Chapter 36
Jenni stared out of the window, watching her bit of London change as the bus edged its way closer to the city centre.
Jenni liked taking the bus. It gave her time to think.
It had been over a week since she’d gone to the gallery with Ben and, she had to admit, she was disappointed she’d not heard from him since.
It was annoying, not because he hadn’t been in touch, but because she realised she wished he had. And she didn’t want to feel like that.
It had been difficult adjusting to being single after being with someone for a long time, and she didn’t want to go through the exhaustion of dating, only to find herself on her own, again.
She tried to convince herself she definitely didn’t want Ben to get in touch and she absolutely wasn’t just a tiny bit gutted that he hadn’t.
She hadn’t heard back from 66 either, although, given the last message she’d sent, that might not be a bad thing.
‘What are you doing after work?’ Lucy asked, as Jenni caught up with her overflowing inbox. ‘I need a drink – it’s two-for-one cocktails at the Red Lion.’
‘I’m doing absolutely nothing and that sounds like an excellent idea. Although, it is only 11am.’ Jenni looked up from her email.
‘Yes, sorry, a bit desperate, but Clive is driving me to distraction.’ Lucy pulled her hair back and twisted it into a bun, something Jenni had noticed she did when stressed.
‘Why, what’s he done now?’
‘It’s this walking-wear idea that Tim suggested to him.
The research team has come back with a report.
‘ Lucy dropped her hands, letting her hair fall free again to lift up a huge ring-bound folder.
‘It says that walking is the new running, and Clive is now super keen to launch a new range as soon as possible.’
She dropped the folder onto her desk with a thud.
‘Tim has gone on a “research” walking holiday in the Alps,’ the sarcasm of the air quotes was not lost on Jenni, ‘on expenses. I hate him. And Clive wants me to present “some vibes” to the board tomorrow. Tim left no notes on what “vibes” pair well with putting one foot in front of another, and I’ve absolutely run out of ideas, so I think alcohol is the only answer. ’
Jenni pushed her chair away from her desk and moved around to sit next to Lucy.
‘Let’s see what you’ve got.’
Lucy sighed and tapped at her keyboard, pulling up a PowerPoint presentation.
‘Well, the heading is nice,’ Jenni said, trying to sound positive.
‘Oh my God, it’s awful!’ Lucy pitched forward facedown onto her keyboard in despair.
‘Okay, don’t panic. What did Tim say about the holiday? Perhaps that will give us some inspiration.’
‘He kept droning on about fresh air and simplicity, after that I stopped listening.’
‘Simplicity, that’s good. How about wholesome as a vibe?’
‘How about boring.’ Will appeared with a cup of tea and sat down opposite them.
‘That’s really not helpful.’ Jenni glared at him.
‘Sorry.’ Will shrugged. ‘It’s just walking takes ages, it’s so basic. I prefer to cycle and whizz by everyone at speed!’
‘Maybe we could reframe walking as being natural, and that when you’re walking outdoors, you’re at one with nature,’ pondered Jenni.
‘Yes, I like that, go with that,’ said a voice behind them. Jenni yelped in surprise and turned to find Clive looming over them in an acidic, lime-green cardigan.
‘And I like that.’ He pointed to the sweatshirt Jenni had slung over the back of her chair. It was one of her own creations and a bit more casual than she’d usually wear to work, but she’d been in a rush and it had been the nearest thing to grab on her way out.
‘Where’s it from?’ he asked.
‘It’s one of my designs, actually,’ Jenni said, feeling flustered. She had a sudden panic that Clive might see her side hustle as disloyalty to the company somehow. ‘I customise the clothes using natural dyes.’
Clive didn’t reply – was he about to sack her?
Jenni felt compelled to fill the silence and babbled on. ‘I, um, did this one using beetroot first, then a second dip of turmeric.’
‘Interesting,’ said Clive finally, taking the sweatshirt off Jenni’s chair and peering at the colours more closely. ‘Can you do other colours?’
‘Yes, of course. Natural dyes are quite subtle and muted, but you can get greens, reds, purples, oranges and yellows, depending on what you use.’
‘And how do you stop the colours from running?’
‘Salt and cold water.’
‘No chemicals?’
‘No, you don’t need them. Salt is a natural fixative.’
‘And what fabrics do you use?’
‘Cotton, usually, although linen, flax or hemp all work well. Natural fibres take the dye best.’
Clive was quiet for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. From experience, Jenni knew it was best not to interrupt him when he was ‘mulling’, so she sat and waited in silence.
‘Jenni, bring in some natural dye samples for the meeting tomorrow, and be prepared to talk the board through your process,’ he instructed, before turning to Lucy.
‘I’m thinking Natural in Nature – when we walk in nature, the clothes we wear should be made from natural materials. That’s the vibe.’
With that, Clive disappeared down the corridor to his office at speed, and Jenni made a mental note to see if lime peel might produce a softer coloured dye than the hideous neon green of his cardigan.
Lucy started frantically typing the second slide of her presentation. ‘I’m going to need pictures and details of the things you’ve dyed, Jenni, could you send them to me?’
Jenni nodded weakly, relieved she still had a job, as she started scrolling through the photos on her phone to find suitable pictures to send to Lucy.
Cocktails would have to wait, now that she had to spend the evening preparing for tomorrow’s presentation.
Oh well, she thought, if Ben does get in touch, I’m far too busy to see him now anyway.