8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
I t was with overwhelming exhaustion and great relief when Evie finally sunk into her bed that night. She hadn’t been able to muster the energy to remove her makeup or change into her pyjamas so lay on top of the duvet going over the last few hours in her mind.
Grace and the baby were fine. That was the main thing. But it seemed overworking had meant her friend had put strain on her body it didn’t want. She was being kept in the hospital for monitoring overnight, but was expected to be home by the next day. The doctor had told her she needed plenty of rest, and absolutely, under no circumstances, was she to do any travelling or much more than accept being waited on for the foreseeable future.
Evie wasn’t sure what that meant for Cyan’s home or wedding, but thoughts about the popstar couldn’t have been further from her mind as she drifted off.
It felt like just minutes when her phone alarm went off by her ear, blasting her awake with discordant chimes. Blearily Evie opened one eye and grimaced at the sticky itchy feeling that not removing her make-up meant. She knew she’d have to keep it simple today to avoid any flare ups, which was fine as she was so tired she couldn’t have been trusted with a mascara wand, let alone the usual kit she used.
Shedding her clothes she stood under the hot shower, hoping it would both wake her and clean her of the grime she felt from a day in a hospital. It had been a really worrying afternoon as Evie had been by Grace’s side until Bellamy came. Even then she insisted on staying to wait and find out if everything was okay. Though she knew it was, as Grace had been strapped up to a machine that measured the baby’s heartbeat, and it had shown a strong, healthy beat. As had Grace’s. It was just exhaustion the doctors had said, though ‘just’ had felt like it was diminishing the fear her friend had experienced as they had made their way to the hospital in the back of James’ car.
The anxiety and terrible coffee from the day before had left Evie feeling depleted but she was thankful Grace and the baby were fine.
As she threw on her comfiest baggy jeans, a ribbed black tank top and looked around for a hoody to pull over it all for the cycle ride in, Evie noticed her phone flashing. Picking it up she realised James had messaged her…six times in the last half hour…he’d been persistent. Worried for Grace she picked up the phone to read them.
I’m swinging past in 30 to go to the office
Want a lift after your busy day yesterday?
Are you awake?
Do you want coffee?
I’m buying a chocolate croissant. Anything for you?
I’m outside.
Evie read the messages quickly, taking them all in. Then realised the last one had only been sent a minute before. She had planned to cycle in, but a lift was tempting as she was so tired.
I’ve got coffee & pastries.
It was as though he knew exactly what she needed.
I’m coming down in 2.
Evie rushed to throw what she needed for the day in her bag, then stopped by the mirror. Her face was merely moisturised and she had pulled her hair up into a messy bun. She wasn’t at her smartest or most pulled together. But she wasn’t trying to impress James. So it shouldn’t matter she told herself.
Still, as she ran down the stairs of her block of flats, it was hard not to read a little into him turning up unannounced. She was fairly certain they hadn’t agreed to this last night. Mind you, she had been that tired she couldn’t really remember. Though he had given her a lift home, which explained how he knew where she lived.
She pushed through the swing doors and immediately saw James leaning against his black Mercedes. He was drinking from a disposable coffee cup dressed immaculately in a dark grey suit, with a crisp white shirt, its collar undone. Immediately Evie felt badly underdressed, but reminded herself she was an interior designer, she could look however she pleased. She could not, however, ignore the stomach flip at seeing him.
‘Morning James,’ she said as breezily as possible, trying to fake nonchalance. ‘This is a surprise.’
He scrutinised her and Evie felt herself shrinking a little under his gaze. He knew. She was fully aware. He knew her heart was beating rapidly at seeing him.
‘Thought you’d need coffee and a lift. I know you’re all about the bike, but after yesterday I figured you deserved a little break. And caffeine,’ he added, handing her a cup which she clasped gratefully. ‘I picked up a croissant too, though I didn’t know if they were still your favourite,’ he stumbled over the last couple of words then coughed to recover himself. She smiled slightly at the fact he had remembered, then reminded herself of her vow to keep it purely business.
‘Not very often now, but I’ll go for one,’ she said, taking the paper bag James was offering and pulling off the corner of the pastry. She took a bite and closed her eyes as she enjoyed the flakiest, most buttery croissant she had enjoyed in a long while. When she opened her eyes she caught James giving her the oddest of looks.
‘What?’ Evie asked, trying to hide how mortified she was when some errant croissant crumbs flew from her mouth. ‘Doesn’t matter, let’s go,’ she said quickly to hide her embarrassment.
James nodded. ‘Sure – but, ah, no crumbs in the car,’ he looked in the direction of his pristine motor and Evie rolled her eyes, but did as she was told, finishing up her pastry then sliding into the passenger seat and sinking into the soft leather.
As James did a quick turn in the road Evie allowed herself the briefest of glances at his profile. Big mistake. Huge. She could hear Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman’s voice talking and she grinned.
‘Everything alright?’
‘Sorry, yes. Just thinking about a film my mum likes.’
James shook his head. ‘Pretty Woman by any chance?’
Evie choked on her laugh. ‘How would you know that?’
Pulling out into traffic and making his way down the road, past the corner shop and petrol station, James continued looking forwards as he drove. ‘You always said it was your mum’s favourite film, but you’d say it to cover up the fact it’s yours.’ He shook his head. ‘It was a lucky guess, but I’m assuming I’m right.’
Sitting open-mouthed in his passenger seat, Evie was in shock. How could he remember all these important things about her? She had assumed as he had left her, that he would have put everything about her to the back of his mind. He shouldn’t be remembering her favourite pastries and movies.
‘You’re wrong, it was another one,’ she replied sharply, hearing the tone in her voice but doing little to cover it.
Immediately James’ face clouded over and Mr Frosty arrived once again as he readjusted himself slightly in the seat to ensure he was sat stiffly upright, his hands at ten and two.
Evie regretted changing the atmosphere in the car, but she needed to keep her barriers up. He hurt her badly and she wasn’t going to allow some smooth talking or rehashing of memories to make up for it. She allowed the silence to continue in the car as they made their way to the office where James parked up in the spaces marked out for him and Malcolm.
‘Thanks,’ Evie managed, hastily getting out of the car and slamming the door. She was already through the office door and halfway up the stairs before he had entered the building and she continued putting space between them, so that when she arrived at her office she was out of breath. Evie closed the door and breathed in deeply in the calm of her and Grace’s space. As a way of distracting herself, Evie made a point of straightening out the office, picking up stray bits of paper and scraps of material and placing them on her desk or in the folders that sat in the bookshelf against one of the walls. She had been in such a dash the day before, they had left everything as it was when they had gone for their meeting with James and Cyan. Glasses and cups were on both of their desks and there was a degree of chaos around Grace’s desk.
Evie busied herself tidying so that their office would return to the sanctuary she needed it to be, feeling calmed by the routine nature of it. The tranquillity was interrupted however when Malcolm burst through the door, startling her.
‘Why aren’t you in my office? I sent you an email,’ he said pointedly looking at her desk where her laptop remained closed.
‘Sorry,’ Evie stuttered. ‘I was just organising a few things. Hadn’t got around to checking emails, but I’ll be on my way now,’ she said with a smile to soften her boss and hoped he accepted her apology. Fortunately his face cracked into a small grin too.
‘Not to worry. Come on, you don’t need anything,’ he added as she leant over her desk to grab a pad and pen.
‘Right. Okay.’ Evie followed in her bosses wake, a little uncertain as to why she needed so urgently to be in a meeting but wouldn’t need to make any notes. She wasn’t in the mood to commit it all to memory. Unless she was being fired? But she couldn’t think why that would be, especially with Grace on sick leave. As she rounded the corner to Malcolm’s large office she recognised the dark grey suit and outline of James, already sat in one of the chairs opposite the boss who was at his desk.
Both men looked up as she walked in and Evie was relieved she had taken the hoody off in the office, at least now with a tank top, jeans and trainers she looked like she was choosing a sporty aesthetic, not a tired one.
‘Evie. Glad you could make it, sit,’ Malcolm said, indicating the one chair available opposite him, next to James. He waited for her to sit down, then leant forward on his desk, his hands clasped in front of him.
‘James, Evie, I know you both were there for Grace yesterday and I wanted to thank you for your swift actions and ensuring one of our team got the care they needed as quickly as possible.’ Evie nodded. She couldn’t bear the idea of looking to see if James was too.
‘Now,’ Malcolm leant a little further forward, ‘we have a problem. A Grace sized problem in fact. With her on sick leave and, after talking to her this morning it seems the doctor is prescribing bed rest for the foreseeable future, we can’t risk her doing any work – particularly on the Cyan project.’
Evie nodded again. She’d guessed as much.
‘Which is why, as Cyan has sent me an email saying how much she likes your eye James, and Evie you’ve been working alongside Grace for so long, I know you’ll be able to do what she planned, I’m sending you both down to the house this weekend. We need our own eyes and ears on the ground overseeing all the decorating, as well as ensuring the space for the wedding is dressed appropriately.’ He grinned at the two of them. ‘Oh, and no need for a hotel. Cyan has said you can stay in the guest house. Apparently it’s got plenty of rooms and is next to the pool. She wants you on site so you can sort things whenever they arise.’
Her and James, in a house by themselves for two weeks? Evie couldn’t think of anything worse. She risked a look at James and wished she hadn’t. His look of horror was worse than the one on her face and immediately she felt angry with him. What was so wrong with spending some time with her? She wasn’t that bad.
Realising Malcolm was waiting for them to say something, she plastered on the biggest smile she could. ‘It sounds like the right thing to do, please thank Cyan if you have the chance. She’s very kind to lend her guest house to us.’ Evie suddenly realised something, ‘I’ve just remembered where it is, isn’t it pretty much the middle of nowhere in Cornwall? I don’t think I can get the train.’ It wasn’t often she regretted not owning a car, but occasionally there were times like this when she knew it would make things easier. she had passed her test a few years ago, but hadn't enjoyed driving, so never bought a car.
‘I’ll take you,’ James’ voice was gruff when he spoke.
Malcom nodded, satisfied with the situation being dealt with. ‘Great. I’ll send you over all the details but needless to say we need the best, most professional job possible. The company’s reputation will depend on it. If she likes it, imagine who else will want us to work for them.’
Evie could hear herself agreeing and saying how much she was looking forward to the opportunity, but inside all she could think about was how much time she was going to spend with James. The drive, if this morning’s was anything to go by, was going to be a nightmare. And that was before they even got to the house they would be sharing.
They would need to find some sort of balance between silences and being overly kind to one another, otherwise it could be the longest two weeks of her life.