by Lacey London
‘Time is of the essence.’ Marc walks over to the sofa and grabs his mobile. ‘If by some stroke of genius we could pull this off, we would need to do it quickly.’
I nod enthusiastically in response as my ears start to ring. ‘This is going to sound crazy, but hear me out before you shut me down. We have some very wealthy friends in Owen and Eve. I’m not saying that they would definitely want to invest, but it’s worth a shot. Owen already has hundreds of investments. And then there’s Hugh, he has a tonne of cash and already works in the fashion industry…’
I trail off as I realise that they’re both staring at me with unreadable expressions on their faces.
‘I think she could be on to something…’ Marc eventually stammers. ‘What do you think, Oliver?’
Oliver sighs loudly and shrugs. ‘I think it’s an incredible idea in theory, but where would we even start?’
A giant smile spreads across my lips as I turn on my heels and run back into the bedroom.
‘You just leave it with me. I’ve got this…’
* * *
Looking around Artemis, I take a sip of my bubbles and smile as I take in the fabulous Christmas decorations. The normally sophisticated Greek bar looks as though a bunch of elves threw up on it and I couldn’t love it more if I tried. A selection of neon pink and cobalt blue baubles hang from the ceiling, reflecting the green lights that are draped around each window. Think Santa’s grotto crossed with a retro LSD party and you’re halfway there. It’s actually quite funny to think that just a few months ago we held our weekly book club here. Well, I refer to it as a book club, but that was just a cover-up for us girls to go out drinking cocktails. Unfortunately, Lianna let the cat out of the bag on her first weekend with us and we had to admit to our unexpecting husbands that no such reading ever took place. Needless to say, said revelation went down like a lead balloon.
The girls have been chatting excitedly about the many incredible things they have coming up and I’ve been biding my time to ask them about Operation Save Suave. They have covered Dawn’s hen-do, the wedding itself, the Floral Fizz Christmas party and now they are finally pausing for breath. Ever since I left the house this morning, I have been biting my tongue to stop myself from blurting out my frankly amazing idea, but Oliver and I agreed that I could put across a better argument in person.
‘Guys, if I could have your attention for a moment. I have a proposition for you all...’
A series of whispers echo around the group and I try to stop my heart from pounding. This is my one shot at getting them on board, so I really can’t afford to mess it up.
‘As you all know, Oliver and Marc lost their jobs recently.’ My friends nod sympathetically and put down their drinks, giving me their full attention. ‘What you probably don’t know is that Suave went into administration this morning.’
Lianna is the first to react by gasping and clasping her hands over her mouth. ‘No!’ She yells, so loudly that she catches the attention of the other customers in the room.
Gina nods and purses her lips, a look of sorrow etched onto her face. Before we came out tonight, Oliver, Marc and I filled Gina in on Operation Save Suave. She was the first to admit that she didn’t have much confidence in the idea, but agreed to keep shtum until I could approach the others with my proposal.
‘Don’t cry!’ Noticing that Lianna is welling up, I fish some tissues out of my handbag and wipe a stray tear from her cheek. ‘All is not lost.’
‘It’s not?’ She sobs, her bottom lip trembling as she blows her nose into a tissue.
Eve and Dawn look at me curiously, both completely unaware of where I am going with this. Taking a deep breath, I look around the group and try to calm my nerves.
‘According to my research, there will be an opportunity to purchase Suave before the company is liquidised.’ I pause to gauge their reactions before carrying on. ‘If we could find a suitable investor that could act quickly, we might just be able to able to save Suave from the brink of no return…’
Lianna’s jaw drops open and I know that she has come to the same conclusion that I came to earlier.
‘This is it!’ She squeals, jumping out of her seat and spilling wine all over the table. ‘This is perfect! It’s like fate! It’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for!’
I resist the urge to scream in delight and chew the inside of my cheek. ‘Before we get carried away, it’s not that straight forward. The guys have looked into it in great detail and it would take a lot more than Lianna’s investment.’
‘How much more?’ Dawn asks, leaning forward in her seat.
‘Can I get you some more drinks?’ The eager barman asks, hovering around our table like a bumble bee looking for honey.
Suddenly regretting my decision to bring this up here, I shake my head and usher him away. Waiting for him to leave, I motion for the girls to come closer and pull a notepad out of my handbag.
‘According to Marc’s figures, it would take around five million to make this happen…’
‘Five million…’ Eve repeats, as though she was expecting it to be much more. ‘Is that all?’
I look at her in surprise and suddenly feel a little more optimistic about what I am about to suggest.
‘Suave has been such a huge part of our lives for so long. This is especially true for Lianna, Gina and myself. Until recently, Suave was an unbelievable success. It was internationally renowned as one of the biggest players in the fashion industry.’ Licking my dry lips, my skin prickles as they all nod along. ‘It would be a crime to let Suave slip away without making an attempt to salvage it. If we could just find the right investors to see the potential in the company, we could turn this around.’ Fixing my gaze directly on Eve, I try to stop my palms from sweating. ‘Just think about it, if we pulled this off, Suave could be ours.’
I pause for breath as Eve looks at me uneasily.
‘I don’t know…’ She sighs, stroking her bump and looking around the group. ‘The timing isn’t great for us. It’s Christmas in a couple of weeks, the babies will soon be here… I just don’t know if we have the time to commit to another business.’
‘Me too.’ Dawn squeaks. ‘I am going to be pretty busy with the wedding and Hugh doesn’t know a thing about Suave.’
My heart sinks as I take in their pessimistic faces. I can’t force them to invest. I knew it was a long shot. I should never have allowed myself to build my hopes up.
‘Well, thanks anyway, guys…’ Looking down at my lap, I try my hardest not to cry.
Sorry, Suave. I tried and I failed. An overwhelming feeling of sadness hits me as I reach out for my drink.
‘Wait!’ Lianna holds up the piece of paper that she has been scribbling on. ‘I have an idea!’
Pushing out her chair, she positions herself in front of us like a head mistress.
‘Between the ten of us we can totally do this. I have a million pounds in cash just burning a huge hole in my pocket. Owen already has an enormous portfolio of investments, what difference would one more make? And Dawn, it was only a few weeks ago that Hugh was telling me how much he wanted a bigger challenge to invest in.’ Her eyes sparkle as she waves around her pen frantically. ‘With my investment, Marc’s managerial skills, Oliver’s designs and additional funding from Owen and Hugh, this could be the start of something incredible for all of us. This doesn’t have to be the end...’
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I watch Li talking so enthusiastically. She knows more than anyone just how much potential Suave has. I glance over at Gina and notice that she is crossing her fingers under the table. Poor Gina. She and Marc were the original Suave employees from our group. Over the years, people came and went, but they remained loyal to the business. Out of all of us, they are the ones who deserve this the most.
‘If we were to invest, could we do so on a silent basis?’ Eve muses, tapping away at her phone. ‘That’s normally how Owen manages his investments.’
‘Absolutely.’ Lia
nna marches back and forth like she is hosting a conference. ‘That would work perfectly.’
‘When would we need the cash by?’ Dawn covers the receiver on her mobile and I realise that she has Hugh on the line.
This is amazing! In a matter of minutes, Lianna has taken the bull by the horns and started a business meeting right here in the middle of the bar. It’s actually fascinating to watch. I sometimes forget that Lianna ran an internationally acclaimed interior design company single-handedly.
My heart pounds in my chest as Eve video calls Owen and passes the phone to Li. Not being able to stand the anticipation, I cover my ears with my hands and only remove them once the room falls into silence.
‘So, what do you say?’ Lianna holds her breath and stares at the screen intently.
Biting his lip, Owen frowns and lets out a sigh. ‘I’m going to need to get some more information before I can make a decision. A drunken phone call from five inebriated women doesn’t really count as a business plan…’
‘Well, it’s four inebriated women, but that’s beside the point.’ Eve waggles her orange juice in the air and giggles.
‘You girls enjoy your evening and I shall speak to Marc first thing in the morning.’ With a quick wave, Owen jabs at the screen and it bounces back to black.
The five of us sit in a mesmerised silence, a strange buzz in the air as we look at each other.
‘So…’ I eventually manage, my ears ringing with adrenaline. ‘Are we actually going to do this?’
Gina reaches out and squeezes my leg as Lianna holds her hand in the air.
‘I’m in.’ Li smiles and looks around the group expectantly.
I beam at my best friend and raise my own hand. ‘We don’t have anywhere near a million to invest, but we will chip in what we can.’
Taking a sip of her bubbles, Dawn tries and fails to stop herself from smiling. ‘Well, Hugh seems interested in hearing more. If he’s in, I’m in.’
I try to calm my heart rate as we switch our focus to Eve. As exciting as it is that Lianna and Dawn are up for the adventure, we’re all very aware that without the financial backing of the powerhouse that is the Lakes, we are going to fall at the first hurdle.
Knowing that the future of the company rests on her decision, Eve runs her fingers through her bob and appears deep in thought for what feels like forever.
‘I want to say yes. I really do. I just don’t want to get your hopes up for Owen to decide against it.’ Inhaling sharply, she looks down at her wedding ring and shakes her head. ‘Personally, I think this sounds like an amazing opportunity.’
I let out a squeal as I realise that we are getting closer.
‘Is that hand going in the air?’ I ask, not daring to believe it just yet.
The music turns up a notch as the rest of us wait for her to respond. Just as I am about to give up hope. A smile spreads across Eve’s lips as she slowly raises her hand and waves it around in the air.
‘I’m in…’
Good friends are like snowflakes, all different and all beautiful…
Chapter 11
Pulling the sofa throw up to Noah’s chin, I shove a cushion behind my back and snuggle closer to Oliver. We have been curled up in front of the fire for well over an hour and I don’t plan on moving for the rest of the night. The rain is battering against the windows, Pumpkin is sprawled out at our feet and Noah is writing his Christmas list for Santa. Breathing in Oliver’s familiar aftershave, I feel every muscle in my body start to relax.
‘Finished.’ Noah declares, handing over the enormous catalogue to Oliver. ‘Do you think Santa will bring me all of them?’
Oliver flips through the hundreds of folded down pages and lets out a little laugh. ‘I dunno, buddy. That’s a whole lot of stuff right there.’
‘But I’ve been such a good boy.’ Pulling his little brow into a frown, he folds his arms crossly and I can’t help but laugh.
‘You have been such a good boy.’ Leaning down, I plant a kiss on his curls and take the catalogue from Oliver. ‘You leave the list with me and I will personally ensure that Father Christmas gets it, OK?’
‘OK.’ He mumbles, kicking off his shoes and curling up between Oliver and I. ‘What’s on your Christmas list, Daddy?’
I glance over at Oliver who is already staring at me. We both know what he wants for Christmas and after today, we both know that he is a step closer to getting it.
After not sleeping a wink all evening, Oliver spent the entire day conference calling, emailing and tapping away at the laptop. Not wanting to get in his way, I took Pumpkin and Noah out for the world’s longest trip to the park. When I finally returned, it appeared that Operation Save Suave had come on leaps and bounds. As it turns out, buying a company as big as Suave isn’t as simple as purchasing a pair of Gucci sandals, but on the positive side, Hugh is totally up for the challenge! It turns out that when Oliver spoke to him earlier, he jumped at the chance of being involved and is in talks with his solicitor as we speak. This doesn’t mean much in theory, but having Hugh on board certainly helps to push things in the right direction.
‘I don’t need anything for Christmas.’ Oliver smiles down at Noah and lets out a yawn. ‘I have everything I need right here.’
Noah rolls onto his side and places his head into Oliver’s lap. ‘You don’t have a job.’ He whispers, reaching up and playing with the drawstring on Oliver’s jumper. ‘You could ask for one of those?’
I bite my lip as Oliver sighs loudly. We had to explain to Noah that Oliver didn’t have a job anymore as he had started to ask questions as to why he was at home all day. This revelation led to a rather hilarious conversation where Noah suggested that Oliver get a job as an astronaut, or even better, a superhero.
‘You know, that’s not a bad idea. Maybe I should write Santa a letter…’
‘He already knows.’ Noah says confidently. ‘I told the elf on the shelf to tell him for you.’
‘You did?’ I gasp, looking over my shoulder at our resident elf, who is now missing an arm courtesy of Pumpkin. ‘What did he say?’
Noah covers his eyes and laughs mischievously. ‘He said that if Daddy has been a good boy, Santa will bring him a job.’
‘Wow!’ I raise my eyebrows at Oliver and try not to laugh. ‘If Daddy is getting a job for Christmas, what’s Santa going to bring for me?’
Noah pulls his sleeves over his hands and looks up at Oliver who shakes his head sternly.
‘Santa is bringing you a ring!’ Noah shouts, before clasping his hands over his mouth and chuckling like a little hyena.
‘A ring?’ I repeat, wondering where on earth he has got that from. ‘What kind of ring?’
‘A forever ring…’ He whispers, giggling like this is the funniest thing he has ever heard.
‘Alright! That’s quite enough from you, little man.’ Rolling off the couch, Oliver scoops up Noah and throws him over his shoulder. ‘I think it’s time for bed.’
Squealing with laughter, Noah kicks his legs frantically as they head into his bedroom. A forever ring? I feel my cheeks flush as I glance up at the one-armed elf. If that little imp is right, it looks like this Christmas might just be merry after all…
* * *
Allowing my shoulders to slip beneath the surface of the warm water, I tip my head back and exhale slowly. With Noah safely tucked up in his bed and Oliver enjoying a beer in front of the television, I decided to retreat to my favourite place in the apartment, the bathtub.
Delicious notes of jasmine and honey dance around me as I let the bubbles wash away my troubles. It’s hard to process just how much has happened in twenty-four little hours. Only yesterday we found out that Suave was going to wiped off the fashion map forever and less than a day later we are putting plans in place to buy it ourselves. We could own Suave. The thought alone gives me palpitations.
I always knew that Suave was special to my group of friends, but the idea of actually owning it completely blows my mind. Granted, i
t is massively in debt and was ridiculed in the press for its disastrous last venture, but if anyone knows how to transform Suave back into the triumph that it once was, it’s us.
Hearing the bathroom door squeak open, I look up to see Oliver stepping into the bathroom. Closing the door silently behind him, he takes a seat on the edge of the bathtub.
‘Hi…’ I whisper, tipping my head back to allow my hair to soak through. ‘Has the game finished?’
Nodding in response, he rolls up his sleeve and swirls his hand around in the water. The pair of us stay in a comfortable silence, neither one of us wanting to break the spell.
‘So, is there something that you want to tell me?’ Oliver eventually asks, grabbing a handful of bubbles and blowing them at me.
Shaking my head, I rack my brains for anything that I might have done.
‘You sure?’ Drying his hands on a towel, he lets out a chuckle and wanders into the bedroom.
Quickly returning with two shopping bags, he dives into them and pulls out the jumpers I purchased last week.
‘Unless Pumpkin has been flashing the plastic online, I’m guessing these are yours…’
Blood rushes to my face as he holds out the extortionate garments and pretends to faint at the price tag.
‘Those are going back.’ Pushing myself into a sitting position, I wring out my hair and reach for the shampoo. ‘I bought those before everything went, you know, wrong.’
Placing them carefully back into the bag, Oliver takes a step forward and leans against the wall. His silence makes me feel incredibly guilty as he stares at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
‘I’m sorry…’ I stammer, holding my head in my hands. ‘I never spend money on myself like that, you know I don’t. It was a moment of madness. Never in a million years did I think you would lose your job…’
‘Clara…’ Cutting me off with a kiss, he runs his fingers through my wet hair and shakes his head. ‘It’s fine. Don’t you dare take them back.’
