Bodhi shrugged. “It’s a tough business. Big competition. And you waste your time on those kids – they’re not exactly money spinners.”
I turned back to the computer screen and kept scrolling through the business account. “What are these withdrawals, though?”
“Oh, that was just for those boards we ordered.”
My eyebrows went up. “The boards? I chose them and they were way under this amount. Jesus, there are other withdrawals as well.” I felt my eyes getting wider the further I scrolled back through the account. Even with my horrific maths skills I could see that Bodhi had been making withdrawals like this for three months now – ever since he told me he’d take over balancing the books so I could concentrate on the practical side of the business. The only reason I was checking up at all was because I really needed that new kit for the kids now and he’d told me, again, the business couldn’t afford it, which sounded odd seeing as we were busier than ever. I stood up from my chair and turned towards Bodhi so we were facing each other. He held my eyes for a moment, then looked away.
“There were loads of expenses that you have no clue about,” he said defensively. “We needed all kinds of shit, and that electrician the other day was a right rip-off.”
“My brother recommended that guy, and I know exactly how much he cost. It was nowhere near being a rip-off, and it’s nowhere near the amount missing from this account. Oh God.” I felt the colour drain from my face and swayed on my feet, feeling almost lightheaded for a moment. “That van outside. The brand new one that you’ve been driving. It’s not a mate’s like you said, is it?”
Bodhi’s expression twisted and his chin lifted to a stubborn angle. “So what? I spent alittlebit of our profits. I can’t live on air and trundle around on a bloody bike and a clapped-out disaster of a van like you, can I?”
“B–but you always said money didn’t matter to you. You agreed we should plough any profits back into the business. You’re a minimalist, a free spirit – possessions just tie you down – that’s what you told me. I–”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” he snapped. “I spouted all that bullshit so you would bring me in as a partner to the business. Nobody thinks possessions are pointless, Yaz. That’s a line. Okay?”
“Right. A line.” My voice seemed far away now, like it wasn’t quite my own. All my hard work and I’d still managed to mess this up. My parents were right. Heath was right. I was simply not clever enough, responsible enough, enough of anything really to run my own business. It was stupid to even try. All I’d done was line the pockets of this arsehole. He huffed in the background and scuffed his feet on the floor.
“Listen, we just need to bring in a lot more this month and then we can even everything out – afford the equipment.”
“And the rent. You forgot about the rent.” There was such a shortfall that I couldn’t see us managing to cover it this month. Not unless I went to my parents or Max, which I would rather die than do in this circumstance.
“Listen, the rent won’t matter if you agree to Brazil.”
“Bodhi, if you think I will ever agree to go anywhere with you after this, you’re delusional.”
“Be honest!” he snapped. “You were never going to agree to it anyway. You just strung me along.”
“No, no I don’t suppose I was.” As I spoke those words I realised that I was never really considering Brazil seriously. It had sounded like an easy way out for a while, like a way to escape, but it would never have been the right thing to do. I was too invested in the business. And, if I was honest with myself, I would miss my family. I would miss Heath. “But compared to you I’m as honest as the day is long. You’ve been lying to me from the beginning. How on earth are we getting out of this mess?”
“You’ll just have to take that group out that I told you about.”
“What group?”
“The stag party? That billionaire dude? They’re willing to pay a huge amount as long as it’s extreme water sports and as long as you…” he trailed off, then mumbled the rest into his hand.
“As long as I what?”
“As long as you wear a bikini.”
“What are you on about?” I said, but a knot had already formed in my stomach as Bodhi shifted uncomfortably again and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I may have sent them some images of you on the beach doing your thing. They were quite specific that they want you to lose the wetsuit.”
“Like a–a–a stripper?” My voice was completely hollow now. I had sunk to rock bottom. Bodhi sighed.
“You’re in a bikini all the time. What’s the diff?” I opened my mouth to tell him exactly whatthe diffwas, but he slapped a invoice into my hand before I could speak. The number on it was totally ridiculous. I closed my eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath in through my mouth, letting it out through my nose.
“If I do this, I’ll give you a cut – and then you’reout.No contesting. No claiming any part of the business.”
“Wait a minute. You can’t–”
“We haven’t signed the partnership agreement yet Bodhi, and let’s face it – Iamthe business. If I walk, you’ll have nothing left. You’ll be bankrupt by the end of the month.”
His face flushed red and his mouth twisted. How had I ever thought he was attractive?
“Fine,” he snapped, turning on his heel and storming out of the studio, but not without throwing a “fucking bitch” back at me as he left. I looked down at the invoice and sighed.
