Page 90 of From Notting Hill with Love…Actually
“No.”
“Hmm…now what could it be?” Sean said, pulling himself up on to his feet. It was his turn to pace the floor like a detective in an old black and white movie trying to solve the mystery at the end of the film, while I sat tight-lipped on the carpet watching him.
“Stop this, Sean,” I said eventually, breaking the silence that had enveloped the room while he thought. “Why does there need to be something else? Why can’t I just love David, and that’s that?”
Sean turned and raised his eyebrows at me. “You forget—I have actuallymetDavid.”
“That’s not fair; David is a good man.”
“I don’t deny it. But that’s not what’s in doubt here, Scarlett.”Sean rubbed at his forehead. “Oh, what is it…whatisthe missing link to all this?”
Sean was right—again. There was something else, but there was no way I was going to tell him what it was.
“Got it!” Suddenly he clicked his fingers and spun round. “Scarlett,” he said, looking accusingly at me. “Surely it can’t be true—can it?”
“What?” I asked suspiciously, as Sean began to pace around the room again.
“You told me David’s family owns a chain of cinemas, right?”
I nodded reluctantly.
“And you and your father’s business is popcorn…am I getting warm?”
“Popcorn machines,” I corrected.
“OK, popcorn machines, so am I seeing a little business opportunity coming your way if you marry into this vast family of movie theaters?”
I tried to appear unfazed.
“Am I right, Scarlett?”
I got up and walked over to the window. I couldn’t let him know how close he was.
“Well?” Sean asked again. “Am I?”
I spun round. “Yes,” I snapped, “you’re right. Happy now?” I swung back toward the window again.
I felt Sean’s hand on my shoulder. “Scarlett,” he said, his voice now soft and calm. It was as though he had been playing both parts of a good cop, bad cop routine in the last few minutes. “You can’t marry someone just because you think he might give your father’s business a bit of help.”
“It’s not just abitof help,” I said, turning to face him. “If I marry David, our popcorn machines will be in every cinema foyer in David’s group. Do you have any idea just what that would mean, Sean? Their chain is not only one of the biggest in this country, but in Europe too. Dad would be made for life.”
“But what about you, Scarlett?” Sean said, his eyes not leaving mine for a second. “Will you be made for life if you marry David?”
I couldn’t bear to look at Sean as I answered him. My eyes dropped away from his down to the floor. But I had to make him see that it was what I really wanted.
“I’ll be settled and in a happy, stable relationship,” I said, raising my head and lifting my chin. “With a man who loves me and won’t let me down.”
“Thatdefinitelyisn’t you talking now.”
“It is me talking, Sean—this is what I want.” I could feel myself beginning to build momentum now. “Anyway, you wouldn’t understand. Dad built up this business from nothing. He had to work so hard just to keep it goingandlook after me when I was small.” I stopped to think about Dad for a moment. Something I hadn’t done enough of lately. “He’s given up so much for me over the years, and now it’s time I gave up something for him.”
“What, your freedom?” Sean asked, raising his eyebrows.
I stared at him as coldly as I could.
“So I take it your father doesn’t know about this…this business merger of your souls then?”
“No, he doesn’t, and don’t call it that. Dad likes David, and he’s happy I’m marrying him. Anything else will just bea bonus once we’re wed as far as he’s concerned. And David’s not callous if that’s what you’re thinking either. It just happens his present supplier’s contract runs out after the wedding, and he mentioned it would be a good opportunity to unite our families.”
