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“Yes, I’m looking forward to working with him.” He raised a quizzical brow as I told him about the plot Alfie had offered me. I was so excited my words tripped over themselves, each of them eager to gain his approval.
“Lola,” he removed his glasses with a sigh, cleaning them with the corner of his shirt before putting them back on, “with all due respect, you’re unqualified and have almost no experience indesign. I don’t doubt you have talent, but I don’t understand why Riley Fitzpatrick would give you a plot just because you knew what bespoke soil was.”
My breath hitched. Okay, that had hurt, but he wasn’t exactly wrong and he was still wearing a small smile, trying to take the sting out of his words.
“Actually, it was Mr Tell’s idea.” I’d tactfully avoided mentioning him up until now. “I suppose I impressed him and he wanted to give me an opportunity. Under Riley’s watchful eye, of course.” As I spoke, Mark’s warm smile faded, his eyes growing cold.
“I see.” He eyed me a moment longer, his cool gaze telling me he was anything but pleased for me. “Well, congratulations. I suppose you have a design spec for me to look over.” He put out an expectant hand and I twisted my own in my lap, having nothing to give him.
“I don't exactly have one yet but shouldn’t I just deal with Riley directly?” I liked Mark, respected him immensely, but beyond allowing me to design the Boutique Garden when he’d first arrived, he hadn’t had any interest in my ‘talent.’ I wondered why he was bothering now.
“Whatever you create will be a direct reflection on me, so I will need to review your work before you present it, unless you don’t think my opinion counts?”
“No! Of course it does, I just…I didn’t think you would be interested.” My words trailed off and a cool silence hung between us. I felt lost, wondering what had just happened. Where had I gone wrong? I’d thought he’d be proud that I’d managed to secure such an opportunity. It hurt that he seemed to be angry instead. Jealous, even.
“On the contrary, I’m very interested in what you do.”
I wished that were true, but his habit of giving me nothing but grunt work proved otherwise. He’d barely shown an interestin my designs for Ryan’s school garden. I took the file as he handed it back to me, relieved that the topic seemed to be over.
“I have to get back to the hospital. I don’t like leaving my mother alone for too long.” He crossed the room to a pile of boxes and plucked an envelope from a discarded pile of mail. “Before you go, I believe Rosie mentioned the Serenity Gardens Opening to you?” He handed me the envelope and I peeked inside, seeing the tickets for the opening.
“Yes, it’s next week, right? I’m sorry you won’t be able to go. It doesn’t feel right going without you.” He looked pleased by that and I gave him a friendly smile, glad that the earlier tension seemed to be easing.
“Yes, I’m disappointed too. It’s always exciting to see your work revealed for the first time and enjoyed by others.” That’s what I wanted, that’s what I was desperate for. “There's a plus one you know. Who will you take?”
“I’m not sure, a friend maybe.” Pretty dresses and free champagne would be Keira’s idea of heaven.
“Ah, afriend.”
“Yes, my friend Keira.”
“Not a date?”
I shivered, thinking of Alfie. I didn’t think I could survive Alfie Tell in a tuxedo.
“No, definitely not.” I smiled wider, a nervous habit. “Well, I should go. I hope your mother feels better soon, it'll be nice to have you back at work.”
“I'm glad to hear it, I was starting to think you weren't missing me at all.” It was a strange thing to say but I tried not to let my concern show and instead offered him a polite smile as he showed me out.
I shook the nervous feeling away as I climbed into my van. I had enough tension floating around my body at the moment. Ididn't need to be concocting weirdness about my co-workers to go with it.
When I got back to work, Rosie sent my day from bad to worse by announcing that she'd decided to send Bradley along to the opening as my plus one. Bradley, the new guy. The ruggedly handsome new guy. Great.
So, all I had to do was spend the evening with Bradley and hope that a certain arrogant billionaire didn't find out. Easy.
As soon as I got home, I nose dived into a bottle of Chardonnay. There was a note on the fridge from Natalie reminding me that it was Ryan’s parents’ evening so they wouldn’t be home until later.
After the weirdness with Mark this morning, my day had been busy, passing by me in a blessed blur and leaving me no time to think about Alfie Tell. Now that I was home in the quiet, there was no escaping the barrage of memories that hit me.
Last night had possibly been the craziest night of my life. He’d dominated me so easily—sucked my secrets out of me then put his hands on my body, showing me that the art of seduction was his mother tongue. It unnerved me how malleable I’d been in his touch, how vulnerable. An uncertain fear sat in my gut as I took another sip of Chardonnay. I needed my best friend.
Quickly, I zipped off a text to Keira.
I have an empty house and a bottle of Chardonnay – you in?
I hit send and her reply was instant.
On my way ; ) By the way, I need a favour. I need help decorating my parents’ house. The real estate agent thinks it’ll help get it sold. Help me out? I’ll pay you in wine and pizza…