She left some clothes in the wardrobe and a few winter sweaters in the chest of drawers. She wouldn’t be needing them until autumn. With one final look she closed the door and pulled her case down the stairs. She hoped Marina would come back and beg her not to leave. Perhaps if both Marina and her father implored her to stay, she might be persuaded to change her mind. But no one came.
She dragged the case across to her car and heaved it onto the backseat. Still not a sign of anyone. Not even Rafa, who had bobbed about all day at the top of her mind like a stubborn cork. Curious to know where they all were, she wandered into the hotel and approached the reception desk where Jennifer was busy behind the computer.
“Hi, have you seen Marina and Dad?”
Jennifer looked up. “Hi, Clementine. They’re around. Rafa is in the conservatory.”
Clementine caught sight of the bracelet hanging on her wrist. It was very familiar. Jennifer noticed her drop her eyes, but she was too slow to hide it with her sleeve. “Pretty,” Clementine commented wryly.
“Yes, a present from my father.”
Clementine raised an eyebrow. “Wish my father was that generous. They have similar pieces in Nadia Goodman on the high street. Perhaps I should drag him in there one of these days.” Jennifer smiled awkwardly. Clementine smiled back knowingly. Naughty Mr. Atwood, she thought to herself as she crossed the hall. Or should I say, stupid Mr. Atwood?
For a moment her discovery lifted her spirits, and she couldn’t wait to tell Sylvia. Who would have thought that quiet Jennifer on reception was Mr. Atwood’s mistress? But as she walked through the sitting rooms to the conservatory, her thoughts returned to her departure and her spirits flagged once more. What was the point of leaving if she wasn’t going to provoke a reaction? At the very least she deserved an apology from Rafa.
She ran her eyes over the tables. Her attention was drawn to a party of giggling girls in short, flimsy dresses and heavily applied makeup. She recognized Sugar from Devil’s. Then she saw Rafa in their midst, like a peacock among peahens. Her resentment seethed as she watched him sip his cocktail and laugh at their comments, while Sugar wiggled her breasts in front of him with shameless exhibition. There was no doubt that he was enjoying the attention.
Suddenly, he raised his eyes, drawn by the magnetism of her fury. He stopped laughing and put down his glass. Clementine was appalled that he had caught her watching him, and turned and fled. With a racing heart she stormed through the hotel and out into the evening sunshine. She sensed he was right behind her.
“Clementine, stop,” he called. But she ignored him and climbed into her car. She fumbled for the key. “Where are you going?”
“I’m moving in with Joe.” She tried to sound nonchalant.
“Not because of what I said last night?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. Just forget it.”
He put his hand on the roof. “I want to apologize. I was out of line.”
“Apology accepted.”
“You’re still angry.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then come and have a drink with me?”
“You seem a little busy.”
“I have all the time in the world for you.”
“Well, I haven’t.”
“We can go to the house that God forgot. Come on, Clementine. Don’t be cross with me anymore. Life is too short.”
“You seem to know a lot about life.”
“I’ve picked up a thing or two.” He grinned at her, but her heart remained firmly shut.
“Look, another time perhaps. I’ve got to go.” He took his hand off the car and stepped back. She started the engine.
“Another time, then.”
She roared out of sight. Rafa watched her go, perplexed. He couldn’t help but feel sad. When he had planned his journey, he hadn’t imagined he’d meet a girl like Clementine.
18.
Marina, Jake, and Grey sat in Marina’s office. The atmosphere was heavy with an ominous sense of inevitability. Only Jake seemed impervious to it.
“So, Charles Rueben is coming to check us out, is he?” said Grey, rubbing his chin. He stood by the window and gazed anxiously out to sea. He barely dared to look at his wife.
Marina sat at her desk chewing the end of a Biro. “It’s not a big deal. He makes us an offer, we refuse it.”
“It’s not quite that simple, darling.”
“It never is,” said Jake.
“The truth is, we’re losing money,” Grey continued. “Our outgoings are vast. We have a heavy loan that I don’t think we can sustain for much longer. The interest is beyond us.”
“We could lay off a few people,” Jake suggested.