Chapter 19

Wednesday 3rd June 2008

Amelia didn’t want to open her eyes; being curled up against Clay’s broad chest was warm, cosy, safe. The previous evening had ended later than planned, Li had been wild, running on adrenaline, and Amelia as usual was dragged along behind at breakneck speed. They’d finished several bottles of champagne, all the while Li insisted on holding the selection of helium filled balloons she’d brought from the book launch.

After an hour Amelia had grabbed her, “what the hell is the matter with you? You’re wild tonight, even by your whacky standards!”

Daichi nudged his girlfriend, “tell her!”

Li turned to her with a grin, “my book has been entered into the National Book Awards, I found out this evening. Guess where the ceremony is?”

Amelia shrugged, “I can’t imagine.”

                “New York bloody City! That’s where! So in six weeks, I’m coming out to see you! How cool is that?”

The rest of the night passed in a blur and both her and Clay were grateful to finally leave, their flight was the following morning. It was only as they were leaving that Li made a reference to ‘us’ coming to New York, and for the first time Amelia had the sneaky suspicion that she was referring to more than just Daichi and herself. Nope she was talking about publishers, Helena...and probably Sol.

Thursday 4th June 2008

Jetlag had plagued her all day, and Amelia was struggling to see five o’clock. At ten minutes to, there was a tap on the door and she looked up to see Clay leaning against the doorframe.

                “Got a minute?”

Smiling she nodded, “of course boss!” She watched him cross the room and perch on the edge of the desk.

                “I’ve had Marc Freeman on the phone.”

She digested the bizarre comment; Marc ran a similar almost rival business on a much grander scale to them across the street. “Really? What did he want?”

Clay looked a little awkward and took a deep breath before he spoke, “he wants you...for his business that is.”

She could feel her jaw drop, her mouth open in shock as she tried to work out what that meant.

                “We’d be compensated, of course, but hey, we headhunted you...a lot of people have been watching your performance.” He sighed, “It’s not the first offer I’ve had.”

                “But you want to get rid of me? Now?”

Clay’s laugh was warm, “oh no! But it would make things easier, I’m not concentrating knowing you’re at the end of the corridor, and I figure that if this between us goes any further...well working and playing together could make Jack a very knackered and distracted boy.”

                 “I don’t know what to say...” that was no lie. She was stunned to put it mildly. “Why didn’t you tell me about the other offers too? Clay?”

He sighed, “You are so modest you don’t seem to realise that people are talking about the impact you’re having. You’re the biggest prospect here, and you have created interest. I’ve been quite smug in those meetings. But this offer is bigger, they’re a huge company, it’ll be a big move for you...”

                “Can I think about it?”

He nodded, “don’t think I want you to go. But it may be the best solution for so many reasons. If you do decided you want to speak to Marc, then I’ll organise a meeting.”

Amelia was in a daze as she made her way home, so much had happened the last few weeks, even the last few days, that she was honestly finding it hard to keep in touch with reality. Stripping off into her pyjamas she ordered a pizza and made a chocolate milkshake.

Turning on the TV, she flicked through the dozens of channels trying to find something that wasn’t a rerun of Friends. Finally she found Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, a real blast from the past. She’d loved this film, especially Will Scarlet, whilst everyone was falling in love with Kevin Costner; Amelia had definitely been a Christian Slater fan!  It was mindless watching, and exactly what she needed. Drama, romance and the very funny Alan Rickman.

Amelia was thinking about turning in for the night, hoping that tomorrow brought a fresher and less disruptive day when there was a knock at the door.

Swinging open the front door, she saw Clay stood there, looking as exhausted as she felt.

                “Hey!”  She reached up and gave him a welcoming kiss on the lips and was rewarded with a sigh as he pulled her into his arms.

When they finally pulled apart, she led him into the apartment, “are you ok?”

He nodded, taking her face in his hands, “I was feeling awful, purely because I landed that on you so out of the blue today. I didn’t want you to think that I was throwing you out...I just think it’s a good move for us both, for the future.”

Smiling she kissed him back as he dropped his mouth to hers, “I agree,” she eventually managed. “I’ve thought about it and realised I was a bit rash earlier.

                “Rash?” he asked, sliding his hands under her pyjama vest, his hands were warm on her skin. “Amelia Parkin being rash? I don’t believe that!”

His lips found her earlobe and then her neck and she reached to push his suit jacket over her shoulders, and tore his shirt free of his trousers.  He shuddered visibly when her nails scraped over his skin, and he lifted her up into his arms, and opened the bedroom door as her legs wrapped around his waist.

Monday 15th June 2008

She couldn’t quite believe that she was a) leaving Clay’s company in less than two weeks and b) that she was about to start earning the six figure salary that had been bandied around the last week or so. And that was a basic salary. But she was, she did...it was all real. It meant she had roughly ten days to sort out all her loose ends, and ensure that Clay wasn’t too unsettled by her departure. She was then taking a few weeks off before she started her new job. She felt she deserved some time to herself. She’d worked hard since she left university; she was going to take her foot off the gas for a couple of weeks recharge her very fraught battery. Part of that would hopefully be a holiday with Li.

Marilyn was also organising a leaving party, it was meant to be a surprise, but Amelia was astute, she didn’t miss the subterfuge between her and the other office staff. But she played along. It was the first time that she’d ever had a party thrown for her like this, well since she was a small child and her mother was still alive. So she kept quiet and chuckled to herself as everyone tiptoed around trying to ‘secretly’ set things up.

Personally she and Clay were getting along better than ever, but the prospect of some regular time away from him was a positive thing, she could see that now.  Li was busy touring Britain signing her book back home, but she was coming to the award ceremony in July, and the two of them had promised themselves a holiday. At the moment she knew not where, the child in her fancied Florida, the adult seeking calm was hankering after an adult only resort in Hawaii. Either way, they both deserved it, and she was excited at the thought.

Friday 26th June 2008

Here was Amelia tying up loose ends, closing files on clients and preparing to move for the second time in just over six months. Today being her last day, she was being taken out for lunch by Clay; she knew that it was partly to formally thank her for her time, her effort and energies, but also to allow the others to sort out the party in her absence.

He took her to La Maison a new French restaurant that had rapidly become their favourite. Sitting opposite her he seemed deep in thought.

                “What are you thinking?” she asked as she devoured her Moules Marinière expertly.

Clay sighed lowering his knife and fork, “just wondering if things will be the same once you’re under Freeman’s rule.”

She smiled a happy and genuine expression, “Of course it won’t be the same! I’m going to become your equal for the first time...that may be a little difficult for you to deal with,” she gave him a very seductive smile, “but I assure you I only improve with power!”

His eyes flared and she could see the flash of desire at her words, “you are such a devil Amelia Parkin, this is supposed to be a work dinner! But that is a fact you will most definitely have to prove to me later.” He placed his hands behind his head in a lazy gesture, “and I plan on enjoying every moment.”

They held hands on the way back to the office, the conversation light and happy. But as they approached the reception they broke the contact. Their relationship any have been office speculation, but they were in no mood to fuel that fire.

As they exited the lift and arrived at the entrance to the offices, Clay stepped back allowing her to enter first.

                “SURPRISE!”

Despite knowing about the party, the extent of the celebration overwhelmed her. The whole of the office in the last ninety minutes had been turned into a party zone, balloons and streamers draped the corridor between the individual offices, there were trays of wine and orange juice laid out on Marilyn’s desk, plates of nibbles on any other available surface. There were twenty something members of staff linked to the company, and all of them were gathered smiling waiting for her response.

Her hand had covered her mouth automatically, and breaking into a smile she offered, “Oh my God you guys! I wasn’t expecting this. Thank you!”

Clay’s hand had appeared in the small of her back, so she looked up at him. Smiling he replied, “We wanted you to know that we will all miss you. You may have only been here seven months, but you have impacted on these offices greatly.” 

She beamed at the expectant faces, “I am so touched you guys, I really am!” They expected a speech, but she was very understated, thanking them all for welcoming her so openly, and to Clay for allowing her this opportunity. Then graciously she told them how she’d miss them all, then she was swamped in hugs and kisses.

The soiree lasted until finish time, and several of the younger members of the office went to a nearby pub.  After a few more drinks Amelia kissed everyone again, then gathered up her flowers, her gifts, and headed back to her apartment. She’d barely opened the door when Clay caught up with her and bowled her over, dragging her into bed to check out her earlier claims.

Sunday 4th July 2008

                “So what does independence Day in New York mean?” Amelia asked Clay who was still curled up under his duvet. She was untangling her damp hair wet from her shower.

Without opening his eyes he grinned, “Well there is a lot to do! Depends what your interests are. Tonight I have organised us something rather special.”

She paused in her actions to look at him, “and what might that be?” Eyes still closed he tapped a finger to his nose in an ‘it’s a secret’ motion. Hating being kept in suspense, she picked up a pillow and threw it at him.

Finally he popped open his eyes, “ok impatient wench! We are going to one of the piers, to a barbeque party; it gives us a close up view of the best fireworks display you will ever see!”

She dropped onto the bed next to him, “I LOVE fireworks!”

That was obviously the desired response as with a grin he started to explain in great detail about the display that every year seemed to get better, launched from barges on the Hudson River. His enthusiasm was contagious.

                “My first 4th July party!” she announced, “sounds SO exciting!”

He chuckled, reaching for the towel that covered her, and dragging her back under the duvet, “and the best thing is, the party can start now?”

With a grin she reciprocated.

Later that evening she watched the most extensive fireworks display she’d ever seen as they drank champagne and ate beautiful food on a floating restaurant she took a moment to appreciate how dramatically her life had changed in the last year, for the better. And with Clay’s arms wrapped around her, she knew she could take whatever the following week brought, even if that meant seeing Sol again. The next day Li arrived for Thursday’s awards, and then they flew to Hawaii on Friday.