‘You need to be firmer. Show them your design and make them stick with it. Don’t take any shit.’
I nod. ‘You’re right.’
‘You know it.’ He raises his glass to mine, and we clink.
Although it’s not as simple as telling clients what they want. You have to tread carefully around people like the Carmichaels. They need to feel like they’re in control. Like it’s their own vision and I simply carried it out for them. They want all the creative glory for themselves. That’s why I’m so successful – I praise and flatter my clients for their impeccable taste, even though the ideas are all mine. I won’t try to explain this to Nathan. He’ll tell me I’m being ridiculous.
I take another sip of wine. ‘Paul Barton called round today.’
‘What does that dickhead want? Is he hassling you about taking over the showroom again?’
‘It’s fine.’ I put my glass down. ‘I’ve told him I’ll give him my decision by the end of the month.’
‘Fi, there is no decision. Tell him to piss off. Better yet, I’ll tell him.’
‘No, no, don’t worry, it’s fine.’
‘It’s not fine. You need to keep hold of that showroom. Salinger’s is a prestigious business. It’ll send out the wrong message if you downsize. And I won’t be able to recommend you to any of my colleagues if you run a poky little shop rather than an impressive showroom.’
Nathan has never recommended Salinger’s to a single one of his work colleagues, but sometimes, especially after a few drinks, he likes to take credit for keeping my business going, even though he has absolutely nothing to do with it.
‘Don’t forget, that’smyname attached to it.’
‘Hello.’ I give him a little wave. ‘FionaSalingerhere.’ I grin to show him I’m teasing.
He smiles back. ‘You know what I mean, Fi. Everyone knows who I am. They know that’s my name. I didn’t mind you naming your business Salinger’s, but you have to realise that because it has my family’s name, it has to keep up a certain reputation.’
I don’t remind him thathesuggested I change the name of my business fromFiona’stoSalinger’s, because he said it sounded more premium. He was right, of course. The surname is much better. But it irks me when he acts like he did me this huge favour letting me use the name.
I suddenly realise that if Nathan finds out about the tax audit from someone else – someone like Paul Barton, who has a way of discovering everyone else’s business – he’ll be absolutely furious. The thought chills me. I don’t think I have any choice but to say something about it. I take another huge sip of wine and decide to launch straight into it.
‘Nathan, there’s something else I need to talk to you about.’
His head snaps up. Under his steady gaze, I really feel like chickening out, but I can’t risk not telling him. His eyes narrow. ‘Well? What is it?’
I spoon some salad leaves onto my plate for something to do. ‘It’s probably nothing. Just a random spot-check thing, but… I’m having a tax audit.’
He frowns and nods. ‘A tax audit? Okay, that’s fine. When are they coming?’
‘They’re already here. Two of them. They arrived on Wednesday, but I didn’t get a chance to tell you.’
‘What? So they’re already at Salinger’s?’
‘Yes. They’ve taken over my office.’
‘Hmm, that’s not good.’ He leans back in his chair and scratches his cheek. ‘How long are they going to be there for? Did they give you an idea of timescales?’
‘It can take days or weeks. They can’t be more specific unfortunately.’ I know I should tell him the rest, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Maybe the inspectors won’t find anything, and they’ll simply leave. Then things can go back to how they were before. But I realise I’m kidding myself. I’m in a financial mess and there’s no way to get out of it without telling Nathan the whole story. Just… not tonight.
‘Right, well, you’ve got nothing to hide, have you?’
I shake my head. ‘Nothing that springs to mind.’
‘Good. So it’ll be fine. Just do everything they ask. Be really helpful, and they’ll eventually leave. Do they work evenings?’
‘No. They leave when I leave.’
‘Good. That’ll give you a chance to go and check what they’ve been up to.’
