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“The client liked them.”
“You’re fucking the client. Honestly, Lola, I never took you for that kind of girl.” He took a step closer, towering over me. I knew another man who did that and I felt no urge to back down. Mark Tafferty was no Alfie Tell.
“The kind to have a relationship?”
“The kind to fuck their way to success,” he spat.
“Oh please, you’re just jealous that he gave me a project and not you and you’re angry that I managed it just fine without your help.” I stared him straight in the eye. “Oh, and just so we’re clear, Alfie didn’t approve my designs. Riley did, and I’m not fucking him.”
“Riley didn’t give you the project though, did he?” I opened my mouth to argue but I couldn’t. The project had been all Alfie’s idea. “I’m not jealous of you, Lola, and even if I was I wouldn’t let that stand in the way of my mentoring you if I thought it was an opportunity you had legitimately earned.”
“Oh sure, because you’ve been mentoring me so well all year haven’t you?”
“I’ve beenmonitoringyou.”Monitoring me? What is he talking about?“You think I haven’t noticed you? I have. The first month that I was here I had you design the Boutique Garden?—”
“Yes, and nothing else since.” I’d been so excited to design my first project for Mark. The fact that he’d never given me another one had been a massive blow to my ego. Even my project for Ryan’s school he hadn’t shown much interest in other than a perfunctory nod when I’d shown him my designs.
“Because I didn’t need to see anything else and because talent isn’t enough. If I was going to elevate your career I wanted to know what kind of person you were.” Elevate my career? Since when did he give a damn about my career? “I got to know you as intelligent, genuine, and truly passionate about your work. But your behaviour over these last weeks has been sorely disappointing.”
“Because I got a boyfriend?”
“Because you have traded your ambition for him.” He took a breath. This had gone way beyond a professional disagreement and I could see him trying to reign himself in. “I hear you still haven’t confirmed your place at The London College.” I stared at him in shock.
“How do you know about that?”
“Who do you think recommended you?”
I sat there, open-mouthed. I couldn’t find my words. I couldn’t understand. Why would he do that? He gave me a small smile, a smile I hadn’t seen on his face since before I met Alfie.
“You recommended me?” I asked, the disbelief clear in my voice.
“Of course I did.” I felt the atmosphere shift in the room. The animosity evaporated out of him as if he was tired of holding onto it.
“But you’ve been somean.”
“I was frustrated,” he said, as if that justified it.
“You said my designs were juvenile.” Those words stung and I hated repeating them, but this time he at least had the decency to look a little uncomfortable. He slid his glasses off and began cleaning them on the corner of his shirt.
“Your designs were fantastic, obviously, just like the ones for your nephew's school. I just resent them being abouthim.”
“What do you have against him?” I didn’t get it. I didn’t get any of this.
“Nothing. I have something against wasted potential.Yourwasted potential. Why do you think I had you attend the meeting at Harrington House in the first place?”
“Your mother—” I stammered but he cut me off.
“Was ill, but well enough for me to leave her for a few hours for such an important meeting. I wanted to see how you handled it, and of course, you did wonderfully.”
I thought about the heated moment between Alfie and I on the roof. That wasn’t so wonderful.
“I sent you to The Serenity Garden opening so that you could represent the business and have your name tied in with mine. I wanted you to make connections, but instead I hear that you weren’t even present for the ribbon cutting. You missed the speech where we werespecificallythanked and instead of speaking with the board member from The Chelsea Flower Show you ducked out early withhim. I’d contacted her myself and told her about you. She wanted to meet you, Lola.” The night of The Serenity Gardens opening. Alfie had seduced me there that night.
Was Mark telling the truth? I thought over the weeks of stony silences, of side-eyed glares. I’d thought he was just jealous, but as I looked at him now I could see the disappointment there. It was my fault and I couldn’t deny anything he’d said.The Serenity opening had been an amazing opportunity and I’d ditched it for Alfie. And then I had to stifle a sick laugh, because my dream had been in my hands and I’d ditched that for Alfie too.
“And now Rosie tells me that you’ve resigned, but I spoke to the college board and you haven’t confirmed your place with them which I can only assume means you’re leaving with him.” I wanted to say no, to tell him that I was going to college, but then I remembered that this decision wasn’t about what I wanted, it was about what I could live without.
“Yes, I’m leaving with him,” I answered.