“Yes.” He batted away a couple of midges, coming in too close to his face. “You?”
“Saturday . . . thought I’d have a lazy one. Watch a movie.”
“And after that? I mean, the rest of the week?” He’d tried to sound casual, but he saw her stiffen.
“What do you mean?”
He pushed against the riverbed with his pole. “I just think it must be boring for you. Being in the flat all day.”
“I’m not in it all day, I go out.”
“Yes, but you were—are—always so ambitious. When you were at the agency. . .” He smiled at her.
She was silent for a moment. “Do you think I’m sponging?”
“No—”
“It’s just I can’t really pay you any rent at the moment, you know that.”
“I don’t want you to—”
“Bills are hard too.”
“I know, it’s okay—”
“But I do help out with groceries.” She looked at him, her eyes defensive, hurt.
Daniel was squirming. He didn’t really want this dissection of their domestic life, and was beginning to regret bringing up the subject.
“I’ll change that. Starting next month.”
She sounded determined, but the look on her face was one of resignation. He had no idea what she was talking about.
“I’ve been offered a job,” she explained.
He stopped punting and looked at her in delight. “Wow! You have? What is it? Why didn’t you say?”
“Because it’s not great. Only assistant, not full agent, and the money’s not much. I was going to keep looking, but—”
“Don’t take it.”
She looked at him in quiet exasperation. “I think, in light of what we’ve just discussed, I should.”
“No, please. There’s no rush. It was just that I was thinking . . . you’re smart, you obviously want to do something with your life, and it must be sofrustratinghanging around . . . when you’re not out, that is.” He was aware he was now ignoring the notion that she was taking advantage of living in his flat.
Cherry sat up and took his hands. “I really think I should. At least as a stopgap. I’ve got another idea.... I wasn’t going to tell you yet, not until I have it all worked out, but I’ve been thinkingof setting up a company. But until then, if I take this job, I could afford to pay you a thousand a month. I know it’s not much—”
He put a finger to her lips, embarrassed for putting her on the spot. Ashamed too, because, strictly speaking, he didn’t pay for his apartment either; it had been bought by his father. And here she was offering up what would be half—probably more than half—of her salary from a job she was too bright for and didn’t want.
“I don’t want to hear another word about it. More to the point, what’s this company?”
She paused. “You sure?”
“Yes. Now come on, spill.”
“Well, it’s still early days, but with my knowledge of property . . . I think there’s still money to be made in renovation.”
“I’ll invest in you.”
