“Don’t remind me.” I grin and she laughs softly, turning her attention back to her screen as she reaches for what is probably her fourth cup of coffee of the morning.
Feeling my heart thumping erratically, I try to act normal as I push my way into certain humiliation.
Sable is facing the window with her back to me talking into her phone and I stand a little awkwardly as I wait for her to finish.
“I’m telling you Roger, it’s just not good enough. The builders should have been there two weeks ago and we are already behind schedule. Time costs money, Roger, and you don’t need me to remind you that you agreed a fixed price on this job with late penalties. Now, do your job and run your business like a grown up and get those builders doing what you are paying them to do. You have exactly one hour to report back and I had better like what I’m hearing.”
She cuts the call and without turning around says sharply, “Bloody project manager, I knew he was weak. Word of advice, Lily, get at least six quotes, four references and sift through the online reviews with a fine toothcomb before appointing any professional person. Smoke and mirrors is what that man excels at and I’m not having it.”
She spins around and I feel her sharp stare stripping me bare. I feel uncomfortable as she looks me up and down and assesses everything about me. She cocks her head to one side and I wish I had worn the new Karen Millen dress I bought in the sample sale I went to last week because the River Island one doesn’t appear to be passing the test.
It feels a little uncomfortable until she points to the swivel seat in front of her desk. “Sit, darling and listen.”
Like an obedient puppy, I do as she says, knowing that if I had a tail, it would be wagging right now because I would do anything to please this woman of greatness who is blessing me with a moment of her time.
She starts to pace around the small glass room and I dig my nails into the palm of my hand as I wait for the words of wisdom to spill from her Elizabeth Arden painted lips.
“Darling, you know I’m an ambitious woman.”
I nod, but words are not necessary to answer this particular question. She carries on. “I’ve been relentless in the pursuit of my dream and even though it hasn’t been easy, I have achieved success in a relatively short space of time.”
Spinning around, she stares at me long and hard, and I resist the urge to shift on my seat under her intense scrutiny. “You are like me, Lily – driven.”
Feeling rather pleased at any comparison to the great one, I smile happily. “Thank you.”
She holds up her hand and I fall silent as she carries on. “Yes, ever since you arrived, darling, I have been impressed by what I’ve seen. You work well, have vision and are not afraid of hard work. Any job I task you with is carried out as I would myself and I have come to rely on you greatly.”
Basking in the warm praise I don’t often receive, I smile. “Thank you. I have learned from the best.”
Nodding, she allows a small smile of agreement to grace her lips and then she perches on the edge of the desk, drumming her fingers on the glass beneath her professionally manicured nails.
“Today is your birthday and as it turns out, is one you will always remember.”
Thinking of Aunt Daisy, I have to agree with her and nod sadly. “Sadly yes.”
“What do you mean, sadly?”
Her tone is sharp and I say with a sigh. “My Aunt Daisy passed away yesterday. It was unexpected and I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact she’s gone.”
Shaking her head, Sable says quickly, “That’s very unfortunate. You have my condolences.”
Unfortunate is a strange choice of word but I brush it off and say softly, “Thank you.”
“Anyway.” She carries on and I know the subject is now closed. Business does and always will come first with Sable, so I resign myself to hearing my orders for the day.
“Times are changing, Lily. The high street is in decline and magazines are being cast aside for the virtual world. Sustainability is the new buzz word and paying cash for a fallen tree made into pretty pictures is no longer considered the right thing to do. Now our readers devour our wisdom on their phones, computers and tablets. We are evolving and in an increasingly rapidly changing landscape. We at Designer Homes - on a budget, embrace change. We lap up this new world as if we are starving and will never get enough. We are evolving, Lily, which is why the future is so exciting.”
I stare at Sable in astonishment as she stands looking so animated, I almost want to take a photo to pin on my inspiration mood board on Pinterest. Wow, Sable is possessed by the spirit of evolution and I hold my breath waiting for the pearls of wisdom to spill into my eager ears.
“I’m leaving, Lily, stepping down and moving on. Packing my bags and walking away.”
As she looks at me with a triumphant smile, I am speechless.
♥3
What?!
For a moment, I struggle to understand what she’s just said. Finally, my voice shakes as I say, “Leaving... but you can’t.”
She laughs and the look on her face tells me that wherever she’s going is epic because I have never seen her looking so excited.
“I know you’re surprised, darling, but I’ve been thinking of it for some time. Arthur and I decided that we need to embrace a new life and use our skills to benefit our future.”
Thinking about Sable’s new husband, I wonder how much more enrichment their life needs. They have a comfortable life already because he’s an architect and not short of money and they met through a feature she ran on one of his projects.
She carries on. “Yes, we have decided to up sticks and move away to a brave new world.”
“What - the country?” I stare at her in horror as I imagine Sable in a pair of Barbour wellies with a golden retriever by her tweed-covered side.
“No darling, not the country, a country. France to be exact.”
“France! But why?”
I am struggling to get my head around this information. Sable has London running through her veins. She belongs here in the sophisticated world she rules. Not France.
Gathering my wits together, I say “Paris, are you setting up a Paris office?”
To me this makes more sense and I feel myself relaxing. Yes, Paris, of course, chic and on trend. Definitely the place I imagine Sable moving to.
She laughs shrilly, “Not Paris, darling, Provence. Arthur and I have bought a crumbing Château set in fifty acres. We intend on renovating it and converting it to a place of business. You know the sort of thing, weddings, corporate events and an exclusive hotel. There will be gîtes and shooting and of course, there’s the vineyard to keep us going.”
I feel weak as I try to absorb the details of Sable’s brave new world.
She says excitedly. “We’ve been thinking of it for some time. It’s perfect in every way. Arthur will design the new venture and I will project manage it. I will use my skills to film a daily vlog on our experience and use my social skills to drum up interest and hopefully land a television series. Yes, we are going big on this, Lily, as I’m sure you would expect.”
She moves across and takes her seat behind her desk, leaning forward and saying earnestly, “Which brings me to you.”