Jay turned over and thumped his pillow in frustration. He certainly didn’t want to lose Emma and knew he’d have to find some way of making her feel more appreciated, while also notlosing sight of his career plans. Somehow he would have to find a way to fit it all in and keep everyone happy.
Chapter Fourteen
When Emma was sure that Jay had left the flat, she got out of bed and had a shower, which made her feel a little less hungover. As she made coffee she took some paracetamol, hoping to dispel the headache, which was still lingering. Then she made herself some toast, knowing that she had to eat something even though she didn’t feel like it.
As she was buttering the toast, a text message came in. It was Jay saying sorry for last night and asking if she wanted to go out for dinner later. She frowned at the message. Although she was glad for the apology, she was a little disappointed that he didn’t know she was working. She always wrote her shifts down on the calendar in the kitchen, so he obviously hadn’t taken the time to find out what she was doing. Then again, perhaps she was just being over-sensitive. She texted him back to say she was sorry too, but she was working tonight so they’d have to go out another time.
When her phone rang a few minutes later, her first thought was that it was Jay. She really didn’t feel like a conversation with him, so she was relieved to see Liz’s name flash up on the screen.
‘Liz, hi. How are you? Are you feeling better?’
‘Much,’ Liz said to her relief. ‘In fact I’ve got some good news to tell you.’
‘You have? What’s that?’ Emma had been beginning to think Liz had something seriously wrong with her, so she was pleased that the news was good.
‘I’m pregnant.’
‘You’re pregnant?’ Emma repeated, stunned. Then the penny dropped. ‘So that’s why you’ve been feeling so rotten recently. It wasn’t a virus?’
‘No it wasn’t, and, Em, I really sorry I lied to you. Alex and I didn’t want anyone to know until I was past the twelve-week mark and we knew everything was progressing normally.’
‘Yes, I can understand that. Liz, I’m really happy for you both,’ Emma said, although part of her felt a little hurt that her friend hadn’t confided in her, and had, in fact, deliberately gone out of her way to deceive her.
‘I’m so glad, Em. You wouldn’t believe what a relief it is to be able to tell you. I’ve hated all the deceit. And I’m really sorry that I asked Jay to keep it from you too. I had to tell him because of work, but I’ve been really sensitive about anyone else knowing.’
‘Of course you had to tell him. You work so closely together, and it would have been difficult to keep it from him as you were feeling so poorly,’ Emma said. She might feel hurt, but she was still determined to be a good friend. At least that explained why Jay had been so secretive recently.
As she walked into the hotel a few hours later, Emma’s headache was still lingering. She was dreading work today. She hated it when her boss was on an earlier shift, and wondered if she spent the time working out new ways to torture her. Those afternoons were always the worst and Emma wasn’t sure she could cope with the mind games today. They had a big function on later that afternoon for a seventieth birthday party. Heather was supposed to be running it, but Emma anticipated that, as was often the case, her boss would have left it for her to do the donkey work in setting it up. After that they had an awards evening for over a hundred people. It was going to be a busy day. But it was her own fault. She should never have gone out last night. She also hoped she wouldn’t bump into Nick as the thought of seeing him again made her feel uneasy. As she reached the office door, she pinned a smile to her face, and walked in.
The smile faded as Heather looked up from her desk and glared at her. What had she done now?
‘Oh, so you’re here, are you?’ Heather looked pointedly at her watch.
‘I’m not due in until two. It’s only quarter to,’ Emma replied, her hangover making her less patient than normal.
‘And yet you know how busy we are.’
‘Just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll get on with it,’ Emma snapped. ‘Just like I always do.’
‘There’s no need to take that attitude. I’m your line manager and I deserve some respect. I’ve a good mind to report you to the senior management team.’
‘Report me for what? Being fifteen minutes early for work?’
‘No, for your general attitude towards someone who is trying to teach you to be a good manager. You’ve come in fresh from a few years at college and think you know everything. Well, I’m not going to put up with your abusive behaviour.’
‘Myabusive behaviour?’ Emma asked, shocked at the accusation.
‘Youmight try to pass things off as banter, but it goes much deeper than that. What’s banter to you is really hurtful to others.’
Emma frowned. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Had Heather finally lost the plot?
‘Does the name “wicked witch” mean anything to you?’
‘Wicked witch?’ And then the penny dropped. The name that had been bandied about in the pub. And while she had laughed with the others, she hadn’t brought it up in the first place. Was it her fault Heather made herself so disagreeable to everyone that they retaliated?
‘Ah, yes, so it’s true. I can tell by the look on your face. You know exactly what I’m talking about.’
‘Yes, but it wasn’t me who—’
