Page 38 of Take a Moment

‘I really want to.’ Sasha sounds despondent. ‘I just don’t know how.’

As she says this, I feel genuinely saddened. Sasha’s spent the last seven or so years putting her life on hold to look after her mum – all for nothing. She’s the most genuine, caring person I’ve ever met and she’s been completely taken advantage of. And for what? So her mum could live a lazy, selfish life, and keep her daughter from moving on and living her own.

With these thoughts swimming round my mind, I realise I’ve been a bit selfish too. I’ve been so focused on restarting my life on my terms, I’ve forgotten my best friend needs me. My support is everything to her, as much as her being able to support me. A two-way relationship – as it should be. I also realise that I really miss Sasha. She’s the only person I can truly rely on, and I want her back in my life properly, just like before.

‘You know what?’ I say to her suddenly. ‘You can work up to having it out with her. Take it one step at a time. First thing you need to do is come down and visit – in the next few weeks. Leave her on her own for a weekend and let her fend for herself. We can catch up, make a weekend of it, and you can see if you actually like it here before you make any kind of decision.’

‘Oh, Lex, really?’ Sasha sounds encouraged at this suggestion. ‘Are you sure? You might find it too tiring so soon into your new job. Not because you have MS, but because everyone gets exhausted in a new job,’ she rushes to add.

‘I’m sure. I’ll be settled properly in a few weeks. And while you’re down we can work out how you’re going to handle your mum.’

‘That would be amazing. Thanks, Lex.’

I’m pleased to hear Sasha’s spirits lift. ‘OK, great. Plan sorted – can’t wait. Now go and book your tickets, and let me get my dinner before I keel over from day-one exhaustion.’

Chapter 14

By the end of my second week at Fletcher & Co, I’m getting my bearings and the real work has started. We’re finishing up our final meeting of the day: a virtual meeting with our German, French and Spanish project teammates, with whom we’ve been completing a full walkthrough of the project plan.

‘OK, everyone,’ I address my teammates in the room, as well as those who have joined via the video call system, ‘I think that’s everything for today. Thanks for all your input. We’re making good progress. Have a great weekend and I’ll talk to you again next week.’

There’s a chorus of thanks and goodbyes, some of them expressed in their own languages. I end the video call and turn to my colleagues.

‘I think that went well for a first walkthrough. What do you think?’

‘It was good,’ says Felix. ‘I am seeing now how I can align the change plan to your project plan.’

‘I’m much clearer too.’ Dhruv nods agreement.

‘Great.’ I smile at them. ‘That’s what I was hoping to hear.’

‘Actually, I think there are some key tasks missing from the plan,’ Danielle pipes up in her syrupy voice.

My senses go into high alert at this suggestion. ‘Really? I thought we covered everything at the workshop earlier this week.’

‘You haven’t included some of the key reporting elements in the plan.’ Danielle purses her lips in a way that tells me she’s withheld this information on purpose.

I study her for a moment. ‘Right. And did we cover them at the workshop?’

‘I did mention them. But I’m not sure you were listening.’

I pause for a moment to stop myself having an immediate (and probably unhelpful) reaction to this statement. Even if Danielle did bring up these points – which I’m certain she did not – she had every opportunity to cover them during the call we just had. She’s trying to undermine me again to weaken my credibility. I can tell she’s looking for a reaction, but there’s no way I’m giving her the satisfaction. Instead, I calmly type a reminder into my laptop, then close it down.

‘OK, thanks for flagging that, Danielle. I’ve set a reminder for Monday. We can sit down and ensure that everything is included.’

‘No problem. Happy to help.’ Danielle flashes me one of her ‘sincere’ smiles that I can see through better than a freshly cleaned window.

‘So, are we hitting the pub?’ Dhruv asks, just as Emmanuel appears through the meeting room door.

‘We are indeed.’ She grins broadly at us all. ‘You lot definitely deserve to let your hair down after such a productive week. I’m amazed you’ve almost got the project plan nailed down already.’

‘Credit for that has to go to Alex.’ Dhruv aims finger guns at me. ‘She’s quite the machine – in a good way, I mean.’

From his face, I can tell he’s just realised the possible connotations of his remark.

‘I can see the compliment in that, don’t worry,’ I reassure him. ‘And it’s been a team effort, all right? There wouldbeno plan if it weren’t for the hard work you all put in.’

My team members all beam as I say this, pleased to have their efforts recognised. That is, all of them except Danielle, who I catch subtly rolling her eyes. I’m not the only one to clock this; Emmanuel does too.

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