Page 11

A month later Rosie was back in London for an in-person meeting, as Rich came walking down the corridor towards her. “Hey Rosie, how’s it going?”

“Good thanks, and you?”

“Grand. I hear you are smashing it on the Clydebank project.”

How much of that news came to Rich from Jessica? Did Jessica think she was doing a good job? She’d hardly spoken to Jessica about anything other than work since that day in the portacabin.

“It’s going well.” It had been going very well, with Rosie getting the project up and running, and making good progress on the designs for the individual structures and sections of the park. She was having so much fun working on those designs, not least because Jessica was signing off on what she was doing, apparently very impressed. The children’s adventure play park had been her particular favourite to design. It was fun to research the ins and outs of different types of things to include for the kids. Jessica’s comment on the design platform suggesting a zip line had made Rosie smile so much.

“And you’re basing yourself up there for a while?”

She’d organised a place to stay in the north of the town, a cute little house with two bedrooms at the top of the hill with the most amazing views over the valley and down the river. “It makes the most sense.”

“That’s very dedicated of you.”

“I want to do whatever I can to make sure this project is done to the highest standard.”

“I’m getting that. I also hear you’re chairing the meetings without Jessica there. You’re pretty much delivering the whole thing by yourself,” Rich said, concern growing on his face, like he was wanting her to level with him. “How are you finding that?”

Rosie didn’t know how much she could say. Jessica had gone from micromanaging Rosie’s every move and minor decision, to completely stepping back and letting Rosie get on with things alone, even with the gesture of support and the handful of things she’d taken off Rosie’s plate. “I’m handling it. Jessica is doing more than I would have expected, for her level. And I’m giving more stuff to Tara and Tom. They’re loving it and doing great.”

“Okay,” Rich said, as if he too would back off. “That’s excellent. You know you can always reach out to me or another principal architect if you don’t want to flag smaller stuff with Jessica. You’re not on your own with this, Rosie. That’s all I’m trying to say. Also, if you aren’t hearing back from her on something, keep on at her until she replies. She can be very aloof sometimes, but she’ll always respect it when you make it clear you need her to answer.”

Rosie felt herself relax a bit after Rich said that. She hadn’t known she was so tense. “I appreciate that.”

“Jessica can be a little hard to get to know,” Rich said. “And even harder to work with. But once you get her, you’ll see that she has a heart of gold.”

Rosie already knew that. Although she was still confused by Jessica’s behaviour. It was helpful to hear this insight into her character, however. “Good to know, thanks. Is she, um, okay?”

“What do you mean?”

Rosie looked over her shoulder down the hallway. Even though there was no one there, she spoke quietly. “Does she always run away when you start talking about personal things?”

“She spoke about personal things with you?” Rich raised his eyebrows.

“A bit.”

He eyed her closely, as if thinking something but he didn’t share it with Rosie. “It’s a good sign.”

“Of what?”

“That she trusts you.”

Rosie swallowed, hard.

Rich started walking away. “She’s going through a lot right now with this project, whether she realises it or not. She doesn’t trust people easily so if she has confided in you, it means a lot. She clearly trusts you.”

Rosie smiled. She liked Rich. He was a great boss. He complemented Jessica very well and clearly cared for her. Perhaps Jessica wasn’t as cold as she came across. Thinking about how vulnerable Jessica had been when she’d told Rosie she was from the town, all Rosie could see was the person behind the reputation. Flawed. Dignified. Suffering.

Rosie passed Jessica’s office on her way back to her desk. Jessica was out but Rosie still felt her presence. It comforted her. Jessica’s badass, no-nonsense attitude was a huge turn-on for Rosie. Coupling that with these new insights from Rich about Jessica not trusting anyone and the significance of Jessica telling her something so personal, was making Rosie’s heart burst with all sorts of feelings and questions.

“What are you thinking about?” Carla said, eyeing Rosie from the side.

Rosie was standing beside her chair with her eyes unfocused. She shook her head. “I completely zoned out.”

“Jessica Frost on your mind, by any chance?”

Rosie opened her mouth to protest but no words formed.

“Want to talk about it?”

“No, thanks.” She went to sit down but there was an A4-size package on her desk. “What’s this?” She picked it up.

“Amelia dropped it off for you when you were in your meeting.”

There was a note stuck to it, folded up, with FAO: Rosie (Urgent) written on the front. Rosie tugged the note off and unfolded it to find Amelia’s sprawling handwriting.

Rosie, please can you drop this package off at Jessica’s home address tonight? She HAS to see it before a meeting tomorrow. It’s very important. I can’t do it tonight. Jessica doesn’t want it couriered. She doesn’t want to risk it getting lost or delayed. I suggested you and she agreed. Jessica is at a networking event this evening, so she won’t be home. PLEASE, Rosie, can you do this for me? I’ve never had to say no to Jessica before. If you can do it, message me and I’ll send you her address. Thank you so much!!

“What does it say?” Carla said.

“Amelia needs me to drop this off at Jessica’s tonight. It’s important.”

Carla stood. “She what?” She read the message over Rosie’s shoulder. “Jessica Frost agreed to you knowing where she lives? I’m sure Jessica wouldn’t let just anyone go around to her house.”

Rosie shrugged. A simple errand didn’t mean anything. “It’s just a delivery.”

Carla put her hands on her hips and gave her an insistent look. “Still.”

“I’ll post it through her letterbox. It’s no big deal.”

Carla sat down. “Hmm.”

“The only thing is,” Rosie realised, “my sister and her husband are in town tonight to see a show at eight. I was going to meet them for dinner before. If I go to Jessica’s, I’ll miss meeting up with them.”

“That sucks. What are you going to do?”

Rosie thought about it. She didn’t want to let anyone down. “I’ll still meet them for dinner and then I’ll go over and drop off the package after. I have to be up super early tomorrow, and I wasn’t planning on staying out late, but it’s fine.”

Carla frowned, sympathetically.

Rosie replied saying she could. Amelia instantly messaged back with Jessica’s address and a ton of emojis ending with THANK YOU .

Rosie got back to work, but it was hard not to feel excited about seeing where Jessica lived and getting a glimpse into her life.

Later that night, after a lovely meal with her sister and brother-in-law, Rosie made her way along a typical London street with a mixture of newsagents, restaurants, and bars below flats and some office buildings. Turning the corner onto a quieter street with short steps leading up to bay windows and parked cars lining the pavement, she found Jessica’s house. All the lights were off.

Rosie posted the package through the letterbox and waited to hear it drop at the other side. Satisfied she’d done her duty right for Amelia, she turned to leave, feeling like a player in some clandestine operation.

As she neared the end of Jessica’s path, a black cab pulled up right outside. The light came on and Jessica leaned forward to pay the driver.

Rosie froze. Jessica was supposed to be out.

Jessica got out of the taxi, all glamour and sexiness in high heels and a fitted dress, visible through her open coat.

Rosie held her breath, tensely, before forcing herself to calm down.

When Jessica shut the door and lifted her head to see Rosie rooted to the spot outside her house, she stopped and stared back at Rosie. In typical Jessica Frost fashion, all she did was tilt her head and gently purse her lips, as if there was no need to actually say anything.

Rosie cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you’d be home. I dropped off the package Amelia said you needed for tomorrow.” Rosie hooked a thumb over her shoulder, awkwardly, feeling somehow caught doing something she shouldn’t have been doing.

“Thank you for doing that. I’m so sorry you had to go out of your way this evening. I thought you would have done it earlier tonight and taken a taxi and put it on expenses.”

Rosie hadn’t even thought of that. “It’s fine. Weren’t you at a networking event?”

“I was.” Jessica glanced away for a second, as if contemplating how much to share. She pressed her lips together and smile-grimaced, as if she was about to admit to some huge crime. “The main event was okay, but I got tired after a couple of drinks during the networking. I know, it’s terrible.”

“It’s not terrible. If you didn’t want to be there, you didn’t have to stay.”

“My social battery ran out, I think.”

“So, you’re an introvert?”

“I am, yes.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Rosie felt Jessica’s eyes on her. It was as if she was saying one thing and her eyes were doing another. She was gazing more freely at Rosie than normal. “And you? Are you an introvert or an extrovert?”

Rosie beamed. Jessica Frost just asked her a personal question. “I think I’m an extroverted introvert or an ambivert. Somewhere in the middle?” Rosie inhaled, stealing a glance at Jessica’s chest. Her skin looked so soft. She loved getting glimpses of what was lingering just below the surface with Jessica. Rosie tried not to stare.

Jessica nodded, putting her hands in her coat pockets. “Do you want to come in for a coffee or something? It’s only fair since you’ve come out all this way.”

The question reverberated around Rosie’s head for a few moments. Such an innocent question but coming from her boss, like this, it was hard not to be reminded of the end of dates.

Jessica waited, her power-pose never faltering, but in her eyes, Rosie saw a hint of vulnerability. Did Jessica wonder if Rosie would say no? Rosie’s heart melted at this tiny sign. It would mean staying up later when she had an early start tomorrow, but she would rather be a little tired tomorrow than miss this offer from Jessica.

“Of course I would. Thank you so much.”

Jessica smiled in relief, it seemed. She unlocked her door and let Rosie inside.

Lights came on, automatically, showing off a designer space of high-ceilings, exposed beams, and gorgeous wooden flooring. It was a conversion, of some sort. Possibly a former business venue. Maybe an office? “Fancy,” Rosie said, then immediately kicked herself. She didn’t want to sound like a wide-eyed student in the presence of this distinguished and powerful woman in her amazing-as-fuck home.

Jessica smiled gently as she shrugged off her coat and outstretched her hand.

Rosie picked up the package from behind the door and handed it to her.

“Oh, I meant your jacket, but thanks,” Jessica said, hanging up her coat on some hooks. She placed Rosie’s jacket next to it once Rosie rectified her mishap.

The kitchen in the open-plan space was huge and airy, with art and feature walls. She had so many plants, of all shapes and sizes in just the right paces. Rosie loved it.

“Coffee, tea?”

“Tea please.”

Jessica nodded.

Rosie tried to calm herself. It was so exciting to be here.

“Have a seat.” Jessica gestured to the large, eight-seater table beside the kitchen island.

It was clear, except for a sketch pad and some pencils placed neatly at one end. For some reason, it seemed like an empty table. Like it was never full. As Jessica busied herself in the kitchen, Rosie admired the sophisticated space around her. It was the perfect home for a successful architect at the top of their game. Rosie was dying to say that the place suited Jessica, but she didn’t want to say something so blatantly obvious. Less was probably more with someone like Jessica. “Did you do some work to this place, or did the previous owner just happen to have as much style and sophistication as you?”

Jessica turned, mid getting cups out of the cupboard. “I converted it from an office. Mortgage brokers. It used to be an old print works, back in the day.”

“Wow, that’s so cool!” Rosie said this much louder and more reverentially than she should have, but part of her didn’t care. “You did an incredible job. I love the lines you’ve made.”

“Thank you.”

“Did you fit the spiral staircase or was it there before?”

“I had it put in.”

“Wow. It’s gorgeous.” Rosie turned around to look at the main wall at the back of the house. The exposed bricks were of another time. “Is that the original wall?”

“It is, yes. It was remarkably well intact. They built things well in Victorian London.”

“Very true.”

Jessica came over with a pot of tea and then made a few trips back and forth between the kitchen and the table to get the cups and a little jug of milk. It was all so civilised. Everything Jessica did had this air of elegance and grace. The way she leant her body towards the table, the measured speed at which she poured the tea into their cups. Doing all this in that dress was even hotter.

Perhaps Rosie was staring so she glanced at the sketch pad and the package on the table. “Do you draw at home, too?”

Jessica looked up. “They’re just doodles really. It helps to get my ideas on paper, whether it’s architecture related or not. I find it relaxing, I guess.”

“Like a journal?”

Jessica’s smile reached her eyes as if Rosie had read her mind. “It’s exactly like that.”

“What’s in the package? Do you mind if I ask?” Rosie sipped some tea, curious.

“I don’t mind. I did ruin your evening over it, so it’s only fair to tell you. Plus, it’s related to our project.”

“It didn’t ruin my evening. I’m more than happy to be here. It’s so lovely to see another side of you.” Rosie gazed into Jessica’s eyes probably for a second longer than necessary. Her whole body came alive in that split second, as goosebumps rose on her arms and a thrum took root between her legs.

“Oh.” Jessica looked down at the table and scratched the side of her neck. She took some tea. “And what do you see?”

“I see an independent, successful, and incredibly beautiful woman in her stylish home who’s far too used to doing everything herself.” Rosie felt like she was playing with fire, but she couldn’t seem to not be honest with Jessica. Her quiet sustained desire for Jessica was working against Rosie’s better interests.

A loaded silence followed after that. Jessica didn’t kick her out, which was a win. “You see a lot, Rosie.” Was all she said, after a while.

Rosie couldn’t believe it.

Jessica was letting her in.

She could feel it.

“The package is minutes of a meeting between Tony Hunt and some senior people at the council.” Jessica changed the subject. “Amelia was able to get a hold of it through her contacts and being, well, her amazing and persuasive self. Someone at the council doesn’t like him very much, apparently, and printed out the papers and gave them to Amelia. They didn’t want to risk a digital chain. I have a meeting tomorrow with Mary. I want to be prepared for anything she has to say. I want to know what’s going on behind the scenes, so I can be ready for it. From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, he’s on the war path. I’ve seen much bigger projects get pulled for a lot less much later to completion.”

Rosie sat there, stunned, as reality came crashing back in.

“Sorry. I don’t mean to worry you. I’m concerned but it’s not a situation yet. It might fizzle out. Mary doesn’t seem like someone who’s easily influenced and it’s great we have the local authority on our side, mostly.”

“I feel like we’ve already done so much, the idea of it getting pulled by some asshole politician is unthinkable.”

“I know. But it won’t come to that. I can handle him. I’ll find a way. I’ve done it before.”

That, Rosie did not doubt. But she also wanted to know about these other times now.

Jessica reached for the package. “Here goes.”

Rosie leaned forward. “Hopefully it’s just a storm in a very small espresso cup.”

Jessica laughed. It was a beautiful, free sort of laugh, filled with generosity at Rosie’s lame joke. Rosie wanted so badly to go over to her and just… hold her.

She took a sip of tea instead.

With agile fingers Jessica opened the seal and slid out a slim document, stapled in the top left corner. “You can sit beside me to read it too, if you want.”

Rosie got up and sat beside Jessica, heart beating faster, trying her best to act nonchalant when inside she was freaking out.

Spreading the document on the table, Jessica angled it towards Rosie so they could both see. Rosie felt very aware of her movements and very aware of being this close to Jessica. Jessica’s wrists were strong and chiselled, like she worked out. Her perfume was delicate, and drew Rosie in. Rosie inhaled, slowly, trying to absorb everything she could.

In silence, they read the first page for a few moments, before Jessica flicked forward after checking with Rosie if it was okay to. There were some redacted words and sentences here and there, but on the whole, the entire meeting was in front of them. Rosie leant towards Jessica, tilting her head, even though she could read it perfectly. Her whole body hummed with excitement at being in Jessica’s personal space. Their energies just matched. Could Jessica feel it too?

The skin between Rosie’s eyebrows furrowed the longer she read through the meeting, eyes scanning fast over the document to keep up with Jessica. “What a dick.”

Jessica was frowning too as they got to the end. Quietly, Jessica folded the papers back to the beginning and raised her head, breaking their unspoken connection. “He wants to shut us down. He rants about nothing of substance except this fixation about building housing and ends with threats to leak things to the papers if no one backs him. There’s no way he gives two shits about the town. I bet he has some deal with a housing development company. I’m going to ask Amelia to do a bit more digging on him. But, yeah, what a dick.”

Rosie missed being close to her already and cursed having to hold an actual conversation while feeling this hectic inside. “The public are behind us. We already know that.”

“That’s true. Unless he starts spreading lies and misinformation. I wouldn’t put it past someone like him.”

“That would be the most frustrating thing ever. Who is this guy, anyway?” Rosie got out her phone and typed his name in to get a picture of him. His head shot filled the screen: late fifties, lean, a smug smile and untrustworthy eyes.

Jessica sighed. “Cambridge educated. He used to work in the oil and gas sector. Doesn’t appear to have any consistent political values to speak of. His main focus seems to be about blaming immigrants for everything to divert attention away from the fact that he and his party are doing nothing whatsoever to help this country economically. He was embroiled in an expenses scandal involving a second home with a secret partner a few years ago and appears to have come through relatively unscathed. Before that he tried to get his wife to take the blame for him being caught speeding. I don’t know how he was elected for anything after that.”

“Hmm.”

“He’s a vulture preying on the weak and the vulnerable who’s only interested in himself and people who flatter his ego and give him money to do their bidding.”

“He sounds like a total cunt.”

Jessica tapped her finger on the table, as if bursting with energy all of a sudden. “This only makes me want to get the engagement session done even sooner.”

Jessica looked at Rosie deadly seriously, with a passion that ignited something within Rosie’s soul. Jessica was so fucking attractive when she was in full kick-ass work mode like this.

Rosie needed to focus. Thinking about stuff like that was too much of a distraction right now. They had work to do. Rosie’s days were packed full already. Organising another engagement session sooner than they’d planned was going to be a bit of stretch.

“I realise you’re already working flat out. I can get someone else in to help with the engagement session.”

“No,” Rosie said quickly, not wanting to lose control over the project and have someone else come in and take the credit for all her hard work. She’d been down that road once before and she wasn’t about to let it happen again. “I’ll get on it first thing tomorrow. It won’t take me long and I can delegate some more of the tasks to our existing team. I’ve got this.”

“Great,” Jessica said, still hyped up. “We always knew this MP was going to be around. As long as we play it right, it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Rosie had no idea how to play this right, but she nodded anyway, relying on Jessica to know what to do. Could someone like this be stopped, though? She chose to keep that thought to herself. “So, are you happy you know what to expect in your meeting with Mary tomorrow?”

“I am. It’s good Mary didn’t rise to him. She did well.”

“Will you let me know how it goes?”

“I will.” Jessica sipped some tea. “Did you find a place to stay? I’m sorry I never got a chance to get back to you with ideas for places.”

“Yeah. I did. It’s in the hills overlooking the town. It’s lovely.”

Jessica smiled, so warmly. Her eyes lit up. “That’s a great spot.”

“I’m heading up there tomorrow for the rest of the week.”

Jessica nodded. “Great. And remember, if you ever have any issues, let me know.”

“I will.” Rosie smiled. Jessica cared about her, that’s what she was getting with all this. “And if you’re coming up you can stay in the house too. You are paying for it, after all.” That wasn’t quite what she meant. “It’s more relaxing than a hotel and it would be great to hang out with you in the evening after one of the site visits.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I’d love to know more about the place where you grew up. If you wanted to show me some of the grand sights, I’d totally be up for that.”

Jessica frowned. “I don’t know it anymore. I wouldn’t be a good guide. I left a long time ago. It’s nothing more than a random town to me now.” Jessica left the table and picked up her phone, which was on the kitchen island. She began typing. Was she ordering Rosie a taxi?

“Jessica, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine.” Jessica looked up for a second and then went back to whatever she was typing. “It’s a normal thing to suggest. I’m the oddball.”

Rosie sat there, mouth open.

Jessica put the phone back down. “I messaged Amelia to let her know I got the package okay.”

Was that necessary right now? “No problem.”

Jessica stayed standing.

“I should go.”

Jessica smiled, her lips pressed together. The smile didn’t reach her eyes. She seemed a tiny bit sad but was covering it up.

Rosie followed Jessica to the front door and put her jacket back on.

“Thank you for the tea and for inviting me in. You really do have a lovely home,” Rosie said, wishing they could talk some more.

The orange and red colours of the June sunset were coming in through the window by the front door. It illuminated Jessica’s face in a different way, making her even more beautiful. She spoke softly. “See you tomorrow, Rosie.”

“Bye then.” She walked down the steps, feeling Jessica’s eyes on her back. Goosebumps rose on her skin and something hot and full of potential prickled at the back of her neck.