very last word had me in pieces.
“Hey,” I started. Then I stopped. The last Inverness flight Ally had expected me to be on, I’d missed. And just like last time, work had called. But I wasn’t listening. Not this time.
I didn’t want Ally to ever doubt me again.
In fact, the need to tell him how I felt burned hotter than ever. I stared at my phone then turned on my heel and strode back into the office. Then I grabbed my things and stormed back up to the executive floor.
Toby raised two eyebrows at my haste. “Where’s the fire?”
“Under my feet. I’m going to Inverness. Consider me on leave until Monday.”
Toby bounced on his chair. “Need me to book your flight?”
I tackled him across his desk in a hug. “Yes! I love you!”
Toby’s chortle followed me out of the suite. “Save it for your Scot.”
I was on my way to the Highlands.