Chapter 16
M y dilemma just intensified as I stared at the tiny clothes in my hand. I’d set out on a mission to buy a new-baby gift for my sister, but Charlotte, my first-born niece, had been a large baby, and the 0–3 months designer clothes I’d given her when she was born had turned out to be a waste of money. I should have kept the receipts – another expensive lesson learned. Despite what Adam thought, I was usually sensible about spending ‘private’ money. But Isabel wasn’t someone who appreciated clothes from M if he didn’t move soon, I’d just drink it black.
I took a mug from a cupboard (consciously selecting a black one), spooned in some instant coffee, then went to the fridge. I thought I’d give Adam exactly one minute. ‘Do you mind?’ I asked.
‘No, unless you tell me why you’ve turned all psycho on me. You were fine a minute ago…’ He sighed. ‘Listen, if this is still about what happened at my place, then fine, I admit I may have overreacted a tad – I’m sorry.’
‘Did you really need to do that?’
‘I said I was sorry . What else do you want me to do? I can’t undo what happened – last time I checked, all the car dealerships had run out of time-travelling DeLoreans.’
He seemed amused at his own joke, but I was losing my patience.
‘You just undermined me in front of my staff,’ I hissed.
His smile turned into a scowl. ‘No, I didn’t.’
‘Yes, you did. Just now, when discussing the roofing works.’
‘With what?’ he asked in a hysterical, high-pitched voice. ‘I agreed with everything you said in there.’
I stepped closer, almost grazing his body, and replied through my teeth, ‘Jake was still around when you offered to speak to the scaffolders on behalf of the commercial team as if I can’t handle them myself.’
He burst into laughter. ‘You’re insane – I was just trying to help because I know Jimmy better than you. But you declined anyway.’
‘Because I don’t need your help. Now, do you mind?’
At the exact moment Adam finally stepped aside from the fridge, David entered the staff room. He looked at me, then at Adam, then at me again .
‘What’s going on?’
‘Nothing. We’re just having a disagreement,’ I replied.
‘Excuse me, I’ve got to get back to site,’ Adam said quickly and strode out, brushing past the contracts manager.
David gave me a stern look. ‘Evelyn, can I please see you in my office?’ he asked and left, expecting me to follow him.
I nodded, but only after I’d finally made my coffee did I climb back upstairs, with the mug in my hand.
He’d left his door open, and I duly closed it behind me. When he offered me my old chair, I firmly shook my head. He then continued to stare at me with those beautiful icy blue eyes, but his look softened by the second.
‘What is it?’ I prompted.
‘Evelyn…’
‘Yes?’
He looked down. ‘I don’t know how to say it…’
I hated when people couldn’t just get to the point. His opening sentence sounded like a prelude to announcing someone had died– though, in reality, such catastrophes rarely occurred on site. We worked in the least-dangerous branch of construction. Okay, once in a while, someone did step on a nail or fall off a two-or three-storey scaffold, causing them to break a leg. But it wasn’t like working in a hospital where patients died daily.
Also, I was sure it couldn’t be about a private matter as my parents were enjoying the sun in Tenerife with my sister while she was still able to fly. Isabel had just texted me during my meeting with the roofers to tell me how miserable she was as Mum was having fun and kept drinking cocktails, but due to her pregnancy, she wasn’t allowed to. According to her, the alcohol-free ones tasted like sugar and citrus only. What a miserable life indeed.
I put down my coffee and crossed my arms. ‘David, what’s going on?’
He inhaled deeply before he spoke again. ‘We’re concerned about you.’ He tried to sound calm; still, I could sense he was nervous .
I was on the verge of bursting into cynical laughter. ‘About me? And who is “we”?’
‘Me and Elsa – mostly me,’ he added quietly, raising his head at last and gazing at me softly now. ‘Are you alright?’
I swallowed hard – those icy blue eyes still worked their magic on me.
‘What makes you think I’m not?’
‘Because you’re acting differently.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘A couple of weeks ago, you said something about not wanting to be an island and packed up to sit with the team. You look different, and your work schedule has changed.’
I couldn’t believe what he was saying. His mind usually worked like mine, and he should have understood better than anyone that I’d moved outside because it had become awkward between us after our trip to Manchester. Every time I’d tried to bring up that night so I could apologise, he’d immediately shut down the conversation. And the brick wall we’d hit appeared taller each time. So I’d thought some space might help with easing the tension.
‘Are you guys complaining that I’m engaging more with my team and doing less unpaid overtime? Am I not making money for the company and reaching every target still?’
‘It’s not about that—’
‘Then what is it about?’
He hesitated. ‘We just want to make sure you’re fine,’ he said, articulating each word carefully.
‘I appreciate your concern, but I am fine.’
I picked up my mug and turned to leave.
‘There’s one more thing,’ he added, looking rather uncomfortable. ‘Some rumours are circulating.’
This conversation was starting to tire me. I’d never seen or heard of David having one-to-ones like this with any of his team. He’d always shied away from confrontation. Yet he’d ordered me in here, and I didn’t even report to him – we were sort of equals. This was beyond ridiculous .
If Elsa had a problem with me, she should have made the journey or given me a call. However, she was like an invisible woman, only visiting dysfunctional sites in need of a commercial boost – like the regional manager of the TLOs, who only appeared when a resident demanded compensation for a workman scratching their floor.
My eyes must have been throwing flames, but I tried to calm myself before I spoke.
‘What rumours? That I’m the Wicked Witch of the West?’ I asked, unable to hold back a peal of nervous laughter. ‘I think I can live with that. It’s just a silly nickname; it’s not like I’ve broken any HR rules or bullied my staff.’
He slowly shook his head, and, for a second, I thought perhaps he’d meant the rumours about him and me – I didn’t feel amused anymore.
‘No, about you … and Adam,’ he said. ‘That you two… are involved.’
With tremendous effort, I stopped myself from asking how he’d heard about us. Instead, I said, ‘Not that it’s any of your business, but we aren’t involved.’
‘So you haven’t slept together…?’
I swept some unruly hair from my face. ‘Oh yes, we have – three times now.’
He heaved a sigh again. ’It’s not a joke, Evelyn – office romances can get messy.’
‘Don’t worry, David; I’m well aware of your standing on the matter.’
He pursed his lips.
‘Anything else?’ I asked, challenging him to return my gaze.
He dropped his head. ‘No, that’s it.’