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THREE CONFERENCE ROOMS have been opened up to make one large room in the new office space, but it’s still packed in here.
I stand in the corner, a black umbrella behind me, a silver foil screen to my left, a camera flashing in front of me and a reporter standing by my side.
She laughs and bats her eyelids at the last thing I said, which really wasn’t funny at all. She flicks her auburn curls across her shoulder and rocks to the side, her too-tight dress displaying the curves of her body to full advantage. Her sickly sweet perfume wafts under my nose.
God, she’s obvious.
“Are you nervous about today?” she asks, lifting her Dictaphone closer to me.
“I have nothing to be nervous about, Ms Lockwood.” I’ve already been through the most nerve-wracking experience of my life, waiting for Dayna to come back to me. “I’m going into business with my best friend, whom I admire and respect.”
“But New Day Fuels is different from your previous ventures, Mr Layton. You won’t just be focussing on oil and gas, isn’t that right?”
I nod and she smiles tightly, waving her Dictaphone in front of me. “That’s correct. New Day is different than anything I’ve ever done in so many ways but, yes, one of the key differences is that we have a keen interest in renewable energy and biofuels. We’ll be as clean and green as possible while maintaining a tranche of traditional oil drilling. We have unrivalled expertise in blending, which puts New Day in a fortunate position in what is still a volatile crude industry.”
The reporter glances at her notepad then shifts uncomfortably in her heels. Another flash goes off, making me squint.
Ms Lockwood clears her throat. “Finally, Mr Layton, your exit from Layton Oil was swift and much speculated upon. How does your family feel about the new company?”
I thought outwardly flirting was as unprofessional as she’d get as a reporter for a broadsheet. Obviously not. She’s out for a gossip angle. Disappointing. “Ms Lockwood, I suspect your question is actually ‘what does Harold Layton think of New Day?’. If you’re interested in his view, interview him. Today is about the future for New Day Fuels, not the past.”
I nod to the photographer, signalling we’re done, and move into the room. What can I say? I’m still working on my temper, and she just pushed my buttons.
The truth is, I wouldn’t know what Harold Layton thinks of New Day Fuels, because I haven’t spoken to him for twelve months. Even when he found out I quit Layton Oil, he didn’t come near me. Frankly, he can go fuck himself. He’s out of my life. Dayna and I are happy. That’s what matters.
For a while I let my family think he wouldn’t speak to me because I quit. I didn’t want to tell them the truth and hurt them. But Kathryn knew there was more to it. She pressed me until I told them what really happened. I don’t ask what her or Spencer’s relationship is like with Harold. I do know my mother has stayed with him. They’ll no doubt continue to live a lie. If she ever sees sense, I’ll be waiting.
I glance around the crowded room until my eyes land on my wife. Any trace of anger instantly disappears as I watch her talking to another member of the press. She looks every bit the head of a global company in her red tailored dress and killer black heels.
I can’t stop my mind from wandering to those shoes. Last time I saw them she was standing in stockings and suspenders, her legs spread, panting, waiting for me.
She catches me ogling her and smiles, then gestures to the office manager to dim the lights. We make our way to the front of the room, where the vision statement for New Day Fuels is lit up on a large flat-screen TV. Our board members stop talking first, then the rest of the staff and press, as Dayna and I take our places for our presentation.
Dayna takes the lead. “Good morning everyone, and welcome to the official launch of New Day Fuels. It’s been a long and turbulent twelve months, but Clark and I are extremely grateful for your patience, hard work and belief in this project.”
Agreeing to work together took an enormous leap of faith, but I told her I’d worry about her if I couldn’t be close enough to protect her. And she agreed that, provided we could divide our roles in such a way as to avoid trampling on each other’s toes, it would be nice to have something that was ours, and it would be a way to see each other more often. I think she was also excited to work with someone she loves again, but she’ll probably never admit that.
Once we were married, it really seemed like a no-brainer. We’d already made the biggest commitment of our lives to one another. And any problems, we’d vowed to fix them together.
“This is what your new board structure looks like.” Dayna clicks over to the next image in the presentation. I smile as our names appear next to each other at the top of the tower as co-chairs.
“Clark and I will have slightly different focusses. Clark will work to strengthen our international portfolio, while I will concentrate my efforts closer to home.”
Whether she realises or not, my wife places a hand on the small bump growing under her dress, and I can’t help but beam with pride at my girls.
Our family.
The first family I’ve had where we work as a team.
A family with no hidden agendas.
I’ll protect them both no matter the cost. I’ll shield them from the venom of Harold Layton. And I have a watchful eye on Caspar Kahn and his upcoming annual accounts. If I have to, I’ll fight them both for my family. I’d give up my life before I let my girls down.
“I’ll hand over to Clark now, and he’ll talk you through the mission for New Day.”
I take the remote from her and switch to the next slide. “Thank you, Dayna. As you can see, our goal is to become number one for biofuels globally by 2020. We aim to expand into two alternative renewable areas by 2025…”
By the end of the presentation there’s an energy in the room. Something new. A fresh start for everyone. An excitement to get going.
