Chapter 35
Nora
Theo’s been weird all week.
When I got back from the Hertfordshire wedding, which was bloody exhausting, I found him on the sofa, grooming Olive, who didn’t even run over to greet me. Her pink grooming bag was next to him, brushes and combs strewn on the sofa. He’d even put clips with tiny pink bows on them all over her ears.
She looked adorable.
He looked tired, but handsome as hell.
And my ovaries did a salute as he stood up, bedazzled little dog in his arms, to welcome me back with a kiss.
Since then, he hasn’t been himself. He seems distracted.
He’s quieter than normal. More subdued. I’d be paranoid he’d got sick of me, except that he’s being even more affectionate than normal.
Ensuring a body part of ours is touching at every possible moment.
Insisting we shower together. And when I’ve woken in the night, he’s been wrapped around me, clinging to me like his life depends on it.
I’ve asked him whether everything’s okay, of course. A couple of times. And he claims he’s absolutely fine.
At least that reassures me. If I’ve learnt one thing from shacking up with Theo Montague, it’s that he says whatever’s on his mind. No matter how excruciating, or emotionally slutty.
So I have to assume that it’s the stress of preparing for his pitch to his family this week, as well as the slightly weird situation we find ourselves in, knowing our time together is limited.
Severely limited.
Because the workmen should be finished at Elle’s house tomorrow, and Olive and I officially have no more excuse to be here.
Especially since I have no doubt Theo’s presentation to his family this week will go brilliantly, and my services as the supportive, sensible girlfriend will no longer be required.
If I thought France was a blissful, fleeting bubble, then these past few days at Theo’s flat have been even more so.
Playing house.
Spending every available minute wrapped around each other.
Like the most intense relationship that never was.
I can’t believe I’m going to have to walk away, and a guilty part of me hopes Theo is feeling equally conflicted.
I tell myself it’s a good thing. I’ve totally taken my foot off the gas in terms of pursuing Jonathan, and I need to resume my plan. I’m hoping I’ll find it easier to get my head back in the Jonathan game once I’ve put some space between Theo and me.
Just because Romeo’s not right for me long term, it doesn’t mean he hasn’t consumed all my brain functionality in the short term.
Anyway, Jonathan’s now coming to the wedding next week. Apparently, Miles felt bad about having invited the rest of senior management and not him. It’s been annoying from a table plan perspective, but I can’t deny it’s the perfect opportunity to try to catch his eye in a romantic setting.
I just wish I felt more excited about it. I had a text from him, actually. While I was at the wedding yesterday. It just said I need to talk to you. Can we grab a coffee? x
Usually, I’d obsess over it. The meaning of the invitation. The odds of him wanting to get back together. The significance of the single kiss. But I haven’t really had time. I also haven’t replied. I suppose I should. I think I’ll wait till I go back to Elle’s.
I’ll have a clearer mind then.
THEO
‘Is Elle’s place inhabitable?’ I ask Nora as we finish off the delicious chicken salad she made.
‘Yeah.’ She looks at her plate. ‘She confirmed I can move back in tomorrow if I like. They’re doing some final snagging, but it’s basically done.’
My stomach lurches, and I grip my fork more tightly.
‘Right. Well, that’s good for you. And Olive.’
She stares at me. I get the impression she wants me to say something else. To tell her she should stay, maybe.
‘Theo. I’ve had such a lovely time here. You’ve been so kind, taking us in.’
I reach over and take her hand. Rub my thumb over her knuckles.
‘You kind of made it worth my while,’ I say, and she snorts.
‘You kind of offered me a much wider range of… hosting services than I was expecting.’
‘I like to offer my most beautiful guests a very full suite of services.’ I’m grinning now. ‘Though I’m going to have to charge you for damaging my property.’
‘Damaging?’ She raises her shapely eyebrows.
I jerk my head towards the other end of the room. ‘The rug. Totally covered in jizz.’
She laughs, puts her hand up to cover her mouth. ‘Last I checked, buddy, I don’t jizz. Nice try, though.’
‘I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one ejaculating that night.
’ I take a breath. ‘I want to ask you to stay. I really do not want you to walk out that door, baby. But it’s getting…
messy. We’re both too attached, and it’s not doing either of us any favours.
So I think we should make a clean break of it.
Just… not see each other after this. It’s too hard, otherwise. ’
I grab her hand more tightly. Those huge blue-green eyes are as wide as I’ve seen them, and more full of despair than I can bear. She doesn’t say anything for a moment, and I know she’s weighing my words.
She bows her head, her shoulders slumping forward. I barely hear her whispered yeah.
‘But what about the wedding?’ she asks.
I rake my hair back. ‘Realistically, you’ll be working hard that weekend, anyway. I think you should still be my date to keep the family quiet, but mainly so no other fuckers can have a crack at you.’ There is no way I can stand being there and staying away from her.
She gives me a wan smile. ‘I think it would kill Saoirse and me to make another change to the table plans.’
‘There you go. Exactly. And if I have to grope you shamelessly on the dance floor to make Holmes jealous again, that’s a hardship I’m definitely willing to endure.’
‘What about the… bedroom situation? All the rooms are taken.’
‘Didn’t you say we have a cottage? I can sleep on the sofa if it makes you feel better.’
She doesn’t answer, but takes the hand holding hers and turns it over, pressing the sweetest kiss to my palm.
I’d like to tell you that I take her to bed right away and fuck her, hard, but it’s not quite accurate. I’m inexperienced in this area, but I suspect what we do would more accurately be described as making love.
The day after I drop Nora and Olive and all their stuff back at Elle’s immaculately redecorated townhouse, and kiss Nora goodbye to within an inch of her life, I’m due to present to my parents and Miles on the Manhattan opportunity.
I’m uncharacteristically over-prepared, thanks to having had nothing else to do last night in my empty flat except pour over the presentation. I’ve asked Holmes to sit in on the meeting in case the others have hardcore finance questions I can’t answer.
If I say so myself, I nail it. Thanks to Holmes, I’ve got clean numbers for every part of my proposal, with risk assessments, capital requirements, scenario analysis and breakeven schedules.
This way, my parents—and Miles, but particularly my parents—can get comfortable with each discrete part of the plan without feeling overwhelmed or ambushed by its scale and ambition.
Characteristically, Dad pushes back, but rather than us rutting horns, the debate turns into a spirited, heady conversation about just how great the potential of these assets is.
The potential to do something fresh. Something that may prove a blueprint for overhauling other metropolitan assets around the world.
The scale of our business blows my mind, sometimes.
‘Let’s wrap this up,’ Miles says finally, glancing at his watch, and I grin to myself. It’s coming up for five o’clock, and the man who’s a recovered workaholic is clearly champing at the bit to get home to his girls.
Lucky fucker.
‘Give us a minute, will you, Holmes?’ he asks, though we all know it’s not actually a request.
‘Of course.’ He scrapes back his chair, and I hold out my hand to him.
‘Thanks for all your help on this, mate.’
When he’s cleared out, Miles turns to me.
‘Look. This won’t be a quick process. We’ll get things moving as fast as we can, but the first step is to take it to the board. See what they think. We’re awash with cash at the moment, which helps. They’re desperate for us to make some fresh investments, improve our returns.’
I hold my breath.
‘But I think I speak for us all’—he glances at Mum and Dad, who nod—‘when I say I’m impressed by your vision.
You want skin in the game, we’ll give you a chance to earn it.
And if you want to get your ass over to New York and start hustling, drawing up plans for a club with a founding members’ structure, we can make that happen. ’
I flush with pleasure. Achievement.
Until Mum leans forward, a trusting smile on her face. ‘And will Nora be joining you in New York? She’s such a sweetheart, darling. We’re all very taken with her.’
Miles and I exchange glances.
‘No, Mum.’ I drum my pen on the table. ‘She won’t, I’m afraid.’
‘You didn’t even ask her, did you?’ That from Miles.
‘I wouldn’t ask her,’ I clarify. ‘I’d never put that on her. She’s built up her own brand over here; she’d have to start from scratch there. It’s not fair.’
‘You’re a fucking moron.’ Miles leans forward. ‘I thought I told you not to let that get away.’
‘We’re still together, for the moment.’ I need to keep our front up till the wedding. ‘But I’m afraid, once the New York thing happens, we’ll inevitably go our separate ways.’
Mum’s face collapses in disappointment. ‘I’m afraid I agree with your brother, Theo, even if I don’t condone his language. You’re making a huge mistake. I think you and Nora are made for each other.’