Chapter Thirty-Seven
Jamie
Gideon Hartford’s new office is in Belgravia, which means it takes me fucking ages to get there, and even if I was excited about the new job a week ago, I’m in a foul mood once I arrive.
I’m no closer to solving everything, and I’m starting to panic.
I skipped out on seeing Cecile this week—not that she pressed too hard—and I haven’t spoken to Kieran or the others, except to reply to the text Vince sent that the gym’s opening is being pushed back another couple of weeks.
I can’t. The more I think about it all, the angrier I get.
They all get to have their mates, and I get…
what? A shitty, abusive ex that they probably killed, which I’m not mad about, to be clear, and then my mates get scattered across the country.
I take a breath and steel myself. That part isn’t all their fault. I know that. I do. But I’m angry about it anyway because that’s easier than being angry at Patch for being a coward and Em for giving up.
Is this what my life is? Chasing and chasing people who just don’t want me?
I swallow down the self-pity. True or not, I still need to pay my fucking bills, and at least I’m going to be getting money enough for that. I walk up the steps and press the buzzer for Hartford Industries next to the door.
A man’s gruff voice comes over the intercom. “Yes?”
“I’m Jamie Kerr. I’m supposed to be meeting with Mr Hartford at ten?”
Silence. Then the door buzzes and I push it open, stepping into the building.
It’s a former townhouse, like most in the area, and lush doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I make my way up to the first floor, where a burly man in a suit that doesn’t quite fit right gestures impatiently for me to follow him through another door.
He doesn’t introduce himself, and I don’t ask for his name.
There are a couple of desks in this room, things clearly half set up.
I frown. Seems a small place for such a large company, but maybe it’s just that Gideon needs to be down here and he wants to have a small team at work.
From what I could tell about the company online, they’ve been having some difficulties recently, but nothing to worry about.
It’s an old enough firm that I figure it’ll bounce back.
The silent man leads me to another room at the back, where a far younger man is tapping away at his computer. Gideon Hartford is probably only five years older than me, with dark hair swept carelessly back from his face. He glances up when we walk in, then gets to his feet with a bright smile.
“Jamie. Glad you could make it.” He shakes my hand and gestures for me to sit. “Please make yourself comfortable.”
“Thanks.” I take a seat. The other, silent man remains standing where he is, right near my left shoulder. I do my best not to frown.
“I know you’ve still got a few weeks to finish up at your current job,” Gideon says, “but I thought it might be a good idea for us to touch base while I’m in London. It’d be nice to hit the ground running, eh?”
“Yeah. Sounds perfect to me.”
The one advantage of starting a new job means that I might be so preoccupied with it, I won’t think of Patch or Em at all.
Fat chance of that, but a boy can be optimistic.
“So we’ve been through your work history, all of that. Have you done much research on the company at all?”
“I mean, a little more than before my interview. You’ve really diversified since…”
“Since my father passed, yes. Tragic, of course, but someone had to step up.” He sighs, but something about the expression on his face is… off. All the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
The other man still hasn’t moved.
“Y-yeah, so I know you’re involved in different industries. I mean, most of my experience is in tech, but I’ve been an executive assistant for—well, you know how long for—so I think the same skills apply.”
My heart is beating too fast. I don’t know why. I don’t know what’s wrong, only that something is, but who knows if I’m going to have another panic attack over nothing.
“Oh, of course, of course,” Gideon reassures me. His smile seems real again. Whatever was off about him before has passed.
God, there’s probably something wrong with me.
“So here’s the situation. I spend most of my time in Edinburgh. That’s where the heart of the operation is, of course. I won’t expect you up there all the time. We should be able to cover most of your duties remotely.”
“Yeah, sure. That sounds great, honestly.”
“Perfect. I have your contract here too, all ready to sign.”
He slides some papers towards me and a pen. I pick it up. Just a little blip. I want this job. I need this job. I’ve already quit my other one, and I think they’d take me back, but I really don’t want them to.
“Just one more thing,” Gideon says when I set the pen to paper, ready to sign.
I pause. The man behind me feels closer. That uneasy sensation rolls down my spine again.
I try not to let it show, instead smiling up at Gideon like I’m completely unaffected when all I want to do is run. “What is it?”
“You’ve been living with Emerson for quite a while now, haven’t you? Tell me, just how close is your relationship?”