Read Online Dream a Little Dream by Sue Moorcroft - Free Book Online
Authors: Sue Moorcroft
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you?’
The beginnings of relief washed through her. If she wasn’t being ousted, then some of the pressure was off her whilst she decided what to do next. She cocked her head. ‘But aren’t I too unpleasant for everyone to work with?’
His laugh was forced. ‘I didn’t say that! Or, if I did, I was angry and I probably said too much.’
‘No luck with the investors?’
His smile stayed pinned in place. ‘Early days, early days.’
Slowly, she closed the filing cabinet drawer. Such a feeble justification for this about-face brought with it a whiff of rodent. ‘Have Imogen and Fenella finished with their clients?’
‘I don’t—’
‘Let’s see.’ Dodging past him, she whisked down to reception. ‘Pippa! Have Fenella and Imogen finished their evening sessions?’
Pippa was already zipping herself into her coat, hooking her ponytail out of the collar. ‘Yup, all the clients have gone.’
‘Good. Can you just hang on a sec? And you, Nicolas.’
‘But—!’
‘Won’t take a moment.’ With a brilliant smile at Nicolas, Liza shot off in search of Fen and Immi and vitally illuminating feedback.
Once everyone was assembled, still in the despised forest green tunics and white shoes, Liza turned to face them, clasping her hands and assuming what she hoped was a desolate expression. ‘I’m really sorry,’ she began. ‘I had no idea I was being so horrible to you all and now it’s been pointed out to me, I feel awful. Nicolas has given me the chance to stay at the centre, but I don’t feel I can unless you guys are all OK with it. It wouldn’t be fair. I apologise for my behaviour, of course.’
Silence.
Nicolas shone with sweat. ‘Well—’
Imogen’s dark hair was threaded artfully into a beaded circlet at the back of her head. She tucked away an escaping tendril, frowning. ‘When were you horrible?’
Fenella gave a bemused shake of her head. ‘What do you mean, “a chance to stay”?’
Pippa just looked confused.
Liza gazed around, as if in surprise. ‘Nicolas explained that I’ve been upsetting everyone; that I go too far with my friendly insults. He didn’t seem to think he had much choice but to ask me to go.’ Then watched, with satisfaction, three pairs of astonished eyes swivel towards Nicolas.
Nicolas backed up like a cornered fox. ‘I may have overreacted to something Liza said to a client.’
‘Liza’s had a hard time, she’s a bit sad sometimes, but I don’t remember her insulting me.’ Fenella folded her arms.
‘Me, neither,’ Imogen agreed.
‘I may have blown the incident up.’
Liza gazed at him. He shuffled. Finally, he muttered, ‘Sorry.’
And all there was left for Liza to do was heave pretend sighs and hug, kiss and thank everyone in turn as they reassured her. Except Nicolas. Nicolas just gave her a look that seemed to say he knew perfectly well he’d been punished.
Now all she had to do was work out why she’d had to do it.
Chapter Six
PWNsleep message board:
Nightjack: Yesterday evening was so crap. I was talking to a hot girl and I couldn’t clear my head. She must have thought I wasn’t into her at all.
Inthebatcave: Would it work to take your meds a bit later, to keep you with it, if you know you’re going to be out late?
Nightjack: Yeah, but I hadn’t known I would be. It was, like, a developing situation …
Tenzeds: Were you really that into her, if her conversation didn’t keep you alert? Talking to a woman I like has definitely kept my eyes open, so far … But it’s scary to think it might not.
Liza, huddling into her jacket, was grateful to step into the beery warmth of The Three Fishes after the raw autumn chill of the evening. Locals gathered near the bar and grouped around the tables under the darkened beams. A blazing log fire danced its welcome with the cosy smell of wood smoke. And it was inexplicably comforting to find Dominic Christy lounging at a brass-covered table, his jacket a similar harvest-gold to
The beginnings of relief washed through her. If she wasn’t being ousted, then some of the pressure was off her whilst she decided what to do next. She cocked her head. ‘But aren’t I too unpleasant for everyone to work with?’
His laugh was forced. ‘I didn’t say that! Or, if I did, I was angry and I probably said too much.’
‘No luck with the investors?’
His smile stayed pinned in place. ‘Early days, early days.’
Slowly, she closed the filing cabinet drawer. Such a feeble justification for this about-face brought with it a whiff of rodent. ‘Have Imogen and Fenella finished with their clients?’
‘I don’t—’
‘Let’s see.’ Dodging past him, she whisked down to reception. ‘Pippa! Have Fenella and Imogen finished their evening sessions?’
Pippa was already zipping herself into her coat, hooking her ponytail out of the collar. ‘Yup, all the clients have gone.’
‘Good. Can you just hang on a sec? And you, Nicolas.’
‘But—!’
‘Won’t take a moment.’ With a brilliant smile at Nicolas, Liza shot off in search of Fen and Immi and vitally illuminating feedback.
Once everyone was assembled, still in the despised forest green tunics and white shoes, Liza turned to face them, clasping her hands and assuming what she hoped was a desolate expression. ‘I’m really sorry,’ she began. ‘I had no idea I was being so horrible to you all and now it’s been pointed out to me, I feel awful. Nicolas has given me the chance to stay at the centre, but I don’t feel I can unless you guys are all OK with it. It wouldn’t be fair. I apologise for my behaviour, of course.’
Silence.
Nicolas shone with sweat. ‘Well—’
Imogen’s dark hair was threaded artfully into a beaded circlet at the back of her head. She tucked away an escaping tendril, frowning. ‘When were you horrible?’
Fenella gave a bemused shake of her head. ‘What do you mean, “a chance to stay”?’
Pippa just looked confused.
Liza gazed around, as if in surprise. ‘Nicolas explained that I’ve been upsetting everyone; that I go too far with my friendly insults. He didn’t seem to think he had much choice but to ask me to go.’ Then watched, with satisfaction, three pairs of astonished eyes swivel towards Nicolas.
Nicolas backed up like a cornered fox. ‘I may have overreacted to something Liza said to a client.’
‘Liza’s had a hard time, she’s a bit sad sometimes, but I don’t remember her insulting me.’ Fenella folded her arms.
‘Me, neither,’ Imogen agreed.
‘I may have blown the incident up.’
Liza gazed at him. He shuffled. Finally, he muttered, ‘Sorry.’
And all there was left for Liza to do was heave pretend sighs and hug, kiss and thank everyone in turn as they reassured her. Except Nicolas. Nicolas just gave her a look that seemed to say he knew perfectly well he’d been punished.
Now all she had to do was work out why she’d had to do it.
Chapter Six
PWNsleep message board:
Nightjack: Yesterday evening was so crap. I was talking to a hot girl and I couldn’t clear my head. She must have thought I wasn’t into her at all.
Inthebatcave: Would it work to take your meds a bit later, to keep you with it, if you know you’re going to be out late?
Nightjack: Yeah, but I hadn’t known I would be. It was, like, a developing situation …
Tenzeds: Were you really that into her, if her conversation didn’t keep you alert? Talking to a woman I like has definitely kept my eyes open, so far … But it’s scary to think it might not.
Liza, huddling into her jacket, was grateful to step into the beery warmth of The Three Fishes after the raw autumn chill of the evening. Locals gathered near the bar and grouped around the tables under the darkened beams. A blazing log fire danced its welcome with the cosy smell of wood smoke. And it was inexplicably comforting to find Dominic Christy lounging at a brass-covered table, his jacket a similar harvest-gold to
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