Under New Management (26 page)

“I know, I don’t take it either but it’s good for the shock so shut up whinging and drink it,” he orders.

Mollie shrugs in defeat and tries another sip. She could probably manage just one with sugar. Well for him she is willing to give it a try.

They sit there for quite a while drinking their tea. Kieran talks to her making sure that she is speaking clearly and that her throat is now clear. As her shock subsides, Mollie returns to normal. It doesn’t take long before she realises that she is in her bedclothes. She knows her hair is all over the place and she feels hot and sweaty.

Embarrassment quickly follows. She hasn’t even asked what he’s doing here. Putting down her tea she stands up shakily and moves away from his disturbing presence. The smell of him is doing strange things to her. Unlike her, he is clean and fresh as she breathes in a beautiful waft of, no doubt, an expensive aftershave.

Kieran looks at her warily. “You OK? Are you sure you should be moving about?”

“Umm yes, I’m fine, thanks. I feel slightly underdressed.” She gives him an awkward smile. “Do you have time for me to shower and change before you tell me why I’m honoured with this visit?” She peers at him from under her lashes as she can’t seem to meet his eyes.

Kieran laughs with relief. He’d had the awful thought that she was getting ready to throw him out.

“I can wait, but please tell me you aren’t one of those women who spend two hours in the bathroom?”

She gives him a radiant smile which actually makes his heart jump. He doesn’t think that has ever happened to him before. Looking at her as she stands in front of him in her oversized bedclothes, her hair all ruffled, her cheeks pink and shiny, he realises that she is more stunning at this moment than Serena has ever been.

“Right well, I’ll try not to be too long. Although it’s only fair to point out that if you don’t give me a fair amount of time you can’t expect perfection. Just a warning Mr McLaren.” She juts out her chin, turns and leaves the kitchen.

As she leaves the room he watches her. 
If only you knew how close to perfect you are right now, Mollie Brown.

Taking some kitchen roll he goes into the hall to pick up the ball of toast from the floor. He shudders when he realises that this small innocuous morsel could have taken Mollie from him. Thank God that he had some basic knowledge of first aid. Kieran moves back to the kitchen and throws it roughly in the bin.

Pulling himself together he remembers why he is here and goes outside to pick up the job proposal from the car. Pleased that she’s going to let him speak, he thinks he may as well take the opportunity and show it to her.

Mollie is showered and dressed in slim fitting jeans and sweatshirt in fifteen minutes flat. Her wet hair is pulled into a long pony tail. She slaps on a bit of make up in record time and rushes back downstairs. She can’t wait to find out what the visit is about. Slowing down, she walks through to the lounge and then saunters into the kitchen as if she hasn’t a care in the world.

Kieran gives her a dazzling smile as he looks up from the paper he is reading. “I’m not being funny, but I preferred the just out of bed look. In fact I think it could really catch on.”

“You know, I was just thinking that and imagine the time savings, not to mention money,” she quips as she takes a seat next to him.

“You would make someone a lovely wife, you know,” she tells him as she eyes the fresh cup of tea, ready and waiting for her. “Sugar?” she queries.

“I wouldn’t dare and don’t call me sugar,” he jokes as he waggles his eyebrows at her.
Must be a family trait, Jack does that a lot.

“So come on, what can I do for you?” She peers at him over her mug as she takes a sip.

“I came to apologise, for everything,” he tells her simply, “and to offer you what I think is a fabulous job.”

Mollie slowly puts down the mug of tea.

“Another one, Mr McLaren? This is becoming a habit. Are you going to rescind the offer tomorrow after you’ve had the chance to think about it?”

“Touché Ms Brown. No I can assure you I have thought long and hard about it. This is a bona fide offer. A once in a life time offer, in fact. I’ve put a proposal together and I guarantee you’ll be impressed,” he tells her with confidence.

She sits back and contemplates him quietly.

“OK, can I ask why? What’s changed?”

Kieran admires her no nonsense manner. Clearly there is a hint of uncertainty in her tone, but who could blame her? He is surprised that she hasn’t told him where to stick his job after his behaviour. Undeniably that is one of the many reasons why he wants her, needs her, to return to work.

“You may, of course.” He nods at her, keeping his face impassive. “We’ve decided to keep the Hall as a family home.” He watches as this statement registers. Her eyes widen slightly and her mouth forms an ‘O’.
She’s interested.

“Your fault, actually,” he tells her as he nods his head at her.

“Me? What’s it got to do with me?” She’s confused.

“On Sunday, your passion for the place rubbed off onto me. I started to see it through your eyes and started to imagine what we could do with the place. It has to pay for itself obviously, but your ideas combined with my own, well I think it’s a winner.” Kieran is quiet then. He is getting over exuberant and he needs to stay calm, gain her interest.

“Oh, blimey, I don’t know what to say. I’m pleased. I think you’ll love living in the old place. and you’re right, there is so much that can be done with it. I have so many more ideas,” Mollie stops, she doesn’t want to get carried away.

She loves the Hall but does she want to go back? Does she want to work for him? What about Serena?

“Look Mollie, I’m sorry to dump this on you. I need you to understand that we cannot think of anyone more qualified to do this than you. I promise you I don’t have an ulterior motive. I know I offered you a job and rescinded the offer. When I said I didn’t know what position I could offer you, I was telling the truth. Until we had made a decision on the Hall I really had no job description but now it’s clear.

I have re-employed all but two of the staff as we discussed. I want you to come back and manage things for us and I want you to work with me on all sorts of ideas. I promise to give you carte blanche to do pretty much as you wish, within reason, obviously.” He stops to gauge her reaction and when she doesn’t speak he continues. “Look, this is all a bit too much for you to take in. I’ve put this proposal together,” he points to a blue folder on the table. “Please read it through. I’m happy to negotiate any points you’re unhappy with but Mollie, we really need you to come back on Monday and pick up where you left off. I know that’s short notice and I’m hoping that even if you turn us down, you would please consider coming back temporarily to give us time to find someone else.” As he has said all he came to say, Kieran stands and watches her carefully. She looks thoughtful.
Is that good or bad?

“Look I’m going to leave now, please think about it. Perhaps you’d be good enough to let me know tomorrow night, when you come for dinner?” he queries hopefully.

Mollie stands too. “Um well, thanks for the offer. I’ll have a look at it. I can tell you now that I’m happy to come back for a little while, even if I decide it’s not for me anymore. I don’t want to leave you in the lurch and I haven’t found anything else yet, so I may as well carry on doing what I know for now,” she explains.

She doesn’t know why she has agreed to go back to help; she doesn’t really care. It feels right to offer. After all, what has she got to lose? It’s all money in the bank, isn’t it?

Kieran lets out a sigh of relief, he feels like hugging her. “That’s great Mollie, thanks. Really, that makes my life so much easier. Obviously I hope you’ll accept the whole package, but if you could give us any time it would help. I was worried I’d have to go back to the hotel plan. Anyway, I’ll leave you to it and see you tomorrow night.” He gives her a grateful, heart stopping smile and walks to the front door and Mollie follows.

The rumbling sound of a heavy vehicle can be heard outside. When Kieran opens the door and they step outside, they both see a low loader reversing up behind the Porsche.

Kieran breaks into a wide smile of relief. She’s not accepting it! Deep down he knew she wouldn’t. He does a mental high-five. Turning back to Mollie he doesn’t comment but leans down and gives her a soft kiss on the cheek before turning and walking down the path. Mollie puts her hand to her cheek as she watches him walk towards his car.

Standing in the kitchen staring out of the window as the beautiful Porsche is loaded and eventually taken away, Mollie shrugs her shoulders. That was probably the closest she would ever come to owning something like that but she knows it’s the right thing to do. Taking her seat back at the kitchen table she plays with the blue folder. This morning has been surreal to say the least. She’s playing for time - she wants to know what’s in the folder but then again she doesn’t. Perhaps she should put it away, give it some thought. She’s frightened that what it contains will influence her to take the job, whether she really wants it or not.

“Carte blanche,” he’d said. She could do as she wished. Imagine the opportunity! She has spent years playing make believe, imagining what she would do with the Hall and estate if it were hers. She has ideas coming out of her ears and is being offered the opportunity to see if those ideas are actually viable. Is she as good as she thinks she is? She knows she can do it; knows she could turn a profit and not disrupt their lives too much.
God how frustrating!

There were so many things she’d wanted to ask Kieran and not just about the job. Could she work with him, see him or speak to him most days whilst watching him with her? Should she let a stupid crush stop her from fulfilling a dream? The businesswoman in her is shouting at her, telling her to not be so ridiculous.

Her heart is screaming, “No, you can’t do it, you’ll get hurt in the end. You like him too much.”
Maybe more than like?
Mollie shakes her head vigorously at that rogue thought.
Oh no, she wasn’t going there.

So, it all boils down to her head or heart. Maybe she should read the proposal, see what the job really is. If it is as good as she has a feeling it might be, she’d be mad not to go for it. What if she takes the job, just for a period of time? Say, six months or a year? She could always find something else if things became difficult. Her CV would benefit from the experience, too.

She taps her fingers on the folder and then grabs it, opening it quickly before she changes her mind.

She scans through it and lets out a low whistle.
Jesus this is awesome.
She reads it again slowly just to be sure and yes, the offer is still amazing. Kieran has clearly put a lot of thought and effort into it. She stares at the job title ‘Estate Manager’. A bit of a step up from Housekeeper that’s for sure. The salary, well the salary is nearly three times what she has been earning per annum. Accommodation is also on offer if she wishes, rent free.

It appears she would be offered the choice between living in rooms at the Hall or choosing one of the smaller estate cottages which could be renovated. Her head is swimming as she tries to take it all in. She picks up the open folder once more and a folded piece of paper falls out onto the table. She frowns when she reads her name scrawled across it.

Putting down the folder she picks up the paper and opens it. It’s a handwritten letter. Glancing quickly at the bottom to identify the writer she sees it’s from Kieran.

Mollie takes a deep breath and starts to read.

Mollie,         

I wanted to write this letter to explain. I know that you’ll be worrying about the job proposal.

Given your past salary you might perhaps be thinking that I am being overly generous. Maybe you are thinking I’m up to something, or perhaps not?

For the record, I believe you are worth every penny. Don’t forget I can see the evidence of your abilities with my own eyes. You are good at what you do and you have clearly been running the estate for years. I believe you have been undervalued and underpaid. I’m a businessman and value honest, loyal, hard working staff. The salary is of course negotiable, we need you more than you need us after all.

I am concerned that, for perhaps personal reasons, you may be feeling reticent about accepting any kind of offer from me. I sincerely hope that is not the case, but I would understand if it were. You may feel that you cannot trust me. I want to say that you can, but words are cheap. I would like the opportunity to prove it to you. No doubt you have questions for me and I am happy to answer any you may have, whether personal or professional.

So, back to the proposal.

The salary is the going rate for a job of this level of responsibility. The offer of accommodation is perfectly normal for our hotel managers. The majority do live in, either at the hotels or in other McLaren owned properties, rent free, apart from the utilities. We do expect long hours and hard work from our employees, but I also like to think we are fair in rewarding them.

There are a number of presently derelict cottages and buildings across the estate, as you will know. I intend to renovate them all over time for rental; they are worthless in their current state. You are more than welcome to choose one of the smaller cottages and we will start with that property. This isn’t something I expect you to think about immediately. The offer would be open at any time during your employment.