Fran laughed alongside her father’s open guffawing, still none the wiser as to what was so funny. Or for that matter, what was so exciting, and worthy of Bill Wilding’s business interest.
She was studying the email attachments when Johnny returned.
Chapter 32
‘Should you be doing that?’ Johnny said, nodding towards her phone as he retook his seat.
Fran supposed he had a point, reading from the screen definitely wasn’t doing much for her headache. The dull thud was becoming stronger. Or perhaps it was nearly time for more painkillers, because her ankle was throbbing with increased determination, too.
‘I’ve been trying to work out how best to approach this. I wasn’t sure how you would be feeling and I’m so pleased that you’re doing well.’ Johnny frowned, his lips tight as though he was fighting with whatever he wanted to say next. ‘But I’m just going to come right out and say it, Fran. There doesn’t seem to be much point in beating around the bush. Why did you lie to me about who you are? Why did you tell me you didn’t have a father, when you clearly do. A hugely influential one. Why were you pretending to be a hotel employee when your father owns the place? What were you trying to achieve?’ He drew breath, then shook his head as though irritated by himself. ‘I’m sorry. It’s really none of my business. It’s just that …’
Fran set her phone down, pulling in a deep breath as her gaze settled on his features, his expression mirroring the state of her own thoughts. He looked genuinely lost.
‘I feel like a complete fool, truth be told,’ he said.
‘You’re no fool, Johnny Taylor,’ she said, ‘and I am so sorry for making you feel that way.’
Fran wanted to explain, but Johnny cut across her words.
‘And then I left that pathetic business plan at reception for you. You must think I’m such a prat.’
‘I haven’t even had a chance to look at it properly yet. It fell out of my pocket and my father took it by accident this morning. That’s what he was phoning about, actually.’
‘You’re joking?’
As she shook her head, Johnny slid his coffee onto the table and buried his head in his hands. ‘Nowthat’sproperly embarrassing.’
‘He did find it rather amusing.’
A groan emanated from beneath his splayed fingers, then Johnny glanced up. ‘Please tell me you’re taking the mickey?’
‘Nope. He told me to tell you that you’re no Van Gogh. What even is that in the drawing?’
Fran scrolled to find the correct page, enlarging the illustration for him to see. Johnny’s cheeks flushed almost bright enough to match the bruising on his jaw, his brow furrowing as he shifted on the plastic chair.
‘I don’t want to upset you, Fran. But that’s meant to be Chateau des Rêves.’ He drew a vague finger outline to match the skyline of the building.
‘I have to agree with Bill, you’re no artist, but why would a drawing of Chateau des Rêves upset me?’ she asked.
‘Because of this.’ Johnny’s finger zeroed in on a small shape almost impossible to discern on the phone screen. ‘This was meant to signify Red, living at Chateau des Rêves.’
‘Oh.’
‘I hadn’t thought through the details very carefully, but in my pie in the sky idea, it seemed to make sense to offer the cat a new home at des Rêves, as he was so unwelcome at the hotel …’ His words tailed off, replaced by an awkward pause.
Fran wanted to tell him it was OK, that it was a lovely thought, the kindest of gestures. But she couldn’t say anything, her throat tightening as she fought even more tears.
‘Please don’t get upset. I didn’t want to distress you again – you’ve been through a hell of a day.’
Fran nodded, pressing fingers against trembling lips as she willed herself back under control.
‘It was a beautiful thought. He would have loved it there.’ Her words were little more than a whisper, but she wanted to let Johnny know how much she appreciated his gesture. ‘Johnny,’ she said, gulping back tears and focusing on the here and now. ‘Why did you leave me a copy of your business plan?’
Johnny bit at his bottom lip before he answered. It was tempting to be totally transparent with Fran, to tell her that he’d wanted her to see how serious he was about the entire project, how even though he’d spoken about Chateau des Rêves as being a crazy dream project, and how he had now all but talked himself out of it, that he was more than capable of making it work. How it would have been that if he had decided to take it on, he would be deadly serious about delivering on his schedule, bringing all his promises to fruition.
He also wanted to express how serious he had been about including Fran as a business partner. Her ability to restore furniture – the eye she had for beautiful antiques and her desire to refurbish rather than rip out – it all added up into a skillset Johnny was well aware he lacked. To him, a chair was just a chair. He knew what he liked, or didn’t like, but had no idea of the why.
He wanted to make the chateau into something spectacularly beautiful, but he would need a whole load of help to achieve it.
