Part Four

After a few minutes of silence Marc broached the business subject again.

                “I can help you…with the business stuff….it’s what I do.”

Isobel’s pride once again surfaced, “No.” It was firm and uncompromising and she kept her eyes trained on the road ahead.

                “Just listen,” he slowed to negotiate a hair pin bend. “Back at the club, that guy knew you were desperate, he had the upper hand. You need to take stock, come back at them bigger, better…”

She shook her head, “and all the while, with the other hand you’re taking my business from the café…I’m losing out on all counts.”

                “I’m not after your trade,” he sighed with earnest. “You run a hearty, homely café, on the flip side we’re a designer coffee shop...the two are completely different, we have different markets….I’ve done so much research. This is what I mean, I know business and marketing inside out, it’s what I’m good at. I can just help you, sort out a few contracts, check out your business plan. My advice is worth a fortune in other circles, I can make a difference. Give me a chance?”

Suddenly she felt emotional and very drained, she slumped into the seat letting go of all her tension, her head starting to loll as the car swung through the lanes, “ok.”

He chuckled, “I feel so special.”

She took a deep breath, “sorry I am extremely grateful.” Suddenly she remembered the adage that her friends had reminded her off the other week, if he was the enemy, then she had to keep him close. Maybe that meant hearing him out, seeing what he had planned for his business, and where he saw hers going.

Marc chuckled, willing to take any offering as a truce, “good…I may even get a drink as a reward?”

                “Don’t push it!”

Within a few minutes they entered the village and he pulled up outside Orla’s, promising to wait and drop them both home.

As she got back in the car with a sleepy Taylor, Marc was ending a call on his phone.

                “There’s a truck on its way out to get the car, the garage the other side of town will look at it tomorrow.” He accompanied the comment with a challenging grin, and Isobel sighed, she needed her car and he’d helped her out. With a genial smile, she looked at him, “thanks Marc, and I mean that. Is there anything you can’t do?”

He smiled at her, “make you like me even a little bit?”

It was her turn to chuckle, “I do like you, but you keep taking over!”

He laughed, “and you don’t like losing control.”

She was in the throes of preparing for the lunch rush the next morning when her phone rang. It was Marc.

                “I’m afraid the car’s going to be a while, they need to order some parts that may take a few days…so I’ve got someone to drop one of my cars to you, he should be dropping the keys into you shortly.”

Isobel gasped, “Marc! I can’t accept that.”
She could hear the tension rise in his voice as he said, “it’s just a loan of a spare car, don’t be so proud, or so stubborn.  I’m going now before you can change your mind.”

An hour later a small, grey-haired man came in and handed her a set of keys. She gasped later when she spotted the sleek saloon car that she’d been loaned, how would she ever cope with her falling apart old car after this?

Isobel was walking towards the school to collect Taylor when she spotted Marc’s Mercedes outside his coffee shop. She knew she’d seemed ungrateful for all that he had done for her, so she thought she should call in and thank him.

Peering through the window her heart raced as she saw him stood behind the counter talking to a woman, the glamorous blonde from the opening night. She was just about to push open the door, when the same woman, draped herself across him, and kissed him dramatically on the cheek. He looked down at her smiling, before he leaned down to whisper something in her ear, she burst into hysterical laughter.

Dazed and confused Isobel, drifted away from the shop and wandered to school, she’d thought Marc was interested in her, and she’d struggled with that, but now it seems she’d got it wrong. It was such a long time since she’d delved into more than friendship with someone, and she’d never been good at reading the signs before she’d got sucked into the relationship from hell. And that had drained her of any confidence that she possibly had left. So realistically she was glad that this wasn’t going any further with Marc. He was too worldly, too scary and too threatening. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

Later when she saw him across the car park at school she avoided eye contact. She needed to retreat, lick her wounds and regroup before she dealt with him again; she needed to rebuild those barriers that him caring about her, doing things for her had fallen by the wayside.

That evening with Taylor in bed fast asleep, Isobel got out all her business accounts and her original business plans. Whatever happened Marc had made her realise that she had become quite lethargic in terms of the business, she’d cruised along in her comfort zone, which is why she felt so threatened by the more recent competition. It was all so much clearer now. Instead of being scared she had to fight, build, grow. Marc was right.

She was on her third cup of coffee and six pages into a new business plan when there was a knock at the door. The silhouette at the door filled most of the frame, and before she opened the door she knew it was him.

                “Hi!” she offered nervously, “thanks for all your help with the car, I did try and thank you earlier…”He was wearing jeans and a v-neck soft sweater over a white t-shirt, it was the first time she’d seen him out of a suit and he still managed to appear imposing, dangerous.

He shrugged casually, “glad to be of help. I was hoping we could talk?”

She stepped back to let him in and he followed her into the lounge, “what did you want to talk about?” Vivid images of him and the blonde from his work were flashing through her head as she sat on the sofa; she found she was wringing her hands with anxiety.

He stood near the fireplace, “your business plan? Deals? I want to help you with things.”

She sighed half with relief, half disappointment, had she expected him to throw his arms around her? Anticipated a theatrical kiss? “Ah! Ironically, I’ve been sorting through things…”

With a smile Marc looked at her, “that sounds promising. Show me.”

She thought for a long moment, he could see the doubt crossing her face.

                “Iz, what is it? I thought we’d finally made a break through. I am not trying to steal your business or destabilise your life...I just think my years of experience may be of some help to you.”

She shrugged, “ok! Can I get you a coffee?”

He nodded, “black, no sugar.”

When she returned from the kitchen with two mugs, Marc was stood looking at the huge bookcase that dominated one wall of the cosy lounge.

                “You’re some reader hey?”

Handing him a mug, she nodded, “every spare minute I get! Do you read?”

                “There a lot of things I’ve not done because of being so busy. I’m hoping to change that...maybe you could recommend something?”

Suddenly she burst into life, “what do you like? History? Factual? Biographies?” By the time they settled down to look at her accounts, she’d selected a variety of books for him to borrow.

They sat for a few hours, discussing options, plans and expansions, the coffee turned to wine, turned to brandy. It was gone one am when they finally noticed the time.

                “I really should be going, I’m in London in the morning!” he exclaimed, stretching, thrusting his hands behind his head. “I can’t believe the time!”

She smiled, “sorry, if I wasn’t in such dire straits then you’d not have needed to be here so long!”

He shook his head, “I have been business orientated for far, far too long. Someone like yourself runs a business to live, so you aren’t singularly driven to maximize effort and output.” He accepted a top up of brandy. “The stuff I’ve given you is maybe far more than you want or need, but if you work through the plan methodically you can find the level you want. And keep the research figures, as I say there is more than enough room in this town for two very prosperous businesses.”

She took a long slug of brandy, “thanks for today, I do appreciate your help.”

                “My pleasure Isobel, and I am really pleased that we can have more than two sentences of conversation without us arguing.”

She laughed, “I’m nervous with new people, I don’t normally get involved.”

                “I’m new here, I just want to settle in, you know how hard it is meeting people when you’ve got kids.”

Nodding Isobel almost blushed, he was right and she’d read far too much into this, “I know, and I’m sorry I’ve been offish...I promise to make much more effort from now on, is that ok?”

He laughed, “I’ll believe it when I see it!” He slipped into his coat, “I left my car at the pub, which is fortunate,” he slipped the remaining papers into his briefcase. “After you plying me with so much alcohol I’ll have to walk back. Can you imagine the gossip if my car was parked outside your house all night?”

She groaned, “Is if far? To your house?”

He shrugged, “I’ve moved into my Grandfather’s place, Mac McCabe? Everyone here seems to know who he was!”

She laughed, “The whole town lived in fear of his anger! He was a grouchy old man. But we’ve all been intrigued too, watching the builders come in and out!”

He placed a hand over his eyes,                “the place was dreadful, costing a fortune to make it liveable, but it is a lovely building in a beautiful place!”

                “The convenience of being miles from town, it’ll take you ages to walk there,” she commented.

“I’ll be fine, and anyway, I can do with the fresh air!”

She watched him until he’d disappeared from view, then spent a long time trying to get to sleep.

Over the next few weeks she had several formal meetings with him, he pushed her on a few contracts, making her stick to her guns, not sway where her emotions and need for safety made her want to give in. Exactly three weeks after her breakdown, in so many ways, at the cricket club, she had secured two contracts for two council offices and a large finance company. He predicted that it would double her profits within a year, though she knew she’d have to increase her work force in some way to cope with the work, either that or she’d never see Taylor.

Another month later she had confirmation of the final contract at the price he had suggested, she was euphoric and her first instinct was to call him. It was midday, and he answered his mobile within three rings.

                “Hi Marc, it’s Isobel.”

There was a slight hesitation before he spoke, “Wow! I never thought I’d ever see the day that you phoned me…what can I do for you?”

                “Are you trying to make me hang up?” she replied a little snippily, but they both chuckled at her attempts to be angry.

                “Oh no! Definitely not!”

She took a deep breath, “I just wanted to thank you for all your help, the last contract was confirmed this morning, and it would never have happened without you.”

                “I’m really glad for you Iz, that’s great news.”

                “Well like I say, I really wanted to thank you for everything.”

He chuckled, “that’s no problem, but you could do me a favour back?”

                “A favour?” She groaned, that was what she didn’t want to hear. “What?”

                “Come out for a drink with me; help me integrate into the town? I’ve barely had chance to meet the locals since I’ve moved here, you can introduce me?”

She hesitated for a minute.

                “Isobel, please before you say no, just remember that we’ve become friends, haven’t we? Can’t two mates head to a pub for a couple of drinks?”

                “Ok, let me try and get a sitter.”

                “Tonight?”

She thought for a minute, “I should be ok; if I can’t get a sitter I’ll call you back.”