I swallowed the misery, got my shit under control, and lifted my eyes to him. ‘Actually, I have another solution.’
Chapter Fifteen
Abbey
I stayed in bed after the alarm on Monday morning. I could smell him in my room, and I was calculating how long I could keep these sheets on my bed before I would be considered a huge grot. I should rip them off, put them in the wash and get rid of his scent, but like his T-shirt that I had not returned to him, I knew I could not part with them yet.
I had very decisively written my resignation, asking for the necessary month’s notice to be waived due to personal reasons. I knew as well as he did, he had no choice but to let me go. He’d crossed too many lines. So today would be my last day at Delacqua. I estimated I would be home within two hours.
I needed a change. Working with him every day was not conducive to ever being able to move on. I knew that unless one of us gave the other space, we would be in this dance forever. This routine we had would become destructive.
I wondered whether that was always what happened when love was denied. Maybe love could turn into something a little dark and sinister. I didn’t know and, honestly, I did not give a fuck. I would not trade a day I had spent with him. And though I did not genuinely believe my heart could recover, a tiny part of me could conceive that, maybe in the future when he had faded in my head a little, maybe then I might.
I had taken this train journey almost every workday for the past twenty years. The faces of strangers who hopped on like I did to stand in this overcrowded train compartment each morning were familiar. Some faces had disappeared over the years, women had children, people retired. Sometimes there were moon boots and crutches from adventurous holidays or weekends. Sometimes there were partners or children accompanying them. For the most part, little changed.
I had a tiny bit of leave saved and some long service leave, which I knew the Northbys would honour. It would give me some time to decide what to do. Nick was right. I had unknowingly become bored professionally, so maybe it was time to branch out a little. Attempt to look for a role in management. Try something new.
There was a part of me that was terrified, but I also recognised another newer part that was excited by the idea of walking to the edge and leaping. Maybe the new part wasn’t new, maybe it was just restored. I felt as though my life was in my control for the first time and, whatever risks I took, at least they were risks I had chosen to take.
I arrived at work on time, disappointed that Nick wasn’t in the office. We needed to rip off the Band-Aid. The prolonged goodbye would kill me otherwise. I loved him, but I had given him every opportunity I could to declare his feelings, and he hadn’t. He was in this enormous ocean of denial, drowning and in need of rescuing, but I had tried and, if I continued, he would pull me in too. I simply wouldn’t let myself drown.
Forty-five minutes later, I was annoyed he wasn’t here. I was hoping to be able to do this without the masses being present, just in case one of us cried – namely me.
My phone buzzed, and I smiled as I saw it was Ollie. His vision had been blurring in the hospital, but his texting suggested his recovery was progressing.
I know what you are about to do. I won’t be accepting your resignation, Abbey. Check your email. I expect you to be there when I get back. Also, we are having your birthday party here on Saturday at 11 a.m. Do not bring anything but yourself and Ella.
I bristled at the Nick-like authority contained within that message. In fact, I suspected it wasn’t from Oliver at all.
I rose from his desk where I had been sitting waiting for Nick and walked out of the office to my desk, turning on my computer. I tapped my foot impatiently as it booted up. And then, finally, waited for my emails to load.
Ever since I’d had Ella, I had refused to install workplace emails on my phone. The root of the entire problem with the world was our phones, as far as I could see. Neither Eric nor a Northby could possibly need me that badly, and if they did they had my number. I did not respond to emails out of work time. The only exception to this rule was Sunday nights when I would check them on my laptop, but that was just to know what I was walking into on Monday morning, not so I could reply. But last night I had been having a personal crisis and writing a resignation, so my routine had gone out the window.
I had flown out in the middle of the day on Friday, so there were quite a few emails downloading. There was one at the top, which had been sent late last night. It had gone out to the entire company, from the owner, Nick Northby.
My heart began beating incredibly fast. What on earth was he doing?
I opened the email; it was a company memorandum, attached as a PDF.
MEMORANDUM
TO: All employees of Delacqua
RE: Abigail Parker appointment
As most of you know, my brother was in an accident a little over a week ago and thankfully we expect him to make a full recovery. In the meantime, it is imperative that the business remain on course with the vision that Hartwell Holdings has planned for it, the building blocks of which Oliver had only just commenced implementing.
Temporarily, Hartwell Holdings is appointing Abigail Parker as Acting CEO of Delacqua Hotels. Abbey’s extensive knowledge of the business is unparalleled in the organisation and makes her the best candidate for this caretaker role. We expect that Oliver will be back on board in three months. In the meantime, it is the expectation that all staff will look to Abigail for leadership and guidance, offering her the support she deserves by delivering your continued excellence. Abigail will conduct this business as she sees fit during this time, independently and with the full support and backing of myself and my board.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Northby
CEO Hartwell Holdings
Jesus fucking Christ.I put my head down on the polished wood of my desk.Fuck.
My phone buzzed again. It was Ollie.
