29 #2
Jerome stepped around to look into the pushchair and his eyes softened. He crouched down so he was on the same level.
“She’s absolutely beautiful.” He smiled softly at Chloe and she wrinkled her nose. “Like her mummy,” he added, making Chloe blush.
“Oh that’s very kind of you, but I think she looks more like her aunty Dani.”
Jerome looked back at Rosie as she peacefully slept, blissfully oblivious. He furrowed his brow, then cocked his head in Chloe’s direction.
“Like I said, absolutely beautiful.” Then he swiftly straightened.
Chloe sat dumbfounded for a moment, feeling the weight of what he’d just said.
She thought back to Adam’s previous observation after the charity dinner, realising he was one hundred percent right.
Jerome stepped away from the pushchair and reached into his inside jacket pocket to pull out a cigarette pack, lost in thought.
“She’s here. Dani. She’s inside talking to the owner.” Chloe eyed him as he stiffened at her comment.
“Oh?” he knew Dani was going to be here at some point after lunch but he was surprised she was here already.
“Yes, we came together.”
Jerome had presumed Chloe had come with Adam. He knew his firm were Joseph’s lawyers. His eyes looked over to the entrance of the hotel and then in through the French doors behind Chloe, which lead into the bar.
“I see. Have you had a look around?”
“Yes. It’s really something. I’m hoping Dani can get us to look at one of the rooms too.”
“I’m sure Joseph will be only too happy to show you both.” He smiled tightly and Chloe sensed he wasn’t entirely pleased with the idea. Jerome opened up his packet of cigarettes and offered one to Chloe.
She shook her head, “I don’t smoke.”
“Good for you,” he sighed. “I really should pack it in.”
The waiter appeared with Chloe’s coffee and placed it on the table, then asked Jerome if he wanted anything.
“I’ll have an espresso please.” Jerome closed his cigarette pack and put it back in his jacket, deciding he could do without one. “Do you mind if I sit down?”
“No, please. I hope she won’t be too long, I’m famished. We’re supposed to be going for at late lunch at Betty’s later.”
“In Harrogate?”
Chloe nodded noting that he hadn’t actually taken a seat.
“You should help yourself to the canapés in there.” Jerome motioned with his head. “You go if you like. I’ll keep an eye on Rosie. I have to wait for my coffee anyway.”
“Really? Thanks. Shall I get you something?”
Jerome twisted his mouth as he thought. “Sure, why not. Whatever, surprise me.”
Chloe pushed to her feet and laughed softly. Goodness he was handsome and just so unbelievably nice. She quickly made her way back to the restaurant.
“JOSEPH THEY’RE FABULOUS. This place is going to do so well. You must be very proud.”
Joseph smiled modestly. “Thanks Dani you’re very sweet. We just need to organise suitable staff when the New Year starts. As you well know the success of a place like this, is dependent on recruiting the right employees.”
Dani nodded. “Well thanks for showing me the photos, I’d better go and find Chloe. I’m sure Rosie is restless.” Dani moved towards the half-opened office door.
“Sure. Um, just one thing Dani, without putting you on the spot, if you ever weren’t happy at La Casa, or wanted a step up, I’d really like to have you on my managerial team.”
Dani came to an abrupt stop, then slowly turned to face Joseph.
He stood unable to hide the nervous look on his face and she was sure it was because Jerome was Joseph’s friend and he was effectively trying to poach one of his staff.
He was crossing a line, offering her a better position.
Dani knew she had to tread carefully. If she blew him off, he may take offence and he was a customer and friend of Jerome’s.
If she looked as though she was interested, it could backfire if Jerome found out.
The truth was, she wasn’t ready for more responsibility.
It was a relief not having a whole team relying on her.
Dani also couldn’t think of leaving La Casa.
It had become an extremely important part of her life in a very short space of time and even though Joseph’s offer was a great opportunity, she knew it couldn’t compare to how it felt working at La Casa.
She decided to refuse the offer by being as gracious and polite as possible.
“Wow, um that’s very generous of you Joseph. I’m flattered that you’d even consider me.”
Joseph stepped closer to her. “You forget I’ve seen you at work. Your ability is wasted on just waitressing Dani. Don’t get me wrong, Jerome knows you’re good, more than good. But he has an excellent manager. There’s nowhere else for you to go at La Casa.”
Dani shifted on her feet caught between being flattered and uncomfortable. She smiled tightly at him.
“Thank you. It’s a great offer…”
“You don’t know what I’m offering,” interrupted Joseph, smiling softly.
“Be that as it may, I’m very happy at La Casa. It suits my needs.”
Joseph narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Dani licked her lips nervously and Joseph adjusted his perfectly knotted tie and smoothed down the waistcoat of his dark suit.
“Well, if anything should change, at anytime, I hope you’ll consider The Lodge and being part of our team.”
Dani breathed out slowly and she smiled softly.
“I will. Thank you again.” Joseph nodded slowly hoping he hadn’t blown his chances of recruiting her in the future.
His offer had been a little clumsy but he needed her to know he was interested in having her on his team, this was probably the only opportunity he’d have.
Joseph was also interested in her outside of the realms of employment but that was a far more delicate issue and one that he had to strategize more carefully.
It was a good thing he was a patient man.
“HERE YOU ARE.” Chloe placed a small plate with a selection of canapés on the table for Jerome and an equally laden plate for herself.
“Oh thanks. That’s quite a selection,” Jerome teased. He was still standing.
“Yeah, well I don’t get out much,” she chuckled. “My birthday at yours was a welcome exception. Thanks to Dani.” Chloe lowered herself into her chair.
Jerome pulled out the adjacent chair and sat down. Chloe realised he’d been waiting for her to sit down before he took his seat.
“It’s hard I know. You tend to put your life on hold when you have small children.”
Chloe nodded as she popped some prawn dim sum in her mouth. Jerome grinned at her as Chloe closed her eyes, showing her appreciation of the tasty morsel.
“Unfortunately I haven’t had much of a support system. We only have Adam’s father who’s a GP and works very long hours, so it’s hard for him to drop everything for us. We always needed to plan well in advance. So Dani’s been a Godsend.”
“Yes, I remember your father-in-law. He came to La Casa one lunchtime.”
Chloe eyes widened at his observation.
“How’s Ollie?”
“My Ollie?” Chloe asked confused.
“Yes, Adam said he had laryngitis when I saw him at the dinner. That’s why you didn’t come right?”
“Oh, yes. He’s very well thanks, back at school today. Adam mentioned you were at the dinner.”
“Yes, we go every year. Your husband’s company can throw quite a party. It’s a shame you missed it.”
Chloe shrugged. “At least Dani had a good time.”
“Yes, I think she did,” he chuckled.
Chloe grinned back at him picking up another canapé and popped it in her mouth as Jerome continued. “Dani said your parents died a few years ago and she was down in London up until recently.”
Chloe swallowed quickly, a little stunned that he was so well informed.
“Uh-huh. It’s great having her back.”
“I’m sure. We’re lucky, my mother’s always happy to step in, not that she needs to. We’ve a nanny, so there’s less pressure to be organised,” he snorted.
“Your wife, does she work, then?”
“She’s restarting her modelling career.” Chloe waited for him to elaborate but Jerome just looked at his now empty coffee cup. It was obvious that the subject was a sensitive one.
“Oh wow. So, she’ll be travelling I suppose? That must be hard,” she said sympathetically.
“Yes. She’s actually in Spain at the moment, shooting a commercial.”
Chloe raised her eyebrows indicating she was impressed. Chloe picked up a mini fruit tart and popped it her mouth and moaned.
“You enjoy your food like Dani,” chuckled Jerome. “It’s very refreshing.” He picked up the same tart off his plate and placed it in his mouth, then gestured that she was right, it was delicious.
“Yes, we Knox girls are a sucker for cake. So your wife won’t be at the nativity play today?”
“No, I’ll be bringing my mother and maybe Cosimo my older brother.”
Chloe smiled softly at him. He looked troubled as he spoke. His eyes had lost their sparkle and the lines on his face hardened.
“He’s the accountant right?”
“Yes, he is.”
“It must be nice having a big family.”
“On the whole yes,” Jerome chuckled. “Though sometimes they can get a bit overbearing.”
Dani walked through the reception area where there seemed to be a lot more people than when she was there only thirty minutes ago.
She looked over her shoulder and saw Joseph leaving his office, then he stopped to talk to a group of business men.
Dani paced quickly over to the bar and scanned the chairs looking for Chloe.
Not finding her, she delved into her bag to pull out her phone.
She’d call her. The hotel was far too large for her to hunt her down.
As she looked up her eye caught the unmistakeable profile of Jerome.
Her heart literally stopped. He was sitting outside listening intently to whoever was accompanying him.
She hadn’t expected him to be here. Gia had said he was busy at Level One today.