Mr. Park Lane (The Mister)

I had to tell Gerry I might have tipped Merdon off that we were going to oppose the regulatory approval.

What had I done? I’d betrayed Gerry and slept with someone who went against everything I believed in.

For the second time in my life, I’d lost sight of what was important because of Joshua—only this time, I wasn’t about to let my carelessness spiral into disaster. Life was a lot simpler when I was focused on saving people rather than flouncing round in silly dresses eating too much cake.

I had a job to do.

Thirty

Joshua

Turning onto my back, my eyes still closed, I pushed the sheet down to my waist and reached over my head for a full-body stretch. I remembered where I was. Who I was with. What had happened last night. My smile was automatic. I opened my eyes but there was no sign of Hartford. My stomach sloshed with an old anxiety and I mentally brushed it aside. She was just in the bathroom, or getting coffee or something.

I sat and swung my legs over the bed, pulled on some boxers, and went to find Hartford.

The bathroom was empty, so I padded into the living space.

No Hartford.

The churning in my stomach was back. It had been gone a long time and I’d forgotten how it felt—like someone was dancing on my grave and I was about to throw up.

I tried to swallow but my mouth was dry. I needed to get a grip. I was not dressed in a morning suit. And I didn’t have a fiancée.

This wasn’t my wedding day.

Where was she? “Hartford?”

Nothing.

“Hartford.” My voice was louder this time. I started opening doors in the hallway before racing to the bedroom to open the wardrobe.

After last night, after what had happened, after we’d confessed it was real—she’d just left? No, she must have just gone back across the hall to get something.

I grabbed my phone and dialed her number.

No answer.

I dialed again.

Still no answer.

I turned to face the windows and saw the pitch to Merdon laid out, each potential packaging image sitting next to each other on the dining room table like criminals in a lineup.

Shit. That was a breach of client confidentiality.

Why had she been going through those papers anyway?

I’d talk to her and make sure she didn’t say anything to anyone. I remembered our conversation just before the picnic. She must have been talking about Calmation when she was describing the project she and Gerry were working on, surely? It sounded like they were on some kind of crusade against the drug. If it was Calmation, they must have misunderstood what Merdon were trying to achieve. They were trying to help families. Make drugs cheaper and more accessible. I’d talk to her and explain it. She and Gerry might even be able to help with the campaign if Luca Brands won the pitch.

I tried to ignore the sharp twist in my gut. Merdon had been very clear about the benefits of this drug, but if there were downsides, they were unlikely to tell me. It was people like Hartford and Gerry that would see the whole picture.

I wished Hartford had hung around, and I could have asked her what she thought now she knew of my involvement. I hated that she’d just taken off without even leaving me a note or sending me a message. It just wasn’t like her.

I glanced at the time on my phone. Two hours and I’d be in front of Eric, presenting Luca Brands’ pitch for Calmation. I needed to focus. And now that I thought about it, I needed to prepare some additional questions to make sure I wasn’t getting into something I wanted no part of.

Thirty-One

Joshua

I always knew in the first few minutes of a pitch whether Luca Brands was going to be successful in winning an account. Today was no different—Eric wore the decision like a push-up bra with a low-cut blouse. It was obvious. What I hadn’t been expecting was Eric to announce the decision to us before we’d packed up our presentation.

“I’m delighted, Eric. You know Luca Brands will work tirelessly for GCVB, Merdon, and Calmation.” I tried to stay as stoic as possible, when what I really wanted to do was punch the air. Not only had I saved hundreds of jobs at Luca Brands, we were going to have an opportunity to help children get the drugs they needed.

I couldn’t wait to tell Hartford.

“We need to get started right away,” Eric said. “Can we talk implementation?”

“Now?” I asked. He couldn’t have seriously expected me to work up the implementation plan before I knew if we’d won the account.

“Just a few headline points and I can do some introductions. It will save putting another meeting in the diary. We’re filing with the US regulator tomorrow and . . . Let me bring in the team.” He scurried out of the room.