spoken at length with Teddy over our future, why hadn’t I? A subject we discussed, more often than not now that a baby was on the way.
Seldomly had we addressed the topic of marriage of late, primarily due to Teddy’s feelings as it was beginning to feel taboo. Whenever either of us raised the issue, her doubt and uncertainty crept in. Then her insecurities surfaced, causing a disagreement between us. Mother was the main instigator of course, and I was confident that once we informed the family about the baby, the expectation for us to be married would undoubtedly rise, annoyingly so – an old-fashioned notion I consciously objected to. Having a long engagement wasn’t entirely out of the question either.
Thomas buzzed interrupting my thoughts. “Sir, Mr Bradford is here to see you.”
I chuckled tickled by both the hilarity in Thomas’ voice and the mere fact my wayward friend had for once adhered to my request. I pressed the button on the keypad. “Thank you, Thomas. Send him right on in please.”
Making for a pleasant change, my long-time friend, and lawyer quietly entered. “Hey boss man, how’s it hangin’?” Well, almost.
“Where it’s always been, between my legs,” I blandly retorted observing a chipper Asher’s long measured steps stride towards me. “What can I do you for?”
Sliding into the chair adjacent to my desk and leaning casually, he slung an arm over the low backrest. “Thanks to your wonderfully efficient PA organising the necessary arrangements, we’re all set to head to Perth for these interviews: business class of course.”
Not expecting anything less from Asher, I scoffed sardonically. “A suggestion you orchestrated, no doubt.”
“Naturally.”
Eyeing him suspiciously, I cocked a brow sharply. “I sense a hidden agenda.”
It was Asher’s turn to scoff. “You know me...” That I did.
With the feeling I’d unquestionably regret asking him later, I casually waved a hand, motioning for him to continue. “Enlighten me with your reasoning.”
Pleased, he smiled broadly. “Firstly, for the booze, and secondly, for those gorgeous, leggy airline hostesses in the hope they’ll consider joining the Mile-High Club with me.”
Laughter bubbled to the surface. “Mind always in the gutter, Ash. Now, can we get back to the matter at hand, please? As in the relevant details?”
“Righto.” My mouth twitched in suppressed amusement as his doleful gaze glanced down at the iPad balanced in his lap. “Um, Monday, next week; I’m assuming that suits you?”
I acknowledged with a curt nod. “That’s fine. I’m presuming we’ll be there for a few days, yes?”
“We arrive Monday afternoon, so I thought why not spend the remainder of the day relaxing, have dinner etcetera, then start Tuesday morning afresh? Space the interviews out until Wednesday afternoon and fly home Thursday morning, how does that sound?”
I voiced my approval. “Sounds good. So, where are we staying? Leaving the details with Teddy’s imperative.”
A ghost of a smile danced on Asher’s lips. “….Whittemore’s in Adelaide Terrace.”
His choice of accommodations hadn’t surprised me in the least either.
What initially began as a small boutique hotel in the upmarket district of South Kensington, London at the start of the century by his great-great-grandfather, Whittemore’s Hotels quickly gained quite the glowing reputation due to a first-rate service given to all their customers. Thus, becoming one of the fastest growing chains around the world. His wild and womanising great-great-grandson, Damon, managed the Perth branch alongside his quirky parents, Sebastian and Catherine. Besides his philandering appetite, you couldn’t fault him, though. A visionary, he continually looked to expand the family’s empire. His most recent acquisition of fifty-six hectares on Phillip Island for a cool four million was a prime example of that vision. He’d also taken it upon himself to acquire the services of my company to build the one hundred room resort with the contract drawn and signed already. But until Port Phillip Council approved the plans, we were at a standstill. I scribbled in my diary, making a note to call them later in the hope I’d find out what the hold up was.
“I’ll flick Damon a quick text to make him aware of our visit,” I stated happily. “I haven’t seen the old boy in ages, so a catch up is definitely in order.”
“Hence my reasoning behind us staying a few days.” I chuckled as Asher continued, “Damo’s quite the character, it’ll be good to let our hair down.”
My brows shot up. “Where he’s concerned, we’ll be doing a lot more than that, I can assure you.”
A dirty laugh escaped Asher’s quirking lips. “Demon Damon has always been a hoot to hang out with.”
I snorted derisively; Eve hadn’t called us the troublesome trio without reason.
“Is that all?” I queried purposely changing the subject. “I have a few more tasks that require my full attention before day’s end. Otherwise, Teddy shall kick my arse if I spend another late night at the office.”
Azure blue eyes twinkled at me as Asher shook his head. “I swear your brain’s visible man, ‘cause that thumbprint…has grown to a cavernous size.”
I threw the pen grasped between my fingers directly at his head. “Haven’t you got someone else to annoy?”
“Only the lovely lady at the coffee stand outside.” He grinned, ducking his head. “But she’s not free for another hour.”
∞
Teddy
HAVING SPENT THE MORNING running around in the scorching heat, I thumped down in the chair and leaned back, grateful for the cooling vent above as it fanned my overheated face. “It’s bloody boiling out there.”
“I feel sorry for anyone who doesn’t have the luxury of air-conditioning,” Emily rambled, slouching in her seat and propping her Roman sandal-clad feet up on the desk.
“I’m glad I have it, as well as the pool, which I’ll be jumping into the second I get home.” I sighed and took a sip of water from the bottle I’d purchased from the café downstairs on my way back. “Do you mind if we have lunch downstairs today? This awful weather is making me feel nauseous, and I don’t feel up to walking too far.” Strangely enough, though, I was starving. Pregnancy was weird that way.
“Sure.”
Considering I was hungry, I picked. Instead of eating my choice of salad, quinoa and brown rice with grilled salmon, I pondered, blocking out the noises flowing around me. Chattering became indistinct as did the clatter of dishes and the scraping of chairs. Emily too became a victim of my vague state. Mind you I think I’d switched off well and truly before she began eating her Thai beef salad amidst prattling on about a guy she’d started dating only a few weeks prior to my disclosure. She might have possibly told me. But I surmised the preoccupation of my past, present and future may have caused it to slip my mind.
Although
