Returning to the office, Sam placed the bag of fruit in the corner out of the glare of the sun streaming through the window. She slipped her jacket off and sat down, quickly bringing her computer back to life.
The break to the market had refreshed her ideas on the design she’d been working on, even if bumping into Sebastian Stoker has caused other problems to flutter within her mind.
It was a strange one. That man’s closeness in the market, his breath on her ear… He exuded magnetism, power and supreme confidence, yet he’d been laughing at her.
Oh, she’d clocked his veiled, patronising remarks over her lack of knowledge, and it was both infuriating and unsettling.
Frowning, Sam dug her teeth into her bottom lip and found her gaze drifting through the window before shaking away the conflicting thoughts crowding her mind. Whatever that man thought made little difference.
That settled it. Once she’d spoken to her father and explained her position and reluctance to become involved with the business, he’d understand. Then there would no longer be any need to be in Sebastian Stoker’s presence in the future, nor would she need to put up with his mocking arrogance either.
With renewed enthusiasm, Sam set her desk phone to divert, then played with the graphic on her screen, her mouse expertly manipulating the image.
Leaning back in her chair, she studied the new version of the graphic and smiled. Perfect!
Her lips curled into a satisfied smile. She might know nothing about the type of business her father ran, but she knew everything about graphics and design.
It was only then that Sam noticed the letter placed on the side of her desk. She glanced at it then her hand on the mouse froze.
Chamberlains Estate Agents?
With a frantically beating heart, she ripped open the envelope and scanned the contents.
The letter was short and to the point and contained the words she’d been longing to hear. The property – a building she’d had her eye on for years and one she’d made many enquiries about on and off – had just come onto the market. As well as having the most wonderful gothic architecture, it was in a prime location – perfect for her own design shop. And they were inviting offers…
This was what she’d been waiting for. Any other time she’d be overjoyed to have received this news, but now… now it made everything worse and underlined why it was imperative to be honest with her father.
And the sooner she did that, the better.
With shaking fingers, Sam unscrewed the top of a bottle of water, biting the inside of her cheek with annoyance when her phone began ringing. It was supposed to be on goddamn divert!
She snatched up the receiver. ‘Yes?’
‘Hello, baby!’ Len said. ‘Don’t blame the receptionist, I told her it was important and couldn’t wait.’
‘Dad!’ Sam cried. ‘Is everything all right?’
Len laughed. ‘Of course! Why wouldn’t it be? I’m just checking you’re still on for dinner tonight?’
Sam paused, her mind whirring. Shit! How could she have forgotten? Every year, the day after her birthday, her parents took her for dinner. But she had forgotten. ‘Erm, yes, of course.’
‘Great!’ Len cried. ‘The usual place, okay? Me and your mother will see you there at eight. Bye love.’
Sam stared at the receiver long after the line had disconnected. Finally replacing it, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. It was no use. She would speak to her father tonight about his offer and just hoped he understood.
Walking across the canal bridge then over the busy square, Sam wished she wasn’t wearing this pair of Jimmy Choos. They pinched her left heel something chronic, but as another birthday present from her parents, she felt obliged to put them on tonight.
The early evening sun shone brightly and people were taking advantage of the outside seating in the restaurants around the canal basin. Music played from speakers outside the eateries and although it was a Tuesday, it was busy with a holiday-like atmosphere.
Even with the nice temperatures and surroundings, Sam didn’t feel in the least bit celebratory. She subconsciously put her hand on her red shoulder bag, the letter from Chamberlains steadily burning an imaginary hole into the leather.
Approaching the Italian restaurant, Sam spotted her parents immediately. She picked her way through the tables, glad they had chosen to eat outside, rather than in. The dread of the conversation she needed to have sat suffocatingly around her neck like a fuzzy winter scarf and being confined inside would make it even harder.
Reaching the table, Sam plastered on a smile as her parents got up. ‘Hi Mum, Dad,’ she said brightly.
‘Samantha!’ Gloria beamed, pulling Sam towards her for a hug.
‘How’s my beautiful daughter today?’ Len kissed Sam on the cheek. ‘Sorry for bothering you at work earlier. You know what I’m like. Always double-checking things.’
Sam laughed, despite her impending worry. Yes, she knew what her father was like – a stickler for details. ‘It’s fine, really.’ It was only then did she notice John Maynard also seated at the table. ‘John! It’s nice to see you.’
Not exactly true, Sam thought, seeing John’s frosty smile. Her older cousin had never been overly friendly and the concept of explaining her reticence about the business in front of him was hardly ideal, but what could she do?
Ever since she could remember, he’d treated her with thinly veiled contempt; looking at her in a way that made her feel like she shouldn’t be there.
John obviously had never liked her for whatever reason, but why, she was unsure…
‘Are you ready to order?’ the waiter asked, pouring Sam a glass of her favourite white wine.
‘We’ll have drinks first,’ Len said, flapping the waiter away. He waited until the man retreated before continuing. ‘So, Samantha. How do you feel about my announcement? Has it sunk in yet?’
Sam swallowed nervously. Now was the time… ‘I must admit, I hadn’t expected anything like that, Dad. Not ever. I didn’t think that would ever be on the cards.’
Len grinned. ‘Ah-ha! Well, I believe in doing what I think will be for the best in the long run.’ He grabbed both of Sam’s hands. ‘And this, I believe, is it.’
Sam’s heart plummeted further. She stared at her father’s face – the one she’d relied on her entire life. ‘I’m honoured, I really am, but I don’t know the first thing about your business. I don’t think I’d be any good at that sort of thing.’
Len’s frown deepened. ‘You’re my daughter, aren’t you? You can do anything you set your mind to. Haven’t I always told you that?’
Sam squirmed in the chair. ‘Yes, but…’
‘Len…’ Gloria said sternly, her eyes firmly on her husband.
‘Have you got any further with that design shop plan of yours?’ Len asked.
Sam hesitated, unsure why he was changing the subject, but decided she had to tell him about her dream building. It was the perfect inroad to broach letting him down. ‘Well, I heard today that th…’
‘That the place you’ve had your eye on for years has unexpectedly come on the market?’
Sam blinked. ‘Yes! How did you know?’
Len laughed. ‘Because it’s no longer available.’ His face broke into the trademark grin reserved only for his daughter. ‘It’s been sold… Sold to me…’
‘You’ve bought it?’ Sam looked at her mother in confusion, only to see her smiling widely too.
Gloria nudged Len in the ribs. ‘Oh Len, tell her the whole story, for God’s sake!’
‘I know how long you’ve had your eye on that place and also know, from what your mother told me, it will be another few months before you raise enough capital to purchase it. By then it would be too late, so I’ve bought it for you!’ Len said.
Sam couldn’t conceal her shock. He’d bought that building for her? The one she’d always wanted? ‘But that doesn’t make sense! How can I run a design shop if you’re expecting me to take over your business? Look, I need to discuss th…’
Len laughed once more and tipped the remains of his wine into his mouth. ‘Your mother has berated me all day for allowing you to think that’s what I meant.’ He signalled the waiter for another bottle. ‘As I said, I’ve no intention of retiring. Certainly not while there’s breath left in my body, but as well as showing the world how much I trust you, I wanted to get something down on paper for legal purposes.’
Sam smiled, her eyes filling with tears. ‘Oh, Dad…’
‘It’s important the business remains in the Reynold name, but Sam, darling, it will be in name only, so you don’t need to worry.’
Sam looked at her mother and then back to her father. ‘But what does that mean for me?’
Len grinned. ‘It means you won’t have to do a thing! Once I retire, you’ll have final sign off, but John here will oversee and actually run the place. He knows everything there is to know, don’t you, John?’
John’s forced smile failed to reach his eyes. ‘I’d like to think so, being as I stepped into my father’s shoes when the need arose and have been involved in the firm since I can remember.’
Sam tried her best to bypass the malice dripping from John’s face. Was her father saying what she thought he was saying? ‘You mean…?’
‘You really think I’d want you to ditch what you’ve always dreamed of? All I want is to make sure the business remains under the Reynold name so that eventually, when I’m no longer here, you and your mother will benefit from what I’ve built.’
Relief poured through Sam like a sieve. She jumped to her feet and pulled her father in for a hug. ‘Oh, Dad, thank you! That’s wonderful, but as soon as I get the money through for that contract, you must let me pay you back for the building.’
Len held up his hand. ‘I’ll hear none of that! Call it another birthday present! You’re my daughter, my only child, and I want to ensure you have everything you want. You wouldn’t upset an old man, would you?’
Sam tutted, tears of happiness burning the back of her eyes. ‘Dad, you really are incorrigible! What will I do with you?’
Len grabbed Sam’s hand. ‘Carrying on making me the proudest father in the world, like you always have, will do nicely!’
‘Ah look, here’s Liam. I was worrying he wasn’t going to make it,’ Gloria cried.
‘Liam?’ Sam glanced around, spotting Liam making his way towards their table.
‘I thought I’d ask him to join us,’ Len winked. ‘That’s my next plan… That you’ll produce some grandchildren for me to spoil very soon!’