Page 30 of Just Like That

Serge watches Nick go then turns to me with a smile. ‘Ignore him. He is always having these moods. I tell you, he needs a good woman.’ He completes this observation with a pointed look.

‘Well, don’t get any ideas.’ I wave my hands firmly in a cancelling gesture. ‘Apart from not needing any further complications in my life, I hardly think I have a positive or calming influence on him.’

‘We shall see.’ He gives me a little wink. ‘Perhaps he has met his match and you are exactly what he needs.’

Having heard enough, I finish off the last of the rolls then excuse myself, but not before Serge insists that I take a burger with me. Looking around, I don’t see any groups I could easily join, and I’m not in the mood now anyway, following my fresh altercation with Nick, so I sit down at one of the picnic tables alone to eat my food.

‘You OK there?’ Lauren suddenly appears at my side.

‘Yes, thanks.’ I quickly chew and swallow a bite of burger. ‘Just grabbing something to eat, then I’ll get quick word with Gwen. Do you know where she is?’

‘She nipped to the office but she should be back in a few minutes. I noticed you and Nick having a bit of a spat before. Lovers’ tiff, was it?’ She gives me a little nudge.

‘Definitely not. I think he’d be quite happy if I buggered off back to where I came from.’ I blanch as I realise what I’ve said. ‘Sorry, that was unprofessional of me.’

‘Don’t apologise. He’s not the easiest guy to deal with, though I bet that makes him great in bed. Oh, there’s Gwen now.’

Lauren gives me a little wink and walks off, leaving me opened mouthed for the second time this week.

Gathering myself together, I approach Gwen, who’s already engaged in a conversation with a staff member I don’t recognise.

‘Really sorry to interrupt. Could I have a quick word?’ I ask her.

‘Of course.’ Gwen excuses herself and steps away with me to give us some privacy. ‘Everything OK? You did a brilliant job today. Make sure you fill up on the food, it’s well deserved.’

‘Thanks, I appreciate the feedback, and I’ve had a burger. I wanted to grab you quickly to say I’m about to head off.’

‘You’re not staying? That’s a shame.’ She looks genuinely disappointed. ‘They’re fun, these staff barbeques. Would have been a chance to get to know people better.’

‘I know, and I do apologise.’ I’m not keen to elaborate on this lack of an excuse.

Gwen seems to read something in my face that I’m not even aware is on show. ‘Say no more, sweetheart. Off you pop and we’ll see you next week. We all have our homework so I’ll make sure it’s done by the time you’re back.’

‘Thank you. And, um…’

‘Nick.’ She purses her lips. ‘It’s none of my business how you two know each other, but how are you getting along?’

‘We’re up and down.’ I cringe at having to admit this.

‘That’s par for the course with Nick. Don’t read too much into it. He cares very deeply about this place and the people in it, but he doesn’t know how to show it in a way that allows people to connect with him. Please don’t give up on him.’

‘I won’t.’ I say this more out of professionalism, my willingness to show him any compassion having checked out for the day. ‘And even if he doesn’t come around, it won’t stop us moving this stuff forward. It would just be good to do it with him visibly supporting it as one of the leaders of the park.’

‘I agree.’ Gwen nods her understanding.

After saying a few goodbyes (though not to Nick, who’s nowhere to be seen), I head for my car with Gwen’s words circling in my mind and one repeating thought: how on earth am I going to get through the rest of this assignment without killing that man and sending my career into permanent freefall?

Chapter 14

Over the next couple of weeks, I find more of a rhythm with my caring responsibilities for Seth and start to feel like I’m getting on top of things. Jackson is a godsend. He’s so accommodating and flexible, accepting that I won’t always make it home by six o’clock. He’s also amazing with Seth and I can see improvements in my brother already, even in such a short space of time. Seth also seems to be enjoying the time he and I spend together as much as I enjoy being with him and supporting his rehabilitation. His cheeky charmer nature is as strong as ever, which spurs me on, reminding me that I’ve done the right thing in reducing my hours at work.

I split my time between managing my boring and unfulfilling inherited projects and the wildlife park work, which at least provides a bit of variety and interest, even if it’s for the wrong reasons. But the constant reminder of my ‘demotion’ when I’m around Isla and Ravi grates on me. Between having to listen to them chatting animatedly about the ins and outs of my former high-profile projects when I’m in the office, and the continuing tension with Nick at the wildlife park, my work – which had always been my ‘happy place’ – becomes a real stressor in my life.

One Tuesday morning in early August, I decide that I’ve had enough. Without having to put in any additional effort, I’m acing everything I’m doing and getting great feedback from all my clients, not one of whom have mentioned my working pattern and part-timeness. And I still have extra capacity to take on more. That must surely be enough to prove that, while I’ve reduced my hours, I’m more than capable of handling the high-profile projects – though I accept it wouldn’t be as many as before. Feeling like this evidence should be more than enough to convince Craig to put me back where I rightly belong, I ask for some time with him.

‘So, what did you want to discuss, Jess?’ Craig takes a seat opposite me in the hipster cafe across the road from our office.

He’s suggested we have our conversation here, which is a nice change, I suppose. It’s certainly a more appealing environment, with its eclectic mismatched décor and the aroma of barista-brewed coffee, but it’s not exactly somewhere I can become assertive if things don’t go the way I’m hoping. This leaves me wondering if Craig’s one step ahead of me, and having anticipated what’s coming, he’s created an obstacle to ensure this won’t get intense or drag on.

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