Chapter 38
The Present
Jonathan had no time to think of where Billie was headed off to or why. He had a meeting to get to with Nathalie to discuss some revisions they had made. He knew his assistant would have the meeting room already organised and made his way to it.
He checked his watch again as he tapped his pen on the table. She was late. Jonathan hated tardiness; there was no excuse for lateness. He had a business to run here. “Sorry I’m late.” Nathalie extended her hand as his assistant let her into the meeting room.
It was bright and airy surrounded by glass from floor to ceiling. Jonathan stood up politely, he felt anything but polite. “I’m really sorry.” Nathalie said again. He sensed her mild discomfort; this he told himself is good. In fact, very good.
Nathalie saw the look in his eyes, she felt like he was assessing every inch of her. He was the scanner and she was the subject. Finally! She thought to herself. “Let’s get started then shall we!” She spoke with more confidence.
“Absolutely Nathalie. Let’s get started.” His fake smile, the calculating eyes, the contempt she picked up in his voice, let her know she was the next in line. Their dynamic had just changed.
“So, these changes are quite significant Jonathan.” She exclaimed as they went through the deck together. “These aren’t going to be cheap to implement and we’re going to need an awful lot more resources on hand to meet the deadline you’re working to on the build.” She paused and took a sip of water.
“The deadline stays; we need to ensure that we stick to that. A week or two outside the build end date we can take on the chin. You are the project manager on this, prepare me the revised costings and we can take it from there. You know the budget, I’m sure you can figure it out.”
He mirrored her actions and took a sip of his water. “How about dinner tonight? We didn’t have a great start the first time round and I’d like to make it up to you.” He smiled.
Smooth! She thought to herself, knowing he was anything but smooth beneath that exterior of good looks and winning smile. “Yes, I’d like that. What time and where?”
“How about I come and pick you up and we can go to one of my favourite restaurants, La Maison.” His eyes looked directly into hers, if she did not know him any better, she would have taken him for being genuine and would be falling over her heels already, but she did and she knew this was going to be a completely new project of his own.
Nathalie stalled; the last thing she wanted was for him to come to where she lived. It was a bit early for that, for that they needed to wait. “How about I just meet you there. I’m kind of private Jonathan and I’d like to get to know you better on a personal level, before I start divulging my address.” She smiled sweetly; his eyes narrowed a fraction.
So, he thought, you want to play that game do you! “Of course. I didn’t mean to be pushy.”
“Not pushy at all, and the offer was very kind. Thank you! It’s just that.” She paused for effect before continuing. “I have dated some total weirdos in the past and it’s just left me seriously cautious about who I do and don’t let know where I live.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not some delusional stalker who’ll do anything to get close to you!” He laughed at his own joke. It was too close to the mark for her, she knew very well all about Jonathan and his narcissistic, manipulative, cruel ways.
“How about eight or eight thirty? I’ll meet you there then.” They both stood up as the meeting was clearly over, Jonathan reached out his hand to shake hers. There was no rush to her groin or increased heartbeat, she knew this and dinner were purely just business to her. She was not going to let her guard down at any point; she was not going to become the new submissive woman in his present.
“I look forward to seeing you later.” He told her. They parted and Jonathan went back to his office. Billie was still not back, he needed to speak with him about the changes he had proposed to Nathalie. Knowing Billie who was in charge of the purse strings, it was not going to be an easy conversation.
It had not even crossed his self-obsessed mind, that he should have mentioned the proposed changes to Billie first. They were like the San-Andreas fault; the gap was just getting wider and wider. Jonathan did not let it disturb him; he knew they would both continue to work together until the end. Billie had a family and he was getting too old like Jonathan, to want to work for someone else or to start over again.
They had already had to cross that bridge four years ago when the fire had been started. One they never got to the bottom of, there were no suspicious grounds and the investigators could not come up with anything reasonable to tell them. The insurance had covered most of their costs, but to start again had not been easy.
He tried Billie’s mobile. There was no answer. “Billie, Billie, Billie.” He said aloud as he sat in his office playing with an elastic band, “where are you?” His mind began to become suspicious. Perhaps he considered, Billie is up to something, working behind my back. He stopped fiddling with the band, stood up purposefully, and went to Billie’s desk.
He began rummaging through the papers and receipts. He found the sticky note pad with something scribbled out. He took a closer look; he tried to make out what had been covered over. Peering even closer he could see the name Clare.