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‘Yes, sorry.’ Shaking her head, Evie swallowed. How could Melissa do this to her?
‘No need to apologise, love.’ Elsie smiled. ‘Look, if you want to get away for a bit and clear your head, I could with something picking up from the printing shop in Trestow. We’ve had some new wedding planning brochures made up. Only if you want to get away for a bit, though. I can pick them up another time if you’d rather keep busy?’
‘No, that sounds good. Thanks, I could do with clearing my head.’
‘Okay, love. I’ll grab the order reference.’
Chapter Five
Steven as partner?Steven? He’d only joined the firm last year and wasn’t the most competent. Everyone said so. It wasn’t just her feeling bitter. How could Melissa promote him over her? Evie had been at the firm for twelve years now. Twelve years. And she and Melissa had always worked well together. Sure, Melissa could be a little difficult to work with sometimes, but she’d always appreciated Evie’s loyalty.
Steven. Evie hit the steering wheel. Following the SatNav’s instructions, she turned down a narrow country road and put her foot down. She was grateful for Elsie’s suggestion. She’d needed air, space to think.
As she turned a tight bend, she hit the brakes as a man waved erratically from the side of the road. What was he doing? His car was half on the grass verge. Had he crashed? Putting on her hazard warning lights, she pulled in just behind him and stepped out. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Okay? Am I okay? Just about, I think. No thanks to the selfless idiot who ran me off the road.’ The man tucked his shoulder-length dark hair behind his ears and walked towards the front of his car. ‘Thank you for stopping. Three others just zoomed past, oblivious to me standing in the middle of the road waving my hands like a lunatic.’
‘That’s okay.’ She followed him and winced as she saw the crumpled bonnet. ‘That doesn’t look good. You didn’t get hurt?’
‘Nah, I’m fine. My mobile is out of battery though. Do you have one I could borrow, please?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Walking back to her car, Evie grabbed her phone and unlocked it. ‘Here you go.’
‘Thank you.’ Taking the phone, he walked a few steps away and spoke quietly before returning it. ‘Thanks. I’ve spoken to the police and they’re going to send someone.’
‘That’s something then.’
‘Yes, yes.’ Nodding, he looked up as the sliver of sunshine disappeared and rain began falling. Holding out his arms, he laughed. ‘Sums up my day, I guess.’
‘Here, come and sit in my car.’ Turning, Evie ran back to the car, slipping into the driver’s seat just as a flash of lightning illuminated the grey clouds.
The man jogged round to the passenger side, pulled the door open, and ducked down. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind? I’m a total stranger.’
‘That’s fine. Get in or you’ll get soaked.’ Evie indicated to him.
‘Thanks.’ Slipping inside, he shut the door just as a loud thundering roar vibrated around them.
