Chapter 51
Chapter fifty-one
Sloan found a file on her desk marked PRIVATE, a handwritten note attached to it.
Sloan,
You should find this works in accordance with our discussion. I’ve left blank spaces where you can input private data.
LC
Sloan opened the file and read through the official contract of employment for Matty. Halfway through, it hit her—she knew so much and yet so little about Matty.
Her phone rang and she glanced at the screen, realising she felt no dread at all that it would be a care assistant calling about her mother’s latest incident.
She smiled when she saw Eleanor’s name.
“Hello,” she said, answering.
“Ah, I wondered if you were in a meeting,” Eleanor said.
“No. My diary is free and clear of such nonsense until this afternoon.”
“Fabulous. I was just calling to tell you the club’s coming to town next week—wondered if you fancied dinner beforehand?”
Sloan hesitated. “I...”
“Unless you’ve had a better offer?” Eleanor laughed. “Did you stop denying yourself at last?”
“I might have moved things forward.”
“Well, halle-bloody-lujah,” Eleanor snorted. “And how was it?”
“Private is how it was.” Sloan smiled, remembering. “I might divulge club gossip, but this is different.”
“Glad to hear it. I can’t wait to meet this woman who has finally undone Sloan Slater’s act of denial.”
“Who said you were going to meet her?” Sloan’s smile broadened.
Eleanor chuckled. “Someone has to make sure she knows what she’s getting involved with.”
“Oh, and what is that?” Sloan laughed along with her. “I’d love to know.”
“Loyal as fuck, honest as fuck, and...likes to fuck?”
“I thought I was just getting rebuked for not fucking.” Sloan smiled and glanced out of the window—nothing but blue skies and sunshine, much like how she was feeling about life.
She glanced down at the file from Lakshmi containing the employment contract and wondered if those blue skies might start to turn grey.
“Not at all. Anyway, I’ve got to get going. We’ll catch up soon, yes?”
Sloan nodded to herself. “Yes, that sounds like a plan.”
She ended the call, then picked up the contract and read it through again.
***
Sloan returned home to find Matty wearing something familiar. She smiled at the sight of Matty in her clothes. The designer look suited her.
Matty grinned at Sloan’s reaction to seeing what she was wearing. “It was this or dragging Gloria back to my place while I rummaged through washing to find something clean.”
“I am not complaining.” Sloan slid up against her at the sink. “Don’t get it mucky.” She kissed down her neck. “Good day?”
“Yes. Your mum’s taking a nap. Though she will tell you she’s just resting her eyes.” Matty turned and threaded her arms up and around Sloan’s neck. “So, if you wanted to get me mucky…we probably have a few minutes.”
“Actually, as appealing as that does sound, I have something to discuss with you.”
“Alright.” Matty pulled back. “You look serious.”
“It’s just practical.” She used her hand to wave back and forth between them. “Nothing changes between us. I just…I told you I was going to get a contract of employment drawn up, to make things official and well…I did, and it’s in my bag. I thought we could talk it through.”
Matty nodded. “Do we need to be official?”
“What do you mean?”
Pulling a chair out, Matty sat down at the small table. “It’s just… I really want to move out of that flat, and if I didn’t have to pay tax, then that process would be quicker.”
“I see.” Sloan frowned, biting down on her lip. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.”
“It’s not like anyone would find out.”
“Maybe not, but that’s not a risk I can afford to take.” Sloan fished in her briefcase for the paperwork and handed it to Matty. “I need you to fill in the blanks. Surname, date of birth, etc.”
“Bradford.”
“Sorry?”
“My surname. It’s Bradford. Matilda Anne Bradford.”
“I did wonder if that was what Matty was short for.” Sloan smiled at finally learning her full name.
“You soon get bored of people calling you Waltzing,” Matty answered, as her eyes continued to scan the page.
“You’ll see that it’s all in order. Hours, pay scale, expected routine.”
“That’s a big drop.” Matty looked up. “￡20 an hour to ￡13?”
“It’s above minimum wage,” Sloan said. “￡20 was never—”
Matty frowned. “I know, I just… I guess I got carried away with what I could earn and then I’d be out of the flat and—” She scanned further. “Less hours too?”
“I thought with mum being a little more independent now, that you’d appreciate the extra hour in bed,” Sloan offered, but looking at Matty’s face, she wasn’t so sure.
“Sure.” Matty’s eyes dropped back to the page.
“It works out to around fifteen hundred after tax. That’s... It’s more than that café, isn’t it?”
Matty nodded. “It is, yes.”
“But not what you were hoping for?” Sloan asked. Before Matty could answer, she said, “I’ll pay you ￡20 per hour until the end of the month like we agreed but I can’t sustain that long term, and this arrangement was only supposed to have been an emergency fill-in until I sorted out a carer.”
“I know, and I get it...I just... Spending time here, it makes me realise how much I don’t want to go back to the flat. Brandon and his friends are noisy, music all night long, drugs and cigarettes… I guess I’d started to see a way out.”
“There’s still a way out,” Sloan said, reaching across the table. She placed her palm on Matty’s wrist. “It just might take a little longer.”
The sound of shuffling in the hallway stopped Matty from speaking as they both watched the doorway for Gloria to arrive.
When she appeared, she announced, “She can move into the spare room.”
***
Matty laughed at the suggestion. “I’m not moving in.”
“Why not? You’re here all the time.” Gloria pointed to Sloan. “She likes ya being here.”
“I do, but...” Sloan was just as taken aback by the idea as Matty. “We barely know each other.”
“I said spare room, not your room, Sloan.” Gloria chuckled. “Don’t wear the carpet out walking back and forth, though, eh?”
“It’s a really lovely offer, Gloria, but honestly, I think Sloan’s right—it’s too soon. We’re still getting to know each other.”
Gloria shrugged. “Suit yourselves, but if either of you could make me some dinner, I’d be grateful. And a cup of tea wouldn’t get turned down either.”
They both stared as Gloria shuffled away, quite aware she’d tossed a small grenade into the conversation and left them to work it out.
When she was out of sight, they looked at each other, wry smiles on both their faces.
“We’re not doing that, right?”
Matty laughed. “I am not a U-hauler. No, I’ll work it out. Might just take me a few weeks longer before I can put a deposit together.”
Sloan ventured closer. “And…you’re going to keep working here? Accept my terms and conditions?”
“Hm. I didn’t say that.” Matty smiled and stepped closer. “I think there is room for negotiation.”
“Oh…what is your counter-offer?”
“I guess…a couple of sleepovers a week? Maybe…dinner at a nice restaurant, cocktails…”
Sloan swept Matty’s hair back from her face. “I think that sounds acceptable.”
“And I get to choose which toys you play with.”
“Always?” Sloan asked.
Matty’s mouth twisted as she considered it. “Eight out of ten.”
“Deal.” Sloan smiled.
“Good… Now, you’d better get dinner going while I head home,” Matty said. She leaned in and kissed Sloan. “You don’t want to keep her waiting.”
“Fine.” Sloan grinned. “I can wait for you, though.”
“Mm. I know. And it’s so delicious when you do.” Matty winked. “I’ll return these in the morning,” she said, gesturing to the clothes.
Sloan followed her into the hall and watched as she laced up the skates she’d pulled from her bag.
“Are you ever going to stop wearing those?”
“Probably not.” Matty grinned up at her. “Was thinking about getting you a pair.”
“Not in a million years,” Sloan said, and walked away. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Matty laughed, wheeled to the door, and opened it. “Night,” she called, tugging the door closed behind her.
“Is that tea coming?” Gloria shouted as Sloan passed the lounge doorway. “Could die of thirst.”
Sloan stopped and leaned back to look in on her mother. “Don’t think I don’t know you could make it yourself if you wanted to,” she said, arching a brow at her mother.
“It’s so exhausting, though.” Gloria smiled innocently, adding, “Pretty please?”
“Seeing as you’re being so nice, how can I say no?” Sloan straightened up. “Risotto tonight?”
“Is it going to take forever?”
“If you want it cooked.”
Gloria pulled a face. “I’m starving.”
“You are not starving,” Sloan said. “But fine, I’ll see what’s in the freezer.”
“You should get her to move in. Would be a lot easier.”
“For you, I’m sure. Having your own little minion to boss about and fetch snacks at all hours? Don’t think I don’t know your game.” Sloan grinned at her.
“I can’t help it if she likes me.” Gloria chuckled at herself.
“It is kind of amazing, isn’t it?”
Gloria shrugged. “I tried my best, she’s just… poor, apparently.”
Sloan laughed. “Poor?”
“Yep. First thing she said to me when I tried to annoy her. She said, ‘You can do whatever you want, but I’m poor, so this job is essential,’ and that I could be as rude as I liked but she wasn’t going anywhere.”
“Ballsy.”
“I know. First one to ever stand up to me and still let me keep my dignity.”
“So, she’s a keeper then?”
“As long as you don’t mess it up.” Gloria’s brow arched. “Think you can manage that?”
“I’ll do my best.”