Chapter Twenty-Two #2
‘What?’ I shook my head. Tried to equate what he was saying, and failed. I could project confidence when it mattered: bargaining with journalists, or on a podium at a press conference, but this kind of one-to-one, up close and personal compliment made me as uncomfortable as all get-out.
‘You really don’t see it, do you?’ Drew disconsolately bit into a grape. ‘Note to self: must instil sense of self-worth in Haley. It’s too late for you.’
‘It certainly is.’ I smiled at him, and he pulled me into his side for a quick hug, sloshing his elderflower drink.
‘Hi.’
I whipped round. Olly. It was the first time I’d seen him in over a week and I gave myself a mental high five for not gasping out loud at how good he looked, even as I tried not to stare.
This was not navy suited, on-duty Olly. He was wearing a boxy apple-green shirt and black jeans with brown suede Chelsea boots.
He looked so different that I actually did a double-take.
Seeing him not-so-pressed gave me that vaguely unsettled, surprised, oh-dear-you’re-hotter-than-I-thought feeling.
I’d thought he was hottest in his work suits and polished Oxfords, but it turned out that was what was reining his hotness in.
Most startling were the little boy perched on his shoulders carrying a stuffed dragon toy and the little girl clutching his hand, wearing a unicorn t-shirt and a ballet tutu.
Olly was followed by a man who I assumed to be his brother – he resembled Olly but was shorter and stockier – holding hands with a petite woman with sleek cornrows and a sweet smile.
They were both looking around with intense interest, pointing things out to each other, and had that relieved, released-from-school look about them that parents have when they’re allowed out with someone else in charge of the kids.
The look in Olly’s dark eyes temporarily silenced me. He was frowning, looking surprised with a side helping of smouldering.
‘’Lo,’ said the tiny child standing next to him.
‘Hello,’ I said, smiling. ‘You must be Matilda?’
Her eyes widened at the breadth of my spooky knowledge and she took hold of Olly’s leg.
‘Well remembered,’ Olly said. ‘Tilda, George, this is Lizzy. She works with me.’
They gazed at me with saucer eyes. ‘And,’ he said, looking round, ‘this is Stephen, my brother – don’t listen to a word he says – and Tash, my sister-in-law.’
We all traded hellos and handshakes, Olly’s family looking at me interestedly.
‘Hi, I’m Drew!’ said Drew, smiling seraphically as he shook Olly’s hand. I saw Olly’s jaw flex for a brief moment before he smiled politely. ‘Do you and Lizzy work closely together?’
‘Kind of,’ said Olly. ‘You could say I’m good cop.’
‘Hey!’ I said, as Drew gave a shout of laughter. ‘Not fair.’
‘I concede.’ I saw the glitter of amusement in Olly’s eyes. ‘It’s not fair that I have to be good cop all the time.’
‘Well,’ I said, ignoring the buzz his look was giving me, ‘thanks so much for the constructive criticism, etc, shall we all move on?’
‘I didn’t mean it,’ Olly mouthed, and there I was, blushing like a teenager.
‘Can I just ask,’ said Stephen suddenly (and mercifully) zoning in on Drew’s plate, ‘is there Stilton on the buffet? It’s all I’ve been thinking about since we arrived.’
‘He’s such a cheesehound,’ said Tash.
‘Yes! They have a great Comté too,’ said Drew, ‘and Manchego. Although it seems to have run out – that’s Lizzy’s favourite, isn’t it, hon?
’ I nodded and smiled, letting them embark upon an enthusiastic cheese-related conversation.
Meanwhile, Olly and I stood, silently, facing each other, as George chewed on his dragon and Matilda started to sing a song, none of the lyrics of which were comprehensible.
Olly glanced around the room, as though looking for someone else.
‘Weather’s not too bad, is it?’ I said, because my mind was blank as I took him in. Well, not blank exactly…
‘I guess,’ he said, giving me a strange half-smile.
Drew, Stephen and Tash concluded their conversation, and our respective groups headed in separate directions.
I fought every instinct I had to follow Olly with my eyes as he and his family left the covered courtyard to go on a brief tour of the building.
I told myself I could definitely wipe the memory of the curve of his bicep in that shirt, and suppress the purely physical desire I’d had to stand very, very close to him and inhale his scent.
This crush was getting out of hand. I just needed a man, that was all. A man for my minibreak, like hiring skis for a holiday. Perhaps I would get to Venice and find a lover. That would definitely sort out some of my problems.
Drew was finishing his fourth slice of Brie when he nodded at me. ‘Your colleague’s coming over,’ he said.
‘Which one?’ I said, not wanting to turn and look.
He grinned. ‘The Scottish guy who looks at you like he wants to tear your clothes off.’
‘Drew!’ I hissed.
He shrugged. ‘It’s true. Excuse me, let me just send a pic of the spread to Char.’
I turned to see Olly standing there, looking at a loss. In the far corner of the room, Stephen, Tash, George and Matilda were inspecting some of the foliage and it seemed Tash was explaining something.
‘Hey,’ I said, as casually as I could.
‘Can I have a quick word?’ He looked extra serious.
‘Sure,’ I said, attempting a smile. ‘At the potted palm, as before?’
He exhaled, looked regretful. ‘Why not?’
We went over, a little way from the rest of the crowd.
‘Have you, er—’ He made a vague gesture in the direction of my face.
‘What?’ I said.
He smiled grimly. ‘Had what beauty influencers would refer to as a Glow Up,’ he said. ‘As in, you look – amazing. Scrub that, inappropriate.’
I tried to ignore the lurch my heart gave at the intensity of his gaze. ‘Just made a tiny bit of effort. Thought I should spruce up for Italy. You know what people say. When in Venice, do as the Venetians do.’
He gave a micro-nod and didn’t take his eyes off my face.
‘What is it you need?’
He cleared his throat. ‘Did you have a look at the branding briefing document?’ he said.
I frowned. ‘Yes, of course, but that’s not urgent. We don’t need to talk about it now.’
‘Right,’ he said.
We stared at each other.
‘Are you… okay?’ I said. I tried to guess what the intensity was about. ‘You’re not resigning, are you? Working remotely forever? Planning an art heist in Venice?’
‘No. I…’ This man was never short of words. What on earth was he failing to say? ‘Have you sensed any… fallout from the Cali interview? Hearing any criticism of the lovebirds through back channels?’
‘No.’ It was my turn to frown. Back channels? Were we working for MI5? ‘Have you?’
He cleared his throat again. ‘No. Great. Well.’ He opened his hands out in a distinctly awkward gesture. ‘I got you this.’ He handed me a folded napkin.
I opened it: two substantial chunks of Manchego cheese.
‘Your… friend, Drew, said it was your favourite. Problem is, everyone else likes it, too – so I got a couple of pieces for you when a… fresh plate came out. I mean, it was nothing – I got Matilda some cherry tomatoes, too.’
Cherry tomatoes? I was blushing, and so was he. ‘Thank you.’ I looked at the cheese, then back at his face.
‘So,’ he said. ‘Friends again? Work friends, that is?’
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Of course.’
He smiled. ‘Good. I’d better get back to the bairns. They have lots of questions. As you say, we can discuss the branding on the plane.’
‘I never discuss anything on a plane,’ I said, as he turned away.
‘I’ll have my headphones and eye mask on from take-off to landing.
’ I may also be heavily sedated, I didn’t add.
Being out of control was a difficult experience for me.
‘Also, I think we’re on different flights.
I’m sure we can manage a chat when we get there. ’
‘Fine,’ he said. ‘Bye.’
‘See you,’ I said, as he turned and paced away, looking at the ground as he did so. Drew was busy re-raiding the buffet table, so I watched as Olly spoke to his family, then waved in the direction of Carl.
‘I am off the charts impressed with this place,’ said Drew, returning with a heaped plate. ‘This Stilton is lush.’
‘Okay, last orders,’ I said, looking at my Manchego package and swallowing down a hard marble of delight which had suddenly appeared in my throat. ‘Once you’ve finished that, we’re going on a tour.’
Cheese meant nothing, I told myself. I would get to Venice and find myself a gondolier.
Drew embraced the tour of the building with the enthusiasm I knew he would. In between exclamations of delight, he asked so many questions that, by the end, the tour guide – a chipper graduate from EKArts – looked exhausted, and I had to lead Drew away.
‘This has been so amazing, Lizzy,’ he said, as we went down the stairs. ‘I really wish Char, Haley and Blake could have come. They would have loved it so much.’
I glanced over into the covered courtyard and saw that tea and cake was being loaded onto the tables. ‘More refreshments?’
He followed my gaze. ‘I thought you’d never ask. Can I take some for the fam?’
‘Of course!’
Smiling, I watched him carefully choose cake for Char and the little ones, before he selected his own piece – a slice of chocolate cake topped with crushed pistachios.
I was laughing and tucking into a piece of red velvet cake when Carl appeared at my elbow. His relaxed outfit (lumberjack shirt, baggy jeans, New Balance trainers) was in contrast to the furrow on his brow. ‘Sorry, Lizzy, a quick question?’ he said.
I put my fork down. ‘Yep?’
He did a double blink which seemed to indicate unease. ‘I’ve just been finalising some of the travel arrangements for Venice. Can I just check, are you bringing your’– he glanced at Drew – ‘boyfriend with you?’
‘My what?’ I started coughing.
‘He means me, hon.’ Drew was camping it up. I’d seen that expression on his face before – he was about to do something outrageous. I held up a hand to stop him.
‘No, Carl, I am not bringing Drew with me and he’s not my boyfriend. Where did you get that idea from?’
‘Nowhere,’ said Carl in a slightly strained voice. ‘I’m just tying things up. I was told that it wouldn’t be wise for us to bring plus ones?’ His questioning intonation was reaching a higher and higher pitch. ‘And I wondered if anyone had told you? It just occurred to me?’
‘Well, that’s very efficient of you,’ I said. ‘But no need to worry.’
‘Hey, I’d love to come to Venice, Lizzy,’ said Drew. ‘I’m sure Charlotte won’t mind if we have to share a bed.’
‘Do not listen to my maddening friend,’ I instructed Carl, who was looking confused. ‘I am going to Venice on my own. Now go and enjoy your day.’
Carl nodded and went off.
‘Lizzy.’ Drew was speaking through a mouthful of cake. ‘Can I work for your company?’
‘No,’ I said, smiling. ‘Come on, let’s go. I have to finish packing for Venice.’