Night Watcher (10 page)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Ken was on a high as he elaborated on his plans for increasing the store’s potential and Nicole was powerless to stop him. But underneath her calm exterior she seethed. Her fury intensified as she watched Patrick’s sharp eyes glitter with interest, but she knew it was no use complaining. Patrick admired sharp practice and would rightly deduce that Ken had stolen a march on his nearest rival. No, she would just have to outsmart him and rescue what little she could.

Patrick looked what he was, a successful businessman who was only one step removed from a con man. He was tall and angular with a full head of white hair and a sharp, pointed face, with nose and chin to match. His aquiline features might have given him an aristocratic look if it had not been for the habitual cunning expression, which gave the impression he was plotting something. He had been good to Nicole over the years, but she had no illusions about him, and knew he would discard her if he thought she was of no more use.

His attention remained focused on Ken with such an intensity that she almost expected his pointed nose to twitch at the smell of success, and when he finally glanced in her direction she sensed that he was aware of her discomfiture and knew exactly what was going on.

‘And you, Nicole? You have formulated some plans for me as well?’ His eyes glinted and there was a hint of malice in them.

Nicole knew Patrick would not tolerate anyone who failed to deliver. She also knew how ruthless he could be. So she removed her elbows from the table, leaned back in her chair, and smiled with a confidence she was far from feeling. If she was to come out of the game ahead of everyone else she would have to convince Patrick she still had control. ‘You’ve just heard my plans.’ She stared straight at Patrick, ‘Ken and I decided that rather than work on opposing plans that would take up time and resources to test out, we would work jointly on a plan with the aim of succeeding in the least possible time frame. The plan would, as a result, have a greater chance of success.’ She moved her gaze to Ken, ‘We drew lots to see who would present it and Ken won the toss of the coin.’

Patrick’s thin lips stretched into a smile that was almost vulpine while his eyes flicked between Ken and Nicole. ‘Good thinking,’ he said.

Nicole knew that she had scored for the time being. But she also knew from Patrick’s expression that he was perfectly aware of her ruse. Of course, now he was aware of the competition between them he would use it, and would not care if he destroyed both of them in the process. Nicole, however, had never considered herself a loser, and had no intention of giving up what she had fought so hard to attain. If Ken could stay on top with her that would be well and good, but if it came to one or the other of them she would see Ken going down the tubes first.

Patrick wound up the meeting, impressing on everyone that a rationalisation of all his businesses was in process and that this would inevitably mean some downsizing and job losses. He gathered up his papers and informed them he had two more meetings that day. However, if they all worked hard on the project that had been presented, and if it was a success, he was confident this particular store could survive. With that threat hanging over them, he left.

Nicole waited until the lift doors closed and then turned on Ken. ‘What the hell was that all about?’ she hissed. ‘Those were my ideas and fine well you know it.’

‘Not here!’ Ken glanced over his shoulder. ‘Somewhere private and I’ll explain.’ He took her arm and manoeuvred her along the corridor and through the door into her office.

‘You had no right to steal my plan,’ she spat, as soon as the door was closed. ‘No right at all. It would have been all the same if I’d told Patrick what you did. That you don’t have any ideas of your own so you’ve to steal someone else’s.’

Ken backed her up against the desk. ‘Patrick wouldn’t have cared and you know it. Anyway I did tell him it was your plan, but he wouldn’t listen, just told me to get on with the presentation and not make excuses for you.’

‘Excuses for me?’ Nicole’s voice almost failed her. ‘Since when have I needed you or anyone else to make excuses for me, and anyway, I don’t believe you. Patrick would have enjoyed saying that himself. He wouldn’t have left it to you.’

‘No, that’s not right, and you know it. Patrick’s game has always been to play people off against each other. Nothing would suit him better than if we were enemies. That way he gets the best of both of us because then we’ll always be trying to outdo each other.’

Nicole was conscious of the edge of the desk cutting into the tops of her legs and Ken’s grasp on her arms. She could smell his breath as he leaned over her, a mixture of smoke and the mints he continually sucked, his face twitched and his eyes darkened with desire. ‘We don’t want to be enemies, do we Nicole? We don’t want to play into Patrick’s hands? That would mean we’d both lose out.’ He bent her arms behind her as he pushed her back onto the desk. ‘What we want to do is play our own game,’ his voice came in short gasps, ‘and you were magnificent in there. It let Patrick know just where we stand.’ His knee pressed between her legs prising them open. ‘What d’you say, Nicole? Do we work together?’

‘Yes, we’ll work together,’ Nicole’s voice was husky as she pulled him into her, but only as long as it suits me, she thought.

***

Before they left the store, Patrick handed his briefcase to his secretary, a tall, aloof blonde who accepted it without question. He did not bother to stand aside for her, but pushed through the revolving doors, expecting her to follow him. They could have waited inside because the Rolls had not yet arrived. But he needed some fresh air after the claustrophobic atmosphere of the meeting upstairs which, he had to admit, had been slightly more interesting than usual.

He had made a good choice when he brought Ken on board as an assistant director. The younger man reminded him of himself when he’d been Ken’s age, ambitious, cunning, and with a hunger to get ahead at all costs. He was a good match for Nicole who also had those qualities. Both of his assistant directors would do anything to get ahead, just as he would have done and would still do.

He smiled to himself as he thought of Ken’s presentation, so obviously Nicole’s work he would have recognized it anywhere. She had been furious, he could see it in her eyes and her body language. Still, he had to admire the way she had handled it, he could not have done better himself.

Maybe he would send her a dozen red roses with a congratulations message. It had been a long time since he had sent her roses, but then she was not as young as she was in those days.

The Rolls Royce pulled into the kerb. The liveried chauffeur got out and opened the door for him. ‘Thanks, Frankie,’ Patrick said, stepping into the back seat of the car. His secretary handed the briefcase to Frankie before sliding into the back seat beside Patrick. He laid his hand on her knee, inching the material of her skirt up until it rested on her bare flesh, although his hand might not have been there for all the response she made. The car pulled out into the traffic and Patrick gave one last glance up at the store to where the executive offices were. He wondered briefly what Nicole and Ken were doing at the moment, although he had a good idea. The silly fools thought they had kept their affair a secret, but there were no secrets that Patrick was not party to.

He turned his attention to his secretary. It would be an hour before they reached the next store and he knew how he was going to fill the time.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Ken whistled as he walked down the corridor, but before he passed through the glass doors leading to the general offices, he stopped, checked his tie was straight and adjusted his collar. It would not do for the clerical assistants to notice his clothing was in disarray.

The soft buzz of conversation fizzled out as he strode into the room. ‘Hi, girls,’ he said. ‘The meeting’s over so it’s back to the grindstone.’ He smiled, a boyish grin that he knew girls and women responded to. It was his trademark.

Plonking his briefcase on the edge of one of the desks he brought out a folder. ‘Think you can get that done for me today?’

The senior administrative assistant plucked the folder from his hand. ‘The typists are busy on the new production details so I’ll do it myself,’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed.’ She leaned close to him so that he could smell her perfume.

He inhaled deeply, ‘Is that a new perfume, Evelyn?’ He swayed slightly, ‘It makes you irresistible.’

One of the younger girls turned her face away and became engrossed in her computer as she tried to hide a smile, while Evelyn’s face developed an interesting shade of pink. She pulled away from him, but he followed her round the desk and took hold of her hand. ‘I just wanted you to know I appreciate your dedication to the job,’ he said. ‘And I’ll make sure you’re not forgotten if things change around here.’

Ken had no doubts that the clerical staff knew exactly what was going on and what was being considered simply because they handled everyone’s typing.

‘Thank you, Mr Moody.’ Evelyn turned an even deeper shade of pink before she moved back to her desk. ‘I’d better get started if you want this today.’ She settled down in front of her computer and started to type, but evidently remembering something, she looked up just as Ken was leaving. ‘Oh, by the way, you don’t happen to know if Mrs Ralston’s free yet?’ Her fingers poised in mid air.

Ken turned and leaned against the doorframe. ‘She’s out of the meeting if that’s what you mean, but I’d leave her in peace just now, I think she’s working on her project.’ He lowered his voice, and said, ‘And to tell you the truth I don’t think she’s finding it very easy.’

‘Yes, of course, Mr Moody,’ Evelyn’s fingers busied themselves on the keyboard. ‘Look back in a couple of hours and this’ll be ready for you.’

Ken left the lift on the fourth floor and wandered round the china department. Shining crystal winked and gleamed at him from spotlessly clean shelves while plates, cups and saucers, glowed warmly under the concealed lighting. He stopped to admire the Doultons in their revolving glass cabinet, but the Doulton ornament he had hidden away in the stock room was not among them. It was a special limited edition, a present for Claire’s birthday.

As he wandered he smiled and chatted to the various assistants, showing an interest in their sales targets and whether these were being met, while at the same time encouraging and praising them. He liked to create the impression among the floor staff that he was interested in them and their departments and he was fairly positive he succeeded in this. He was sure every member of staff thought he had their interests at heart whereas if there was a cutback he really did not care much who it affected as long as it was not himself.

Reaching the stairs he decided to walk down to the electrical department. Claire was fancying a new refrigerator and he thought, provided she chose the correct model, he could do a deal with the sales rep when he came to the store next week.

Ken had hardly stepped off the stairs when the section head, a cold, austere woman who was immune to his charms, hurried up to him. ‘Your wife was here earlier,’ she said. ‘Told me to tell you she would be in the coffee shop if you turned up.’

‘Thank you, Miss Smithers.’ Ken did not bother smiling because he knew it would have no effect. The woman was a dragon and he could never fathom why her sales figures were always so good.

***

The ground floor coffee shop was busy, but Claire had managed to get a corner table at the rear of the seating area. And, although she had to admit the coffee and cakes were excellent, she did not particularly want to be here. But she had to wait for Ken somewhere and this was as good a place as anywhere else in the store. Besides, she needed to kill some time before collecting Catriona from the nursery. Catriona was the baby of the family and she would not trust anyone else to collect her, not like Jake and Charlie her six year old twins who preferred to go home from school with their best friend Davie and his mother.

Claire was tempted to leave the store and would have done so if she had thought it would make Ken wonder why she hadn’t waited for him. But she had always waited for Ken, had done it all her life and he was used to it. Besides she knew Ken so well she was sure that however strange he thought her leaving was, it would not trouble him. In any case she did not want to wander the streets.

She was on her second coffee before Ken turned up looking as if he had swallowed a whole churn of cream, and she could just guess which particular cat had supplied it. Her eyes narrowed as she watched him smiling at the customers while he weaved his way between the tables. He always thought she never knew about him and his affairs and when she did tackle him he acted like the injured party with that little boy lost look she had originally found so attractive. Now that she was older and wiser she was well able to resist it. However, she was getting tired – tired of him and his affairs. It was time to thwart his little diversions even if it meant she might lose him, but somehow or other she did not think she would.

‘I thought you were going to meet me in the electrical department?’ She used both hands to place her cup in the saucer, afraid that the anger starting to swell within her would make her hands shake. Anger did that to her and if it was fierce enough her entire body was liable to shake with emotion. But Claire had spent her whole life trying to control her emotions and she had developed certain defence mechanisms that probably did not do her blood pressure much good.

‘Sorry, love.’ Ken bent and kissed the top of her head. ‘The meeting dragged on and on. I thought it was never going to end.’

‘Really!’ Claire squirmed away from him. ‘Funny, but I saw Patrick getting into his car when I arrived.’ She looked at her wristwatch. ‘It must be about an hour ago.’

Ken sat down opposite her and gave her his wide-eyed innocent stare which Claire knew was the prelude to a lie. ‘Patrick didn’t stay for the full discussion. He said what he had to say, bit of a pep talk really, and left. We had to carry on and discuss what plans we would have to come up with to ensure the store remains open.’

‘I’m sure.’ Claire’s voice could have sliced concrete.

Ken wriggled slightly on his chair, ‘What does that mean?’ He no longer sounded so sure of himself.

‘It means I know exactly what you’ve been up to,’ she snapped, ‘and I tell you here and now I’m not putting up with it any longer. No more excuses, you finish it and you finish it now, or I’m gone.’ Claire gathered up her handbag and stood up. ‘Now,’ she said, ‘or you’ll never see me and the kids again.’

Holding her head high and ignoring the curious stares of the other customers she stalked out of the coffee shop and through the perfume department, not stopping until she emerged from the swing doors on to the pavement. Her exit was so speedy she almost collided with an elderly couple on the way in. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled, hesitating for only the briefest moment, before mingling with the crowds and hurrying to the car park.