Jimmy turned to face me, kissed me and smiled. ‘Take your time, your boss said you can be as late as you wish today.’
As I left the wardrobe and headed towards the bathroom, I passed by the bed and noticed my phone sitting there. Not wanting Jimmy to know Philip was here or that we’d chatted, I picked it up and kept it close. I wasn’t sure why, but it felt uncomfortable – like I’d done something wrong – and I didn’t want Jimmy to think badly of me. I clicked off Philip’s message without replying.
After showering, I got dressed in a pre-planned outfit I’d taken to Jimmy’s the night before: cream trousers, a brown booby strapless top, with an oversized white shirt to sit over it. I brushed my hair out and applied some concealer. With those finishing touches, I felt fresh and ready for another day of chasing down companies and planning the launch events.
As I walked through his hallway to the open-plan kitchen, I heard voices. I paused in my tracks, not knowing whether I should continue.
‘We’re on thin ice with the investors, they don’t love the idea, and with the extra money you’re spending on the Met? Like seriously, you authorised the Met?’
My stomach flipped, knowing that I’d suggested that venue. I had no idea Jimmy would get a hard time about blowing the budget. It was his company, after all.
‘Morning,’ I said, noticing Travis and Fee cornering Jimmy in the kitchen.
Fee looked in complete shock. ‘Good morning, girl.’ She turned to Jimmy and pushed back his shoulder. ‘You didn’t say you had company, brother!’
Jimmy raised an eyebrow. ‘I didn’t get a word in edgeways, sister! Come sit down, Ella.’
Travis seemed edgy, barely meeting my eyes or saying hello. Maybe he knew I was aware of his secret and feared I’d tell Fee or Jimmy.
I walked over and took a seat at the breakfast bar, where a massive pile of pancakes waited.
‘Peanut butter?’ Jimmy smiled.
‘Nutella?’ I laughed. ‘If you have any.’
Fee let out a laugh. ‘Oh, he’s got some, it’s the only thing I have on mine.’ She opened the cupboard door and passed me a large jar of Nutella. ‘Come on, Travis, we’ll let these two lovebirds get their breakfast, but think about a plan, Jimmy. I mean it. We need to have legitimate answers for the board,’ Fee said assertively.
‘See you in there,’ Travis mumbled, keeping his head low and heading towards the door.
‘Bye, guys!’ Fee giggled, following him out.
When they were gone, I took a few mouthfuls of pancake and turned to Jimmy, who seemed lost in thought.
‘Are you OK?’ I asked. ‘Like, is everything OK with the business?’
Jimmy shook off his distraction and smiled. ‘Yeah, yeah.’ He grinned. ‘How are the pancakes?’
I put down my cutlery and sighed. He was always so happy; I didn’t like seeing him stressed. ‘You know, a problem shared and all that .?.?.’ I rolled my eyes, remembering that’s what he’d said to help me when we were at Summit One. ‘Just saying!’ I held up my hands. ‘But I’d like to help if I can.’
Jimmy managed a small laugh, then sighed and sat down next to me at the breakfast bar, leaning his elbows on the polished granite worktop and interlacing his fingers.
‘The investors are stressing over the app launching,’ he said slowly. ‘For the past eighteen months or so, we have made some silly decisions on apps launching that haven’t paid off.’
‘Shit,’ I said.
‘And the investors have, of course, picked up on the misfires. They can pull the plug on all our deals if we don’t keep up with downloads and sales. So, the board is giving me one last chance to get the money back. I suppose it’s all down to Stars and Swipes – it’s the next big app we’re launching.’
I tried to grasp what Jimmy was saying.One last chance?But it washiscompany. Shouldn’t he be in control? I realised I didn’t know. Business at this level was beyond me, but I wanted to help, even if I had no clue how.
‘I founded the company, but the board runs it,’ he sighed, as if sensing my confusion. ‘I have a seat, but if they feel I’m running it poorly, like losing money hand over fist or making bad decisions with deals – as some of them have insinuated – then they can pull me out.’
‘And how badly have the other deals gone?’ I asked, feeling sick for him, while not wanting him to think I pitied him.
Jimmy’s eyes looked sad, hurt, and I sensed he’d been dealing with all this stress alone. ‘Well, they’ve lost the investors millions, put it that way. But I hadn’t signed off on the other apps, Ella. It was the other members of the team, they were their projects, but when you sit at the top, then you become the one who’s ultimately responsible.’ He placed his hands on his heart. ‘I know I’ll fix this. This company is all I have.’ His voice was shaking.
‘So, what do you need from Stars and Swipes?’ I asked, seeing that I needed to be blunt with him.
‘It has to be such a success that the board is willing to overlook the previous losses and that the investors will feel inspired enough to agree to keep backing my company,’ he said, closing his eyes and sinking his head onto my shoulder.
