Chapter Three
“ H ey, you remember when we started this?” Mica nudged Debs’ shoulder with their own, a sly smile on their face.
Debs couldn’t really forget. She’d been planning the bid for the old building for months before last-minute interest from a housing development company had raised its head weeks before the pitch was due to be delivered. The other company wanted to turn them into high-end apartments for the city’s up-and-coming professional population; it was a bid Debs knew had merit, and she herself had done plenty of similar ones in the past. But she also knew that the city was in dire need of somewhere community-based, and so when she saw the building, she knew who to approach.
Liz Carter had come to Brannigan Developments months prior, pitching the idea of a community hub in the city centre, and Debs agreed it was sorely needed. Liz had a tight budget and some notable investors, but nothing else, and despite Debs not being in a position to help immediately, she told Liz she would look out if there was anything suitable. It was a little unconventional in terms of what Brannigan Developments usually did; they were, of course, in the business of making money, but Debs was also a firm believer in giving back. She’d spent months putting together proposals, reaching out to fellow businesses, and building a case to present to the council to acquire the building and develop it.
Then Morton Davies had come into the picture, potentially ruining it all.
She knew that if she was to win the bid, she had to have the best surrounding her. And while she firmly believed that was her team, she also wanted someone else. She had called Mica, practically begging them to come back and help with this project. She knew it was a big ask; her stubborn best friend had refused to step foot into the city ever since they had graduated, and Debs never really understood why. That was until it all came pouring out; the unrequited love for Grace, that one night they spent together, the botched attempt at asking her to spend their lives together.
She grinned at Mica, a knowing look on her face. “Of course I do. You’ve never thanked me, by the way.”
“Thanked you for what?”
“Dragging your sorry and pathetic arse back here. You’d still be wallowing in fucking Glasgow if it wasn’t for me.”
Mica scoffed. “Fuck off.”
Debs cackled, throwing her head back. “You love me really. Face it, if it wasn’t for me, you and Grace would have never sorted your shit out.”
“You told me to be careful and keep my distance if I’m not mistaken,” Mica retorted as they both strolled through the wide open doors and into the large space in front of them.
“Yeah, well, fat lot of good that did. Look at this place,” Debs marvelled as she looked around her. The hall was bustling with people, tables lined up around the walls advertising different services and businesses, small groups scattered around chatting to each other.
The last time she had been here was eight weeks ago when she signed off the final build and handed over the keys to Liz. Then, it was nothing but a shell, a beautifully decorated and furnished shell, but a shell nonetheless. Now, it was already looking like the hive of activity Liz had dreamed of when she first came to Debs years ago with her vision.
“It’s amazing, I can’t believe Liz has pulled all this together,” Mica agreed.
“Debs! Mica! Over here!”
Liz’s voice caught their attention, and together, Debs and Mica dodged through the crowd to reach her, smiling as she greeted them both with a short hug.
“This place looks great, Liz. You’ve done an amazing job. Congratulations,” Debs said, giving the room another look around from a new angle.
“Oh, I’d not have got anywhere without you. Thank you so much for taking a chance on this hair-brained idea of mine!”
“It was all you; I just pulled the strings of those I knew who would be interested. And this final push must have taken quite some planning.”
“Yes, it’s all been a little chaotic, I must admit. But I’ve found a wonderful person who’s been a godsend…where are they? Sienna, come here. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Debs spun on her heel to face where Liz was gesturing, watching as a young woman wove her way past the small group of people standing next to them.
Years of sitting beside Mica watching television and movies, commenting on which of the actresses were attractive, and numerous failed attempts at dragging them out to try and get them a girlfriend had meant Debs could see the beauty of Sienna instantly. Rich, auburn hair was swept over one shoulder, falling down to sit just above the swell of her cleavage, exposing one side of her face and showing off rounded cheekbones. Her eyes were kind, sparkling with mischief and excitement, and reminded Debs of the colour of her morning coffee, deep and swirling. Debs took in her confident stance and the way she smiled with ease, shoulders pulled back as she sidled up next to Liz.
“Sienna, this is Debs Brannigan and Mica Davenport from Brannigan Developments. They were the ones who sourced and refurbished the building for us.”
As her smile stretched wider at being introduced, two of the deepest dimples Debs had ever seen popped in her cheeks, those captivating eyes widening even further as she extended her arm towards Debs.
“Oh, it’s so great to meet you. Liz has told me so much about you.”
“Really? That never usually bodes well,” Debs said with a smirk, and if she wasn’t mistaken, she could see a mischievous glint twinkle in Sienna’s eyes with the playful retort.
“Only good things, I promise.”
“Sienna works with the youth groups, but she also coordinates the volunteers and is undertaking some of the admin here. Basically, she’s my right-hand woman.”
“You’re a youth worker?”
“Oh, not really,” Sienna dismissed, her head ducking slightly, and for the first time in those short few moments of interaction, Debs saw something that resembled uncertainty flicker across her face.
“Nonsense. I’ve told you before that just because you don’t have an official qualification yet, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have the experience to make up for it.” Liz directed herself towards Debs again. “She’s going to be great with the kids who come here; she’s a natural.”
“Well, if you can manage to organise and handle Liz, I’m sure the kids will be a breeze.”
“Hmm, you may be right on that,” Sienna replied, and although the confidence had seemed to return to her somewhat, Debs still got the sense that there was something else there, lingering in the background.
“You have to let Sienna show you around,” Liz interjected. “I would, but I need to go schmooze some of the local business biggies.”
“And I’m not a local business biggie?” Debs jested.
“But I’ve already got your money, Debs!”
“That’s true, I suppose. Go, I’m sure Sienna is more than capable of showing us what you’ve done with the place.”
“She really is. Half of this was her doing anyway. Oh, I have to go,” Liz said, looking over Debs’ shoulder. “I’ll catch you later?”
“Of course.” Debs nodded, watching over her shoulder as Liz disappeared into the throng of people.
“So, would you like that tour?” Sienna asked, bringing back her attention.
“Yeah, we’d love to, wouldn’t we, Mic? If you’re not too busy?”
“Of course not. I think my sole purpose here today is to show the place off,” Sienna answered with a grin. “Follow me.”
As Sienna turned her back, Debs glanced at Mica, who seemed to be looking at her with a strange expression. Brushing it off, she started to follow Sienna, but before they could get any further, they were interrupted by a woman running up to them.
“Thank God, Sienna, there you are. We have a small crisis in the kitchen. Could you come and give us a hand?”
“Oh, I was just about to—” she turned back to Debs and Mica.
“Go, it’s fine,” Mica said with a smile.
“Are you sure?” Sienna asked apologetically.
“We’ll be fine. We’ll have a wander round and maybe catch up with you later,” Debs reassured her, leaning forward and squeezing her shoulder in an act she hoped was reassuring. From the corner of her eye, she could see Mica give her another look, this time clearing their throat.
“Okay. Thank you. I’ll come find you in a bit.”
With another one of her beaming smiles, Sienna left them, Debs turning back to Mica to find them regarding her strangely.
“She seems lovely.”
“Mmhmm.”
Debs quirked an eyebrow, wondering what Mica’s non-committal response was meant to convey. “What?”
“Oh, nothing. Just you were very…friendly.”
“I am friendly!” Debs exclaimed, mildly outraged that Mica was suggesting otherwise. While she was known for being ruthless in business, she liked to think she was fair and on good terms with all of her staff. She wasn’t a hard-ass who worked them to the bone, not the stereotypical ice queen who had no heart.
“Sure you are. I just haven’t seen you interact with people outside the office who aren’t us for so long, I kind of forgot what that looks like.”
“You can really go off some people, you know,” Debs threw back, not missing a beat in their playful banter, which for so long had underpinned their friendship. “Come on, let’s find a coffee and take a look around.”
Sienna ran her hands through her hair, ruffling the sleek waves she had styled into it this morning. The immediate disaster had been averted, but it now left her with another problem to solve. Well, for someone to solve, except Sienna really didn’t want to bother Liz with this while she was busy trying to gain favour and further investment from local businesses, and no one else who was currently standing around the kitchen seemed to be stepping up, so that left her.
“Right, Kelly, find some paper and stick a sign on the dishwasher telling people it’s out of use. Marie and Jane, can you wash the stuff which was in it by hand. We should have enough glasses to last us anyway, but just to be on the safe side, get these washed so we’re sorted. I’m going to go and try and find a plumber.”
She checked herself in the distorted reflection of the microwave door, making sure she didn’t look like she was dealing with a crisis before returning to the throng of people outside, sweeping her hair back over her shoulder and smoothing down the sky blue t-shirt, which was their casual uniform, before entering into the fray again. Ducking through the people, she made a beeline for Liz’s office, nodding in acknowledgement as she moved past people, throwing them a polite smile and hoping she didn’t give too much away to what was happening behind the scenes. It wasn’t like a leaking dishwasher and flooded kitchen were the worst of things to befall them, but she had so desperately wanted this day to go perfectly for Liz and the rest of the team who had worked so tirelessly to get everything ready. If she could fix this problem without Liz even knowing until it was all over, she would count that as a massive win.
Sliding into Liz’s office, she made her way around to the other side of Liz’s desk, wondering where she could find the details for the plumbers who were here a few days ago. She flicked through the small pile of papers on the desk, growling when she found nothing but receipts from the food they had bought for the day and a couple of hand-scribbled notes about jobs Liz needed to complete.
“Everything okay?”
The deep, almost velvety voice from the doorway startled her, and she jumped back at the sound of it.
“Shit, you scared me.”
“Sorry,” Debs said with a chuckle. “I saw you disappear in here, and I know that look.”
“What look?”
“The look of someone who is trying to solve a problem without alerting anyone to their being a problem in the first place.”
“I thought I was doing a good job at hiding it,” Sienna replied with a grimace.
“To that lot” —and Debs waved a hand in the general direction of the main hall— “you probably have. But to someone who’s worn that look on more than one occasion? Is this your crisis in the kitchen?”
“Yes,” Sienna said with a sigh. “The dishwasher sprung a leak and leaked water all over the kitchen floor. We’ve got it tidied up, but I was trying to find the number for the plumber, except everything’s fucking digital these days.” She threw her hands up at the computer, the lock screen staring at her in some cruel joke. Once today was over, she desperately needed Liz to set up some shared folders so she could access the centre’s information.
“You don’t have access from your computer?”
“No. Not yet. Liz dealt with all the paperwork for the contractors.”
Debs nodded. “Okay, give me a minute.”
“What are you—”
Debs silenced her with a finger in the air as she pulled her phone out, quickly dialling a number. She smiled at Sienna as she waited for whoever it was to answer, a soft, reassuring gesture that made Sienna’s heart flutter.
Debs Brannigan was nothing like Sienna imagined from the conversations she had with Liz. Through all the stories of how she had won the bid and whipped contractors and builders into shape, Sienna was expecting someone much harsher and colder. But ever since they’d been introduced only a short while ago, Sienna had been intrigued. Soft, mousy blonde hair littered with bright highlights that framed her face, the ends just brushing against her sharp jawline and perfectly styled so there wasn’t a hair out of place, made even Sienna’s attempts at looking smart feel inadequate. Bright blue eyes froze her to the spot in a way that made Sienna think they regarded everything and everyone in the vicinity carefully, constantly assessing and strategizing. Sienna imagined she must be older than herself, but despite being one of the top businesswomen in the city, she still looked younger than Sienna had imagined when Liz first spoke of her. Sienna had pictured a hard-edged and cold woman, brutal and calculated. If anything, Debs Brannigan had given the impression of a person who was anything but.
“Do you need them here immediately?” Debs’ question broke Sienna out of her thoughts.
“What?”
“The plumber? Do you need them here immediately?”
Sienna startled at the question. Debs had called her a plumber? She thought on her feet; the kitchen wasn’t going to flood anytime soon, and she’d managed to put in place a plan to see them through. “Umm, no. If they can come at four-ish, everyone will be gone then.”
She heard Debs relay the information to the person on the other end of the phone. She stood there, dumbstruck. Why would Debs do something like that? Why would she take it upon herself to fix a problem which wasn’t hers to fix?
“All sorted. Someone will be here around four-thirty.”
“I could have sorted it.” Sienna didn’t know why she was suddenly so defensive, but the overwhelming need to prove her own ability came roaring back. She pushed it down, instantly regretting it with the subtle rise of Debs’ eyebrows. “Sorry. Thank you, you didn’t have to do it. I would have worked it out.”
Debs’ face relaxed, a small smile gracing her lips, her eyes crinkling with something that looked like understanding.
“I have no doubt. But I was here, and it was quicker than you trying to hack into Liz’s computer. And we can have it sorted without Liz even knowing until necessary.”
Sienna let out a huge breath, more tension than she realised she was holding releasing with the exhale.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Well,” Sienna clapped her hands together, trying to put herself back on track after being surprised by the powerhouse of a woman in front of her. “There’s not a lot more I can do here. How about that tour?”
“I’d like that,” Debs said. “You sure you’re not needed elsewhere?”
“I need to pop back to the kitchen to let them know a plumber has been sorted, but that can be our first stop.”
“Lead the way.”