Under New Management (20 page)

Kieran can see himself as Lord of the Manor. He feels a weird urge to invest in Hunter wellies and a Barbour Jacket. He shifts uncomfortably in the bed and Serena stirs. Kieran lies very still as she settles back down, snuggling closer to him. He wants time to think and he can’t do that if she wakes up.

His business brain moves through the possibilities. They could have the best of both worlds and retain the Hall as their home. After all, they don’t have a family home. Marylyn’s cold, clinical London townhouse is the venue for any gatherings, Christmas and the like. It isn’t ideal, the house holds no warmth. It has the look of an expensive show home and as much character.

Before their inheritance they had all lived on council estates and afterwards they had all bought various properties, none of which were inhabited that often. Perhaps the Hall could offer them a common meeting place; a home for family times; somewhere to spend Christmases together.

Was it possible? Could the old place pay for itself? It could if they were clever about it. With his ideas and Mollie’s, he believed that they could make it work.

A wide smile breaks across his face as his thoughts take root. He would offer up the ideas to the rest of them tomorrow and see if they agreed with him. If they did, well then he would have just the job for Mollie. She could manage the place for them, leaving them free to carry on with their other business. Yes, Mollie would be perfect for it. As he closes his eyes and allows himself to drift off to sleep, he congratulates himself on a brilliant plan.

After spending a few hours in Jack’s company and indulging in a three course meal, Mollie is feeling completely full and a lot happier when she pulls up in front of the Hall to drop off Jack.

She doesn’t switch off the engine and Jack glances over at her, “Can I interest you in a coffee?” he asks as he waggles his eyebrows suggestively.

Mollie laughs and swipes at him, “No thank you, I’ve just had one, remember? I’m absolutely stuffed and if I don’t take this skirt off soon it may explode.”

Jack waggles his eyebrows again, “I could help you with that. You could stay over.”

“What are you like, Jack Murphy? Honestly, do you really believe that I’m that cheap? A three course dinner in the Dog and Duck and you’re in my knickers!”

“Ah, come on Molls. I did buy you a coffee as well, which you have just pointed out. Don’t be so tight. Anyway, if your mum and dad hadn’t come back when they did last night, I reckon we would have been at it like rabbits,” he reminds her playfully.

“Don’t remind me. No, you had your chance years ago. What happened last night is not going to happen again. It’s safe to say that I’m not going to get that drunk again,” she informs him with an amused air.

Jack looks at her sulkily, “Bloody hell. Well in that case I’m going to have to up the ante if you won’t take me seriously.”

Mollie narrows her eyes at him suspiciously, “Jack, I do not want you to ‘up’ anything, do you hear me? You and I had our time; I don’t want to repeat it. Let’s just enjoy being friends again, OK?”

Jack gazes at her steadily, “I don’t believe you,” he states simply. “You don’t kiss someone like you did me last night unless there’s something there.” He puts his head on one side as he challenges her to argue. Mollie’s eyes widen.

“So, as I said I will have to try harder. I know you don’t trust me Molls but I really would like us to have another go. I miss you,” he tells her sincerely.

Mollie bursts out laughing, “Jack you are truly unbelievable! 'Miss me’! Don’t be ridiculous. You know as well as I do that you never gave me a second thought from the moment you walked away from me at the airport.”

Jack puts on his hurt face and opens his mouth to argue. Mollie puts her hand up to stop him speaking.

“No don’t. Stop being such a dick. I’m too old to fall for all that bollocks again. I kissed you back last night quite simply because I was wasted. That’s it. Quite frankly, you could have been anyone.” Mollie ignores his hurt face. “No Jack, I mean it. You and I are history. I don’t want you to try in any way shape or form, do you hear me?”

Jack just gazes at her forlornly for a few seconds and then his face changes as an idea pops into his head.

Mollie looks alarmed, “Jack, what’s going on in that head of yours?”

“Nothing for you to worry about Molls, honest. Anyway I’d better get in before that skirt explodes. He leans over and kisses Mollie’s startled face, then jumps breezily out of the car.

Mollie leans over to the passenger door, “Jack!  I mean it Jack,” she says sternly as he closes the door. He completely ignores her and virtually skips away from the car as she calls his name.

Watching him bound up the front steps Mollie smacks the steering wheel in frustration. What the hell is he up to now? He’s like a bloody great kid and she’s seen that look of excitement and determination on a number of occasions. None of them ended well.

As she turns the car and heads up the drive she recalls one occasion when he had decided to climb a high scaffold in order to draw a moustache onto one of the gargoyles which watched them from high up on the university wall. That particular escapade had ended with him falling and having his arm in plaster for six weeks and she had six weeks of hard labour completing all his uni work for him.

At the top of the drive, she pulls out onto the road and thoughts of Jack recede. Instead, thoughts of whether Kieran and Serena are in bed at this very moment replace them. Shaking her head angrily to remove them, she resolves from now on to stay away from both cousins before they drive her insane.

Chapter 20

Kieran wakes at six thirty on Monday morning. Untangling himself from the suffocating limbs of Serena he slides from the bed without waking her. Showering and dressing in double quick time he creeps out of the room. In the corridor he takes a deep, calming breath and heads downstairs. Serena’s cloying presence is playing on his frayed nerves.

Last night he had explained to her in no uncertain terms that he would be unable to spend any quality time with her. Undeterred by her pouting sulk he made it abundantly clear that he was here at the Hall to work. The fact that she had chosen to show up unannounced on a whim did not change that. Serena could sulk for England and withheld sexual favours last night in an attempt to demonstrate her displeasure. Kieran had been exultant. He wondered if he could find enough reasons to keep out of her way for the duration of her stay.

Their usual itinerary on other dates involved bed and lots of it. Serena loved nothing more than to indulge in lounging in her boudoir with him, having an indecent amount of sex. She loved to watch films on her enormous TV. She would order extravagant food and expensive champagne from her staff and have it delivered to the room on demand. This was how she liked to relax.

Kieran admitted to enjoying it on the first two occasions. Like Serena, he rarely got the chance to relax properly. However the allure had quickly faded. Kieran didn’t like to stay in one place for too long. He enjoyed going out and liked the social aspect provided by public places.

The difference was that Serena didn’t. She had very few places she could go out in public without there being a fuss, hence her love of chilling out in private.

Serena expected to do that with him here, she expected him to put everything on hold because she had turned up. He wasn’t prepared to do that and if it pissed her off so much that she left, then so much the better.

He hadn’t been lying to her, he really did have a busy few days ahead. Today he would be in meetings, tomorrow interviewing and the rest of the week, well, he would come up with something. Serena was staying the week, with a possibility of a trip to London at some point. Kieran fervently hoped that the London trip would come off. Of course if she was bored enough she would go regardless. Kieran congratulates himself on another great plan as he makes himself coffee.

When Serena appears for breakfast at nine she is far from happy. He had left her in bed alone, and she couldn’t remember if that had actually ever happened to her before.

Having to put on a false smile for the others throughout breakfast is tedious to say the least. Hearing that Kieran really was intent on being holed up with his mother, cousin and sister for the rest of the day certainly didn’t improve her mood.

Serena had clearly underestimated him. She foolishly believed that she had made her displeasure crystal clear the previous evening and assumed that he would get over himself and change his mind.

Serena isn’t used to people saying no to her. She shoots icy glares at him at every opportunity but Kieran appears completely unmoved and she becomes frustrated and angry. However, there is a consolation prize. During breakfast it becomes apparent that Johnny is also at a loose end and this cheers her up somewhat. She consoles herself with commandeering him for the day. Being forced to hang out with a Premiership footballer wasn’t exactly all bad. Serena smirks to herself as breakfast comes to an end.

“Well, come along Johnny, shall we run along and play? Let’s leave this boring lot to their tedious meeting. I’m sure you have some fabulous ideas for keeping me entertained,” she gives him a saucy wink and flashes a flirtatious smile at him.

Kieran hears Megan’s intake of breath and watches her hand tighten on her cup. She is far from happy.

With a grin, Johnny stands, bends quickly to kiss Megan’s angry face and bounces after Serena as they both leave the room.

Over her shoulder, Serena throws him a self satisfied smirk. Kieran moves to cover Megan’s arm with his own and hold it down. He knows she wants to throw the cup at the pair of them. Megan scowls openly at their backs as they waltz through the door, “Bitch!” she hisses quietly.

Kieran frowns. Serena loves to cause trouble. She thrives on the drama. She believes Kieran is jealous but she couldn’t be more wrong. He’s angry that she is blatantly upsetting Megan with her ridiculous flirting.

Johnny and Serena met for the first time over dinner the previous evening. Johnny was bowled over, as most people are. However, the surprise was that Serena was equally so. It turns out that Serena loves football and coincidentally Johnny plays for her favourite team.

Of course she knew that Johnny and Megan were a couple but she hadn’t shown any great interest when Kieran had told her. She had mentioned that she supported his team, but that was all.

Kieran hadn’t got around to mentioning the other dinner guests before going down and was amazed when Serena had shrieked excitedly as she spotted Johnny. He hadn’t realised she was capable of being star struck herself which was quite endearing. That was the first time that she had actually done anything to make him think that she possessed that trait. The feeling had worn off soon enough though, as the evening quickly turned into a mutual admiration society. The two of them monopolised the conversation for the rest of the evening, forcing Kieran to drag Serena to bed early before Megan said or did something she might regret.

Megan had not been amused. She wasn’t normally the jealous type but Serena Bonart was a different kettle of fish.

Kieran isn’t happy that Serena is upsetting Megan but they can’t put off the meeting. They have to make some decisions before the interviews tomorrow and they need to decide how many staff to retain. He has no good reason, therefore, to stop Serena monopolising Johnny for the day.

He shakes his head at himself, he is worrying over nothing. They’ll be fine, the rest of them have work to do.

The four of them lock themselves away in the large library. Using a couple of flip charts to brainstorm, they dissect the possible future of the Hall and the options.

Kieran lays his cards on the table from the start. He explains his ideas and throws it open for discussion. To his delight the others are not against it. They spend the morning analysing and arguing about each possibility.

By the time they break for lunch the decision is unanimous. They are going to keep the Hall. Marylyn is especially keen, as she loves the old place. She sees herself spending a lot of time here.

Decision made, they spend the afternoon going over money-making opportunities. In order to justify keeping it as a home, the estate has to pay for itself.

Excitement grows and the ideas come thick and fast. By the time they leave the library at five thirty, they have a plan, and the four of them are very pleased with themselves.

Kieran is especially happy, as they are all in complete agreement that Mollie should be brought back to manage things. Jack is sworn to secrecy and has agreed to keep quiet until Kieran has worked out a suitable deal to entice her.

Jack isn’t opposed to the idea of Mollie working at the Hall. He knows she will be brilliant and he also knows that by the end of the week she will be his girlfriend.

Tuesday’s interviews go exceptionally well. With Mollie’s help and advice on Sunday, Kieran knew who he wanted to retain. Only two people had question marks over them and Kieran decided better to be safe than sorry.

When he arranged himself in a cool, indifferent manner at his desk at ten thirty, Kieran felt like a complete fool. He had waited for Angela to knock and bring in Mollie. He waited expectantly, hopefully, for around five minutes before he had a stern word with himself. He went to the kitchen to get himself a coffee. He knew she wouldn’t turn up. Why would she? After all, he told her himself he didn’t know if he had a job to offer her, not to mention the small issue of the weekend and Serena. He’d be lucky if he ever saw her again.

Now, of course, he did have a job offer for her. He only needed to put the package together. It would have to be a good one, he knew that. Mollie was a proud woman and there was every likelihood that she would tell him to stick it... He decided that he would phone her later that afternoon, test the water and see if he could arrange a meeting with her later in the week.