Chapter 48
KAT
Okay, so I missed the memo about how invested the world would be in my love life.
My inbox is filled with emails from the board.
Questions from investors.
Not to mention the press.
I’m getting a whole new insight into how the world sees me. And it’s not particularly flattering.
Is London’s Ice Queen Melting?
Kathryn Frazer, CEO of Frazer Hotel Group, has been seen cosying up to Jaxson Lockwood, CEO of Lockwood Architects and a long-term friend and business partner of her brother.
The pair were seen together at the FHG Hotel, London, where she currently resides.
Mr Lockwood is the principal architect working on FHG’s latest development project.
The couple were recently spotted together holidaying in the Maldives.
I groan, and groan again.
All I need now is for Zach or Darra to jump in and add fuel to the fire.
My only saving grace is Lottie, and the fact that she’s still barely talking to either of them.
If they rock the boat, I know my niece. She’ll be done with them for good.
She already called me to tell me how amazing she thinks Jax and I are as a couple. Oh, to be that young and idealistic.
There’s a knock at my office door.
“Come in?” I call, wondering why Michael hasn’t announced my visitor.
The door opens, the answer becoming instantly clear.
“Mum, what are you doing here?”
“Can’t a mother come and take her daughter out for lunch?”
I look at the time. It’s ten thirty.
When she sees where my eyes have gone, she shrugs.
“There wasn’t as much traffic as Freddie anticipated,” she says.
Freddie being her long-term driver and, I suspect, confidante.
He and his wife have lived on the estate for years.
He drove my father around before my mother.
He has never forgiven himself for being on holiday the night my father was killed in a road traffic accident, and I suspect it is why he insists on driving my mother everywhere she needs to go.
My laptop pings with yet another message.
Sadie.
I grimace.
Remember, Kat, never show your true feelings or insecurities, or they can be used against you.
Never have the words been more prevalent.
“You need a break,” Mum says, coming around my desk and taking my arm. “There’s nothing here that won’t still be here when you get back.”
I let her navigate me from behind my desk. We’ve all learned over the years that arguing with our mother is futile. She’ll always get her own way. Small, yet feisty, is how my father described her.
My chest clenches as it always does when I think of him, especially when I feel like I’m losing control.
I may have accepted that I have feelings for Jax, that I want to be with him. I enjoy spending time with him. He lights a fire inside me, one that I thought was out forever.
But now, it’s almost like the world is holding its breath. We have neither confirmed nor denied our relationship, and I have no intention of doing so. My private life is exactly that, private.
“You’re right,” I say, squaring my shoulders and facing Mum. “Let’s get out of here.”
Mum smiles, her eyes shining with pride.
Michael is sitting at his desk when I open my office door.
“I’m heading out. Please take any messages, I’ll reply when I get back.”
Michael staggers to his feet when he sees my mother.
“Mrs Frazer,” he says.
“Lovely to see you, Michael. I’m taking Kathryn out to lunch. Hold the fort while she’s gone.”
He almost bows, and I want to laugh. Mum always has that effect on people.
Together, we make our way down in the elevator. Every time I go to open my mouth, she places a hand on my arm and smiles, making me close it again.
We enter the lobby.
Douglas Chapman approaches.
“Francesca, it’s been too long.”
“Douggie,” Mum says, plastering on her society smile.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“Can’t a mother, and majority shareholder come and visit the CEO, who also happens to be her daughter?”
Her voice is sweetness and light, but there’s no missing the underlying edge.
He smiles, but it’s a little tight around the edges.
“Of course, of course.” He turns to face me. “I was just coming to see you, Kathryn,” he says.
Of course he was.
No doubt to lecture me on the dangers of getting involved with someone I work with. Some fatherly advice and all that.
I refrain from rolling my eyes. Instead, I look down at my watch.
“As you can see, I’m a little busy. Speak to Michael, and he’ll arrange an appointment.”
“We better go, lovely seeing you, Douggie,” Mum says, sliding her arm through mine as she manoeuvres us towards the door, leaving him standing there, open-mouthed.
Freddie is at the kerb holding open the car door when we exit the building.
“Thank you, Freddie,” I say, smiling at the older man.
“You’re welcome, Ms Kathryn. Lovely to see you.”
“You too.”
Mum and I slide into the back.
“You know he hates you calling him Douggie,” I tell her.
“Of course he does, it’s why I do it. He’s a pompous ass. I don’t know why your father liked him so much.”
“Dad liked him because he’s surprisingly good at his job, he’s stable, and he knows the hotel business inside out. The question is, why don’t you like him?”
Something crosses Mum’s face, but she keeps quiet.
“Ah, you mean the fact he didn’t want me becoming CEO after Dad died?”
Mum turns, her mouth dropping open.
I laugh.
“Oh, don’t worry, Mum, there’s not much I don’t know. Douglas made his feelings very clear from the beginning. Although I think I’ve proved him wrong.”
“I’m sorry,” she says.
“For what? You can’t blame them. I was relatively green. I’d only been working with Dad for a handful of years. I was still in my twenties.”
“They wanted one of your brothers, as if a woman couldn’t do it,” she huffs. “Brothers who were younger, and who were even less experienced than you. I was not having that.”
“Oh, I’m well aware. But I’ve had the last laugh. Proved them wrong, increased profits, expanded the business. If they had any doubts, they’ve been made to eat their words.”
She smiles, and this time it reaches her eyes.
“You really are so like him.”
A lump forms in my throat.
“He was stronger than I’ll ever be,” I admit quietly.
“Poppycock,” Mum says. “You may not believe it, but you’re stronger than all of them.” I stare at her wide eyes. She shakes her head. “What have you told them in regard to Jaxson?”
“You’ve heard?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“Why?”
“Because—”
“Why haven’t you said anything?” she presses.
“Because it’s no one else’s business,” I say shortly.
“Exactly. It isn’t. You’re the CEO, it does not give anyone the right to interfere or have a say in your private life.”
I drop back against the seat as Mum reaches across and pats my leg.
“Your private life is no one else’s business but your own.”
“Is that why you’re here?”
“Of course. I wanted to get my point across and tell you I couldn’t be happier. I love Jaxson like a fourth son.”
I laugh, my body warming.
“I’m so pleased he has your parental nod of approval,” I add, with a hint of sarcasm. “Is this your way of telling me not to mess it up?”
I raise an eyebrow, and her face crinkles as she lets out a bark.
“No. It means, don’t let anyone interfere this time. Including me.”
Smiling, I look out of the window.
She taps on the partition between us and Freddie.
“We can head to Claridge’s now, Fred,” she says when he lowers the partition.
“Very well.”
The partition goes back up.
Lunch doesn’t open for another hour, I realise, looking at the time.
“Coffee and cake,” Mum says, before I can give an excuse.
“Fine,” I say.
My mind wanders back to the beautiful pastries Jaxson fed me in the Maldives. When did I develop such a sweet tooth?
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”
Coffee and cake are just what the doctor ordered. By the time Freddie delivers me back to the office, I’m charged and ready to take on the world.
Michael looks up as I walk past.
“Can you get Elliot up here as soon as he’s available?” I tell him.
“Of course.”
He jumps up from his desk and follows me.
Here we go.
“There have been a number of calls while you were out—”
He lists off the names, and I nod politely, swallowing the moan that threatens.
Here I was thinking my love life was a boring topic of conversation.
“Thank you, Michael. I’ll get back to them all once I’ve spoken to Elliot.”
He nods and leaves, closing the door behind him.
I sink into my chair, picking up my phone.
“How’s it going?” Jax says, answering on the second ring.
I groan loudly, making him chuckle.
“I can always use room 350,” he says.
“No way. As I said, I’m sick of hiding. We did that once before, and look where that got us.”
“I’m with you, Kat, one hundred per cent, all the way.”
I drop my head back and close my eyes, letting the warmth of his words wash over me and settle somewhere deep in my chest.
“What’s your next move?” he asks.
“I’ve called Elliot up. He’s always been set to head up the new development team. I’m going to step back from the project. That should keep the vultures at bay.”
“Are you sure? This is your baby, Kat. I know what this project means to you.”
Something in my chest shifts at the concern in his voice.
I smile. “Never more so,” I admit. “It’s time I take a step back. A wise person told me recently about something called delegation. I’m starting to think maybe I should try it.”
“Really? I like the sound of this person, they sound very sensible,” he says, with a chuckle.
My other line buzzes.
“Michael is trying to contact me.”
“I’ll see you later? We can look over the plans for your home office.”
“I’d like that.”
“See you later.”
I hang up and connect with Michael.
“Elliot is here to see you.”
“Great, send him in.”