‘Jack Fife? Pffft. Urgh, all right fine.’Why, Abbey? Why? What are you doing? Self-preservation. Self-preservation. Hot doctor. But this flirty work banter … Christ.
‘Ev loves you. You’ll come to dinner tonight?’
And there was the problem. I didn’t want Ev to love me. I wanted Nick to love me. Also, what was he playing at, being all flirty and charming and extending invitations?
‘What are you doing?’ I breathed. I needed to be freed of this torture.
‘Just working.’
‘Are you seriously telling me that is what this is? Just work? You’re flirting. And then spend the weekend in Melbourne? Have dinner with my sister?’
‘Abbey, you purposefully knocked a stapler off your desk. I thoughtyouwere flirting. I’m sorry. I genuinely need you to come to Melbourne. Jack Fife is a prima donna, and you are the one person I’m told can help. I need you there in a professional capacity. You can set the rules. Okay? Also, I told Ev we were having dinner. You are the only person we know here in Sydney, and you have been extraordinary the last week. My sister and I want to thank you. Nanny Jacinta has the day off and Summer wants to come too, so bring Ella.’
‘Fine.’Fucker.How had I just been talked into the family fucking dinner?
***
If I’d thought working with him was going to be easy, I was wrong. Bad Cop had left the building, and he was in full charm mode. The turnaround he performed in the exec meeting was next level. Even I was impressed.
The team were naturally wary; he had performed his role in the first two meetings almost too well. But he started softly, earning sympathy and respect.
‘Welcome, everyone. We’ll get down to business in a few minutes. I just wanted to give you guys an update on Oliver. He is, umm, well he was knocked about. If you knew him better you might know that he is pretty good at most things he puts his head to and knocking it on concrete was no different.
‘He’s awake and, apart from being in a foul mood from the headache and hospital food, he is on the mend. The doctors say his recovery should take about three months, but he is my brother and I don’t want any pressure on him. The important thing is that he gets better.’
I could feel his emotion and wanted to reach out to him to let him know I was here for support. But he had made it impossible for me to do that, so I sat on the hand nearest him and picked up a glass of water with the other.
‘I, um, just wanted to thank Abbey. She rendered crucial first aid to Oliver and got him to the hospital as fast as possible. My brother, sister and I have always tried to keep this feeling like a family business, but it has gotten so big that it is sometimes hard to manage. Abbey cared for Oliver in those first few moments like he was her own family, and I honestly cannot express my gratitude.’
I put the water back onto the table with a thud.
He met my eyes. ‘Thank you.’
I nodded slightly, or at least I think I did.
Nick cleared his throat and began going around the table, starting with Mike. ‘Why don’t you give us an update on the finance team?’
‘Thanks, Nick. I’m relieved to hear Oliver is okay. I hope you will pass on our regards. We’ve been busy with the end of financial year next week. I sent emails about what we needed from department heads. If those reports could be submitted by Wednesday at the latest, that would be incredibly helpful.’
‘Guys, if we can try to get those to Mike as quickly as possible, that’d be great. Mike, just knock on my door any time or let Abbey know if you need me. I’m completely confident you guys are all over it. Right, who wants to go next?’
By the third manager, I could see the table had collectively relaxed and, as a result, some great discussions and teamwork occurred. I could also see where Oliver had learned leadership, that it wasn’t something he knew innately; it was something he had learned from Nick.
The other interesting thing from the exec meeting was just how many things he included me in on, things that were going to be reported to me instead of him, or things he wanted me to sit in on so that even I left the meeting a little invigorated professionally.
However, the different number of Nicks was making me a little wary, too. Holiday Nick, Brother Nick, Sex God Nick, Prick Boss Nick, Good Boss Nick. Abbey’s Nick? Cute with Ella Nick?Jesus.
I dropped him a report he wanted later that day.
‘Abs, I’m a little stretched. I hope you don’t mind me handing some things over to you?’
‘Of course. I’m honestly a little excited to be included.’
‘Abbey, we both know if I weren’t here you could run this place on your own. You know this business inside out. You undervalue yourself enormously. If you want to do something different than be an EA when Ollie gets back, tell him.’
I smiled, pleased.
‘Will you come and sit in on the marketing meeting after lunch?’
