The Decision (39 page)

‘You might think that, but now the clever thing, I’m told, might be to find something to invest in. Somewhere to put the money where it would work.’

‘What, the stock market, you mean?’

‘Well, maybe, but what a dry, miserable old world that is. I’d rather go for a bit of excitement. With the odds a bit higher.’

‘Barry, higher odds means higher risk.’

‘And what would life be without risk? This whole business is about risk. And I’m getting pretty good at assessing it. I tell you, making money in this business is like taking candy from a baby.’

Louise recognised that phrase. She ordered a bacon butty, purely to gain herself some time, went to the filthy shack at the back of the café which called itself a toilet and did a few sums on the notebook she always carried with her. Then she went back to Barry, took a deep breath, and started to talk.

‘You what!’

Louise had often seen Matt angry; she had never been properly frightened by him. She was now.

‘You told him! My idea! You just – just gave it away. Jesus Christ, Louise, you might as well have taken the front page of the
Daily Mirror
. You stupid bloody cow.’

‘Don’t swear at me.’

‘I’ll swear at you if I want to. What right did you think you had to do that? Why couldn’t you have asked Floyd to come in and see me?’

‘Because I wanted to seize the moment,’ said Louse, only slightly untruthfully, ‘everything could have been lost if he’d gone off and found somewhere else to put his money, some other scheme.’

‘That’s bollocks. You just wanted to muscle in on it like you do on everything. I’ve a bloody good mind to sack you, right now—’

‘OK.’ Louise stood up. ‘Fine. A month, I think I’m on. I told you David Elstein’s looking for a junior partner.’

‘Well, he’s very welcome to you. No doubt you’ll be hawking his confidential business round London in no time at all.’

‘Matt,’ said Louise, very calm suddenly, ‘you’ve tried every source in London for that money and just met a complete blank wall. And it’s because you haven’t got any money to put in yourself; or not nearly enough. Floyd’s prepared to build at cost. And put some cash in. You’d be able to borrow plenty more on that basis. Look, just talk to him, for heaven’s sake. He’s looking to invest in something exciting. And he thinks your idea is exciting. Very. Bloody brilliant was what he said. It’s the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. You’re just not recognising it because you’re so pig-headed and because I’ve provided it.’

‘That’s bollocks.’

‘It is not boll—oh, Jenny, could we have some coffee please. And Mr Shaw would like some biscuits – those lemon puff ones. Now Matt, just listen and think properly about what I’m saying. It really is the way forward, it would be a joint venture, with the profit shared on completion—’

‘Yeah and bloody Floyd would get the lion’s share. I’m not daft, Louise—’

‘Oh, no, not daft at all. And besides, it would obviously be in a direct ratio to what each party contributed. I’ll tell you what would be daft, and that would be not to do it at all. Just out of pure bloody-mindedness. If this project yields anything like what you’ve been saying, there’d be masses for everyone to share, including Jenny.’

He smiled suddenly. ‘Christ. Think of all the bloody biscuits she’d buy. Well, go on. Tell me some more.’

Louise emerged from his office half an hour later. She looked rather drained, but her eyes were very bright.

‘Jenny, we’re going to have a very big meeting here this afternoon. At four o’clock. All three of us, and a gentleman called Mr Floyd. So some really special biscuits, and I also want you to buy a bottle of champagne. Get the man in the off-licence to advise you, but something French. Here’s some cash. But don’t tell Mr Shaw yet, OK? Just bring it in when I tell you.’

‘Yes, all right, Miss Mullan. I’d best get some proper glasses as well then. And what about some of those really posh cigarettes? The ones in a box?’

‘Jenny,’ said Louise, ‘you know something? We’re a team here. And you’re a very important part of it.’

‘These are fucking brilliant,’ said Jack Beckham.

‘I’m glad you like them.’

‘I do. Well done. I’m doing the fold-out, as promised.’

‘Great.’

He peered at her. ‘You all right?’

‘Yes. Yes, I’m fine.’

‘You look tired.’

‘Jack, Paris isn’t exactly a convalescent cure. Nor was pulling that off. Of course I look tired.’

‘Juliet darling, I wondered if you might like a spot of lunch in town on Saturday. And then how about some shopping, we could go to Harrods. Would you like that?’

‘Sounds lovely, Mummy, but for goodness’ sake, don’t let me spend any money. Charles will start moaning about my extravagance. It’s getting very boring.’

‘What a shame. Well, never mind, I’ll treat you to something. What about a new bag, that old black one was looking a bit shabby, I thought. And you need to look smart, not just for yourself, but for Charles, you’re the wife of a successful young man, you know, you owe it to him to—’

‘I’m beginning to wonder about the success bit, to be honest. Either that or he’s very mean. And he goes on and on about Summercourt and what’s going to happen to it, he’s going down there on Saturday to discuss it with his parents. He wanted me to go too, but I couldn’t face it, it’s so depressing.’

‘Summercourt? What can possibly happen to it?’

‘Well, I don’t know, but it’s in a pretty bad state of repair, and it seems his parents have got terrible financial problems. It’s held in trust for the family, so they can’t sell it or raise any money on it.’

‘So’ – Carol Judd’s expression became rather sharp suddenly – ‘far from being an asset it’s a liability?’

‘It looks like it, yes.’

‘Well, that’s appalling, I don’t know what Daddy would have to say. But however it’s actually organised, that house will be Charles’s one day, his and yours, it’s his inheritance. I love imagining you there with your children.’

‘Well – I hope so.’

‘Of course it will. Mind you, we’ll all have terrible financial problems with this wretched new government. Daddy says Callaghan is an absolute brute. He’s going to push income tax right up, apparently. And the trade unions will get much more powerful. Daddy’s very worried indeed, he says his job will become almost impossible. He’s been in a frightfully bad mood ever since the election. Perhaps he should speak to Charles.’

‘I really don’t think that’s a very good idea,’ said Juliet.

‘Maddy, I need to talk to you. Want to come round to my flat for some pasta?’

‘Um – yes. That’d be nice. I’ll bring the vino.’

‘Sorry but I can’t invite Esmond.’

‘He won’t mind. Why, should he?’

‘I – don’t know. Matt gets very aerated if I want to go out without him. Or spend an evening on my own. He takes it as a personal insult.’

‘And how about if he wants to go out without you?’

‘Oh – well, that’s different,’ said Eliza.

‘Why?’

‘Well, it’s always work.’

‘Paris was work, and you said he made a terrible fuss about that.’

‘Well – that was for ten days. Anyway, what about this evening? He’s out with his new Irish partner.’

‘You’re not eating much, Eliza.’

‘No. I’m not very hungry. Got any ciggies? I’ve run out.’

‘Sure.’

She did seem very edgy, Maddy thought. ‘So – what’s the problem?’

‘Oh, it’s – well, it’s—my period’s late.’

‘Oh.’ Maddy put her fork down. ‘How late?’

‘Um – three weeks.’

‘Oh cripes. But – aren’t you on the pill?’

‘Well – yes. I am. Of course.’

‘OK, so it’s probably just a bit of a blip. It’ll sort itself out.’

‘Well, the blip is – actually – that I forgot to take them to Paris. Just forgot. In all the excitement and panic and everything. And I thought it wouldn’t matter, because I certainly wouldn’t be having any sex over there. When I got back, I was nearly due, well in another week, so I thought I’d wait and get it over and then start again.’

‘OK. So you were having lots of reunion sex—’

‘I – well – yes.’

‘Without any contraception?’

‘Well – yes. I couldn’t suggest using something else, or he’d have gone nuts.’

‘Hmmm. And so – don’t tell me – your period never arrived.’

‘Well – no.’

‘Cripes. You’re a prize idiot, aren’t you?’

‘I suppose I am. Oh, dear.’

‘Have you been to the doctor?’

‘No. Anyway, I’d want to go to my gynaecologist, and she’s been away. I’ve got an appointment on Tuesday. Then she’ll do a test. I mean – it’s probably just worry, holding everything up. It does, you know.’

‘Yes, of course. Um – any other symptoms?’

‘Well, my tits are very sore. But then they get like that when I’m due anyway. I – oh God.’ She lit another cigarette.

‘Poor old thing, you are in a state, aren’t you? What do you think Matt would say?’

‘I think he’d be pretty horrified. I mean, we’re not even living together. Yet.’

‘But you will be – won’t you?’

‘I – I suppose so. Anyway, the last thing I want to do is sort of blackmail him into it. Into fatherhood. I just so disapprove of girls who do that.’

‘Well, yes of course.’

‘I just know he’s not ready for it. He’s so busy, making his way and everything and he’s got some incredible new scheme, but it’s a big risk, he could lose most of what he’s got – God, he’s such a hero, Maddy. When I think of Jeremy, everything just handed him on a plate and Matt’s done it all himself, it’s extraordinary really, I admire him so much.’

‘But – if you are, you will tell him?’

‘Oh, yes, of course, I’ll tell him. I just hope I don’t have to. Probably I’m just – late.’

‘Probably,’ said Maddy.

‘I hear you’ve become a client.’ Louise grinned at Scarlett. ‘I’ve got a super place in mind for you. Small, but very nice, good area – just in Kensington, in the Old Brompton Road. It’s in a mews, really pretty.’

‘Sounds great. Can I see it?’

‘Course. We can go now if you like. I’m free.’

‘Fantastic. Thank you, Louise.’

Scarlett liked Louise: very much. She reminded her of Eliza, except that Louise was tougher, could have taught Eliza a thing or two about keeping Matt in order. Which increasingly he needed; he was becoming more and more arrogant.

It was the twin successes, of course: first with his new business venture, the out-of-town offices and then his conquest of Eliza. And how had he done that Scarlett wondered, when she could have had anyone, like for instance the boyfriend everyone had thought she would marry, rich and charming and handsome. And instead she had chosen Matt. Who was all right, very good-looking if not conventionally charming, and becoming quite, if not very, rich. And much softer and more vulnerable than he’d ever let on. Or rather wanted to let on.

It was lovely, of course, and Scarlett was really, really pleased for him, but still a bit surprised. They had certainly seemed pretty good together, he and Eliza, at Christmas time. But, love him as she did, Scarlett also knew that Matt could be extremely selfish, and oddly old-fashioned in his attitudes, a dead ringer for his father in lots of ways. She couldn’t see him enjoying Eliza’s meteoric career, for instance. And Eliza was very vulnerable. She was emotionally young for her age in spite of her professional success, probably due to having had a very sheltered and privileged childhood and early life. And while she did quite obviously adore Matt, it was rather too much for his own good in Scarlett’s view. She just hoped he adored her back.

Louise drove them both down to Kensington in her small green Mini Cooper, weaving in and out of the traffic with skilful impatience, cutting other drivers up, cheerfully raising two fingers to anyone who shouted at or beeped her.

She was feeling very happy this morning; contracts were being drawn up for the new development partnership with Barry Floyd and she was named as a director. They’d tried to elbow her aside, of course – well, Matt had, and he should have been more generous, she reckoned; the partnership wouldn’t be happening at all without her.

Anyway, she’d used her usual tactics, talking tough, threatening to leave. Valerie had most fortuitously just offered her the job of deputy managing director in her company, which actually Louise would have hated, dealing with personnel directors and a lot of women all day instead of builders and developers and a lot of men. Louise didn’t exactly dislike women, although most of them irritated her with what she thought of as their feeble ambitions and their reluctance to meet life head-on – which was the precise reason she liked Valerie Hill so much – but she was easier with men, the tougher the better, she found them more straightforward to deal with and she perversely enjoyed parrying their attempts to belittle her and put her down. Particularly Matt …

She knew she had done extraordinarily well; she loved her job, she made more money than any woman she knew, she had her own flat in Chiswick and a lot of very nice clothes, and she was really extremely happy. Her mother fretted over the lack of men in her life – but Louise remained untroubled by it. Work was what she cared about; she had had a few boyfriends, and had even slept with a couple, but none of them seemed worth investing any time in.