Dress Code was one of the biggest event management companies in London and Chloe knew that was Michelle’s ultimate aim – growth in all areas and having Celebratey be the go-to for VIPs planning any kind of party. And the first step towards that was apparently on her shoulders.
‘No worries,’ Chloe said, moving her actual shoulders a little and wondering if she should get her laptop out here and now and reserve an Airbnb or wait until she was on a transfer bus Michelle had booked her on and use that time.
‘I have no worries about you excelling, Chloe. What I do have plenty of worries about are my pelvic floor collapsing or dehydrating under this heated blanket.’
‘Well, at least you know Iceland is safe in my hands.’ Why had she said that?
‘Aww, say that again but in Icelandic. I want to hear your accent.’
Chloe felt like her heart had stopped and all the blood rushed to her head. What?! Help! She was torn between making fake noises and pretending the connection was bad and just hanging up. Could she do that? Could she just hang up, pretend the call had been severed by technology? An airport announcement saved her.
‘Oh, Michelle, that means my bus is going to leave soon. I have to go. I’ll call you later. Enjoy the blanket.’ She ended the call and pocketed her phone. Where did these buses depart from?
* * *
‘Please, Erik. You know I would not ask if it was not an emergency.’
Gunnar was one beat away from grabbing his boss, Erik’s jacket and making him pay more attention to him than the pastry he had in his hand and was stuffing into his face.
‘This is so good.’ He smacked his lips.
‘Erik! Listen to me! Hildur is at the hospital. I cannot drive the south coast tour today. Let me take the airport shuttles. Thor is OK with changing.’
‘Thor does not have the same quality of reviews as you do, Gunnar.’ More teeth were sunk into the food, steam rising from his hot breath.
‘I know,’ Gunnar said. ‘But it’s one day. I have to go back to the hospital before five.’
‘The hospital closes at five?’
Gunnar shook his head. ‘No, but?—’
‘Then there is no problem.’ Erik went to turn away and that’s when Gunnar reached out, but not for the jacket, for the pastry. He snatched it from his boss’s hand and held it hostage in the air.
‘Gunnar! Give that to me!’
‘No. Not until you agree to give me the airport runs today. One day, Erik. I have never asked before and it is highly unlikely that I will ever ask again… maybe. And this is Hildur. Hildur who makes you soup for your birthday every year and?—’
‘Gunnar! I have a business to run. I need the best tour guide on the most expensive tours, you know this and?—’
‘One day, Erik! One tour! So I can collect Hildur from the hospital where hopefully she will not be coming out in a wheelchair or in a cast!’
A flat heavy hand came down on Gunnar’s shoulder and a smiling Thor appeared over his shoulder.
‘I am on Bus 101,’ Thor said. ‘I have not done this for so long. It is a Christmas gift from you, Gunnar.’
‘See, Erik,’ Gunnar continued. ‘Everything is set. Thor is happier than I have seen him in months and as soon as you nod you can have your pastry back.’
‘This is not in my planner for today!’ Erik moaned, leaping a little for the pastry.
‘Plans change, Erik. That is the nature of life.’ Gunnar swallowed. ‘And you know we cannot interfere with the nature of life. That would be going against thehuldúfolk.’
‘Sshh!’ Erik exclaimed, hands over his ears. ‘Do not talk about thehuldúfolk.’
‘I need to go to my bus now, yes?’ Thor said, still all grins.
‘Yes,’ Gunnar said. ‘You go now, Thor.’
‘I have not said yes!’ Erik exclaimed.
