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I nodded once and took off, jumping into the first elevator I saw and didn’t look back.
Chapter Eighteen
Amanda
I bought a new phone.
I kept telling myself it was so I could call Caroline.
Because I know you love me…
Cocky bastard. But I was kidding myself if I couldn’t admit I was curious –very curious– as to what messages I’d find from Stuart.
I waited until I got to my flat before I inserted the SIM card and plugged in the phone to charge.
Four texts popped up, three from Caroline:
Caroline:I feel terrible about not being able to talk to you yesterday. Well fuck that, I’ll just text! Robert won’t tell me anything, but I saw the email that Stuart sent. What has happened?! Call me
Caroline:You should know I’ve seen the spreadsheet. I had no idea what it was until I opened it. I’m SO SORRY. When you get this message, call me.
Caroline:now I’ve got the London office calling every five minutes wanting to speak to Stuart but he’s stuck up north due to snow. No one can reach him with power lines and mobile phone towers out. Call me when you get this.
Alert: You have three voicemails.
I dialled, bracing myself in case it was Stuart’s voice.
“It’s Caroline here. Fuck! What’s happened with ye and Stuart? Look I’m sorry about opening the spreadsheet. Ye know. Your personal spreadsheet. Stuart was a right twanger and attached it, thinking it was the audit report ye’d sent him. Fuck, I’ve got to go…”
“It’s me, again. Holy shit, Robert just stormed into his office and they are having a hell of a row. *muffled talking* Christ, now James has arrived too. Oh fuck! One of them just tried to hit Stuart! They’re shouting so loud. Robert and James are so mad at him for what he did and he’s screaming at them that he made a…”
“Me again. He made a huge mistake and mixed up which file to send to your boss and he’s now left for London to find ye to say sorry. Ye’ve got to call me when ye get this. *long pause* Fuck, Caroline. I’m so sorry. Ye just looked so happy last time I saw ye both and … it’s not my place, but if ye want someone to talk to, I’m here. Always. Just let me know you’re all right.”
More texts pinged on my new phone as I listened.
One from Robert asking me to call him about the report I did for the audit, when I felt ready.
Strange. I’d been given clear instructions not to speak to anyone at Gallanach. I guess it didn’t matter now - I wasn’t going back to Reedman, Williams and Dennis.
Texts from Mum, Lily and Rosie.
And Stuart.
Stuart:I need to tell you how sorry I am for my stupid mistake. I’ve been an arse. I can’t believe what I sent to them. Please, hen. Call me.
Stuart:I’m a little drunk. My brothers hate me. Mum looks set to disown me. Da told me to get on the first train and win you back. So I’m on an express now, with the biggest bottle of whisky I could buy.
Stuart:I wrote you a poem. It’s like Burns.
Stuart:I gonna call you and leave a message of my poem
Alert:You have one new voicemail.
I curled up on the sofa, hugging a pillow, and dialled voicemail again. His rough voice made my heart ache despite the rage and anger I still felt.
“I’m sorry hen. I need ye to know I never cast ye aside. I just… I clicked on the wrong damn file and I’ve ruined everything but I’m on the train and I’m going to make it right. Because hen, I fell in love with ye and I’ve seen it in ye eyes, too, when we… when we make love. I know ye love me too.” He took a deep breath and sipped a drink. “I can’t stop thinking about ye, so I wrote a poem.
“You are the burn of whisky;
