He waited until everyone left, motioning for his assistant to follow. She gave Paige a pointed look before closing the door and leaving them alone in the now-silent room. Sebastian looked down into Paige’s eyes, but said nothing.
Paige was unable to keep silent for any longer. ‘How can you do this to these people?’
He sighed loudly without looking away from her. ‘I thought I’d just explained everything.’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t see how you can’t find a solution that’ll be fair for everyone though.’
He stroked her cheek lightly with his right hand. ‘I can’t. I honestly wish I could.’
‘What if you give me notice?’ She didn’t miss the look of discomfort that crossed his face for a split second.
‘If that’s the case, I’m sure you’ll find somewhere more suitable to relocate.’ He smiled, his eyes gentle, unlike his words. ‘Paige, it could be the best thing for you, have you considered that?’
Paige jerked her head back in amazement. She was going to have to move. She should have guessed. She couldn’t believe he would do such a thing to her. Did she not mean anything to him at all? ‘How?’ She concentrated on keeping her voice as unemotional as possible.
‘We’ve discussed this. We could become partners. With my backing you could afford larger premises. You could then show your designs off to their full potential.’
‘I don’t want you backing me. Who the hell do you think you are?’ she asked, stunned by his arrogance.
Sebastian leant forward. She could smell the hint of patchouli in his aftershave and wished she could control how she felt towards him.
‘I only want to help you become the success you deserve to be. Why is that such a shocking offer?’
‘Because I want to do this for myself, and I don’t want to be beholden to you.’ Paige almost spat the words in her temper.
Sebastian looked as if she’d slapped him. ‘I didn’t realize I was so contemptible to you.’
‘You don’t realize a lot of things, Sebastian.’
‘For example?’
‘Pride. You’re not the only one who has it, you know.’
He narrowed his eyes. ‘You really don’t like me very much, do you?’
No, she thought, staring at his incredible face so close to hers she could feel his breath on her face. She didn’t reply.
‘This is business, Paige. I have to do my job and I do it with as much compassion as possible.’ She tried to steady her breathing. ‘If you want to do this by yourself, fine, but the rent here is high, because it’s on the main thoroughfare,’ he said, taking her hands in his, his voice less tense. ‘De Greys is a prominent, well-known store, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t find something more suitable, or affordable. If you don’t want me as a partner, why not let me help you find a suitable shop where you can set up your company?’
She stepped back, mainly to distance herself from his strong presence and regain a semblance of self-control she could feel slipping away. ‘If you’re so sure, then why don’t you use your limitless contacts and find me somewhere?’ She challenged, placing her hands on her hips while she waited for him to answer. ‘Go on then, prove to me that you can solve my problem. I don’t see how you can do it.’
His mouth drew back in a wide smile. ‘You think you know me so well. Why do you always find me so lacking?’ He didn’t take his eyes off her. ‘You don’t even know if you’re on the list yet.’
‘I have a horrible feeling I am though. I want you to prove to me that I’d have options. Show me you can find somewhere equally as viable, and for the same rent. Then, I’ll believe you’re as brilliant as you seem to think you are.’ She was enjoying testing him and couldn’t wait to see if he would stand up to her.
He replied by kissing her. The pressure of his soft lips on her own made her forget for an instant what she’d been fighting about. Paige pushed Sebastian away and noticed his assistant’s blonde head poked around the door.
‘Sorry for the interruption, sir,’ she said, looking stunned and giving Paige a disapproving glance. ‘There’s an urgent message for you’ she said handing him a note. ‘It’s Sir Edmund. He insists you speak to him immediately.’
Paige made pretence of staring out of the window, as if the view of the directors’ parking spaces and bin area held some sort of fascination for her. She touched her lips thoughtfully, trying to take in what had just happened between them. As soon as the woman had gone, Paige turned to leave the room.
‘I’m going to have to deal with this,’ Seb said reading the piece of paper in his hands. ‘Could you wait for a few minutes, there’s something I need to speak to you about.’
‘Sorry, I have to get on,’ she said needing time to think things through. Paige walked out of the room without saying another word, determinedly ignoring the concern on his face.
Clem was waiting on Paige’s front doorstep as far into the doorway as she could manage. ‘Where have you been?’ she asked, without bothering to greet Paige first, stepping aside to let her unlock the door.
‘Sorry, Sebastian Fielding called a meeting for the tenants. Anyway, where’s your key?’
‘Forgot it,’ said Clem with uncharacteristic rudeness. ‘And I wanted to speak to you about something.’
Not more dramas, thought Paige. She was exhausted and hoping for an early night. Paige hung her coat on the hook in the small hallway. ‘Are you OK? There’s nothing wrong with the baby, is there? What are you now, three months?’
Clem shook her head. ‘Yes, just over, and you can stop fretting, everything’s fine as far as I’m aware. You tell me about the meeting first.’
Paige, too tired to argue, relayed everything that was discussed, naturally leaving out any details about what had happened between her and Sebastian after the others had left.
Clem listened patiently. ‘It would be awesome to have a meeting with such a gorgeous bloke. That Sebastian Fielding is one hell of a catch, if you ask me.’
I didn’t, thought Paige flicking the kettle on and taking two china mugs from the cupboard above her. She glanced at Clem and wished she could tell her what was making her so angry. ‘We were all invited,’ she added. ‘It wasn’t just me.’
‘Yeah, but I can’t think of many women who’d turn him down, can you?’ she giggled, sitting her bottom on the high stool at the breakfast bar and wriggling to get comfortable. ‘I won’t be able to perch up here much longer,’ she added frowning.
Paige could see Clem was struggling with her emotions. ‘You’ll be fine.’
‘I can’t help thinking how much things have changed in the last few months,’ Clem said nibbling the side of her fingernail. ‘Now I’m pregnant, single, and living with my sister, and you’re single and don’t know what’s going to happen next with the shop, or anything else for that matter.’
Paige nodded and passed her a cup, before taking a sip of her drink. ‘It’s all a bit unnerving,’ she said. ‘Come on then, what was it you wanted to tell me?’
‘You’ll never guess what I heard today.’
‘Go on,’ Paige stifled a yawn behind her hand, thinking she would give almost anything to be able to go to bed and sleep for the next twenty-four hours.
‘That other shoe business in De Greys, the large franchise?’
‘Yes,’ Paige nodded. ‘What about it?’
‘The guy who has it reckons he’s about to be given permission to move from his area over at the far side of the arcade, replace your concession and the one to your right and knock through to open both up..’
Paige nearly choked on her drink. Patting herself on the chest to help clear her throat and let air into her lungs, she had to think. ‘If they’re doubling in size, there’s going to be no room for me.’
‘Hah,’ Clem shouted triumphantly. ‘That’s exactly what I thought.’
Paige stared at her sister open-mouthed. How could they have spoken so recently without Seb not telling her about this? Her breath beca
me shallow. So, this was to be her fate. ‘But I’ve just seen him. Why didn’t he at least hint that this could happen?’
‘Maybe he couldn’t say because it’s not common knowledge yet? The bloke who owns the franchise for those cheaper shoes was flirting with Sebastian Fielding’s assistant. I heard him boasting to one of the Clarins girls that this assistant had seen his name when she was typing up some notes the other day. I don’t think anything has been formalised yet, but it does sound as if it’s true.’
Paige couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Sebastian might not have announced this yet, but he had obviously already made the decision to get rid of her shop. She would have hoped that De Greys would want to keep her designer shoes, but they’d obviously decided that they preferred more custom over quality. It was the sensible option, she supposed. She sat down heavily on the couch, trying not to panic. ‘This is unbearable.’
Clem stepped down from the stool and gave her sister a hug. ‘I’m so sorry, Sis. I should never have told you in such an insensitive way. I’m an idiot.’
‘No, it’s fine,’ she fibbed. ‘Don’t worry. At least you’ve had the decency to tell me as soon as you knew. I just can’t understand why Sebastian hadn’t thought to do the same,’ she said immediately realizing what he’d been trying to tell her when she’d stormed out of his office.
Chapter Eighteen
Paige was surprised to find a letter pushed through the letterbox later that evening. It was from Sebastian, and enclosed were details of two properties with what looked like affordable leases. Paige studied them, unsure why he had not bothered to knock and give them to her personally. Recognizing both premises vaguely, she couldn’t help thinking it was a strange way to break the news to her.
She was confused. Both shops appeared suitable at first glance, and as upset as she was with him, his speed at finding the vacant shops went some way to lessening her panic at the thought of having to move her concession from De Greys.
The phone rang a little later. Paige reached to pick up the phone. ‘Well? How did I do?’ he asked an amused tone in his deep voice.
Distracted at hearing his voice, she sat back in her chair more heavily than she’d intended, accidentally kicking the small table next to her and spilling red wine from the glass on top. ‘Bugger,’ she said noticing the splotch of crimson on her immaculate cream carpet.
‘Am I to take it from your reply that I didn’t do as well as you’d hoped?’ Sebastian laughed.
She stood up and taking the phone with her hurried to the kitchen to find a tea towel to dab at the offending liquid before it could stain. ‘I wasn’t calling you a bugger, Sebastian,’ she said, cross with him for sounding so jovial. ‘I’ve just spilt some of my bloody drink. Hang on a sec?’
After a minute or so dabbing and then scrubbing the mark on her floor, Paige placed her glass on the mantelpiece out of harm’s way, picked up the phone, and sat back down to continue her conversation with him. ‘Sorry about that. What were we saying?’ She thought for a second. ‘Oh yes, you know you did well, so don’t act coy, it doesn’t suit you.’
She could hear him laughing and despite her annoyance with him the deep chuckle made her smile. ‘Good. So you’ll meet the agents then?’
‘I don’t really have much choice.’ She knew she had to tell him she had found out about his plans. ‘I gather from my sister I’m to be given notice.’
There was a momentary silence. ‘Who told you?’ he asked his tone serious.
‘Not, what a load of crap, or even, sorry for failing to be honest with you when I had the chance earlier in your office?’
‘If you recall, I did tell you I wanted to speak to you about something.’
She couldn’t argue with that. ‘I suppose dropping off these property details were a bit of a giveaway too, weren’t they?’ she said picking up the property specifications and studying them.
‘I knew that if you wouldn’t listen to me, this would speak volumes.’
‘You didn’t tell me, but you managed to kiss me. Funny that?’ she said, not wishing to remember how delicious it had been.
‘Ah, I wanted to explain about that.’
‘What, kissing me or the proposed new properties?’
After a moment’s silence, he said, ‘Both, really.’
‘I expected more of you than that.’
‘I assume we’re now talking about the properties?’
Paige clenched her teeth. She’d actually meant the kiss, but wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing it.
‘I can’t understand how your sister found this out,’ he said before she managed to reply. ‘No one else has been spoken to yet. When you left I assumed I’d have enough time to tell you privately before word spread. This is supposed to be strictly confidential. Do you know who told your sister?’
Paige told him, instantly feeling mean for snitching on his assistant.
‘Ah, I should have thought of that. I’d suspected there was something going on between those two, but I wasn’t sure.’ He sighed. ‘I’m going to have to make sure she understands that this information is confidential and should not be discussed to anyone.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘So you’ll also know the other shoe franchise will be getting the go ahead,’ he said almost to himself. ‘Will you go and see the premises I’ve given you?’
‘I may be upset, but I’m not stupid,’ she said knowing she was hardly in a position to ignore an opportunity and unable to hide her hurt any longer.
‘I’m so sorry it has to be this way,’ he said. She could hear him breathe wishing again that things could be different between them. ‘Paige? Are you still there?’
She swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘Yes.’
‘Your designs are startlingly good and understandably expensive. We have to go with products that will bring in the most customers and, as much as I’d prefer seeing your designs displayed in De Greys, economically it isn’t the best option for the future of the store.’
‘I get it.’ She hated feeling so defenceless, especially when she knew he was right.
‘Sometimes we have to make crappy choices, and I’m sorry that this is one that I have to abide by.’
He sounded as miserable as she was feeling. The notion cheered her up a little.
‘Don’t forget to let me know what you think of these properties.’
‘OK,’ Paige replied, her voice distant even to her own ears.
‘This isn’t as bad as it looks, you know,’ he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
‘Isn’t it?’ She grabbed her glass and took a sip of her drink, staring at the details in her hand yet again.
‘It could be the best thing to ever happen to your business. Have you considered that possibility?’
She could sense the tension in his voice. ‘Not if I can’t afford to make this move.’
‘Your lease still has another year to go on it, and the company will pay you compensation if you agree to move as soon as possible. You should be able to fund the new shop and any small improvements you may need to carry out with that money.’
‘Do you have an answer for everything?’ she asked, disliking the sarcasm in her voice.
‘Your insurance money will cover the smoke-damaged stock you had to replenish, so hopefully you should have everything you need to carry on.’
‘You’ve thought it all through, haven’t you?’ She felt as if all her energy had seeped out of her.
The Jersey Scene series box set Page 47
