Take a Chance on Me (19 page)

They sat in silence while he just stared, looking for all the world like he couldn't decide whether to kiss her or kill her.

‘Well, at least you can't throw me off the plane,' she said in a small voice.

At last he took a deep breath. ‘You realise this is the third version of you I've been faced with, in less than a day?'

‘Yes, I'm sorry,' she said, relief in her voice. ‘No need to grab a parachute then?' More silence. ‘And which version of me do you like best?'

‘Don't ask me that,' he snapped.
The one from last night, the one on the dance floor, the one naked on my sofa …

Eventually he walked to the now unmanned bar, picked up a bottle of scotch, sloshed a shot into a glass and drained it down in one, banging the empty on the bar. He made a face.
Get a grip, Mac.

‘So how
are
the kids? All in order?'

‘Yes, they're “all in order”, thank you. Everything's fine. Another expensive school trip on the cards and they've both got tests looming.'

So should she be at home? Does she mean she should be at home?

He didn't speak so Sadie continued.

‘Mum's sorted out where they'll be for the next day or so now I'm not coming back.'

‘Which is where?'

‘Why do you want to know? Is it to make sure I'm going to be fully focused on the deal? Because I will be, Mac, I'm a professional. Men will not get in the way of my success this time. And neither will my kids. It's them I'm doing it all for, after all.'

‘But what if they're ill, what if something happens, what if somebody else comes into your life who demands that you change who you are, for them.'

‘Can I refuse to answer please, Mr Anderson, on the grounds that if this were an HR interview I'd be pulling you up on all manner of employment laws by now?'

Mac signalled to the returning barman, fuming.

‘It's not a crime to have kids, you know,' she went on, prising her legs off the leather seat, making a face as they stuck a little, and then standing up. ‘And it doesn't mean our deal is in danger just because
you
don't care about children. Perhaps I should leave.'

Her face was pink, her chest was flushed, and her body language spoke of murder.
If only she knew the truth, if only she knew who he really was, and what he was really planning.
Time for a change of tack.

‘You're right,' he said, begrudgingly, as the barman poured another scotch. ‘You're absolutely right, and I apologise.'

Sadie took a breath, nodded and then slumped back in her chair, pulling her skirt down a little and shrouding the cashmere blanket protectively around her shoulders again. Where she'd been about to take off to, he had no idea, but it looked like her ‘fight or flight' instincts had certainly been wound up to the hilt. ‘Sorry, you're right.'

‘Thank you,' she said quietly.

She picked up her drink, and sipped, staring out into space and swinging her feet like a hurt little girl. His heart went out to her. No, it was his fault for not reading the notes through.
And for pretending to be a deckhand. And for not sticking with his trusty ‘disposables'. And his principles.

He regained his composure.

‘And the store? Things have been looking up since the article?'

She narrowed her eyes at him, and then replied. ‘I see you read
that
bit. Good thanks, yes, they've been much better. Mum's a saint, in more ways than one. She's been using the last of the money Dad left her to invest in the shop and help me and my sister out. Bless her.'

‘Your sister?'

‘Yes. Helen was made redundant a little while ago – she's gone off to a yogic retreat to retrain. She's very spiritual is Helen. Except for the shoes.'

Mac coughed a little. ‘And your mother? You said your dad left her money. I'm sorry to hear he's not with us any more.'

‘No one's as sorry as Mum. He was her world – they had us young. She's funny though, now it's like she's rebelling – the teenage years she never had or something. But I couldn't have set up on my own without her.' Mac just nodded. ‘I will buy her back out again one day though,' Sadie continued, a catch in her throat. ‘If this deal comes off it may be sooner than she thought.'

‘Not if. When.' He smiled. ‘What Mac wants, Mac gets.'

Sadie squirmed a little. ‘Including me last night?' she asked, glaring at him.

‘Come on, throw me a bone here.'

‘Hmmm. Well, yes, it would be nice if it's “when” not “if”.'

‘Very nice,' he agreed.

Another short silence.
Come on, Mac, say something pithy.

‘It must be hard work running a shop in this current economic climate, what with the credit crunch and depreciating value of the pound, you know, less in people's pockets. I guess health food purchases would be regarded as a luxury, wouldn't they? Easy to do without?' Mac heard the words come out of his mouth like some crass current affairs show host, mid-interview. Yep, that confirmed it, this woman definitely threw him off kilter.

Sadie didn't bat an eyelid. She must be used to this debate.

‘For some, but not as many as you'd think. You see, when it comes to something they really believe in, some people are willing to do anything they can to make themselves afford it. Especially for the health of their family. The big drug companies think they've got it all tied up with their claims, and their rules, but the little guys like us are making a stand, and so are our loyal customers. The health food industry is ready for a battle. Sometimes you have to fight for what you know is right.' Defiance lit up her eyes, but her face remained neutral. ‘And if you do it the right way, you really can turn the science press to your advantage. It can be very powerful.'

‘And very time consuming.'

‘Well, yes, but I've done it before and I can do it again.' Sadie looked pensive for a second. ‘Anyway, studies have to be scientifically correct, and usually take an age to complete and be published. If you have contacts, it can help speed up that side of things.'

‘That's why you think you got offered this opportunity by Bill Galloway? Your scientific mind?'

‘Yes. And because he sees dead people.'

Mac's eyebrows raised in surprise, then fell again when he realised she was playing with him. Then she got all serious once more.

‘Without the publications in peer-reviewed journals you just can't get through to today's cynical scientific community. And the results on peak power output we've already seen in just two preliminary trials—'

‘You're talking just like a scientist!'

‘That'll be because I am a scientist, remember? I ran the lab.'

‘You
ran
it?'

‘Don't tell me you thought I was just a researcher?'

‘I didn't … realise.'

More silence. More assumptions. Mac had really gone and done it now. Sadie sighed.

‘Well, at least you know, now.'

‘There's a whole lot I know, now.'

‘Don't worry. Read your document in full and you'll know the rest as well. '

‘I'm sorry if I didn't have you down as a proper scientist type,' he said.

‘It's not the first time and it won't be the last. It's my fault for being blonde.' Sadie looked hurt, angry and insulted all at once.

‘Well, you don't look like the picture in your file, that's for sure.'

‘I was fed up of being brunette. Serious businesswomen just don't look like me, huh?'

Mac's heart clenched, and a wave of protectiveness swept over him.
Say something – make it better, make it better. Or get the hell away from here.

‘It's just … you know, no beard or sandals you see. What with you being so beautiful and all.'

Sadie rolled her eyes and pursed her mouth.

Oops, made it worse.

‘I'll cope. I always have,' she said. ‘Just as I cope with life. I come with my own long list of baggage – which you would have known about, had you done your reading, Mr Anderson. Yes, for the record, it shouldn't really matter what I look like. I'm a single,
divorced
mother, running a business on my own, travelling away from home, taking care of my kids, and even remembering to put the bins out on a Thursday. I do it. I'm a woman – it's hard but I cope.'

Mac caught the mood, and shut up. The silence strung out a little too long for comfort.
Was he reading this right?
He looked around him before lowering his voice and leaning in conspiratorially.

‘Sadie, I have a suggestion for you.' He swallowed. He was taking a punt but she had a lot on her plate. Maybe this would make it easier.

‘You seem a bit stressed. Maybe it's the sudden extra trip I thrust upon you. Would you like to just go home when we get to the tech-stop halfway? I don't mind. I'm sure Alexis and the team can take it from here.'

Sadie's eyes widened. Mac thought he was onto a winner, so he continued. ‘In fact, how about this, although you'll still get your commission – and you will of course help with the studies … er, manage all the studies – I really don't mind if you want to take a less hands-on role from now on. If you think it's best. Maybe one of your colleagues would be willing to take over the donkey work …' He paused. ‘In the lab, so you have more time to …'

Sadie bit her lip and breathed deeply.

Uh-oh.

‘To be with the kids? Focus on the store? From what you're saying you're needed there really, if that's where your heart lies? You've brought it this far, and there are dozens of professionals in my organisation who've done this type of thing before.'

‘No, thank you,' she said curtly. Her lips were pursed and her knuckles were white, her hands were clenching so hard.

‘Tell you what, I'll offer you an advance. You could buy your mum out now – that's what it's all about ultimately, isn't it? Sounds like you've got a lot going on, and well, some people may be expecting it.'

‘Some people including you? Now you know I've got kids? Well, “some people” are going to be disappointed,' she snapped. ‘Don't forget
I'm
the one the Frish people want to run the contract for the studies. Because I can get them the claims they need faster than anyone else on this planet. And what's more, I can front-up the marketing and PR – handle difficult questions and so on. Explaining the new studies to the layman or to ruthless journalists isn't something “one of your people” will be able to do as easily as you think. And don't underestimate me. Why do people always underestimate me? Sorry, Mister Big Shot, thanks, but no thanks. You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not.'

Holding her gaze just a little too long, Mac felt the draw towards her, and the warmth stirring again in his groin.

Dammit, I'm about to lose control.

Sadie, on the other hand, had reached a pinkish shade of purple.

Shit, and now so is she.

Mac ran his hands through his hair.

Sadie was looking at him through narrowed eyes.

‘I'm sorry, Sadie, I just thought I'd ask. I was thinking of you – the kids. I'm only interested in the deal working out.' Again that look – only worse. ‘But don't worry – your CV stacks up, you were passed by the due diligence team, so if you really think you can handle this yourself,
and
be a mother, then I guess …'

Her big green eyes flared up from beneath long lashes, as she took a sharp intake of breath. Mac continued, sensing that if there had been a window nearby that she could open, Sadie would have flung him out of it.

‘I guess that means you're a lucky woman.'

She stood up, whispering. Somehow she seemed more menacing when she whispered like that. ‘Well, thank you,
Mister
Anderson, for that vote of confidence. If I didn't know better, I'd tell you to—'

‘Mac, we've got an update from … oh, I'm sorry.' Alexis chose that moment to appear, looking fresh as a daisy, with newly-applied make-up and pristine clothes. She was loaded up with files and notes. Mac straightened up.
Enough of this
.

‘That's quite okay, Alexis. I think we've said all there is to say. Wouldn't you agree, Sadie?'

Alexis's sideways glance to Mac was met with a brief nod. Sadie watched as Alexis just carried on, and leaned near him to place the pile on the coffee table. Admittedly it was a bit too near. His face turned to a frown as he caught Sadie's raised eyebrows.

‘Sadie, I hope you enjoy the flight. Anything else, the girls back there will help fulfil your needs.'

‘And the guys,' chirped Carlo, walking by, winking at them. ‘Would you like me to accompany you back to your seat, Miss Turner?'

‘It's Ms,' said both Sadie and Mac together.

Mac's self-talk continued later, during his second frantic treadmill session this flight.

Nothing good came of getting too close to anyone he did business with, he knew that to his cost. He'd learnt the hard way many years ago. He tutted
and shook his head
. So no romance this trip.
Not with Sadie Samantha Businesswoman anyway. She'd said ‘one night' and one night it was.

Whatever. It really made no difference even if she'd been the one to want more after all this – a rule is a rule is a rule.

She was now out of bounds, seriously, completely, one hundred per cent, out of bounds. Even more so since she was a single mother. Bad news. When you walked out you didn't just walk away from the woman – you walked away from the kids as well.
And I ain't going there again
. Ever.

Women could make very good business partners, driven, focused and free from distractions. But it was rare. It was no coincidence therefore, that all of his CEOs were men. He knew it was old-school, but he took no chances.