Chapter 48
Eve
The Florina offices feel different. I am used to striding in here with purpose, confident in my position and abilities, but now I feel like a visitor — a shamed visitor who has brought the company into disrepute.
Heads swivel as I weave between the desks. I naturally head for my office, but the door is closed, and behind it I see Kirsty, silhouetted, sitting at my desk.
Where do I sit? I hover for a moment, unwilling to knock on her door and ask why she isn’t in Dev’s office.
‘Hello, Eve.’ Brenda emerges from the staff kitchen, her eyes boggling.
‘Hi, Brenda,’ I say, hesitant, wondering what she’s going to say. Her comments at Dev’s leaving party, about me climbing to the top, make me think she’ll be happy that I’ve so royally fucked things up.
She keeps walking until she reaches an empty desk. Meeting my eye briefly, she pulls out the chair. ‘I think this is your seat.’
I move to where she is and sit down. ‘Thank you.’
She hovers for a second, her mouth puckered. ‘It was very unfortunate, what happened.’
‘It was.’ I pull at my fringe.
‘I’m sure you didn’t do it on purpose.’
I look up at her, and she gives me a small smile. ‘No. But I did sort of deserve it,’ I say, honestly.
She stares at my shoulder for a second, and then reaches out and gives my hand a pat. ‘That’s OK,’ she says, and walks away, back over to her desk.
I log into my computer, my eyes stinging, and check my emails.
At the top, timestamped just two minutes ago, is one from Dev.
Subject: Welcome back, Eve
From: [email protected]
08:12:24 — 25 July 2022
Hi Eve,
Welcome back. I hope you had a nice break. Taking a brief hiatus from my baby-induced work ban to give you an update on our situation. Thought it might be best if this came from me.
As you know, we’ve conducted an internal investigation into the events at the expo in Dublin. Interviews with other members of staff have suggested that there was some interpersonal confrontation surrounding my paternity leave cover, but it has been almost impossible to find any physical evidence against you to support these claims. We are preparing to close the investigation now, but there are still some outstanding pieces of information that we are waiting for before we do so.
I have cc’d in your new manager, Kirsty, so that she is aware of the preliminary outcome. I am sure she has already filled you in, but she will be using your office for the time being, and you should take a free seat in the hot-desking area. For now, please leave the two campaigns you were working on before your holiday and liaise with Kirsty regarding your task list.
Best,
Dev
I stand up slowly and tuck my chair under my desk. I walk across the office floor, keeping my eyes level, my head up. When I get to Kirsty’s door, I knock.
‘Come in.’
I open the door. She’s brought her chair in here, and has put her photos up on the desk. She looks up at me and smiles politely.
‘Eve. Nice break?’
I stand in the doorway, just watching her. She meets my gaze. ‘Come in. Sit down.’
I leave the door open and move towards her. I reach my hand across the desk, offering it. ‘Congratulations.’
She blinks, her eyes moving from my hand to my face. And then she takes it.
‘Thank you.’
The moment our hands meet, and our eyes lock, hurt radiates through my chest. My friend, why did we do this?
‘I hope you fucking smash it,’ I say.
She looks at me. Her eyes fill with tears. When she speaks, it’s a whisper. ‘Me too.’
I nod and drop her hand.
‘I’m leaving,’ I say, simply.
She smiles sadly. ‘I thought you might be.’
There’s a brief beat of silence, and the normalcy of ringing phones and muted chatter drifts through the door. ‘Can I say one more thing?’
She raises an eyebrow. ‘One last piece of advice from the boss?’
‘Sort of.’ I hesitate. ‘Don’t... don’t do it again, will you?’ I sweep my arm behind me, towards the desks through the glass wall. ‘There are better ways to do it. Better ways to... to win.’
Kirsty smiles at me and then shakes her head, looking down at the desk. Her desk. ‘No.’ She raises her eyes to meet mine and draws a long breath. ‘No, I won’t.’
I know she means it. I push my bag up onto my shoulder. ‘Yeah, me neither.’
* * *
‘No, I quit,’ I say loudly, pushing my headphone deeper into my ear. Someone barges past me, running for the tram, and I swear under my breath.
‘Can you hear what she’s saying, Mike?’ Mum looms her face closer to the camera.
‘No, it’s all muffled.’ Dad taps at the phone screen. ‘Have you got your finger over the sound thingy again?’
‘Oh.’ The phone jiggles, and Mum’s finger appears in the top corner of the camera, where it usually is. ‘Say something, Evie.’
‘Hello,’ I say.
‘Oh, that’s better.’ She beams.
‘What were you saying, love?’ Dad leans forward, his tanned face creased in concentration.
‘I quit my job,’ I say for the eighth time.
‘Goodness!’ Mum peers at me. ‘And are you... OK about that?’
I smile. ‘Yeah, I’m OK about it.’
‘Well good for you, love.’ Dad folds his arms across his chest. ‘You know, I’ve been reading on Facebook that Aldi are hiring managers. Maybe you could look there.’
‘Maybe,’ I say. ‘I think I’m going to work for myself, though.’
‘Like a builder?’ Mum asks, her head cocked.
‘Exactly like a builder, but without any building.’
Dad nods. ‘That sounds lovely.’
I laugh, suddenly appreciating their unconditional, if uncomprehending, support. ‘Yeah. Anyway, how are you guys?’
Dad rattles on for ten minutes about an acquaintance of his, who got swept out to sea and drowned after eating three bowls of calamari. I listen, trying to picture their life out there.
‘So I was thinking I might come and visit,’ I say, once he’s finished.
‘Oh, wonderful!’ Mum beams again and looks to my dad. ‘Isn’t that lovely, Mike?’
‘I’ll take you to meet the boys at the pub!’ Dad says. ‘One of them used to work in telesales, you’ll have loads to talk about.’
‘Can’t wait,’ I say.
I tell them I’ll look at flights, and they give me a video tour of the spare bedroom, which I’ve seen approximately sixty-four times on all the other video tours we’ve done.
‘Plenty of room for a boyfriend, too.’ Mum winks.
‘Got one lined up for me, have you?’
Dad tuts. ‘Don’t pry, Carrie.’
‘I’d just like to see her settled, that’s all.’ She looks at me sadly. ‘Is there really nobody?’
I open my mouth to speak, but my usual retort gets stuck in my throat. For so long, my mantra has been don’t need it, don’t want it when it comes to relationships. But now...
From across the tram station, I spot a familiar figure. It’s Graham, striding purposefully towards the office. Somehow, I know I won’t see him again.
I close my mouth and shrug, trying to look nonchalant. My pulse quickens at the thought of someone else. ‘We’ll see.’