something else quite easily. But I simply can’t see a way to losing another member of staff and getting the job you want done. You’ll have to make the cut somewhere else.’
Adam shook his head. ‘I can’t.’
‘Then you’ll have to look at the budget again.’ She didn’t need Adele to tell her that the only way to fight a bully was to stand up to them. She knew that from school. When she was thirteen, Sally Armitage had orchestrated a campaign against her. The rest of the class were too wet to stand up on Bea’s behalf so she’d worked out what to do for herself. One day, when Sally had pushed her off balance and snatched her KitKat to accompanying gales of giggles from her admirers, Bea had shoved her, hard, and grabbed back her biscuit. From then on, she had no more trouble, and within a year, she and Sally had become firm friends. Remembering that incident had often helped cushion her way through life. She went on, ‘If we succeed in upping our turnover through the reduced but more profitable publishing programme that I’m proposing then we need the staff we have and, what’s more, we can afford them.’ Bea was not going to back down. She steeled herself for a fight.
‘I’m sorry.’ She caught a note of regret in his voice but it was tempered by certainty. ‘I’d like to give you a chance but I can’t.’
Bea’s heart sank. ‘Why not?’
‘This is part of a larger corporate plan, and if I start making exceptions, it won’t happen.’
‘Being flexible isn’t making exceptions.’
‘I’ve made up my mind, I’m afraid. Things have got to change but I want you on side. I want your talent and your experience. You could make a fantastic contribution to the new Coldharbour, I’m sure of that.’
With flattery thrown her way, Bea had to think fast. Fortunately she’d already gone over and over the possible outcomes of their conversation. She had prepared herself for his insistence. If she continued to support her team, not only would some of them get fired regardless, she would be casting the remaining members adrift. If she didn’t, she could look after those who were left as well as being part of what could be an exciting new start. She might have her reservations about Adam, but there was no doubt he’d done the business and saved Pennant. If he was going to do that again, she might enjoy being part of the effort. Her decision was made.
‘All right.’
‘You’re sure? You don’t want time to think about it?’ He seemed surprised by the speed of her change of heart.
But what was there to think about?
‘All I need is time to decide who to let go and the best way to tell them.’ This was going to be hard although in her heart she knew who it should be. Stuart and Jade had different but complementary strengths; each of them was valuable in their own way. Stuart was less conventional but with extremely eclectic taste while Jade’s taste was more middle-of-the-road and she did have some good contacts on the fringes of showbiz who might be useful.
‘Done!’ He stretched his hand across the table to shake hers. She couldn’t help noticing the perfect squared-off nails, the neat half-moons, the dark hair at his wrist. Was it her imagination or did he hold her grasp for a fraction longer than necessary? Get a grip, woman, this isn’t a Let’s Have Lunch situation.
‘And now,’ he announced, ‘there’s one thing I’d really like.’
Thank God for that. He’s human and we’re going to celebrate. He’s going to crack and have a brandy or at the very least a double espresso. Bea felt that their relationship was taking a stride forward and, despite the immediate hurdles she was dreading having to cross, she was even looking forward to getting back to work for the first time in ages.
Adam called the waiter over. ‘Coffee for you, Bea?’
You bet. She nodded. Would asking for the cheese be going too far?
‘As for me, what I’d love is a cup of boiling water with a twist of lemon.’
Well, perhaps they had a little way to go before they became soul-mates, but she liked the challenge he’d offered her. She felt excited but nervous about what the next few months would bring. The jury was out on how far she could trust him but she’d go along with him and see how things played out. By the time they reached the office, she knew what she had to do.
Chapter 12
Knowing what has to be done is a lot easier than doing it, reflected Bea, as she strode into the office with renewed purpose. She noticed Stuart in Jade’s office. He was stretched back in the one comfortable chair, arms behind his head and eyes half shut while Jade talked at him from the other side of her desk, wearing an unusually earnest expression. Those two spent far too much time closeted together analysing office politics. With one of them gone, the other might sharpen up their act. A reinvigorated twosome with a fixed goal in their sights might well be better than the three of them working together at half-cock. But was she right in her choice as to which one of them should go? Stuart or Jade? Who would make the better working partner? Jade was younger and probably more hungry, but her taste in books was very similar to Bea’s. Stuart, on the other hand, although more world-weary, had a certain edge that might complement Bea better. She had to remember that her choice might make the difference between success and failure. Not just the company’s but hers. And after that lunch, failure was something she didn’t want to entertain.
Jade saw her coming and immediately leaped to her feet. Pencil thin, dressed in black as usual, she had a head of wild black curls that provided a perfect foil for the slash of bright red lipstick she always wore. She paused to listen to something Stuart was saying. Encouraging or discouraging? Bea couldn’t tell. However, whatever it was didn’t dissuade her from coming to her door.
‘Bea! Could I have a word with you?’
‘Not now. I’m sorry but there’s something I’ve got to do. Later this afternoon any good? Or even Monday morning?’
‘It can’t wait, I’m afraid.’ Jade could never be described as aggressive but she sure knew how to assert herself. That was one of the reasons Bea liked and rated her. She knew no one else who would contemplate doorstepping a celeb to persuade a book out of them. That wasn’t what old-fashioned publishing had been about, but Jade was one of a new breed who thought out of the box.
‘Well, I’m sorry, it’s going to have to.’ Bea had to get to her office to think. The last thing she wanted was a discussion with someone she might be about to make redundant.
‘I just need ten minutes. Please. In about half an hour?’
‘All right, if you really insist.’ Bea conceded defeat in the knowledge that Jade would pester her until she gave in. Having such little time in hand would certainly help focus her mind.
Half an hour later, she was still undecided. Much as she would have liked to get the difficult conversation over with before the weekend – something that Adam, doubtless, would have done in her place – she needed more time to be absolutely sure she was doing the right thing. If only she could escape with her antibiotics, go home and start again on Monday. At least she’d be feeling better then. She shifted position to ease her discomfort, then sipped at yet another glass of water. A knock and then Jade put her head around the door. ‘Now a good time?’
‘Just give me another couple of minutes. I’ve got to make one call, then I’m yours.’ Coward.
Bea stood up, straightened her skirt – rather a nice Marc Jacobs number that she’d spotted in the window of Flash for Cash and couldn’t resist on the grounds that secondhand doesn’t count – then picked up her phone and turned to face the window so no one could see she wasn’t speaking.
When Jade came back, she was ready. She was going to pretend everything was normal, soothe any worries and take the next couple of days to be certain of her decision. Stuart and Jade might not be her best friends but they had been loyal colleagues and they at least deserved to be given serious thought and consideration. She owed them that. Even if they were going to think she