Page 94 of Only for Christmas

‘Oh, he won’t be. He’s been removed from his position.’ Georgia made a slicing motion across her neck. ‘He’s had the chop.’

Sarah was shocked. ‘He has? How do you know?’

‘Tyler told me. He knows one of the board of directors, a solicitor who specialises in employment law. She insisted Stephen was dismissed with immediate effect.’

Sarah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ‘How did she know Stephen had been arrested? I didn’t think anything would happen over the Christmas break.’

Georgia kicked off her boots and curled her feet under her. ‘Tyler emailed her on Saturday with a signed petition from dozens of staff members stating that unless Stephen was sacked they’d all resign. Once word got out about what’d happened, it was evident whose side people were on. I told you people liked you. You’re very popular among the staff team; no one wanted you to leave.’

Sarah rubbed her temples, trying to compute what Georgia was saying. ‘I can’t believe it. Stephen’s really not going to be there any more?’

‘Nope, you can relax.’ Georgia’s expression turned inquisitive. ‘So, returning to the issue of Lucas… I sense gossip… is he going back to the US for good?’

Sarah nodded. ‘He starts a new job in Houston next week.’

Georgia flicked her messy hair, nearly catching Jafrina in the eye. ‘But I thought you were an item now? I’m confused.’

Truth time. Sarah knew she had to come clean. ‘We were never an item.’

‘Excuse me, but you most certainly were an item.’ Georgia’s expression turned suggestive. ‘Who’re you trying to kid?’

‘It was make-believe. The truth is, we pretended to be a couple in the hope it would deter Stephen from harassing me. Lucas thought Stephen might back off if he thought I already had a boyfriend.’

Georgia shook her head. ‘Sorry, don’t believe it.’

Sarah felt horribly guilty for deceiving her friends. ‘I’m really sorry I lied to you, but I didn’t want anyone to know I was having problems with Stephen.’

‘No, I mean I don’t believe it.’ Georgia waved her hand. ‘As in, I don’t believe you were pretending.’

‘Well, we were. Fake dating, I think it’s called.’ Sarah gave a shrug.

‘Bollocks. There was nothing fake about the way you two looked at each other Friday night. Nobody’s that good an actor. Even Dame Judi Dench couldn’t have pulled that one off. Say what you like, but I know when two people are into each other, and you two have more chemistry than Marie Curie discovering radioactivity.’

Jafrina nodded. ‘She has a point.’

Sarah shook her head. ‘I’m not saying we didn’t like each other; we became good friends. But it wasn’t a real relationship.’

Georgia pouted. ‘It looked real to me.’

‘And me.’ Jafrina nodded in agreement. ‘I’ve never seen a man look at a woman the way Lucas looked at you. Pretending or otherwise, he’s in love with you, Sarah. I’m certain of it.’

Sarah fiddled self-consciously with the cuffs of Lucas’s hoodie. ‘He’ll get over it.’

Georgia exchanged a look with Jafrina. ‘So he is in love with you? He told you that?’

‘It doesn’t matter any more.’ Sarah pulled the sleeves down over her hands and hugged herself. ‘His life is in the US and mine’s over here.’

Jafrina edged forwards. ‘One of you could always move.’

Sarah shook her head. ‘I told him I didn’t want him to move – it’s too much.’

Georgia sat upright. ‘You mean, he actually offered to move?’

Sarah shifted uncomfortably. ‘He suggested staying here in the UK so we could… you know, date… but I told him that was ridiculous.’

Georgia slapped her forehead. ‘Let me get this straight. He fancies you; that much is obvious, he pretended to date you to protect you from Stephen, he rushed to your aid on Friday night at the ball, he told you he loved you and he wanted to relocate to be with you… and you told him he was ridiculous? Bloody hell, that’s harsh, Sarah. And that’s coming from someone who eats men for lunch.’

Sarah flinched; she hadn’t thought of it like that.

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