Blake Currington, owner of the national building firm? His company was technically one of my competitors in the county, but not really, as I had a much better reputation and a lot more business. Why was the big boss calling me?
“Good, thanks,” I answered. “Busy.”
I was usually pretty good at the back-and-forth bullshitting, but I was tired and needed to crack on, though I was curious about his call.
“Okay,” Blake said. “I imagine youarevery busy. Scratch that. Iknowyou’re busy because we’re well aware of how many more jobs you have than us.”
I laughed but felt slightly cagey. I had no idea where Blake was going with this.
“I’ll cut to the chase,” he went on. “We want to make an offer for your business.”
I sat up straight in my seat.
“What do you mean—an offer?” I asked.
“We want to buy your business. You would have to be available as a consultant for two years after the sale, but after that, you would be free. We think your firm would be a valuable addition to our new brand, which is offering a more local experience.”
Blake’s firm didnothave a great reputation. It was known to cut corners and cheap out on customers, and they were stingy with employee benefits. For them, starting a rebranded subsidiary made sense. I imagined they’d pretend this new business wasn’t like the parent company.
“Tim, we are keen. You’ve got a great company. And you are already popular on social media, and this new show of yours hasn’t even aired. We love the brand visibility you’ve already achieved.” Ugh. He was partly attracted by the new interest that had come my way. Not the sort of attention that should matter in a serious builder’s mind. “Of course, our first offer is negotiable, but we want to offer you two million pounds.”
Shit. The payment would pay for years of Mum’s care at ten thousand pounds a month. My worries would be over. My business was going well, but my profits had been rolled into future building projects, which was why I needed this cashprize. But I couldn’t even consider accepting Blake’s offer. My customers and workers would suffer, my name would be mud, and I couldn’t start another business in this county.
“I don’t want to waste your time,” I said, more shortness in my tone than I’d intended. “I don’t think your proposal is going to work for me.”
“Playing hardball, eh, Tim? I like it. Okay. What’s your number?”
“No, I mean I don’t want to sell. And I have to go. But please, this call can’t go any further than us. I don’t want my employees or clients or prospective clients thinking I might be considering selling.”
“Oh, believe me, this goes no further. I never make an offer public if I don’t know for certain it’s going to go through. Always be winning, that’s my motto. That’s what people expect of me, Tim.”
Always be winning.What a prat. I hung up.
“Fuck.” I slid my phone in my pocket. Tabs fixed me with a questioning look. “A nationwide firm wants to buy my business. Two million pounds. Just between you and me.”
Her eyes widened. “Mum’s the word. Wow. Congratulations, Tim.”
“Nah, I’d never sell to that guy. He’s bad news—not a good boss and not a good builder.” I waved away the thought of him and focused back on her. “Hey, I noticed you’re in a good mood this morning.”
“I’m always in a good mood.” She shook her shoulders with a little sass.
“You’re always in a good mood when you’re taking the piss out of me, and that hasn’t happened yet.”
“Timmy, I know you’re kind of a big deal around this teeny-weeny country village with how you can throw a ball and kick a ball and…whatever else you do with those little balls ofyours. But my happiness does not hinge on your presence.” She grinned and flicked her hair.
My spine crawled with indignation, and I squared my shoulders and thrust my head back. I opened my mouth to protest that part of my anatomy was anything but small.You idiot.What are you? Fifteen years old?
Instead, I shrugged casually.
“And you’re always very welcome to come and watch me play rugby,” I said. “And learn more about this game that seems to fascinate you. I have a match right after filming today, actually.”
“Thank you for that invitation. I’m sure it’s a real treat for all those women hanging around on the sidelines waiting breathlessly for you to run to the big sticks at the end. And then there’s the super-fun after-match function in the clubrooms, drinking beer and listening to you rehash all that running to the sticks. But turns out, I’d rather stay home and stick pins into my eyes.”
“Taking the piss out of me?” I asked. “Smile on your face? See? I was right.”
She rolled her eyes but went back to smiling. “Okay. I amquiteexcited, because I just heard last night that I landed an exclusive interview with the Wainwright brothers. You know, those guys who developed West City in London? We’ll meet up over a week, and they’re taking me out to a different restaurant in the complex every night. It’s taken a year to get them to agree to be interviewed, but it’s finally happening.”
“Congratulations.” I raised my eyebrows. That was huge. Those brothers were always in building trade magazines I subscribed to. And I’d read about them in Tabs’s newspaper in the gossip column. They were considered hot. Very alpha. And they were both single. And she was spending a week with them. Hmm.
