‘We’re definitely getting there.’ She told him about their staffing plans. ‘And if we can get new staff in place, Jay is keen to negotiate the contract renewal for Diva’s.’
‘Oh, that’s good. I was thinking we’d have to find another company and that’s really a hassle we don’t need at the moment. But if Jay is happy to go ahead.’
‘Well, there would need to be certain conditions,’ Liz said carefully. She didn’t want to mention anything about costings yet, not even to Alex. She needed to get the figures together first to back up their proposals.
‘You mean Tia.’
Liz nodded. ‘I don’t know what she’s up to, but I think we could all do without her mind games.’
‘She is being very elusive but we do need to get this sorted. I’ll arrange a meeting date to discuss the contract renewal and if Tia can’t commit to it then Roberto and I will go ahead without her.’
Liz sighed. ‘I don’t mean to sound awful, but if Tia wasn’t around it would make things a lot easier.’
‘I know, but don’t count your chickens.’
‘Oh, where Tia’s concerned I don’t count on anything. How was your day?’
‘Not as good as yours, I’m afraid. The estate agent contacted me earlier.’
‘Not good news then?’ Although a revised offer on the house in Holland Park had been accepted and the survey done, they were still no nearer to exchanging contracts, let alone completing.
‘It’s not. Apparently there’s a delay further down the chain, which is holding everything up. The way everyone is dragging their heels, I can’t see us getting in there before the little one is born.’
Liz sighed. ‘Well, maybe that’s for the best. Maybe we should wait until after the baby arrives and take our time instead of rushing.’
‘As long as you’re happy with that.’
‘Of course I am. It’s not as though we’re living in a hovel, is it?’
‘No. But it’s not what you wanted.’
‘Well, I have you, and hopefully a healthy baby, so I haven’t got much to complain about.’
‘No, neither of us have.’ He leaned down to kiss her. ‘Now, you sit there and relax while I cook you dinner.’
She appreciated how lucky she was. ‘Sounds good to me. I’m starving.’
‘You’re always starving.’
‘It’s not me, it’s the little one.’
‘That makes a nice change from the start of your pregnancy.’ A frown creased his forehead fleetingly. ‘All I want now is a happy and healthy wife and baby.’
‘Me too.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
Liz shifted on the chair she was sitting on in Diva’s restaurant. She had barely slept last night, the baby had been so active. She was twenty-eight weeks pregnant now and felt huge. Her back ached and her ankles were swollen. At least she had an appointment with the midwife next week. She had so many questions, the most important being, was it normal to feel so uncomfortable all of the time? It had taken three weeks to set up the meeting for the contract renewal with Tia and the last thing she needed now was to be waiting around for the woman to bother to show up.
Roberto looked at his watch and tutted. ‘If she’s not here in five minutes, I suggest we start the meeting without her.’
Alex nodded. ‘I completely agree. Are you okay, Liz?’
‘Yes, I’m fine.’ Liz smiled at him, even though she felt anything but. She was grateful that there were no functions until the weekend.
The door opened and Tia breezed through it.
‘Hello, everyone.’ She spoke without a hint of an apology in her voice.
