Chapter 10
Eve
I clock Kirsty as soon as I walk into the office. I’m here early because I couldn’t sleep, and it’s a relief to see her. I want company in my excitement.
‘Coffee?’ I sit on the edge of her desk. ‘I need a triple shot.’
She grimaces, not taking her eyes off her screen. ‘I’m totally swamped. Been here since five.’
‘Oh.’ I frown, running through the work I’ve assigned her. Perhaps Dev’s given her some extra bits to do, clearing his desk before he steps down. ‘Well, do you want me to grab you one?’
‘It’s alright, I’ll make one in the kitchen in a bit.’
I lift myself up from the desk, pushing my bag back up onto my shoulder. ‘No problem, text me if you change your mind.’
She flashes me a smile and I turn to leave, feeling off balance. ‘Oh!’ I turn back as I reach the door. ‘Did you get those designs I sent you on Saturday? What did you think?’ Kirsty didn’t reply to my text, and I had to remind myself that some people practice work-life balance and don’t engage on the weekend.
‘Hmm?’ She looks up from her screen. ‘Oh, yes, sorry, I did. I... I’m not really sure, Eve. The colours are a bit... I’ve got it in my diary to have a look at them properly later in the week.’
She goes back to her screen and I stare at her. What is wrong with her today? I feel wrong-footed, unsure of myself. We usually collaborate on things like this, there’s no hierarchy involved. So why do I feel like a primary-school child whose work hasn’t made it onto the wall?
‘Right, sure, no problem.’ I smile. ‘I’ll see you later then.’
I buy the strongest coffee Starbucks has and sip it throughout the morning, feeling unsettled. Every so often I glance through the glass wall of my office, watching Kirsty chat with our colleagues. At some point, she gets up and walks over to the lift, but Dev quick-marches over to her before she can get inside. They talk, and she laughs in a way that I can tell is exaggerated. Eventually, she disappears into the lift, and when she comes back she sits at her desk and doesn’t move for another hour.
It’s nothing, I’m sure. She must be tired, and if she didn’t like my designs, that’s fine. I can cope with critical feedback. I’m sure she’ll have a proper chat with me about it later. Maybe she’s nervous about stepping into my role? She’s never really been one for the spotlight, and she knows it’ll be announced as soon as I’ve had the go-ahead from Dev this afternoon.
I push the thoughts from my mind and throw myself into our new Instagram campaign for a few hours before Jess hurtles through my door at midday.
‘Today’s the day!’ She throws herself at the chair across from me and spins around. ‘Eve Slater, CEO.’
‘I’m not going to be CEO, Jess.’ I laugh, pulling the breakfast muffins I bought at Starbucks from my bag and switching off my screen.
‘Well, whatever it is.’ She slaps her hands onto the desk. ‘Yay!’
Brenda slinks past the door and stops by the water cooler, leaning her back against it and shamelessly staring inside.
‘You and Johnny made up?’ I ask.
‘What? Oh, that. We didn’t fall out , Eve, it was a discussion.’ She takes a huge bite of her muffin, crumbs spraying across the floor. ‘It’s good to have healthy dialogue in a relationship. When we were on the retreat, our zen master told us that conflict is actually the source of true connection...’
My phone vibrates and I pull it out as she continues speaking. It’s Will.
Will: You free for coffee this week? Could do with a chat.
Me: Let’s do drinks, celebration time!
Will: Can’t do evenings — got a baby, remember?
Me: Oh yeah, what a buzzkill. Joking. OK, Wednesday?
Will: Sure.
‘. . . and the alignment of tantric energy — Eve, are you listening to me?’
‘Sorry, yes.’ I lock my phone and click into my Outlook calendar, quickly typing in my coffee with Will. ‘Fancy lunch at the café with Will on Wednesday instead of here?’
‘Sure.’ She crumples up her muffin wrapper and tosses it at the bin, missing. ‘Oops. So anyway, how are you feeling? Are you excited?’
I shrug, trying to look nonchalant, but impatience is churning inside me. ‘I just want it confirmed so I can start planning.’
‘Oooh, planning.’ Jess winks. Jess works as a freelance spiritual healer, and thinks that words like planning are very corporate and serious. ‘And Tryst? Any news there?’
‘Got one lined up this week.’ I look towards my computer as it pings with a calendar reminder: Paternity cover meeting. Dev Kalhora and Eve Slater in 3 hours.
My stomach somersaults.
‘Well, let me know how it goes.’ Jess stands up and pushes her chair under the desk with her foot. ‘I’ve got an appointment in ten, so I’ve got to run.’
‘Alright.’ I click into my PowerPoint as she heads for the door. ‘See you later.’
I spend the afternoon buried in my expo presentation. In two weeks, the National Floristry Fair takes place in Dublin, and I’m presenting. It’s the biggest event in the flower business calendar, and we have the largest stand. I’ve been asked to talk about marketing challenges in a data-conscious digital world, and I’ve spent weeks collating statistics and figures to present to some of the most important marketing people in the industry.
I try to focus, but my concentration is off. Every ten minutes my eyes flick towards the clock, watching the time edge towards my meeting with Dev. The expo takes place just before I’m due to take over, so it’s important that I make an impact to get my name on the map.
Four o’clock rolls around, and my heart leaps as I see Dev striding towards my door. This is it, this is it, this is it . All of my hard work, everything I’ve pushed for since I left university, is about to finally come my way.
‘Eve.’ Dev pokes his head around the door, his smiling eyes crinkled just the right amount in the corners. ‘May I?’
‘Of course, come in!’ I stand up and gesture towards the empty seat opposite me. It feels strange to have him on the lesser side of the desk and I briefly wonder why he scheduled this here, and not in his own office.
‘I imagine the next few months will be markedly different to this.’ He smiles calmly as he sinks into the chair, his eyes roaming around the tidiness of my office.
‘I imagine so,’ I reply easily, struggling to hide my impatience.
‘Eleanor’s wondering how we’ll cope.’ He rolls his eyes, as if sharing an in-joke with me. ‘As if the baby has an unfair advantage over two adults.’
I laugh and lean back, comfortable in his confidence. ‘I’m sure she’ll get used to the new normal.’ I spot Kirsty looking at me through the glass wall, and imagine telling her the news.
Dev nods. ‘She’ll be fine.’ He slaps his knees. ‘Right, let’s get to it. I’m sure you know why I’m here.’
I smile. ‘I have an inkling.’
‘Ha. Always one step ahead.’ He winks. ‘Well, as you’ve rightly guessed, I’m putting you forward for my paternity cover.’
It feels like my heart is going to beat out of my chest. Excitement is bubbling in my throat. I cough. ‘That’s fantastic news, thank you.’
‘No need to thank me.’ He waves his hand. ‘It’s you who’s put the hard work in.’
‘You know I love working here.’ I uncross my legs and then cross them again, trying to expel some energy. ‘I’ll give it everything I’ve got.’
‘I’m sure you will.’ He pushes himself up from his chair and moves towards the shelves in the corner. I’m practically vibrating, willing him to leave the room so I can get Kirsty in here and tell her the news. Dev moves towards the door.
‘Shall I get Brenda to find some time in our schedules for handover?’ I ask, clicking through my calendar. ‘Thursday afternoons are looking good at the moment...’
Dev stops and turns around, a confused smile on his lips. ‘Well, let’s not be premature. I’ll have a decision for you after the expo.’
My head is a blur of popping champagne bottles and updated CVs, so it takes me a moment to process what he’s said. I freeze, looking up from my computer screen.
‘Sorry, a decision?’ I’m on the backfoot, suddenly, and I clutch the armrest of my chair. I thought he just made a decision?
‘Yes, between you and the other candidate.’ Dev studies me and cocks his head. ‘I thought you knew there were two of you going forward for the role?’
I falter. ‘I... yes, I did imagine that might be the case.’ I nod. ‘Who is it, if you don’t mind me asking?’
Dev frowns, and a coldness seeps up through my feet and into my stomach.
‘I’m sorry, I assumed this was something you were aware of. I was certainly under the impression that you’d discussed it among yourselves, given how close you are.’ He clocks the look on my face, and I blink, trying my hardest to seem unfazed. No . No, it can’t be. ‘It’s Kirsty, Eve. She threw her hat in the ring a few weeks back.’
I am rooted to my chair for a moment, my jaw clenched shut. I can’t compute the words he’s saying, it doesn’t make sense. Dev stares at me, and I come to. I nod, standing up, my hands in fists by my side.
‘Of course, of course, I remember now.’ I smile, my mouth dry. ‘Well, thank you so much for coming in. I look forward to hearing your decision.’ I reach out to shake his hand.
‘I am sorry.’ He takes my hand, looking unsure now, and know my face is giving me away again. ‘I assumed... well, in any case, we’ll know the outcome soon enough.’
‘We will.’ I flash him my most professional smile.
He looks at me for a second longer, and then makes his way out of the door. I look past him as he leaves, my eyes seeking Kirsty, but she’s nowhere to be seen.