Page 20 of First Impressions
‘No, I don’t mind working tonight,’ Anna said hesitantly. ‘I was just wondering where I’d be staying. Do I need to book a hotel?’
Daniel roared with laughter. ‘Don’t be daft. I’ve got a five-bedroomed house and you can take your pick of the spare bedrooms.’
‘Oh!’ she said in surprise. He’d told her before he had a house in Cheshire but she didn’t think it would be that big, especially when he only visited every other weekend.
‘When Lucinda moved back here with Ben, I ended up staying in hotels. It didn’t feel as though I could spend proper time with him like that, so I bought a house and made it a home from home. He’s got all his own stuff there so it makes it a little easier.’
‘That’s very thoughtful of you,’ Anna said. She wondered how much of a different side she would see to Daniel this weekend. From the way he talked about Ben, there was no doubt he loved his son very much.
‘Well, my split from his mother wasn’t amicable at first, but we realised how much our animosity was affecting Ben and had to sort ourselves out. It’s not always easy. Lucinda has a tendency to move the goalposts, especially when she wants to fit in with her new boyfriend, but I do my best to not let it affect Ben. He’s my priority.’
‘I can see that,’ Anna said. She hadn’t expected this softer side to her boss, but found that she liked it.
‘And what about you?’ Daniel asked when Anna had been silent for a moment. ‘I hope going away this weekend at such short notice didn’t mess up any plans with your boyfriend.’
‘I don’t have a boyfriend,’ she said quietly.
‘Really?’ He sounded surprised. ‘But I thought, the other night . . .’
‘No, you assumed. The reason I was late wasn’t to do with my social life.’
‘Oh, I see, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.’
‘That’s okay, I can see why you might think that.’
She didn’t elaborate and they fell into an uncomfortable silence. She felt that if she told him the truth, it would ease their working relationship, but she was worried he might think less of her if she did. Her family’s opinions were certainly old-fashioned — maybe he wouldn’t understand them. She’d rather make sure her job was secure before she opened up to him.
* * *
Daniel glanced across at Anna. She was staring straight ahead and had a closed expression on her face. He realised he knew absolutely nothing about the woman who was sitting next to him, who he’d be sharing his home with for the weekend. Normally he liked to keep business relationships and friendships completely separate, but there was something about Anna that made him want to cross that line. He could see already that she made a brilliant assistant. That she loved photography was an added bonus. But he was beginning to think that she’d make a very good friend, if he let her in. And if she let him in too, of course. It looked like the latter was going to be the hard part. He decided to ask her about something he suspected she’d be a lot more willing to talk about.
‘So, when did you become interested in photography?’
‘My art teacher at school. She was a keen photographer and shared her interest with me. Art was the only subject I was ever any good at, the only thing that kept me interested in school if I’m honest, and she could see I was willing to learn as much as I could.’
Her voice had softened and he knew he’d chosen the right subject to engage her.
‘I’m surprised you didn’t want to go on to art college.’
‘I couldn’t.’ The closed tone was back and he could see her jaw tighten as she spoke. He returned his eyes to the road, wondering what he’d said to make her so obviously annoyed.
‘If you remember,’ she continued, ‘I told you at my interview that my mother died when I was fifteen.’
‘Oh, yes, of course.’ He kicked himself. How could he have forgotten something as important as that? Because, at the time, he reminded himself, he hadn’t been interested in listening to her, as he didn’t think she was right for the job.
‘You didn’t really like me at the interview, did you?’ she asked.
He sighed. He could hardly deny it. ‘It was the end of a very long day, where I’d been interviewing people who were definitely not right for the job. And . . .’ He paused, remembering his disappointment about not seeing Ben. ‘I was supposed to be coming up here that day, but my ex-wife had just phoned to tell me that she was taking Ben away for the weekend. I wasn’t in the best of moods.’
‘Yes, I can see that,’ she said. ‘So what made you decide I was the right person for the job after all?’
‘I didn’t really. But Charlotte did. She wouldn’t let it drop until I offered you the job.’
‘I see.’
He realised he’d said the wrong thing again and cursed himself for being so honest. ‘But she was right. She sawsomething in you that I was too blinkered to see and I’m pleased she did. You’ve only been working with me for a few weeks, but you’ve picked things up really well.’
‘So I’m doing all right on my probation, am I?’ There was a hint of laughter in her voice.
