Page 52 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Ava wasn’t one to pull a sickie at the drop of a hat, and she’d worked overtime whenever necessary.

Since her divorce she’d barely taken a holiday, choosing odd days here and there rather than a longer break.

But Monday morning, getting onto the Tube, then merging in with the crowd, almost being pushed along, she wished she didn’t have to go into the office at all.

Nancy’s welcoming face made her feel a little better.

‘Ava, I’m so glad you’re back.’ She rushed round to give her a hug. ‘I’ve missed you so much.’

‘How’s the bull?’ Ava removed her coat and popped it over the back of her chair. ‘Is he in yet?’

Nancy nodded, sliding back into her seat. ‘He seems quite happy this morning.’

‘Oh? Any reason why?’

‘I have no idea, and I don’t even want to think the obvious. Imagine waking up to his face of a morning.’

Ava snorted. ‘I’ve missed your humour, Nance. Shall we catch up over lunch out?’

‘It’s a deal. I want to know all about you-know-who.’

An image of Jack flashed up in Ava’s mind. Only four more sleeps and she’d be with him again. She’d already booked her train for five-thirty on Friday evening. There was no way she was staying over. She wanted every spare minute she could muster.

Spying Brendon coming into the room, both women put their heads down, pretending to be busy.

‘Ah, Ava, you’re here at last.’ Brendon snapped his fingers. ‘I need a word.’

Ava stared at Nancy, sending her a message telepathically that she knew she’d understand. What did Brendon want now?

‘He could have given me half an hour to have a coffee,’ she muttered, pushing herself reluctantly to standing.

‘I’ll make you one for when you’re back.’

Ava passed her mug over and walked across the office.

Only a month ago, she’d done the same thing, a sense of trepidation in her step.

But it had turned out to be the best thing to happen to her in a long time.

Now, though, she dreaded what Brendon was going to say next. Nothing could top the last four weeks.

‘Sit down.’ He ushered her in with the flap of a hand. ‘I wanted to talk to you about something.’

‘Is everything all right?’ she asked.

‘Yes, yes. In fact, everything is tickety-boo.’

Tickety-boo?

‘I’ve had an email from Stella Broadhurst, telling me how much she has enjoyed working with you over the past month, how good a job you’ve made, and that she wants to hire you again soon.’

‘Oh.’ Ava sat upright, excited to hear that Stella had been in touch. ‘I was left to my own devices a lot of the time. Giving me free rein meant I could design something bespoke and?—

‘Yes, I know all that,’ Brendon interrupted.

‘I’m going to chase her up this morning.

’ He wrote himself a reminder. ‘So, in light of the work that you’ve done, I’ve been touting for more around the country and I have another job lined up for you.

It will involve working out of the office again, but I’m sure you’re used to that now. ’

Ava’s shoulders sagged. She had thought she’d be back to her normal role. She didn’t want to go parading up and down the country, catching trains, being away from home. And she could bet the digs she’d be put in wouldn’t be a tap on Sapphire Hotel.

Still, it would only be for a few months while she set up the new business. The loan Jack had offered her was tempting, but she needed to do this on her own. His guidance, however, she would value.

‘I thought the placement in Somerley was a one-off,’ she said.

‘It was, but you’ve done such a good job of the website that I’ve been able to get others interested, too. What’s more, I’d like to offer you a promotion in lieu of the extra work.’

‘A promotion?’

‘I’m going to raise your salary by one thousand pounds and give you two days extra holiday entitlement.’

He sat back, pleased with himself.

Ava couldn’t speak. Really, she had to stop from laughing. He clearly didn’t know she’d found out the amount he would be getting for the work she’d been doing at the hotel. A thousand pounds was an insult, and as for two extra days off? When would she ever get the chance to take them?

Brendon seemed a bit put out by her silence. ‘It’s an excellent opportunity, don’t you think? And once you’ve done a few more jobs, providing they are satisfactory, I can look at your pay again. In, say, another six months.’

‘I-I don’t know what to say,’ she admitted, but not for the reasons he was thinking of. His offer was appalling. She had worked there for nine years, and this was all he was offering?

‘Excellent.’ Brendon handed her a file. ‘I’ll amend your contract, and you can re-sign it. Then we can get you on with your next job. It will be Liverpool this time, for two weeks. Same as this job, although I expect the hotel might not be as nice.’ He guffawed.

Ava left his office, her chin almost touching the floor. You handled that well , she mused, as she sat down at her desk.

‘Oh-oh,’ Nancy said. ‘I know that expression. What does the bull want you to do now?’

Ava explained, watching Nancy’s face go through a range of expressions until it stuck on an angry one.

‘He can’t do that, can he?’ she protested.

‘Technically speaking, no, as it isn’t part of my contract. But he’s getting a new one written up. He’s offered me a pay rise of, wait for it, one thousand pounds, to sweeten me up.’

Nancy’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. ‘I hope you’ve told him to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.’

Ava threw down her pen. ‘I said I’d think about it and get back to him.’

‘What? You’re really thinking about it?’

She shook her head. ‘I’m thinking about how to say no without losing my job. You know what he’ll do if I don’t take it.’

‘He can’t do anything. There are laws against changing contracts to suit or else we’d all be doing different jobs than we applied for. He should know better than that. You need to speak to a solicitor who specialises in Human Resources.’

Ava put her head on her desk. ‘Welcome back, Ava.’