‘Eh? I don’t think the RSPCC would approve.’
Hayley exhaled and let her shoulders drop. ‘Thank god.’ She laughed. ‘Ellen, can you help me?’
‘Help you?’ Hayley heard the surprise in Ellen’s voice. ‘Sure. Whatever you need.’
‘Can you take the kids for a bit today? Rick and I need to spend some time together.’ She looked at Rick and he winked at her.
‘Oh I’m pleased,’ Ellen said. ‘Tell you what, why don’t we have them overnight and drop them off after lunch tomorrow? How’s that? Morgan will be chuffed to bits.’
Hayley hesitated. She hadn’t seen the kids for days – but the opportunity of talking to Rick, spending time with him alone … ‘That’s perfect, thanks Ellen. See you later.’ She put the phone down and smiled at Rick. ‘Ellen and Mark will have the kids overnight.’ She leaned over and kissed him. ‘You go and get that website done, okay? Knock ‘em dead.’
Rick tapped his lip with his fingers and then folded his arms across his chest. ‘Who are you and what have you done with my wife?’ he said. ‘And what about the Halloween costumes? And your mum and dad? And the plumber?’
‘Don’t worry,’ Hayley said as she waved a hand. ‘I’ll spend the day with the kids. I want to, I haven’t seen them for … well it feels like it’s been days.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. I’ll take them shopping when the plumber’s been. And I’ll see Mum and Dad next week. I might even take a day off. You know what?’ She grinned. ‘If they don’t fire me on Monday, maybe I’ll tell Charles to shove it after all.’
‘That’s my girl,’ Rick said and winked at her.
‘Millie, Danny,’ Hayley called out. ‘Who wants to play hide-and-seek?’
*
Hayley stood in the kitchen and looked around the room. She smiled as her eyes stopped on her Union Jack teapot. Everything was back in its right place. She counted on her fingers.
Halloween costumes. Check.
Washing done. Check.
Upstairs loo problem sorted. Check.
Millie and Danny at Ellen and Mark’s. Check.
Takeaway curry and Kingfisher on the table. Check.
‘What’s all this?’ Rick said as he walked into the kitchen. ‘I could smell it from upstairs and my stomach’s grumbling like a warthog’s.’ He slipped his arms around Hayley’s waist and looked at the table. ‘Aaah, three of my favourite things. Curry, beer and my wife. Not in that order, of course. Unless you got me a vindaloo.’
Hayley zapped his legs with a dishcloth. ‘Dad once told me relationships are like houses.’ She smiled as she remembered the conversation. ‘They constantly need maintenance. So here’s me … maintaining.’
‘I always said your father’s a wise man,’ Rick said, as he took the dishcloth out of her hands and looped it around the back of her neck. He gently brought her closer, his lips searching for hers.
‘Wow,’ Hayley breathed when they finally pulled away.
‘Wow indeed,’ Rick answered, as he stroked her face. He let her go, pulled out her chair and gestured for her to sit. ‘Madame.’
Hayley noticed how his eyes sparkled when he sat down opposite her and wondered if he’d always looked at her like that, or if she’d simply stopped noticing.
‘You seem … different,’ he said as he leaned forwards. ‘Good different.’
She smiled at him. ‘I think I’ve figured some things out.’
‘What kind of things?’
‘Us.’ She smiled again.
‘Listen …’ he said, ‘you … you know I love you, right? But, uh … I haven’t been sure if you … we … Christ.’ He shook his head, rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Why is this so awkward? I feel like we’re on a first date or something.’
Hayley reached over the table and put her hand on his. ‘I felt lost, Rick. But not anymore. Things have been hard. For both of us.’
‘I know, I know. I’ve been so absorbed by work. We both have.’ He sighed.
Hayley took a sip of her beer and ran her finger along the ring of condensation the bottle left on the table.
‘Look,’ Rick said, ‘I promise I’ll make sure I get stuff done around here. It’s not fair on you and it’ll mean you can see your parents more.’
‘I’d appreciate that, Rick, I really would.’
‘And work … well … just … just keep looking. Something else will turn up.’
‘I –’
Rick put a hand up. ‘But no pressure, okay? I know you worry about the money more than I do, so I don’t want to make it worse.’
Hayley smiled. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘I love you, honey. I really do.’
He cleared his throat. ‘I’ve decided I’m not going to quote that big project.’
‘What? Why?’
‘I don’t want to do it if it’ll cause friction. Actually, I’m going to look for a real job, to take the pressure off you, you know?’
‘Absolutely not,’ Hayley said immediately. ‘Growing your own company is a real job and you have to do the quote.’
‘Hayley –’
‘No, you must. You’ll be great. You can build this business, I know you can. And who knows,’ she smiled at him, ‘you may even win an award or two.’
He looked at her with a puzzled expression. ‘An award, huh? Okay. How about this then? If I win the project we’ll get a cleaner. Then we don’t have to worry about it. How’s that?’
Hayley reached out her hand and slipped it into Rick’s. ‘Deal,’ she said, ‘but only if we have more fun too. Enough of the work, home, work routine, okay?’
‘You bet. I’m in. What did you have in mind?’
‘How do you feel about kick-boxing? Or skydiving?’ Hayley asked with a grin.
Rick spluttered on his beer. ‘What? Seriously? Okay, well, put it on that new to-do list you started.’
‘What list?’ Hayley shook her head. ‘I don’t have a list.’
He gave her a folded up piece of paper. ‘Found this on the floor in our bedroom. Number five’s my favourite.’
She smoothed out the note – it was the list she’d made in Matthew’s apartment and she read the fifth item out loud. ‘Tell Millie and Danny I love them far more often. And Rick too.’ She looked at Rick and they both smiled.
‘I’ve missed this, princess,’ he said with a tenderness that Hayley hadn’t heard for a long time.
‘I’ve missed this too.’
The phone rang. ‘Don’t,’ Hayley said as Rick started to get up. ‘They’ll leave a message if it’s urgent.’
The answer-phone clicked in. ‘Hayley, it’s Charles. Be at the office at nine o’clock sharp on Monday morning.’ His voice was full of contempt but strangely joyous too. ‘The partners want to discuss why the Berger deal fell apart.’ He paused and when he spoke again the smile in his voice was audible. ‘Enjoy the weekend.’
Rick got up and put his arms around her. ‘Screw him,’ he said, nuzzling her ear, his warm breath tickling her neck. ‘Fucking screw Charles Simpson.’
Hayley pulled him closer. ‘If you don’t mind, Mr. Cooper,’ she said as she started pulling on his T-shirt, ‘I’d rather screw you.’
So they did, right there in the kitchen amidst the Kingfisher bottles and take-away containers. Twice.
CHAPTER 52
Dragon’s Den
On Sunday night, and despite the most energetic sex she and Rick had enjoyed in years, sleep eluded Hayley. She tossed and turned, flip-flopped this way at that. One minute she was shivering, the next she felt clammy and sweaty. Even her usual trick of sticking one leg out from under the covers didn’t offer any relief. Neither did counting sheep, or the darts she wanted to throw at Charles.
In a few hours he and the other partners would give her a good grilling. If any of them had still remained on her side until now, losing the Berger deal would have definitively swayed them so far the other way they were practically on the other side of the galaxy.
&n
bsp; Her mind went over the details of the offer again and again. She’d structured it so precisely, tailored it exactly to fit Thorsten Berger’s wishes. Was it the rates? Had she miscalculated the amount of work involved? No, she’d triple checked. She wanted to call Thorsten, but Charles would kill her if he found out.
If they fire me, maybe I’ll call Boots Borrello. He and Michael Reed might give me a job.
Hayley chuckled despite herself. Then stopped immediately, as if a switch had been thrown. Something small, something tiny, stuffed at the very back of her mind had niggled at her brain since she’d met Carmine and Michael. She’d tried to crystallise the thought to formulate an idea, but it had escaped her. Until that very moment.
What was it Michael said as we left the prison?
She forced her memory to recall the details of the conversation.
‘Did I tell you he knew you used to work for Charles Simpson? God only knows how he found out about our, ahem, arrangement with them.’
Until now things had been too manic and scrambled for her to remember the comment. Now she thought about the other deals that had fallen apart, and how Charles had always been the one whom the client had informed they’d chosen another law firm. It wasn’t unusual. Charles was the corporate lawyer and a partner, she and Tony Senior Associates. He masqueraded as the one putting the deal together, said he was giving them the responsibility of acquiring clients, and yet …
She got out of bed, pulled on her dressing gown and crept downstairs to the kitchen. It was almost five in the morning, still dark outside, a couple of hours before Rick and the kids would stir. Hayley switched on the kettle and pulled out her phone. She pulled up Thorsten Berger’s details and carefully worded an email.
Dear Thorsten,
I regret that we weren’t able to secure you as our client, but hope to have the opportunity of working with you in the future. Would you be open to discussing how we could have handled things differently? Rest assured any information you share will remain confidential.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kindest regards,
Hayley Cooper
Her finger hovered over the Send button for a few seconds. Disobeying Charles’ instructions meant providing him with more ammo to shoot her down with. Although at this point what difference would it make? She took a deep breath and sent the email off through cyberspace.
It was too early for her to start getting ready so she sat down at the kitchen table with her cup of tea, enjoying the moment of early morning peace. It didn’t last long. Her phone beeped, indicating new email. She snatched it up and read.
Dear Hayley,
I see that you’re up early. I’m in Germany on a family vacation although it would seem this vacation won’t allow many occasions for sleeping in.
I’m glad to hear from you. I seem to have inadvertently deleted the details Charles sent last week. I realise all communications should go through him but perhaps you can help me? I can’t imagine it will cause any problems. I can speak now, if that’s acceptable?
Best,
Thorsten Berger
Hayley didn’t need to be asked twice.
*
It was ninety minutes later when she’d finished telling Rick her plan. He smiled and pulled her towards him. ‘We’ll get through this, sweetheart,’ he said and kissed her. ‘You and me. Together. Now go kick some ass.’
And for the first time in years, Hayley knew he was right. They were going to get through it. Yes, issues had to be resolved, things needed to be said and done. But the fact that they were both willing to pick up a shovel and start tackling the mountain of crap that separated them gave Hayley something she hadn’t had in a long time. Hope.
When she got to the office she went straight to the boardroom to set up everything she needed. It didn’t take too long. Satisfied, she retreated to the bathroom and retouched her already immaculate make-up. She’d chosen her favourite black suit with the diamanté circle belt, and had paired it with a pale blue shirt. Her heels gave her some extra oomph and she’d put on the silver earrings, and a necklace with an emerald teardrop pendant Rick had given her one Christmas. She surveyed herself in the mirror and smoothed down her suit.
Stay calm. Be confident.
When she entered the boardroom at exactly five minutes to nine and saw Tony and the other partners, Steven, Bhupinder and Max, she repeated Rick’s words.
Kick some arse. We’ll get through this. Kick some arse. We’ll get through this.
The mantra soothed her nerves, even when she saw Charles talking to Steven in a corner. They both looked at her and gave her a curt nod. She glanced around the room. With the exception of Charles, Hayley had always liked the partners, but she was no longer sure how they felt about her. Their stiff backs and blank expressions weren’t giving anything away.
‘I’m glad you’re here,’ Tony said. ‘I think I may have underestimated the situation.’
Hayley sat down in the big leather chair. Charles stared at her as he took the seat opposite and Hayley knew he meant to intimidate her. She watched as he laid out his notepad and three pens, all perfectly aligned in a straight row. It reminded her of an executioner laying out his tools. He sat back in his chair, smoothed his floppy, dark hair to one side and adjusted his shiny grey tie before drumming his fingers on the table.
‘Good morning everybody,’ Bhupinder said as he stood up. ‘As you all know, we need to determine what went wrong with the Berger situation. This is the fourth potential client lost by this team.’ He looked at Hayley and Tony. ‘So no doubt you understand our need to comprehend what happened.’
Charles jumped in. ‘Let me, Bhupinder, if you don’t mind,’ he said, standing too and flashing his über-white teeth. ‘It’s evident and, indeed, unfortunate that Hayley didn’t have the necessary abilities to carry out such a significant deal.’
‘Hayley?’ Bhupinder. ‘What about Tony?’
‘Tony shares the responsibility, of course,’ Charles said. ‘But he wasn’t leading the acquisition of this particular client. That was Hayley’s job. She needs to be held accountable.’
‘But she reports to you,’ said Steven as he gestured to Charles, his gold monogramed ring moving around like a sparkler on New Year’s Eve. ‘Just like you insisted when Ronald died.’
‘Yes,’ answered Charles. He drummed his fingers together and nodded a couple of times. ‘But …’ he grimaced, ‘Hayley doesn’t collaborate or take direction well.’
‘I can’t believe you’re so calm,’ Tony whispered. ‘Aren’t you going to say something?’
Hayley shook her head and continued to stare at Charles.
Bhupinder sat down and adjusted his round, tortoiseshell glasses. ‘Hayley, how do you feel about this?’
Hayley exhaled. ‘I don’t think the assessment is fair, Bhupinder. I’m competent, as the history of my deals shows and –’
‘Except the last four deals that fell apart,’ Charles said, staring at her coolly.
‘In any case,’ she continued. ‘I collaborate very well with others. I –’
‘She likes to do things alone,’ Charles said loudly. ‘Hayley, you may not be aware of this but two of the other lost clients said that they didn’t like your approach. Or you, I’m afraid. I realise that must be difficult to hear.’ He looked around the room. ‘Gentlemen, losing so many clients in such a short time, well, it’s … troubling.’
‘Now wait a second,’ Tony said loudly. ‘You can’t blame –’
Hayley gave him a small kick under the table, then lifted up her palm slightly, uncovering her notepad where she’d scribbled NOT YET. TRUST ME.
Tony looked at her and frowned, but kept quiet.
‘So you don’t feel you have any responsibility in this, Charles?’ Bhupinder asked, clicking his pen and swivelling slightly in his chair.
‘I did everything I could,’ Charles answered solemnly, shaking his head and holding up his hands with his palms facing outwards. �
�Truly I did. I gave her the responsibility she said she wanted, that she said she could handle.’
And the Oscar for Bastard Boss of the Year goes to …
‘Hayley,’ Bhupinder said, turning towards her. ‘I agree with Charles. It is troubling. I’m sure you’ll agree that losing so many deals … It … well, I’m afraid it just won’t do.’
‘I agree,’ Hayley said as she got up this time. ‘And Charles’ assessment is interesting although I’m not sure it’s entirely accurate.’
‘Well, Hayley,’ Charles said. ‘I don’t think any of us would expect you to agree.’
She smiled. ‘In that case, would you indulge me in obtaining another opinion?’ Hayley turned to the big-screen TV and maximised Skype. ‘Good morning, Thorsten.’
Thorsten Berger’s face appeared on the TV and he waved. ‘Good morning Hayley. Hello, Tony, gentlemen … Charles.’
Charles seemed to slump down in his seat. ‘Hello Thorsten,’ he said with a tight smile. ‘It’s … uh … good to see you.’ He unbuttoned his suit jacket and put one foot on his knee, revealing a bright orange sock with the Tasmanian Devil on it.
‘Thanks for agreeing to this meeting, Thorsten,’ Hayley said. ‘I appreciate you taking the time during your holiday. You heard Charles’ comments. What do you think?’
Hayley held her breath as she watched Thorsten lean forwards, his neatly trimmed, white beard, green eyes and deep laughter lines almost taking over the entire screen.
‘You’re asking me if I think you’re responsible for this deal going, as you like to say in England, belly up?’
‘Yes,’ said Hayley, then looked at Charles, watching his every move.
‘Nein,’ Thorsten said. ‘I most certainly do not.’
Hayley exhaled and closed her eyes but opened them immediately when she heard Charles cough and clear his throat. She turned to the screen.
‘And why is that, Thorsten?’ Bhupinder asked.
Thorsten sat back in his chair and folded his hands together. ‘Because Hayley is the most talented solicitor I have ever worked with. She knows exactly what she’s doing and she’s extremely competent. She and Tony make a fabulous team.’ He leaned forwards again, looking directly into his webcam. ‘Any suggestion of the contrary is lächerlich, it’s ridiculous.’
Time After Time Page 30
