Brett barged into Ashford’s office as usual.
‘So, any progress.’ He laughed. ‘Or am I getting your shares.’
‘No such luck. I was just about to call her.’ He pulled his mobile phone.
‘You’ve still got her number?’
‘Course I do.’
‘Go on. Call her. I want to hear this.’
‘You’re enjoying this.’
‘I am. Every minute of it.’
He called her. It took a while for her to pick up, but she did.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi, Grace, it’s Ashford.’
‘Who?’
‘Ashford. We met at the coffee shop.’
‘Oh you.’
This got him out of character. He always knew how to chat up women, but this one was different. Different in every sense of the word.
‘I was calling to see if you want to go out for that drink.’
She laughed lightly. ‘Look. I don’t know what you want from me.’
‘I don’t want anything.’
‘Are you working with the government or something? I’m not hiding any money.’
‘I’m not working with the government.’ He laughed. Maybe this woman was crazy.
‘Well I don’t really care, and I’ve got to go.’ She hung up.
He was left holding the phone stunned. Brett’s mouth made an O shape, but no sound came out. He was turning red by the moment. He clapped his hands together and burst into laughter.
‘Oh my god! She hung up on you.’ He was in stitches.
Ashford redialled and waited for her to pick up.
‘I’m not taking no for an answer,’ he said once she’d picked up.
‘Well you’re going to have to. I’m busy, and I don’t have time for games.’
‘I’m not playing games. Please, just this one drink. If after that you don’t like me, I’ll never bother you again.’
‘I can’t. I – ’
‘I’ll keep calling and nagging you until you accept. You can do this one drink with me, and I’ll leave you alone for good, if that’s what you want. Or I can keep calling you until you accept. The chose is yours.’
She looked at the time. She wanted to spend some time with her mother before she left for work. She didn’t have time to argue with this guy.
‘Fine. One drink.’
‘Tonight? Six o’clock.’
‘I can’t I’m at work till late. Might even be later.’ She thought about the delayed changeover.
‘Then a quick one at eight thirty.’
‘I can’t.’ She looked at her mother.
‘Tomorrow then? Six o’clock.’
She wanted to say no. She really wasn’t in the mood.
‘Go honey,’ her mother whispered.
Grace smiled. She thought her mother was sleeping. She knew she could ask for a carer to look after her mother so she could go out. There still had to be that life balance.
‘Six o’clock is fine.’
‘Great. Give me your address and I’ll pick you up.’
‘No. I’ll meet you somewhere,’ she said quickly.
‘Okay.’ He gave her the address of where they should meet. ‘You’re familiar with call lane.’
‘Yes I am.’
He didn’t frequent these places a lot, but he was willing to go if it meant meeting her. Besides, he wouldn’t dream of taking her to their private clubs and parties.
‘Great, see you then.’
‘Yes, see you then.’ She hung up.
Ashford looked at Brett satisfied. ‘It’s done. I have a date.’
‘Good. This is only the beginning mate. You have to make her fall in love with you.’
‘I don’t know if that’s going to be easy. She doesn’t sound like she likes me.’
‘Well you’re going to have to work harder. She has to become your fiancée. So at some point, you’re going to have to be seen in public with her.’ He giggled.
Ashford wondered if he’d taken on more than he could chew. Was this a mistake? Pulling out would mean signing over half his shares. Did he really want to do that? It was his company, the company he built with Brett’s help.
‘I’ll deal with that when I get there. That’s if I get there.’
‘Yes that’s if you get there.’ He laughed as she stood up. ‘Anyway, back to work.’
‘Yes back to work. I have a meeting soon.’
****
‘Who was that sweetheart,’ asked Gloria as soon as Grace came off the call.
‘No one.’
‘It’s not no one.’
She sighed. ‘It’s just some guy.’
‘Some guy. Why does it sound like it’s troubling you?’
‘It is. It’s a bit suspect.’ She sat by her mother’s side.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘He’s an amazing looking guy. Men like that don’t fall for women like me.’
‘How can you say that? You are a beautiful woman.’
‘Oh mum, I know. I’m beautiful to you. And that’s all that matters.’
‘Don’t doubt yourself.’
‘I just feel he has a hidden agenda. Why would he just show up? It makes no sense.’
‘Why can’t you accept that it’s just meant to be?’
‘I wish I had your optimism.’ She smiled.
‘Just go to this drink with an open mind. If you don’t like him, then that’s fine. Just don’t dismiss it before it even starts.’
‘Fine. You’re right.’
‘I always am.’ She teased.
Not long after that Grace had to get ready for work. The carer arrived to take over, and not long after that, the first nurse paid a visit.
‘I’ll see you later mum.’ She kissed her mother’s forehead. She was asleep, the meds had switched her off. ‘Call me if anything happens.’
‘Yes of course.’
It was a long day, but she coped. She’d pigged out at lunch and forced it back up in one of the resident’s toilets. Grace had done this many times before. She felt better immediately after vomiting.
‘I’ll give you your medicine, shall I.’ She flashed a smile at the patient. He had no clue what was going on.