The Second Time

by Jade Winters

  Bryan cleared his throat. ‘Oh right. Um, so did you manage to speak with Darcie?’

  ‘Yes, yes I did.’ Madison tried to sound enthusiastic, which she thought she did successfully, but as much as she tried to ignore the tingling sensation running throughout her body at the sound of Darcie’s name, she failed miserably.

  ‘And she’s all right with the deadline?’

  ‘Yep,’ Madison said confidently. Truth was, she couldn’t actually remember Darcie’s reaction to the news. Had she seemed bothered by it? If she had been Madison was sure she would have said something. It wasn’t as if Darcie was a weak-willed, retiring wall flower.

  ‘Good, good,’ Bryan said. ‘Listen, I want you to get weekly reports from her in person.’

  ‘What you mean is you want me to keep an eye on her work?’ Madison inwardly shuddered at the thought of Darcie’s reaction to having weekly meetings with her.

  ‘In a nutshell, yes. If she keeps going along the line of diminishing my profits with her liberal way of thinking I want to know. She’s only still in the game because I trust you.’

  ‘I appreciate that.’

  ‘Good. Good. Um, now lay on the sofa with a hot water bottle and some chocolates. My wife used to swear by it.’

  Madison smiled at the awkwardness in his voice and imagined he would be blushing at the other end of the phone. Bryan hated talking about anything to do with ‘female problems’, so she appreciated him making an effort.

  ‘I’ll give it a go,’ Madison said, knowing full well the last thing she wanted or needed was chocolates or a bath.

  When Kay got home, the only place they were heading was to a bar where she was going to drink until her mind was as numb as her backside was from sitting on the wall. With any luck that would get Darcie out of her thoughts for a while at least.

  Chapter Eleven

  Too frustrated to even think about trying to work, Darcie and Emma went to the only place where their creative juices could flow unobstructed—Jazzes. It wasn’t that Darcie wanted to get drunk—well she did, but that wasn’t the only reason for going. Her main reason for escaping the office was because every room she walked into, Madison’s delicate perfume seemed to linger in the air, which meant there was no escape from thinking about her.

  Darcie didn’t feel the tension in her shoulders subside until they were seated, and she had a glass of red wine in front of her. It was only then Darcie exhaled a long sigh.

  ‘Go on then, out with it,’ Emma said, slugging back most of her first glassful. ‘I thought Madison was the one that got away. That you had this great connection. But now she’s back, and you’re telling me it wasn’t that way at all. This has really dampened my anticipation about ever finding my soul mate.’

  ‘I didn’t say she wasn’t my soul mate,’ Darcie said. ‘It just so happens I wasn’t hers.’

  ‘Are you having a laugh? Before I even knew who she was, I told you she was into you. There’s no denying that you two have some sort of connection. Even now after, how many years?’

  ‘Ten.’

  ‘See what I mean. Ten years and—’

  Darcie sighed. ‘I’m not saying that I don’t still find her attractive. I do. But I don’t trust her.’

  ‘Let’s be honest, Darce, you don’t trust anyone.’ Darcie opened her mouth to reply but Emma held up her hand to silence her. ‘Look, I know you had a shit upbringing and in those circumstances, you’d have to be insane not to be affected by it. You’re always saying you want to be in a meaningful relationship, but how’s that going to happen when you won’t let anyone in? I know you want to be loved. That you want to love. But I’ve seen you do it time and time again. You shut things down when someone tries to get close.’

  Darcie closed her eyes briefly and wondered if she could relay how much pain she felt when she thought about Madison’s rejection. It hadn’t been easy to love Madison. To really let go and give herself completely. Even at the tender age of sixteen. Up until meeting Madison she hadn’t even grasped the concept of what love meant. Darcie was raised in a world where the mindset was ‘dog eat dog’. You looked after number one. Always. That’s what she had naively thought at the time anyway. It wasn’t until she met Madison that she slowly lowered her guard and let her in. So she might not have made that ‘true love’ connection yet, but there was still time. She was only twenty-six.

  ‘Oooh.’ Emma jerked her head toward the entrance behind Darcie. ‘You’re not going to believe who’s coming our way.’

  ‘Who is it?’ Darcie asked in a slow, wary tone. The last thing she wanted was any more company than Emma right now. She hoped it was some acquaintance she could get rid of with a cheerful hello, a few words, and a happy goodbye.

  ‘Just. Don’t. Turn. Around,’ Emma muttered under her breath, barely moving her lips like a very suspect ventriloquist.

  ‘Please don’t tell me it’s Katie, I—’ Darcie stopped mid-sentence as she inhaled the scent of a familiar perfume from behind. Eyes widened, she mouthed in an animated fashion. ‘Is that Madison?’

  Emma nodded imperceptibly but couldn’t help having a wide grin.

  ‘Shit!’ Darcie sat still, trying to figure out how to proceed.

  Should she turn around and say hello? Hmm maybe not. After their earlier encounter, Darcie doubted she would receive a friendly reception. Not that Madison hadn’t deserved Darcie’s cool response upon learning who Madison really was. She thought she had been quite restrained all things considered.

  Emma watched Darcie with amusement dancing in her eyes as she tapped her fingernail against her glass in quick succession. This was as close to being clueless about a situation Darcie had ever found herself. She was normally the quick thinking one when it came to problem solving. After all she had already managed to come up with a way to have a crèche at the hotel without the business having to meet the cost. Because that’s what she did. Sorted things.

  Mainly for other people, she realised, as she simply couldn’t think of a way to discreetly remove herself from her situation.

  It wasn’t as if she could just walk past Madison and ignore her. That would be professional suicide. No matter how Darcie felt about Madison on a personal level, if her proposal was accepted at the end of the month, they would be seeing a lot more of each other. The one saving grace being that a decision wasn’t going to be made for another three weeks, by which time Darcie hoped she would have her emotions more firmly under control. She could not afford to lose this opportunity.

  Emma smiled, leant over the table and said quietly, ‘I think she recognised me.’

  ‘What makes you think that?’ Darcie leant inwards closing the small gap between them.

  ‘Because…’ Emma suddenly jerked back, a huge smile spreading across her features. ‘Hey, Maddie isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, Emma? Silver Lining?’

  Emma nodded.

  ‘I thought I recognised you.’ Madison’s smile faded as she turned to look at Darcie and said curtly with a tiny nod of greeting, ‘Darcie.’

  Darcie looked up into the intensity of Madison’s eyes and immediately wished she hadn’t. The past came flooding back with the force of an unstoppable tsunami, shaking Darcie to the core in the process. Nausea churned in her stomach and she unconsciously rested her hand against it.

  Don’t think about it! Madison’s mouth pressed hard against her own. It’s all in the past. Madison’s warm breath against her neck. She never really cared about you. Madison groaning in her ear … pleading …wanting.

  ‘Madison,’ Darcie croaked, then quickly cleared her throat. ‘Sorry, frog in my throat. I didn’t know you came here.’

  ‘I don’t.’ Madison gestured behind Darcie. ‘My friend does and dragged me with her.’

  ‘Oh right,’ Darcie said, feeling the full strength of the awkwardness between them.

  ‘Anyway, I thought I’d just say hi.’ Madison turned to go.

  ‘Why don’t you join us for a drink?’ Emma said, standing
quickly, and pulling out a spare chair, all in one fluid graceful movement. Darcie was impressed, Emma was never normally that smooth. ‘Otherwise we’ll just sit here all night talking about work. How boring is that?’

  Darcie kicked Emma under the table harder than she intended and Emma let out a yelp.

  Emma stared at Darcie through narrowed eyes. ‘In fact, I’ll go and get a bottle of wine. Red or white?’

  Madison looked doubtful. ‘Best not. I don’t want to interrupt—’

  ‘Trust me we could do with some fresh conversation. All we seem to do is repeat the same things over and over again. In fact,’ Emma said. ‘I can’t remember the last time Darcie told me something I haven’t heard in six years.’

  Darcie’s head shot up and she asked indignantly, ‘Are you trying to imply I’m boring?’

  ‘No. We’re just like an old married couple. Won’t be a tick.’ Emma walked off, leaving Darcie and Madison alone.

  ‘If you’d rather we didn’t join you…’

  Great, put the ball in my court. In the end Darcie opted for the easiest thing to do. It wasn’t as if they were going to be alone. Besides, maybe it was a blessing in disguise. Darcie could use this time to find out who the other competition was and whether or not she had anything to worry about.

  Forcing a smile on her face she said, ‘If you don’t stay, I’ll never hear the end of it from Emma.’

  ‘OK but we won’t stay long,’ Madison said as she walked back to her table.

  Minutes later she returned with a tall, willowy woman with long, red hair. She was dressed in all black and the colour against her pale skin, combined with her smoky eye makeup made her look almost … vampish.

  As soon as their eyes met, Darcie knew Madison had told her about their meeting earlier that day. Darcie felt she was being judged, and probably not in a flattering way, by Madison’s friend as she took a seat in the empty chair opposite Darcie.

  I wonder if Madison told her why I reacted the way I did? No, she concluded from the way Kay was looking at her. She just thinks I’m a bitch. Let her think what she wants. After today I’ll never have to see her again anyway.

  Darcie flashed her a smile that nearly made it up to her eyes, but not quite. Madison’s friend responded in a similar style.

  ‘Here we go ladies.’ Emma made a sudden re-appearance and plonked two bottles of wine down in the middle of the table. Sitting on the only other available chair left, she introduced herself to Kay who responded by smiling warmly.

  Oh, so it is just me she has an attitude with.

  ‘So, Maddie,’ Emma said, filling each of the glasses with wine. ‘I can’t tell you how happy we are with being given another shot at running our ideas by you.’

  Madison picked up her glass and took a sip. ‘I’m glad you both said yes. Your presentation was a good one—’

  Ok so the conversation had gone straight to work but Darcie was grateful that Emma had got things off on the right foot. Unfortunately, speaking impulsively and with the memory of the earlier meeting still pressing her annoyance button, she couldn’t stop herself kicking the conversation straight to an argument.

  ‘Apart from the part where the workers, who are no doubt going to be paid a pittance already, are compensated for the long hours they’re no doubt going to put in.’

  ‘I actually think—’ Madison started to speak but Darcie still had some space left in her mouth and continued to force her foot into it.

  ‘Or a place where—’

  ‘You sure like the sound of your own voice, don’t you?’ Kay interrupted. ‘Why don’t you let Maddie finish before you start getting all self-righteous?’

  ‘Now, you hang on a minute,’ Emma said sharply. ‘Don’t speak to—’

  Darcie raised her hand. ‘It’s OK, Emma, she’s right. I should let Madison have her say.’ She had barely got the words out of her mouth before she began to regret her impetuosity.

  Madison’s cheeks coloured slightly. ‘I was actually going to say that I agreed with you on both points. I think it’s a brilliant idea and I’m trying to get my uncle ... Bryan on board. But you’ve got to realise he isn’t against it because he believes in slave labour, he just comes from a different era, where the bottom line is king.’

  ‘And you think you can persuade him to think differently?’ Darcie said wanting so badly to believe what Madison was saying. To forget that Madison had once looked her straight in the eye and told her that she would love her forever no matter what. Then to turn around and betray her. Is it any wonder I find it hard to believe what she says despite how passionately she speaks?

  ‘I hope so, Darcie. I really do.’

  The sound of her name on Madison’s lips after so many years was surreal.

  ‘See,’ Emma said, exchanging a forced smile with Kay. ‘We’re all on the same page.’

  ‘It seems that way,’ Madison said.

  Emma took a mouthful of wine. ‘So, are we up against tough competition or can’t you tell us that?’

  ‘Emma!’ Darcie said aghast at her question, although the answer was one she would be happy to hear, but good form said you didn’t just ask outright. Good job Emma had a less than orthodox approach to her business life.

  Madison laughed. ‘It’s OK, it isn’t a state secret. You’re up against one other company—’

  ‘Only one?’ The question slipped out of Darcie’s mouth before she could stop herself. She hadn’t realised they’d made the shortlist. Standing out against three agencies would have been hard but in her opinion, doable—but to only have to compete against one company—it was like hearing angels sing.

  ‘Yes, one,’ Madison said.

  ‘So, can you tell us who they are?’

  ‘Have you heard of Gaze? They’re a new set up.’

  Darcie had heard of them. Laura Mannings, in particular. She was once in a successful partnership with her husband, but things had turned sour—as they did when you sleep with another man half your age—and Laura’s husband had pushed her out of the company.

  Darcie had heard on the grapevine that Laura had set up a new business, but she didn’t realise she was already up and running, trying to attract new clients.

  Darcie saw a shadow cross Madison’s eyes. Someone who didn’t know her as well as Darcie did would have missed it, but Darcie had seen that look on her face before.

  ‘What aren’t you telling us? Is she that good we don’t stand a chance?’ Darcie hoped Madison would be honest with her. She wanted to know how much she needed to up her game.

  ‘It’s not Laura that’s putting the proposal together,’ Madison said, toying with her glass.

  ‘Really? I would have thought with something this big, she would be all over it.’

  ‘She is but this time, she has someone else on the team who is heading up the project for her.’

  ‘Who is it then?’ Darcie couldn’t understand Madison’s reluctance to say who it was. She couldn’t imagine Laura alone would have the clout to hire some of the industry big-hitters who were the only people Darcie would have any fear of. ‘Is she back with her husband?’

  Madison shook her head. ‘It’s Bette.’ She went back to toying with her glass.

  Darcie frowned, trying to place the name. ‘Bette? I’ve never heard of her.’

  ‘Yes, you have.’

  Darcie snorted. ‘I think I would have remembered. The only Bette I know of is …’ Her words trailed off when she saw the look in Madison’s eyes. ‘Not …’

  Madison nodded.

  For a long time Darcie didn’t say anything as she mulled over the two choices she now faced. She could either run, and let her past overshadow her life forever, or she faced up to it.

  Her foster dad always told her that when a light was switched on in a dark room, nothing was as scary as one first imagined.

  In order to make a decision, Darcie needed to believe that, now more than ever.

  Chapter Twelve

  The morning, which had promised
to be a warm sunny day, soon turned into a damp squib of a miserable afternoon. Madison almost cried with sadness when she watched the sun disappear behind thick grey clouds. It cemented the idea in her mind to immigrate to a hot country. She’d had enough of dark days and non-stop rain. Maybe she could persuade her uncle to let her oversee the marketing campaign in Thailand once they had decided which company they were going to use.

  God forbid if he chooses Bette’s one. I think I’ll suddenly be overcome with a virus or something.

  The phone on her desk buzzed, when she answered it, her personal assistant, Terri, said. ‘Two things. Your uncle wants a word ASAP. And Darcie Williams is on line one.’

  ‘Darcie?’ Madison said scrunching her eyebrows. Why would Darcie be calling her? After the abrupt way she had left the bar the previous day, Madison assumed she was the last person Darcie wanted to speak to again. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘That’s what she called herself. Do you want me to ask her to call back? Bryan sounded pretty annoyed about something.’

  ‘When isn’t he?’ Madison said trying to inject a small note of humour into what was rapidly turning into a grim day. ‘I’ll see him in a minute, put Darcie through please.’

  Madison waited with bated breath for Terri to connect their call. Now was as good a time as any to tell Darcie about her uncle’s plan to have her work scrutinised.

  There was a click then Darcie’s anxious voice sounded in her ear. ‘Madison, I’ve been thinking about this proposal all night, and I’ve changed my mind. Give it to Laura’s team—’

  ‘You’re quitting? Giving up?’

  ‘Call it what you want. But I’m done.’

  Madison didn’t know why she was so astonished that Darcie was throwing in the towel, but she was. The way Darcie had presented her ideas at their first meeting had led Madison to believe she wanted their business more than anything. And for good reason.

  Madison knew Darcie’s business was treading on a fine line. She had read about the unfortunate problems Darcie had with one of her previous employees, Sophie Miller, who had been selling Darcie’s ideas to her competitors meaning that she had lost out on a lot of promising accounts.