I spun round, seeing my architect hovering. I’d worked with Jon a few times in the past, but recently it had been his partner, Rich, who I’d dealt with and who I’d been expecting. “Hi, Jon,” I said, offering a hand. “Good to see you. Rich away again?” Rich liked his holidays, usually taking time out to trek up a mountain somewhere.
Jon nodded and gave me a over-cooked smile. “Kilimanjaro this time so you’ll have to put up with me.”
I shot him a smile. “This is Elijah Ward, a partner at Callaghan Green – you know, my family’s law firm. The one I dodged. Eli, this is Jon McKend-Berry, architect extraordinaire.”
They shook hands, both appraising each other. Jon was probably slightly older than Eli, slightly smaller and a lot less built.
“Good to meet you. Are you doing the conveyancing when Ava buys this monstrosity?” Jon’s eyes headed back to me and I felt my skin crawl.
Eli nodded. “The firm will be.”
He said little else as we did another walk round, Jon making notes and pointing out things I’d missed.
By four o’clock I knew the house was going to be mine to flip. I’d arranged a proxy bid for Monday and we had a good idea for the design, bringing an old, old house into the modern era, while maintaining its characteristics and history. I felt the burn of excitement for a new project and the world, despite the current rain, was bright and beautiful and full of potential.
“Ava, I have an opportunity for you,” Jon said as we were leaving the property.
“Go on,” I said, warily. Usually, someone offering an opportunity meant they were after a freebie.
He laughed. “Honestly, I think you’ll enjoy it. I’ve a client who’s just bought a detached property in Dulwich and she needs an interior decorator. She’s headed to St Lucia for three months so we have a deadline – you were the first person I thought of. It’s no hands-on work, just ideas, and she’s left a list of specifications. She just requires some mock ups to be sent to her and it to be overseen.”
That didn’t sound too bad. “I’ll call into your office on Tuesday and talk it through.”
“Even better, meet me at the house tomorrow and I’ll buy you lunch afterwards.”
I shook my head. “No can do. Family lunch on Sunday after this lot have played rugby.” For some reason I nodded towards Eli.
Jon frowned. “How about breakfast?”
I looked to Eli again on impulse. “We’re planning a late night tonight so after lunch may be better. Can’t promise I’ll be completely sober.”
The firm hand I’d become so familiar with landed on the small of my back. “We promised we’d see my sister tomorrow after lunch with your family. I don’t think tomorrow’s going to be doable.”
Jon looked perturbed and tense.
I gestured apologetically with my arms. “I can give you a couple of recommendations of people I’ve passed work on to before if you really need someone that quickly, although tomorrow is very short notice.”
“I’ll hold off till Tuesday if that’s the soonest you can do, but can you do first thing? I have a decent decorator lined up and want to get him started.” Jon pulled his phone out that was vibrating noisily.
“You can buy me breakfast after. How about you text me the address and I’ll see you there at seven?”
He nodded, giving me a thumbs up and headed out of the house, answering his call. I locked the front door, planning to drop the key off at the agent’s on the way home. Locking up was a fruitless exercise as the house was open at the back, but there was enough undergrowth to deter most adventurers and security were meant to be doing regular checks.
“Would you have met him on Sunday if I hadn’t been there?” Eli said after more than a few seconds of silence.
“No.” I shook my head vehemently. “Actually, maybe I’d have agreed to tomorrow evening. I know it encroaches on my weekend but business is business and that sounds like an easy job.”
He nodded and said nothing else about it, walking me to my car. “I’ll see you at Max’s,” he said, opening the door for me. “Do you want to make it three-nights only?”
I froze. I hadn’t thought about tonight, that we’d be together again with fewer people around and a large house. The thought of being around him and not having him later was strange.
“You can say no, Ava. It is what it is.”
“One more night,” I said. “But stay at mine this time.”
Chapter Four
Elijah
