Page 100 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
Daisy edged away from him. “So you were out together all evening?”
“Yes! We had dinner.”
Daisy blinked rapidly, determined not to cry. She’d been right: the signshadbeen there all along. Now it was too late to do anything. It was karma! She should never have even contacted Matt – she could easily have gone through her life without closure. Lots of people did!
“Her mother had a heart attack so she’s booked a flight home tomorrow. I wanted to take her mind off things for a while tonight. She’s worried sick.”
“What?” Daisy’s mind raced to catch up.
“She’d just found out.” James leaned back against the headboard, and tucked one leg up under him.
“So when I came home earlier …”
“She was in a total state, and I was trying to comfort her. I got her to call her brother once she’d calmed down a bit. He said their mother’s in hospital, but she’s stable.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Daisy said, faintly. “Why didn’t you just tell me what had happened?”
“Because you immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion, and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to catch Alma if I didn’t go. Her dad died of a heart attack when she was fifteen, and I didn’t want her to be on her own.”
“I didn’t know about her dad.” Daisy shifted uncomfortably in the bed. She was starting to realise how little she actually knew about Alma. “So she didn’t want to come back, then?”
“What do you think?” James yawned. “We just went for an Italian, and I asked them to make spaghetti and meatballs for her.”
She was the most awful, judgemental hypocrite in the whole world!
“I still wish you’d said something before you took off after her,” Daisy whispered. “Why didn’t you?”
James looked at her. “I was pissed off, Daisy. It’s the second time you’ve thought the worst of me. And the worst of Alma!”
“I’m sorry.” The words were a whisper. “I feel horrible. I just thought ... you and Alma, you’re always together, and you’re close. I mean, evenyouhave to admit that!”
“She’s a nice person, Daisy.”
And I’m not.He didn’t have to say it. He looked so disappointed. But it was more than that. Even if there was nothing between him and Alma, it was pretty clear there was nothing left between the two of them either.
“It’s late, Daisy, maybe we should just talk tomorrow.”
Daisy took a breath. “Or we could talk now.”
“Fine.” James’ face looked waxy in the light from the bedside lamp.“But first … remember the app I was telling you about?” Daisy nodded. “It was bought over the weekend.”
“But you didn’t buy it?” She already knew the answer.
“Someone did a lock-out deal.” James dug his hands into his hair, so bits of it stuck up all over his head. “The students rang me this morning and told me they’d been approached on Friday evening. They were offered twice as much as we’d offered, but they weren’t allowed to say anything, and they had to sign everything over before Sunday.”
“Oh God.” She wanted to touch him, but he seemed too far away. “So, what happens now?”
James met her eyes. “It’s already happened. I got fired.” The words echoed quietly in the small room.
Daisy’s mouth dried up. “But it’s not like you lost the company money.” She stumbled over the words. “It’s not your fault that someone else got in there first.”
“That’s not how the board sees it. I should have moved quicker, I shouldn’t have let anyone get in and offer a better deal.” He shook his head. “We found out who bought it. Matt Deveraux. That has to be your ex, right? Did you know he was back in the country?”
James said something else, but Daisy didn’t hear him. She suddenly felt dizzy and there was a strange ringing in her ears. Could Matt have known that James had planned to buy it? It wasn’t possible – she hadn’t told Matt anything!
It had to be a coincidence! If Matt was keeping up with the latest in the tech industry, he’d probably come across the same thing James had. She tried to calm her breathing.
“James? There’s something I need to tell you.”
