Page 17 of Meet Me Under the Northern Lights

DüRüM, REYKJAVIK

Coffee hadn’t been enough and, in the name of research, as well as the cold, Chloe and Kat had bundled into a cosy café on a street called Laugavegur and ordered fish and chips.

‘It’s a bit British, isn’t it? To have fish and chips. I feel like a travel fraud and I’ve only been in the country a few hours,’ Kat said, steaming crispy batter on her fork.

‘Actually no,’ Chloe replied. ‘Fish and chips is one of the things to have here and this is so good!’

‘Good enough for Sinclairz Chairs?’ Kat asked, pushing a forkful of battered, flaky white deliciousness into her mouth.

‘Not sure about that,’ Chloe said. ‘In fact I’m not 100 per cent sure what Sinclairz Chairs are looking for apart from this location.’

She’d asked Michelle, in two emails now, if she could have a vague idea what Sinclairz Chairs were looking for.

Ultimate luxury? More traditional? A mix of the two?

Or completely different itineraries – one more relaxed: spa/lagoon, cocktails – the other higher intensity experiences: dog sledding, glacier walks.

Right now she was hedging her bets and looking into getting as many ideas as she could to put together entirely differing proposals if she had to.

‘Michelle a bit light on the details?’ Kat asked her. ‘All “go, go, go” and then “wait, what are we actually doing”?’

Chloe felt her shoulders tighten, almost defensively. ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that. She does have a lot on her mind at the moment.’

‘Or rather a lot in her uterus.’

‘Kat!’

‘Well, I don’t think you see how much she relies on you to make her business run like clockwork.’

‘That’s my job,’ Chloe reminded her.

‘I know. But I also know from experience how people in a position of power can use others’ expertise to bolster themselves without giving credit where credit is due.’

‘Michelle appreciates my diligence. She’s always telling me that.’

‘But does she tell anyone else? No,’ Kat answered for herself. ‘Because if she did there’s no doubt in my mind that you would be headhunted for another bigger, more esteemed company. You know that, right?’

‘I think you underestimate how well thought of Celebratey is. Lincoln Sinclair wouldn’t just give this opportunity to anybody.’

‘But you’re still pitching. It’s still a bit of a competition.’

‘I know.’

‘And you should also know that it’s you who has shaped that company since you joined it.’

‘Well, I’ve done what I can and?—’

‘And Michelle can’t do without you and it’s time she realised that.’

‘I know, which is why I’m going to mention buying in to the business and maybe becoming a partner. As soon as the baby is born. Well, you know, not as soon as the baby’s born because that would be a bit rude and?—’

‘What’s rude is that woman thinking you have no other options and taking advantage of that.’

Kat said the last sentence with so much ferocity, conversations between other customers ceased and attention was definitely focussed on them.

Chloe put down her knife and fork and took a sip from her water glass.

Kat was always harsh about Michelle, she knew this, but amid the harshness was there an element of truth?

‘Sorry,’ Kat said to Chloe. Then she smiled an apology to the couple sat closest to them who went back to their own meals.

‘It’s OK. You always tell me exactly how you see things.’

‘I know, but sometimes I could tone it down a notch. And I know you’re not stupid, you know Michelle takes advantage of your loyalty.’

Now it felt like the water was souring in her mouth. Did Michelle actually really take advantage of her?

‘Chlo, you know that, right? We talked about it the night she made you hunt down a needle and thread like it was a task on The Apprentice because she couldn’t possibly give a speech at the entrepreneurs’ dinner with a loose hem.’

‘That was so long ago,’ Chloe answered. ‘And I didn’t mind.’

‘Like you didn’t mind dropping everything to come to Iceland?’

‘It’s my job,’ Chloe reminded her. ‘And she’s trusted me with the groundwork for this big opportunity. And it’s not like I have any social life to let go of. Present company excepted, and you’re here now so…’

‘I just want Michelle to value what you do a little bit more, that’s all,’ Kat said, tone a bit softer. ‘Because you do so much for the company and I think, sometimes, you do it because you think there’s nothing else for you. There, I’ve said it.’

Chloe swallowed, sat back in her chair. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh, Chlo, I just… I don’t know… sometimes I think maybe you hold on so tight to your job with Michelle because it’s like a lifebuoy. Now hear me out because I know what you’re going to say and?—’

‘I’m going to say this is more to do with you wanting me to date than it is to do with my career. And you’re doing this, Kat, like you always do, because your mum is stressing you out and no one but me in your friendship circle is single now that Harriet has got together with Justin.’

Kat was shaking her head. ‘And now you’re deflecting like you always do when you tell me anything I say is because I need you to date.

When really it’s because you can’t see Michelle’s flaws, because you’re clinging on too tightly to a job you’re doing so you don’t have to stop and think and come to terms with Michael leaving. ’

Now the whole restaurant was silent apart from the background festive music that was at complete odds with the atmosphere in the room. Chloe got to her feet.

‘I’m just going to the toilet.’

‘Chloe, don’t go. I shouldn’t have said?—’

But Chloe left the table not caring about whatever Kat had to say next.