Somewhere in Sevenoakes (18 page)

”You're wrong. You're perfect James. I only wish you'd been perfect for me.”

”You are perfect for me,” he said in a choked voice.

Maddy broke down weeping. James draped an arm around her to cuddle her to his chest. Close to tears himself, he kept Maddy warm and tight in his embrace. Eventually she calmed herself and looked out at the river, which was nowhere near as blue as James' eyes.

”I lost you,”' she said. ”Will I lose my job too?”

”I can't answer that,” muttered James.

”Thought you'd say that,” said Maddy bitterly.

”Trust me when I say Maddy, I would never do anything to deliberately hurt you. I only want to look after you.”

”I believe you. I believe you didn't deliberately set out to hurt me, but you did anyway; it's just that it was unintentional. Are we merging or being acquired?”

”Maddy please, you know I can't. Go to Geoff, he'll tell you. You trust him.”

”I never mentioned Geoff did I? That was why you were stunned this morning, because you forgot you weren't supposed to know his name. Yesterday when you said you'd been drinking since lunch. Celebrating completing the deal with Geoff, were you?”

”Yes. We hold a lunch to celebrate sealing the deal. I got in Wednesday night from Beijing, the deal was signed Thursday morning. I had to attend the meeting and then we had lunch.”

”It was only after work that you decided to see me.”

”Maddy, I made a mistake. You come first. I've just left a meeting to see you. Don't you see how much you mean to me? I realise now, for me to be happy we have to come first in my life. I have to put you first. Our being together is the one thing I want.”

”I thought I wanted that to, but how do I love the man who took away the most important thing in my life?”

”I was stupid enough to hope I might be more important to you than your job,” he said sadly.

”You were. I sacrificed a week's work to get in touch with you, only to find you could've contacted me at any time. You considered buying out my company more important than being with me.”

”I asked you to trust me on this matter, Maddy. I won't deny I haven't dealt with this conflict of interest well, but you come first for me, not work.”

”Sorry James, I don't see it.”

Maddy took public transport back to the office. Although she wanted to go home to lick her wounds, she decided it was best to face Geoff and receive her notice. Robotically, she entered the office, knocking on Geoff's door without registering any of her colleagues in the accounts department.

”Maddy, I thought you'd gone home ill,” said Geoff. ”Feeling better?”

”Not really Geoff. You and I go back a long way. Stupid, but I kind of always thought you were the next best thing to my Dad.”

”I always thought if I had a daughter I'd want her to be like you.”

”You've sold Yearwood, Angus and Port?”

”Sit down.”

”I'd rather stand.”

”Sit down Maddy,” there was an edge to his voice Maddy didn't dare disobey.

”You're right, the company has been acquired. I’ve made sure the business we've sold to will develop the company; expand and improve our position in the property market.”

”A lot of job cuts?”

”Some, but I've tried to keep those minimal. You know I've always valued our staff.”

”But I'm the company accountant and we no longer have a company, so I'm out of a job. That's why you were trying to talk me into job hunting earlier this week, because you knew I'd be out of work sooner rather than later. The business taking us over will have their own accountants to deal with the inclusion of our books. I'll be redundant to the new company. They won't need any more accountants.”

”You're right. They will be including our company with their accounts and they do have their own team to manage that side of the business.”

”Will you stay on as a consultant?”

”I thought I might, but I'm getting older. I've worked hard to build this company up. I was offered the option of becoming a full time financial consultant, but I turned it down. I don't want to waste my twilight years plodding away at work when I promised my wife we'd travel when time and finances permitted. If I accepted the position of consultant, by the time I could retire properly I'd be too old to enjoy travelling. Suffice to say the buyers were reluctant to take on a new company without someone experienced at the helm managing the finances of their new acquisition. The lawyer acting on their behalf, a Mr. James Nowe said the deal wouldn't go ahead without confirmation of an appropriate person for the role. He asked me to come up with a name of the best person in the company to take on the position if the issue were to be resolved. It was only after I gave your name that he recommended his clients sign on the dotted line. He then got me very, very drunk.”

”You're letting me take over the finance department of Yearwood, Angus and Port?”

”I'm not letting you. I'm making way for someone younger, energetic, hard-working and committed to take on the role. Someone who I know will take the business in the right direction. Someone I can trust to take over my vision for this company, so, no Ms, Bridie, you aren't losing your job.”

She flung her arms around his neck and cried.

”Word of wisdom for you, Maddison Bridie.”

”Am I in for a lecture now because I jumped the gun?” winced Maddy.

”You are. In life you'll find all men are flawed, but the ones who love you will do their best to overcome their flaws. James Nowe is devoted to you. He's on your side and in my professional experience with him he's honourable, full of integrity, honest and generally a likeable chap. I'm sure some women would find him attractive, but if you had the opportunity to have him in your life, I'd snap him up, because he's the kind of man who would happily go the extra mile for someone he cared deeply for. He did that for you. Stated his position and thoughts on the deal. He was adamant the best people to keep in the company were those who were the most loyal and most passionate. Two qualities he possesses in abundance. Maddy?”

”Geoff?”

”Go get your man.”

Shell-shocked, Maddy walked out of the office. Standing at the bottom of the steps with a dozen red roses and a box of chocolates was James.

”It's cheesy right, unoriginal?” he said uneasily.

”It's perfect. You're perfect. You're perfect for me James. It's probably too soon and too quick but I love you.”

”I love you too, Maddison Bridie, but no more stalking!”

He grabbed her, dipped her dramatically then kissed her deeply.

”Now that was cheesy,” she giggled.

”I thought we could go out to celebrate your promotion tonight.”

”Where do you suggest?”

”I could take you out wherever you want to go. Your wish is my command. I had hoped you might let me take you to my place, where I could cook dinner and you provide dessert.”

”And where would that place be exactly?” asked Maddison.

”Somewhere in Sevenoaks,” replied James, snaking an arm around her waist as they headed to the train station. ###