She drained the cold dregs of her latte, and because she could think of nothing better to do, headed off aimlessly to the shops in Liverpool Street station and hung around there for a fearful half-hour, before going back to Lloyd’s, and to Gerald’s office.
‘I’m afraid Mr Last has gone into another meeting until twelve,’ the PA told her. ‘Then he’s out to lunch.’
‘But I really need to talk to him!’
‘As do a lot of people.’ She gave Sarah a meaningful look. ‘He does know you’re trying to reach him.’
Sarah didn’t want to face the truth which she read in the PA’s cold eyes – that Gerald was deliberately blocking her. She felt close to tears. How could he do this? She returned to Starbucks, and sat hunched over another coffee. When she tried to drink some, she felt sick. Several times she tried Gerald’s mobile, and each time it went straight to voicemail.
At twelve-thirty she knew she had no choice but to go back to the office, and tell Hugo. Just as she was crossing Leadenhall Street, she saw Gerald on the other side, heading towards Caravaggio’s. Dodging taxis and cars, she raced across the road, and accosted him just as he was about to go into the restaurant. She was dimly aware that the person he was with looked very like the Chairman of Lloyd’s.
‘Gerald!’ she said breathlessly. ‘I’ve been trying to get hold of you all morning. I need you to sign the slip – you know, for the thirty per cent of that Lindos risk you agreed to take on Friday?’
Gerald looked bemused. ‘I said I’d look at it. I didn’t say I’d sign it.’ He opened the restaurant door for his companion. ‘In future, you should get these things properly sorted out, before dashing off for the weekend.’ The Chairman of Lloyd’s passed through the doorway, and Gerald lingered for a second. ‘I spoke to Hugo half an hour ago. We agreed that these things will happen if you employ incompetent staff. He blames himself entirely.’ He gave Sarah a smile. ‘Nice try, sweetie.’ He disappeared into the restaurant.
Sarah stood rooted to the pavement, her heart thudding. He’d given her his word, the bastard! Did he realise what it meant if he didn’t sign the slip? Of course he did. He knew only too well, and he didn’t care. He was hanging her out to dry. She was momentarily tempted to follow Gerald inside and tell him exactly what she thought of him. But she didn’t. Even in her present state of hopelessness, she knew it wouldn’t be a wise move to make a scene in front of the Chairman of Lloyds. There was the future to think of, even if right now it didn’t look as though she had one.
She went back to the office. Hugo had recently returned from the management meeting. His face looked grim, grey. His job, too, was on the line when this kind of thing happened.
‘I didn’t get his signature,’ she said simply to Hugo. ‘But then, you know that.’
‘Yes, I do,’ said Hugo. ‘Clear your desk.’
He turned without another word and went into his office, closing the door behind him.
Henry was on his way out of the clerks’ room. He paused by Felicity’s desk.
‘Just going round the corner for a sandwich. Want me to get you anything?’
Felicity shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I brought something from home.’ She nodded at her computer screen. ‘Doing a bit of online shopping. I need a new electric toothbrush and some hair straighteners.’
Henry’s eyes shifted to Felicity’s unruly dark curls. ‘Right. OK.’
When he had gone, Felicity sighed to the empty room. The hair straighteners were meant to help in achieving the new image she had dreamt up for herself the night before, as a sleek, poised career woman. Who was she kidding? The phone rang, and Felicity answered it. ‘Five Caper Court. How can I help?’
‘Fliss?’ Vince’s voice sounded rough, unused, and slightly surprised. ‘Wasn’t expecting you to answer. It’s me. Vince.’
Felicity wasn’t sure what she felt. After she’d walked out of the coming-home party, she had half-hoped he might just leave her well alone, that she could put his part in her life behind her. Like the sleek, poised career woman she was going to be from now on. But she’d always known that wasn’t going to happen. She didn’t say anything immediately.
‘Fliss?’
‘Yeah. Hi.’
‘I’ve been meaning to ring you all week. To say sorry, and that. For being like I was on Friday. Mum said how much you’d been looking forward to seeing me, waiting all afternoon.’
‘Did she?’
‘And I fucked it up.’ A pause. ‘You forgive me?’