Page 7 of Best Mistake Ever
I see his body language change as my words appear to have an impact on him. I use this to press my advantage. ‘I swear I won’t let this affect the business.’ I cross my fingers in my lap, hoping to God my sister’s actions won’t make a liar out of me.
‘Fine. Go and do her job for her. All I’m saying is, keep in mind you’ve got your own life to live. You can’t live hers too.’
‘I know. I hear what you’re saying. Thanks, Jem. Seriously. I really appreciate your understanding,’ I say, a mixture of relief and apprehension rushing through me.
I stand up and make for the door, feeling the lack of time pressing in on me.
I don’t look back at Jem as I leave. I daren’t.
In the car, I smooth down the skirt belonging to Dee that I’ve already changed into, trying to squash my nerves into a manageable low hum.
She assured me that I’ll probably not even see Jonah Jacobson today. She thinks he’ll be too busy hanging out with his friend, whose event it is, to notice me busying about behind the scenes.
But I don’t have time to worry about that right now. I need to get going.
So instead, I take a breath and mentally cross everything that she’s right and I’m not about to walk headlong into a disaster of my own.
4
JONAH
She’s late.
Which is really bloody frustrating.
This is the one thing she promised me would never happen. But it appears I’ve been taken for a fool by a woman who had me convinced she just needed one more chance to show she was taking her role here seriously, despite a voice in the back of my head telling me not to believe a word she said.
What the hell is wrong with me? You’d think after the humiliating shitshow I went through with Tessa, I’d have learnt my lesson about trusting the things women tell me.
I’m ashamed to say that in my desperation to get the position filled quickly and things back on track after Tessa left, I only glanced at Delilah’s CV before I met her at the interview and didn’t follow up on her references. When she turned up, confidently promising she’d do a stellar job, I just hired her on the spot. She has a knockout smile and that day, I just needed someone around who had both positivity and agency.
I’ve regretted it since though.
The way she full-on flirts with me, not to mention theincidentthe other day, makes me think she’s intent on securing more than just a job here.
But I can’t have a relationship with my Events Manager. It would be way too tacky. People are bound to see it as a desperate move to even things up with my ex.
They already think I’m a massive loser after that bloody meme went viral.
Anyway, there’s no way I’m launching into anything new so soon after what happened with Tessa. Mixing business and pleasure is a sure-fire way to implode your life – I’m living proof of that.
But I can’t think about that right now.
I have a job to do.
This investor meeting we’re hosting for my friend, Harry, today needs to go without a hitch. It’s not only vital he comes out looking good, especially after all the support he’s given me in the last year, but it’s imperative for my own self-worth: to prove to myself I’m capable of successfully running things here on my own.
Unfortunately, today that involves Delilah pulling her finger out and making sure nothing goes wrong – as everything else under her supervision seems to have done so far. It’s not been too much of a problem up to this point as they’ve only been small events and easy fixes, but if she doesn’t do a good job today, she’s going to have to go. No matter how much work that’ll make for me in the short term.
I have to be able to trust my staff.
Just as I’m thinking this, I see her car coming down the drive and pulling into the staff car park.
Finally.
I watch her as she gets out. Her movements seem a little rushed and panicky, as if she’s afraid I’m watching out forher. I’m guessing she’s hoping I won’t notice her late entrance though and just breeze in here in her usual carefree way.
Despite my irritation, I can’t help but admire her long-legged, graceful gait as she makes for the staff entrance to the hotel that will bring her right past my office door. She’s a snappy dresser and today she’s wearing a slim, pencil skirt and a fitted leather jacket with a long, chunky scarf draped round her neck.
