Page 58 of Snug in Iceland
“Yes, of course. But be gentle with him, Rachel.”
She would be. All she wanted was to hold him, let him know that it was him she wanted, that Adam had been throwing his weight around but that it really was over between them. She needed to make sure he knew that and then they could grab every spare second that was left before she went home.
Julia and Dave reappeared an hour later raving about how amazing the town was, by which time Gudrun and Stella had got the office ready for the Design Call.
“Rachel, can we grab five minutes with Luisa and Dave,” said Julia, speaking to the whole shop as she said it. The four of them trooped downstairs to the office. Julia perched on the desk, Dave stood at her shoulder with Rachel and Luisa waiting in silence while she checked her phone.
“Sorry about that,” she said as she pushed her phone into her back pocket. “Okay, I have some exciting news.”
She looked at Dave who gave her a nod of encouragement.
“We’ve been approached by a buyer. Someone interested in buying the company.”
Rachel and Luisa looked at each other in shock which told them straight away that it was news to both of them. Suddenly, the mention of the business consultant in Julia’s phone call began to make sense.
“It’s a huge high street retailer who wants to get into the handmade market. They’re impressed with our growth in the UK and our plans for expansion overseas.”
At that moment, Gudrun knocked and came into the room with Adam behind her.
“Adam, I can’t talk now, I’m in a meeting,” said Rachel calmly, trying to convey to him with her eyes how inappropriate it was for him to have come to the shop, today of all days.
“Oh, you two know each other?” said Julia. “Well, that makes things easier. Luisa, this is Adam Kempton from Finch Associates.”
“Great to meet you, Luisa. Dave, Julia…Rachel.” He went through each name in turn as he shook hands with everyone.
“So, Adam is going to spend the next couple of days with us on behalf of the buyer. They’re keen to see how we work, how we launch our stores and crucially, how we source our stock. I should tell you that pending a successful outcome, fingers crossed,” Julia said crossing her fingers and grinning at Adam, “we will be going ahead with the sale imminently.”
“How will that affect everyone?” asked Luisa.
“In the short term, the buyer plans to keep all existing staff pending a review,” began Adam. “In my experience, they will keep most of the key staff so as not to disrupt the success model of the business.”
Rachel stared at him. It was as if last night had never happened. Now he was in work mode. And then it hit her. He had come herefor work.He hadn’t come to see her at all. He was cominganyway.
“Rachel, perhaps you could walk the store with Adam, seeing as you two know each other,” beamed Julia, clearly oblivious to the fact that Rachel was glaring at Adam with a look that could kill. “We’ll get ready for the Design Call.”
“Who knows about the sale? What about Stella and Gudrun?” asked Luisa, barely disguising her contempt as she addressed Julia.
“I’d prefer it if we can keep it within this store for now. By the time we get back to London, it will be confirmed. You can tell Stella and Gudrun if necessary.”
Rachel led the way upstairs, still reeling from Julia’s announcement about the sale of Snug but more from the fact thatthatwas why Adam was here. It was always going to be about work and he hadn’t mentioned anything about working on Snug last night. Even if it was a secret he could have told her he was visiting for work instead of insisting that he had come purely to see her. Looking back, it had seemed so out of character and now Rachel knew exactly what she was dealing with.
“I can’t believe I thought you had come to see me,” she said, marching Adam to the back of the store, away from the gathering queue of designers being organised by Gudrun’s staff over by the entrance.
“It was a coincidence. Obviously, we needed to talk so when it came up that Jim or I needed to come over for the opening, I offered. It doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have come anyway.”
“Of course it does! I’m such a bloody idiot. I should have known there was no way you would come here just to make up with me. Do you know, I’ve learned more about you in four weeks of being apart than I ever did in two years together.”
“Hang on a minute,” he interjected, “you’ve lost all sense of perspective since you’ve been here. Nothing changed between us except that you left and-”
“And I can see what life can be like, Adam, if work isn’t the number one priority. That’s what’s changed. I’ve changed and that’s why it’s not going to work with us anymore.”
“Look, Rach, I’m here to do a job and it needs doing and so does yours. So let’s put this aside and just get on with it.”
That said it all. She would get through this day and she would go and see Jonas and apologise to him.
29
SOMEHOW, RACHEL MANAGED to walk the store with Adam by pretending that he was someone she didn’t know. Not much pretending required, as she felt as if she didn’t know him now. She cut herself off from all the emotions that were swimming inside her and focused. She was professional, answered his questions even though she couldn’t help thinking that if he’d ever been listening when she’d talked to him about her day, he’d already know a lot of the answers.
