‘Oh thank god you’re OK!’ she says, her voice a little shaky. ‘I was so worried. I’ve texted you, like, five times to ask what happened earlier. I was about to call the police. I thought that sweaty maniac had kidnapped you.’
‘I’m really sorry, Katie,’ I say, meaning it. ‘I had a… thing and I had to run out. I’m sorry, I know I’ve been letting you down big time lately.’ I realize as I say it how much I’ve missed throwing myself into work the last couple of months. The truth is, I love working for the Norris, I love planning events! And before all this, Katie and I have been such a great team. I’ve ruined it with my tunnel vision on this silly mission. ‘I swear I’m getting my shit back together,’ I tell her. ‘From Monday I’m back in the game.’ I pause. ‘Unless HR have already decided to let me go. Honestly, I couldn’t blame them, I’m really so sorry.’
‘Let yougo?’ Katie sounds aghast. ‘Why the hell would they let you go? They love you, I love you – everyone loves you!’
I wince at her niceness. ‘Katie, that’s really generous, but Iknow I’ve been useless lately. Missing days, ignoring events, handing off all my work on you. And then running out of the office like that earlier.’
She is silent for a few seconds. ‘I mean,’ she begins, ‘leaving the office half an hour early on a Friday is officiallynotthe end of the world. Especially when we don’t even have an event booked in. Most of the team do it, haven’t you noticed that?’
Oh.
Oh, right, I guess that’s true. Now I think about it, Katie and I were probably the only ones left there when I ran off earlier. Us two and ninety-five-year-old Barnaby the security guard. Even Danielle on reception had buggered off, that’s why Katie had to tell me Alistair was in our office. It’s probably why she was so scared of him, too. We were pretty much all alone on our floor.
‘And as for the rest’ – she sounds a bit sad – ‘I actually thought you were giving me more to do and more control over our events because I was doing so well. I was delighted! You’re an amazing boss and so great at what you do, but sometimes you forget to delegate. I thought you were finally trusting me to get on with things by myself.’
‘Oh Katie!’ I rush to interject, feeling terrible. ‘Idotrust you, I promise I do. And you’ve done so brilliantly on everything I’ve given you.’ God, have I been an absolute control freak? ‘I promise I’ll keep delegating, I’ll keep skiving so you can do more.’ I pause. ‘But what about all the days off and holiday I’ve been taking?’
She laughs again. ‘Esther, I think you’ve forgotten you don’t work in kitchens anymore. You’reallowedto take time off, you know? Nobody minds that. In fact, the only time anyone ever says anything negative about you is to moan that you make the rest of us look bad by not taking your full holiday allocation. You work – or you were working – way too much and far too long hours.’ She pauses. ‘In fact, I was so glad you were finally prioritizing your life outside of work a bit.’
Her words fully sink in. ‘You mean, you haven’t reported me to Neima in HR? Or to the bosses?’ I ask hesitantly.
‘Reported you?’ She sounds horrified now. ‘Esther, I would never do that! Even if I did think you were a big old skiver. Which I don’t! You’re the best boss I’ve ever had. The other places I’ve worked at were so stressful and I got shouted at so much. You’re really patient with me. I’ve learned a huge amount working under you. I mean it, Esther, you’re a great boss.’
I swallow down the lump forming in my throat.
I haven’t fucked things up with my job. Seriously, thank god. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had. Thank god.
‘Thanks, Katie,’ I say quietly. ‘I hear everything you’re saying.’ I smile. ‘Now stop sucking up to your boss and go enjoy your weekend. It’s bloody late, you know.’
We say goodbye and I make a mental note to talk to my boss about a promotion for Katie on Monday. She more than deserves it. I head to the kitchen to find the years-old bottle of whisky I resort to in emergencies. I make another mentalnote to buy some new alcohol for this flat, but for now, it’s all we’ve got and I need to celebrate.
And I also require some Dutch courage for what I need to do next.
Despite what I just said to Katie, I don’t care how late it is. I’m going to see Bibi.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
With Louise in tow, I fling open the front door of our building, the cold air slapping me wide awake and readying me for a whole new mission.
This one isn’t about exes, but itisabout love. But a much better love than stupid romantic love. It’s about my friends.
Lou is breathless at my shoulder, moving too close to me, but we’re both too excited to slow down. Which is how we end up bowling over a couple on our doorstep as we leave.
‘Sorryyyyy,’ Louise and I both shout, picking ourselves up, as I add, ‘Sorry, we were rushing. Are you guys OK?’
We reach down to help up the pair, who are still entangled, and realize that it’s Ivan and Sofia.
Louise gasps. ‘You were kissing!’ she says, pointing out the obvious, which is handy because I still hadn’t fully comprehended what we were seeing.
‘At last!’ I squeak. ‘You took your time.’
‘Yes, indeed!’ Sofia announces, looking decidedly delighted. ‘And it was really very good.’
‘Lucky you,’ I mutter, my lips still a bit sore from the earlier gnawing.
‘This is our third date,’ Ivan explains, grinning cheekily. ‘I’m hoping to get lucky tonight.’
Sofia elbows him. ‘You’re already lucky to be dating me, young man.’
