She told me she had a series of meetings that would keep her out of the office all day, but she was using a pool car to get around. I asked her to check in with me every couple of hours.
She laughed and agreed. “You really are my knight in shining armour, aren’t you?”
“Please, just do it, otherwise I’ll have to come looking for you. And that won’t be pleasant,” I lowered my voice, trying to whisper. Mackenzie sniggered beside me.
“Is he with you now? Did you just say that in front of him? Oh my God, Alex,” she said, giggling.
“Just call me, okay? I don’t do worry very well.”
She promised she would, and we disconnected the call.
“How’s that going?” Mackenzie asked.
“What part?” I sighed in response.
“The,getting her to do what you wantpart. Or the,are we in a relationshippart?”
I laughed. “You know her so well, you tell me. I don’t know, she’s so independent that I struggle with that. I’ve never met anyone like her before. As forare we in a relationship, I don’t know, Mackenzie, I can’t tell.” I stopped to face him.
“She thinks you are, so if you’re not, you ought to tell her that,” he said. His voice was kind but firm, and I appreciated that.
“What happens when she leaves?” I asked, not looking at him, but over his shoulder.
“Leaves for where?”
“Home. What happens when she leaves for home and I’ve fallen for her?”
He frowned and there was a look of incredulity in his eyes. “She won’t. Or you go with her. Are you holding back because you think she’s going to leave?”
“Does she think I’m holding back?”
He shook his head, his exasperation showing. “I don’t know. Jesus, Alex, you Brits sure are complicated. Just go with the flowOld Chumand see what happens. She certainly hasn’t mentioned any plans to return home anytime soon.”
Although I was pleased with that knowledge, I still had the thought stuck inside my mind and I knew it both held me back and would be to my detriment.
“You’ve been together a few months now, maybe it’s time to sit and have a chat about where you’re going,” he said. He checked his watch and then raised his hand for a taxi. “In the meantime, I have a session with your cousin.” He grinned and stepped out into the traffic whistling as if he was on Broadway.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Catch up later,” I said, and walked off. I knew there was a taxi rank just around the corner, which is why all the drivers were ignoring Mackenzie. I would make a point to wave to him as I drove past.
* * *
We were busy for the next few days; contracts needed to be renewed for not just employment, but Mackenzie and I were off to the Ministry of Defence for numerous meetings. It was arduous being surrounded bypompous shits, as Mackenzie called them, but that was when my title could be used. I knew people, bosses of bosses and colleagues. It always paid to ask after people when meetings were not necessarily going my way. After a tiresome week, we walked away not only with the existing contract, but a new one for communications equipment for battle ships.
“I haven’t seen you in days,” Gabriella said when I answered her call. She drew out the word,days.
“I know. It’s been one of those weeks so far. How are you doing at home?” I asked. I wasn’t sure how long she wanted her time alone to reconnect with her house.
“All fine here,” she replied. She then asked how our meetings went and squealed when I told her we had a contract renewal.
The military contract wasn’t just a lucrative one, but it opened doors to sell the same equipment to other countries, and that was where we wanted to head.
“What are you doing now?” I asked.
“Weeding the garden so don’t be starting your naughty chat,” she said, and then laughed.
“Sounds dirty, and I like dirty,” I replied. “I missed you this week.”
She quietened. “You can come on over for dinner if you like.”
