‘I know. I’ve been in this business long enough to know it’s as cut-throat as any commercial endeavour, but I know what I’m doing.’
‘OK then.’
‘I’ll let you know when I decide.’
‘Thanks. In the meantime, everything seems on track for the exhibition.’
‘Yes. Just the finishing touches to the space now and the first loan piece is due to arrive next Monday.’
‘How’s it been with the new project manager?’
‘It’s OK. He’s been getting the job done.’
‘Doesn’t seem such a relaxed atmosphere down there now when I’ve popped in.’
‘No, but maybe that’s just because the deadline is looming. Deadlines can make people tense.’
‘Yes, that’s true. Or perhaps it’s just that Rory has a stick up his bum and people don’t appreciate his attitude.’
‘There’s that too.’
We exchanged a conspiratorial giggle and I pushed the chair back and made to leave.
‘Are you happy, Lizzie?’
‘Oh God, yes. I’m not trying to get away from the job here!’
Inis waved her hands. ‘No, no, no. I know that. I just… don’t take this the wrong way.’
‘Why do people say that? It always means they’re about to say something you’re not going to like.’
She flashed a grin. ‘It was lovely seeing you come out of yourself… before. It was as though you were discovering who you really were.’
‘Or maybe it was just a silly flash in the pan. I’m thirty-seven years old, Inis. If I don’t know who I am now, it’s probably a bit late, don’t you think?’
Her face was serious. ‘No. Not at all. It’s never too late. Look at your parents? They thought the world was nothing but academia but they’ve discovered that while that’s important, there’s so much more to enjoy alongside it.’
I thought of my parents and the photo Dad had sent me yesterday after Mum had tried her first open water swim. The day might have been sunny but she’d been as blue as a Smurf. From her expression I’d have guessed she was going for Grumpy Smurf. I got the feeling it wasn’t something she was planning to do on a regular basis. But Inis was right. A short time ago, they’d barely noticed that the sea was there, let alone taken a dip in it.
‘I’m OK, Inis, I promise.’
She gave a nod that still had a hint of apprehension about it and I walked out of the office.
‘He’s just in a meeting.’ The intern that greeted me had pale blue, wide-set blinking eyes behind wire-rimmed spectacles. His skin was almost unnaturally pale and I began to wonder if Friedrich kept him in the dark until he was needed. ‘It’s due to finish shortly if you don’t mind waiting?’
‘Thanks. That’d be great.’ We engaged in small talk as the young man showed me to Friedrich’s office before he excused himself and headed back to work. I had no doubt that my ex ran a tight ship. Anyone studying under him would learn a lotbut there would be no slacking. Our interns were expected to do the work but we also endeavoured to make it a welcoming and relaxed environment, reasoning that this would bring out the best in them. That was just one of the things I wanted to discuss with Friedrich today.
I’d lain awake last night turning things over in my mind and I knew I needed to give him an answer. Despite everyone’s reservations, I’d pretty much decided that I’d take up the offer. There was no sign of any other leadership gigs coming my way any time soon so a joint one was at least one step closer. I was ready to commit but there were a couple of points I wanted to go over first before signing on the dotted line. Not that I had a dotted line to sign on as Friedrich was still yet to send me the final paperwork.
I got up from the hard seat opposite his desk. There was certainly no chance of any visitors getting comfortable in that chair. I glanced around, checking the coast was clear and gave my numb bum a quick massage and began a mosey around the room, tilting my head to the side as I reached the bookcases, reading the spines. The shelves spanned the length of the room, Friedrich’s desk sitting in front of them. I made my way along, feeling that sense of calm that always came over me when I looked at books nestled in their rightful place.
‘Oof!’ My attention was rudely redirected as I whacked my hip bone on the desk chair. Rubbing the area to prevent a bruise (did that actually work?), I gave the chair a small shove further under the desk so that I could view the books directly behind it. As I did so, something caught my eye – the contract I’d been asking Friedrich to send me. A lover of books and the tactile feel of paper, my ex had never fully embraced the digital age and was still prone to printing out forms, emails and other things that could easily have been filed digitally. I picked up the document,reasoning that I may as well make use of the time and read through it while I waited.
19
‘Lizzie! What a lovely sur—’ Friedrich’s welcoming smile slid off his face as he saw my own thunderous expression. His eyes darted to the contract still in my hand. He stepped forward to reach for it but I moved quicker. ‘It’s not what you think.’
‘And what exactly is it that I think?’
