Page 83 of Dr. CEO (The Doctors)

The hot, searing pain in my chest doesn’t lessen. It’s like my body wants her, even though my mind knows it’s impossible.

She deserves to stay at Crompton because that’s what will make her happy.

She deserves a man who can promise her forever.

She deserves more than me.

THIRTY-FIVE

Kate

Over the last two days, the Crompton staff have watched with excitement as a gigantic tent was erected on the far side of the house, away from the gardens still open to the public for a little longer. There was much fevered speculation about what it might be, but when flooring and air conditioning, along with conference tables and chairs were ferried over there, it was clear the tent was going to be something official rather than anything fun. It’s basically a huge office. When I walked by early this morning, Michael was glued to his laptop. It’s the new office now that building works have started on the old house.

Since Vincent changed Michael’s role to focus on Crompton, he no longer needs an assistant. Which is good, because training for the guest relations role is about to begin.

Michael’s making the decisions. Vincent has gone. I’m back in the tea shop and have taken back some shifts at the Golden Hare.

It’s almost like Vincent was never here.

“Are you ready?” I ask Meghan, who’s sitting next to me on one of the kitchen chairs we’ve planted outside my front door so we can watch the to-ings and fro-ings of the builders and the delivery trucks, and a miniature poodle that seems to have come from nowhere.

“The earl wouldn’t approve of the dog.”

I chuckle. “No, he would not. But it’s so cute. It must belong to one of the builders.”

“You think Sacha is rebelling and it’s hers?”

“I don’t. Although I hope she gets one when she moves into her new place.”

“I went to the new houses yesterday with some of the others from the cottages.” Meghan doesn’t live on the estate, but in the village.

It takes me by surprise. “You did? How was it?”

“Good. I’m thinking about renting one.”

My heart lifts in my chest. “That would be awesome. We could be neighbors.”

“It would get me out of the grotty place I’m in at the moment over the co-op. And if I can manage to get a full-time job at the hotel, I might even give up the pub.” She’s grinning as she speaks and is clearly excited.

“It’s going to be a while until the hotel opens properly,” I say. “But they might tell us more at the meeting.” I have no idea whether or not things are on schedule.

Last night all the staff got an email from Michael asking us to come to a meeting in the tent to meet the new general manager of the hotel. Most of the current Crompton staff haven’t been approached for jobs yet. It’s just me and Basil and the other heads of department coming from other places—people who will be moving here in the coming months. The rest of the staff are waiting on the vacancies list and opening dates.

“Shall we go?” she says. “We can get good seats.”

We take my kitchen chairs back inside and I lock up my house. I knock on Granny’s window as we walk past and give her a wave. Granny’s going to volunteer at the new flower gardens, but isn’t taking a job in the hotel. I don’t have the heart to tell her that Vincent might change his mind about the new gardens, now he’s not here. Not that I thought he’d said yes for me. But with Crompton out of sight, he might prioritize other projects instead.

“Have you heard from him?” she asks as we walk up the slope to the front of the house.

I hesitate, because I did get a comment on the Instagram picture of the lake. I’m pretty sure it was him. “No,” I say eventually. If he had commented, it didn’t mean anything. If he wants to communicate with me, he has my number.

He won’t use it, of course. His hat is somewhere else now.

I’ve just got to get used to that.

“I feel fine though.” It’s only half a lie. I miss him. It’s not a feeling I’m used to. Everyone in the world I like, I see all the time. Missing him feels like an icy rock, weighing down my stomach.

I don’t think it will ever leave me. I think a part of Vincent Cove will stay with me forever. And despite it being uncomfortable—the missing him—it’s better than it not being there. I won’t wish it away. Meeting Vincent and spending those weeks together were some of the happiest times of my life. It’s painful now, but I’m so pleased I had that time with him.

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