by Carmen Reid
‘So,’ said Susan, once Kitty had closed the door, ‘what have you got in mind?’
‘I want to run the new Prentice and Partners internet arm.’
‘Go on.’ Susan’s eyebrows were raised but she was listening.
‘Your company is going to run the first on-line consultancy for small businesses. Turnover of less than 5 million a year.
‘People will log on, answer a detailed questionnaire and get an initial plan of action back from us – for free. If they want more advice, they can have consultancy sessions on-line or over the phone at an agreed rate.
‘It’s designer diffusion, the Prentice brand off-the-peg for the small guys who really need it. Obviously you can sell advertising on the site to tons of linked financial services – banks, lenders, insurers etc., etc.’
‘Goodness,’ said Susan raising her coffee cup. ‘Do you think it will make money?’
‘I’m willing to bet it will make pots of money,’ said Bella, hardly able to contain her enthusiasm for the scheme. ‘You’ll have to employ new staff to keep up with the demand. It’s the mass market, Susan, tens of thousands of small hits a year instead of five big deals. It’s also incredible advertising for you. You’re going to look like the most forward-thinking company in the game.’
‘But we’re giving out advice for free.’ Susan almost winced at the thought.
‘I know, scary concept, but the whole lure is that you get something really good for nothing, so you pay for more. Anyway, the advertising will pay for all the people who log on for the free stuff and then disappear.’
‘Have you got a business plan for this?’ Susan asked.
‘Of course,’ said Bella with a smile. ‘I’ll e-mail you.’
Susan laughed, then asked, ‘How are you going to have time to run it?’
‘Well, I’ve got a minder for Markie four mornings a week, when I’ll log on and do most of the work, from home mainly,’ Bella said. ‘Because that gives me an extra ninety minutes of time I’d otherwise spend in the car.
‘I can log on again in the evenings to keep on top of it and I’ll meet people here in the office when it’s needed, which isn’t going to be more than a couple of times a month.’
‘You’ve got it all figured out,’ said Susan with a smile. ‘Why do I feel as if I’m going to have to let you have a go at this?’
‘Well . . .’ said Bella still smiling, ‘it’s either give in or I take you to industrial tribunal for constructive dismissal during maternity leave.’
‘Ouch . . . that would look bad . . . woman boss and everything.’
‘Very bad,’ Bella agreed.
‘Bella, I’m really proud of you,’ Susan said finally. ‘You remind me of myself at your age, but I think you’ve made better choices.’
‘Susan!’ Bella cut in. ‘You’re running your own internationally successful company. That was a good call.’
‘Yes, but I never had a child.’
Bella heard surprising regret in those words and realized this was the first time Susan had ever told her anything personal about herself.
‘I kept putting it off for the next promotion, the next good job, the next big client and suddenly I’m 48 and it’s not going to happen now,’ Susan continued. ‘And you know, on some level I’m quite glad, because I don’t think I would have achieved all this with a family. But I’m sorry if I reacted badly to your pregnancy – I’m probably a bit hung up about the whole thing, a bit regretful for myself.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Bella. ‘We’ve been fed a whole lot of crap about careers and babies and I don’t think you can have it all. You can have some of it, some of the time, if you’re lucky and work really hard.’
‘You see, you’ve made good choices,’ Susan said, then added with a smile, ‘But won’t you miss walking into the big boys’ offices and telling them it’s OK, you’re here to sort things out?’
‘Ah well . . . probably a bit,’ Bella replied. ‘But I can always come back to that later. I’d really like to try and make this new idea work.’
‘Who do you want to help you set it up?’ asked Susan. ‘Chris?’
‘No. I think Chris and I had better stick to our separate empires for the moment. What about the new girl?’
‘Milly? You’ve heard about her then?’
‘Yeah. I’ll meet her and see if we can get on. Hector . . . well,’ Bella wanted to be ultra tactful. ‘He’s not my type.’
‘I’m not sure if he’s mine either,’ Susan said. ‘Hire someone new if you like, a computer nerd. We could soon need a bigger office,’ she added, with what sounded suspiciously like enthusiasm.
‘Maybe I’ll get another mum who also wants her desk to be at home. Oh and I know this great American guy . . .’ Bella suddenly remembered Mitch and wondered if he would take her call.
‘Well you choose,’ said Susan.
‘Err, we haven’t discussed . . .’
‘Money?’ said Susan putting her cup down.
‘I’m working fewer hours, but I’m not working part time. I’m afraid this is not going to be a chance for you to slash my wages,’ Bella said, trying to sound firm.
‘Relax, this is a fantastic new venture,’ Susan answered. ‘I’ll raise you by 20 per cent, make you a partner in our new internet arm and give you a 35 per cent profit share in that department.’
‘Forty-five per cent,’ Bella said straight away.
‘You certainly haven’t lost your balls, have you?’ Susan replied. ‘OK, forty.’
‘Done.’ Bella held out her hand and Susan shook it, then Bella jumped up from her seat and said ‘Yeeeeeeees!’ punching the air.
Susan, standing up too now, looked at her in disbelief but Bella clasped her in a hug. ‘It’s the new, touchy-feely, twenty-first-century thing, do you like it?’ she giggled, squeezing Susan hard.
‘Oh my God,’ Susan gasped. ‘Trousers, trainers . . . green nail varnish . . . you’ve gone completely mad.’
They both laughed, Bella feeling ridiculously happy. This was going to work, she was going to repay Susan a hundred times over for this chance.
‘So, when do you want to start?’ Susan asked.
‘I’ll come in and meet the new girl next week and work out if we need to hire someone else. Then I want a couple of months behind the scenes before we do the massive, pull out all the stops launch, say in February/March. Oh and I’m assuming I get the usual Christmas fortnight off . . .’
‘OK,’ said Susan, raising her eyebrows. ‘I’ll start paying you in a week’s time then.’
‘Yes please,’ said Bella. ‘Otherwise, I’ll be repossessed.’
‘You better keep in close touch,’ Susan warned.
‘I will. This is going to be fantastic, I’m really, really excited.’
‘OK, keep your cool, I’ll hear from you soon.’
They were standing beside Susan’s door now.
‘One other thing,’ Bella added with a gleam in her eye.
‘Ye-ees?’ Susan was wary.
‘I have to take you shopping, Susan, you need modernizing. You know the couture suit, padded shoulder, stiff hair thing . . . it’s so over.’ Bella crossed her fingers behind her back, hoping she hadn’t gone too far.
But Susan burst into laughter. ‘We’ll see, Bella. Bring me in a bottle of the green nail polish . . . maybe I’ll start there.’
Susan’s mobile began to trill as Bella opened the door. ‘Bye and thank you Susan, from the bottom of my heart and all that. You won’t regret this.’
Susan had the phone in her hand and managed a quick ‘I hope not! Bye,’ before she answered with a brisk: ‘Hello, Susan Prentice . . .’
Bella closed the door and was in the main office. It didn’t look as if anyone else was in yet.
Kitty looked up: ‘So, are you going to tell all? Are you back?’
‘I’m kind of back in a week’s time, but I can’t tell you anything yet,’ Bella grinned broadly.
‘But you promised
, you ratbag.’
‘It’s so exciting!’
‘What the hell can be exciting enough about work to shout out yippeee like an idiot in front of Susan?’
‘It wasn’t yippeee it was yeeeees,’ said Bella, adding, ‘I like your outfit,’ at Kitty’s ripped camouflage trousers and neon orange plastic top.
‘Oh my God. You must have had a nervous breakdown!’
‘Something like that . . . but I’m starting to feel much better. Really good, in fact. I’ll see you soon Kits, take care.’ Bella was heading for the front door.
‘You can’t just go without telling me anything!’ Kitty called after her.
‘Oh yes I can.’ Bella smiled mischievously.
When the lift pinged her out on the ground floor, Bella opened her briefcase and took out her packet of cigarettes.
She was shaking one out when she realized what she was doing. She was smoking to celebrate, but then she also smoked when she was depressed, she smoked when she was happy, she smoked when she was drinking, she smoked when she wasn’t. Basically, she spent all day long giving herself excuses to smoke.
She crushed the lid closed, crumpling the three cigarettes which were jutting out of the packet and tossed the lot into the bin beside the main door. Then she strode out of the office, enjoying the long, comfortable strides she could take in her trousers and flat shoes.
Chapter Forty-six
BELLA AND MARKIE were still sitting at the kitchen table over breakfast on Saturday morning when she heard the front door opening upstairs.
Don called out: ‘Hello, it’s me,’ in the hallway and Bella ran up the stairs to meet him.
She bounded up and flung her arms round him, kissing him on the lips without worrying about whether she should or not.
‘Blimey,’ he said, pulling back from her. ‘You look . . . extraordinary.’
‘Extraordinary good . . . or extraordinary bad?’ she asked as he held her at arm’s length and clocked the trainers, rustling grey nylon trousers and tight pink and silver top with flared sleeves.
‘Good, good . . . I think. I like it, I’m getting used to it . . . You look very sexy,’ he said finally and couldn’t help pulling her in for another kiss.
‘And the hair?!’ he said suddenly. ‘When did you do that?’
‘Weeks ago, but you’ve been too angry to notice,’ she answered.
‘It looks great,’ he said, deciding not to get into the ‘why I was angry’ discussion just yet.
They were interrupted by impatient squawks from the kitchen.
‘He’s in his high chair,’ Bella explained, so they both went downstairs. She noticed Don didn’t have his bags with him and felt a lurch of disappointment, but what did she really expect – that he could have forgiven and forgotten what had happened just six days ago?
Don headed straight for Markie and plucked him out of his chair in an easy movement, swinging him into the air.
‘Hello, how’s my big boy?’ he said, beaming. ‘You’ve got so big, in just a week.’
Markie giggled, stretched out with his hands and landed a long trail of drool on Don’s face.
‘Teething,’ said Bella as Don brought the baby down quickly with a ‘Yeurgh,’ and wiped his face with his hand. ‘Tea?’ she asked. ‘Toast? We’re just finishing up.’
‘Yeah, that would be great. I came early because I thought Markie might need time to get used to me again and . . . Mike probably wants the place to himself for the day.’
‘Yeah,’ said Bella. The moving back question hung in the air, but neither of them dared to touch it just yet.
‘How is Mike?’ she asked. She liked Don’s news editor.
‘He’s well, he’s going to retire,’ Don answered.
‘Really? He’s only 50-odd, isn’t he?’
‘Fifty-six, but it’s a hard job, plus ex-wife number two is back in Scotland with the kids, so he’s thinking about moving up there because he never sees them.’
Don had spent most of his evenings this week listening to an over-stressed, late-middle-aged man spilling out his regret at having always put his career before his family. The irony of the situation had not been lost on him.
‘Anyway, how’ve you been?’ Don settled into a chair with his son bouncing on his knee, trying to pull off his glasses.
‘Good,’ said Bella. ‘Very good, bought some new clothes, got a lovely childminder, Markie’s sleeping through the night, got a new job – busy week.’ She turned to pour boiling water into the teapot, so Don couldn’t see her smiling.
‘Bloody hell,’ said Don ‘New job?!!’ He paused, waiting for an explanation.
Bella brought the teapot and cups to the table, saying: ‘OK, sit tight and I’ll tell you the whole thing.’
So she did, starting all the way back at the cheap shop with the diffused clothes for computer geeks.
He listened intently with growing admiration.
‘So,’ she said when she’d finished, ‘Pretty good huh? So I’ll now be earning more than you but working less. Is that a turn-on or what?’ she joked but then quickly carried on talking because she couldn’t bear for him not to answer. ‘Now, I really have to go or I’m going to be late, Markie’s food is in the fridge all anally labelled with when you feed it to him and how much, etc. etc. . . . Have loads of fun. I’ve got the mobile for any panics.’ She kissed them in turn, picked up her gym bag and hurried to the door, before she could change her mind about leaving Markie in the care of his dad for a whole morning.
Don was left speechless and a bit awed by her exiting whirlwind.
Once the front door slammed, Markie looked up at him and said: ‘Da, da,’ quite distinctly and Don was surprised to feel tears prick the back of his eyes.
‘Hello Markie,’ he said gently. ‘I love you.’ He hugged the tiny boy close.
Right, he thought to himself, time for a walk in the park. Where was Markie’s snowsuit? And sling thing? And shoes, did he wear shoes? Should he pack a snack, when did Markie next expect some food? How come he didn’t know any of these things?? He’d been a useless git, but that was going to change.
‘OK son,’ he said and patted the baby’s head. ‘time for a stroll. Hello there, this is your dad talking. The one who’s going to teach you about cars, football, girls, keeping a clean bat . . . that sort of thing.’
Markie turned his big head and blinked; he looked a bit like a baby owl thought Don, but he was cute . . . And he’s mine, he thought with a strangely joyous swell of pride.
Bella was just climbing out of her car in the gym’s car park when an outrageously bright red Ferrari pulled up not far away.
‘Hello darling!’ Tania called out of the open window.
‘Bloody hell! It’s lovely!’ shouted Bella as she walked towards the car. Both women were grinning at each other.
‘Urban grunge?’ Tania shouted back. ‘God, Bella, I never thought you’d go for that. A silver anorak!!?’
‘It’s comfortable and cheap,’ Bella countered. ‘Anyway, get out of the car, let’s see the new you.’
Tania threw open the door and stepped out in high-heeled ankle boots, tight black leather trousers and a tiny red sweater. She had huge sunglasses perched on top of her head.
‘Oh my God!’ Bella exclaimed. ‘It’s Liz Hurley.’
‘I’m much younger than her!’ Tania said in mock horror.
‘Of course you are, anyone can see that.’
‘Come here,’ Bella held out her arms.
They hugged and Bella said, ‘I love you.’
‘Yeuck,’ said Tania breaking away. ‘My friend has been kidnapped by aliens and replaced with an American teenager.’
‘Shut up, you’re so uptight,’ Bella laughed. ‘Let’s go work out.’
‘I bet you’ve given up smoking as well,’ Tania said as they headed up the gym steps.
‘Yup,’ Bella answered.
‘Will you stop talking like that? What’s happened to you, have you been on-line too long?�
�
‘Yup . . . and it’s going to get worse,’ she hinted.
After an hour and a half of hard effort, they decided to collapse in the sauna together.
‘Has it been really rough?’ Bella asked her friend as they lay back in the heat.
‘Yeah, it has really,’ Tania answered. ‘I felt so betrayed and so furious . . . furious with him and furious with myself for being so stupid. When I think about it now . . . it just seems so obvious. I mean, I wasn’t misreading the signs, Bella, I was walking past massive billboards which spelled it out and turning my head the other way. Jesus. But you know, after two weeks of hysterical sobbing, smoking, insomnia and unrelenting grief, normal break-up rules had to apply.’
‘You threw everything out?’
‘Yup and sold the jewellery and tore up the photos and erased his numbers from all my files and changed the locks and did everything just right.’
‘I’m so proud of you,’ said Bella. ‘Have you had transition man sex yet.’
‘Yeah, actually,’ Tania laughed.
‘And was it the best ever?’
‘Yeah, but I cried in the morning.’
‘Well, men who don’t make you cry in the morning are hard to find,’ Bella said and thought about her husband.
‘And how are things with Don?’ Tania asked, guessing why she’d started staring off into the distance.
‘I think they’re going to be OK. I hope so. I really love him and if I’ve screwed this up, it won’t just be me who suffers, but Markie as well,’ she answered.
‘Oh God.’ Tania sat up and looked at her friend. ‘I’m sorry, Bella. You’ll just have to tell him, you know, how you made a big mistake.’
‘Yeah . . . very big mistake.’
‘I’m sorry I haven’t been around.’
‘Me too,’ said Bella. ‘But I’m sort of glad we fell out though, because we’ve never done that before and it really, really used to bug me that I couldn’t say what I thought in case we argued.’
‘What! You want to fall out again?’
‘No, I just know now that if we do, we’ll get over it, but a bit quicker next time! I mean, if we don’t argue, we’re just sociable acquaintances, we’re not really blood, gut and tears friends, are we?’
