Page 97 of Somewhere Only We Know

She nodded. ‘I’m going to be introducing a new training and mentoring strand to the business. You excel at bringing on new talent, and you’re brilliant with people, so I thought you’d be a great choice to lead it. Senior manager initially, with potential to join the board in the future. Dad has already approved it.’

One phrase stood out: in the future. How many times had I been promised a seat on the board? And now the goalposts were shifting again.

‘I’ve trained staff for my sales team, yes,’ I said calmly. ‘Sales is where I excel, not training.’

My boss leaned forward on her elbows, her gaze firm. ‘I want a strong and united team in place to take the company forward with me, Maggie. I hope I can count on you.’

‘What about my shot at the job of sales director?’ My voice trembled with frustration. Was I being sidelined? ‘Anna, what’s going on?’

‘Lee is going to be heading up sales. He’s done a terrific job and the profits in his division confirm that. We think it makes sense to streamline and so rather than having two divisions, yours and his, he’ll be absorbing your team and your clients.’

I stiffened. ‘My division has always been profitable, offering him the job on that basis doesn’t stack up. You said you’d support my application for a promotion to the board.’ I could hear the hurt in my voice as it climbed an octave. I’d trusted her; she was supposed to be my friend. ‘It was a condition of me taking the time off in the first place. You aren’t even giving me a chance.’

‘Mum’s illness has come out of the blue and it’s changed everything.’ Anna winced guiltily. ‘We have had to make some difficult decisions. Lee is a steady pair of hands, a family man—’

‘A family man?’ I gave a shocked laugh. ‘I’m being penalised for my lack of relatives now?’

‘No, no, no!’ Anna’s eyes widened and then she covered her face with her hands. ‘That wasn’t what I meant. I’m sorry, Maggie. I take that back. Everyone has equal opportunities at ShopSwift, I hope you know that.’

‘It doesn’t look like that to me,’ I replied.

Anna sighed heavily. ‘I’m saying all the wrong things. My brain is in overdrive, I’m not sleeping because I’m so worried about Mum.’

‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to sue you over it,’ I said flatly. ‘I value our friendship too much for that.’

‘Thank you.’ She looked sheepish. Promotion should be awarded on merit, not friendship, but even so, she clearly knew she’d let me down. ‘As Dad said, there’s no need to rush back. He’s doing a quick handover while Lee deputises for me. You can set up the new strand as and when you return.’

The phrase as and when didn’t fill me with confidence. This new department felt as if it had been manufactured simply to find a role for me.

‘Thank you very much,’ I replied, unable to keep the petulance from my voice.

Her eyes lit up with gratitude. ‘So you’ll accept the restructure?’

‘Of course,’ I said, faking a smile. What else could I do? I needed a job to go back to and it looked like I didn’t have much choice.

‘Thank you, Maggie.’ Anna’s shoulders slumped with relief. ‘I hope you know that you are very valued here and I’m looking forward to working with you when you return.’

‘Likewise,’ I replied, tightly. ‘And do give my very best wishes to your mum.’

After we ended the call, I sat there, stunned, phone in my hand. I could barely believe what had happened, and what I’d agreed to, but I certainly didn’t feel ‘valued’.

An ear-piercing screech, followed by a tug on my hair, made me leap out of my skin. With a flash of teeth and the stench of foul breath, the monkey grabbed hold of my scarf and tugged it off my back.

‘Get off me!’ I yelled, pushing myself away from the wall. I tripped, one foot twisted out of my flip-flop, and my phone flew out of my hand. Another monkey appeared so fast that I didn’t even have the chance to react. It pounced on my flip-flop and hissed at me.

‘Yah,’ I shouted, swinging my backpack at it. ‘Give me that back.’

It bared its teeth, and the thought of those yellow fangs sinking into my skin made me back away. Instead I put my foot on my phone and tried to slide it towards me.

‘Okay, fine, take the shoe, but you’re not having this.’

A flash of pink caught my eye, and I looked up. My scarf was disappearing through the trees, a trail of fabric weaving through the branches.

‘No,’ I wailed. ‘I loved that scarf.’

The monkey seized its moment and pulled the phone from under my foot.

‘Not my phone! No, not my phone!’