We said very little as we drank coffee and he demolished steak and eggs. Getting ready was almost synchronized, we managed not to bump into each other or get in the other's way as if we had been doing it for years and as we walked in the direction of Borough Market to our gyms we held hands, kissing when we parted ways.
It felt right.
The rest of the day wasn't so right. I spent the morning in the office with Alice, finalizing some of the details for the retirement ball. The caterers we wanted were unable to work that evening, which left our second choice who had a chef who was notoriously difficult to deal with. I had two new clients in for meetings, one was the MD of a new company and he was new to the role. He ended the meeting by asking me out on a date which I declined as politely as I could without having to say I didn't date the people I worked for, because that would have been too much of a lie.
Seph called just before lunch, following my non-date's signature on the agreement and exit. His ego was far too robust to be fractured by my refusal and he had Alice batting her lashes at him almost as soon as he had one foot out of my office.
"How's your morning, marketing extraordinaire?" Seph said as I answered, his voice sounding a little too much like Jackson's.
"Tedious. Difficult chefs. Lechy clients," I said, shifting some printouts on my desk. My office was minimal, nothing like Jackson's which oozed history. Maybe we need to rebrand ourselves – only that would have to wait until the whole Richard situation was resolved.
"You should be used to dealing with lechy clients, given how Jackson is mooning over you," he said. He was fishing for detail, I could tell.
"How was your weekend?" I asked, completely ignoring the hook.
Seph laughed. "I spent it with my twin, watching bands and eating street food like we were students again. I was the best I've had in ages. It's good she's back." He sounded so genuine and young, the affection in his voice palpable. Jackson had told me how he worried over Seph; although he wasn't the youngest, he was the baby. Brilliantly clever, beyond Max's genius and overly sensitive. His ex-girlfriend hadn't been right for him, but she had given him the stability he needed.
"It sounds good," I said. "You're going to ask about mine now, aren't you?"
"I don't need to," he said. "Jackson is in a fucking good mood and has been since early this morning. Keep him that happy and I'll fulfill all future legal obligations you ever have."
Igiggled. Halfway through giggling, I managed to stop myself, realizing I sounded like a teenager with a crush. "Don't make promises you might not be able to keep. To what do I owe the honor of your call?" It was more than just a fishing expedition, I knew.
"I've spoken with Mr. Cole's solicitors this morning. I've dealt with them before actually and they're reasonable to work with. Mr. Cole has instructed them to resolve the matter as quickly as possible so we've arranged for the company and apartment to be valued as soon as possible, within the next few days. Mr. Cole has expressed an interest in buying you out of the apartment and has offered an amount that I think would be reasonable given your contribution to the deposit and the rise in the value of the property," Seph said, pausing.
"Are you sure Mr. Cole is the younger Mr. Cole and not his father? I'm surprised how reasonable this sounds," I said, my heart pounding like a drum.
Seph half laughed. "There's a request that in return for his cooperation, as according to his lawyer he would like to resolve your differences and look at couple's counseling, you drop the charges against him and retract your request for a restraining order."
"Does Jackson know?" The words were out of my mouth before I had thought about them. He didn't need to know and I didn't need his opinion unless it was as my lawyer.
"Yes. He won't let me have complete ownership of this case, but he agreed with me. We wait for the valuations, agree on the price on the apartment and then drop the charges. The charges won't go anywhere fast anyway and you can apply for a restraining order again if he starts acting like a dick," Seph said. "I'll be slow with his solicitors for the next couple of days while we wait for the valuations. All you need to do is carry on with our step into the twenty-first century and the small matter of the pater's retirement ball."
"Thank you, Seph," I said, winding in my neck with my thoughts on Jackson and needing to go this alone. "That sounds like the right thing to do."
"Drinks after work?" he said. "The Old School Yard is the place to be to get over the pain of Monday. Might make Tuesday more painful though."
"Maybe," I said. I was staying at Jackson's again tonight as it was the only evening bar Thursday we both had free.
"Make it a definitely instead of maybe and bring Jackson. Max and Amelie are meeting us there too," Seph said. "You know her dad passed away this morning?"
"Jackson texted me. It's horrible, but at least he didn't suffer long. I just hope Amelie's okay," I said, hearing Alice talking to my next client in the waiting area.
"She'll have a lot of support. I'll let you go. Hopefully, see you after work – bring some of your team. It'd be nice to meet some new faces," Seph said and I could hear voices in the background, one of which sounded like Kirsty.
I finished the call and focused my attention away from Jackson and Richard and onto where it needed to be: work.
An hour or so later my phone started to ping. I managed to ignore it, concentrating on the copy I was doing, until curiosity got the better of me.
Jackson: Seph mentioned something about you coming for drinks after work.
Me: He asked me about it. I didn't give him an answer. I think I can make it though, and Alice is keen to let off some steam. It's been a busy day.
Jackson: My little brother is a lying shit. He told me you had said you were going for definite. I've talked a client into meeting tomorrow instead of 4.30 today.
Me: I'd have been fine going on my own, you know.
Jackson: I wouldn't have been fine you going on your own. I heard Dave in accounts going on about the chances of taking you out for a drink earlier.
