Page 37 of The Importance of Being Emma
‘The battery’s flat, I’ve just put it on charge.’
‘Oh. Anyway, I’m here because — look, I need a mentoring meeting as soon as possible.’
‘Any particular reason?’ As if I didn’t already know the answer.
She was finding the hall floor fascinating. ‘Yes. It’s — it’s Philip. You saw how horrible he was to me today, and how badly I handled it, and—’
‘If the problem’s what I think it is, that he made a pass at you on Saturday night and you rejected him, then yes, that’s a tricky situation. But I’m not sure it’s within my mentoring brief.’ In fact, I’d bloody well make sure it wasn’t.
‘The — the details of Saturday night aren’t within your brief, but how I get on with him as a work colleague is, surely?’ She lifted pleading eyes to mine.
I said nothing.
She went on, ‘I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate. Highbury Foods is my job for life, as it were. Philip can move on — but I can’t. And we still need to discuss your observations from the photo shoot, they’re probably more relevant than ever.’
I gave an exasperated sigh. ‘I know, but can’t it wait for a week or so?’
‘Until Tamara’s gone?’ Her voice was edgy.
‘No — actually, yes.’
‘On that basis, you mustn’t have got much work done in India.’
I flushed. ‘This is entirely different. We haven’t seen each other for six weeks and she’s only here for ten days. We’re determined to make the most of it.’
Her lips tightened. ‘I’ll bet. So, when you can spare a moment from making the most of it, give me a ring and we’ll fix up a meeting for next week.’
I knew I’d let her down, but I also knew I couldn’t face a mentoring meeting right now, especially if its focus was another man’s infatuation with her.
‘Next week’s fine,’ I said gently. ‘By then, you know, the Philip thing may have started to resolve itself, whereas today he was probably still a bit raw from Saturday night.’ I couldn’t resist adding, ‘I did warn you about getting a lift home with him. And before, about him not being interested in Harriet.’
‘Yes, you were right all along, while I was about as perceptive as that bloody doorpost. I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been!’
To my horror, her eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t understand why she was getting so emotional, unless . . .
I cleared my throat. ‘Emma, what did he — what happened exactly?’
She looked away. ‘It — it was more what might have happened. We were on a quiet road, and he was so surprised when I wouldn’t . . . And then humiliated and — and angry. I didn’t think he’d push his luck, but you’re never completely sure about someone, are you?’ She let out a long, shuddering breath. ‘Oh Mark, I was so relieved when he took me back to Hartfield.’
How right it felt to draw her close. Stroke her hair. Be there for her . . .
The front door swung open and Tamara came in, laden with Harrods bags. When she saw us, she shut the door with a vicious kick.
I let Emma go and smiled at Tamara. ‘That’s good timing, darling, I’m just about to warm something up for dinner.’
‘So I see,’ she said, with a venomous look at Emma.
‘We’ve been discussing our next mentoring session—’ I began.
‘I’d better go,’ Emma cut in, drying her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘Dad’ll be getting anxious, I said I’d only be away twenty minutes.’
Tamara arched one perfectly plucked eyebrow. ‘Just a quickie, was it?’
I glared at her, then turned to Emma. ‘I’ll ring you tomorrow, when I’ve checked my diary.’
‘Thanks,’ she said quietly. ‘’Bye, then. ’Bye, Tamara.’
‘Goodbye, Mouse,’ Tamara said, with a sneer. ‘I can call you that, can’t I? Or is it only Mark who’s allowed to use your little pet name?’
