‘I have no choice—Ivan Moreton’s offer is very generous.’
‘Of course it is. That’s because there is nothing Ivan wants more than to take this company down. He loathes Peter and Harry. You must realise that?’
Joe rubbed a hand over his face. ‘Yes, I do. But that dislike gives Langley a profitable way out. He’s even promised to keep the majority of staff.’
‘So he can rub their noses in his triumph. Plus, he knows damn well neither Peter nor Harry would ever work for him.’
Something tugged in his chest; face flushed, eyes sparking, Imogen looked so beautiful he wanted to help. Wanted to give her whatever she wanted. Which was exactly why it was time to close this interview down. Before he did something stupid. Again.
Rising to his feet, he shook his head. ‘This meeting is over, Imogen. I’ve given Langley a chance.’
For a second a doubt assailed him. Had his decision been strictly business? Somewhere deep down had he reasoned that even if he’d refused to give Imogen a chance he could at least offer the company she loved one?
‘I suggest you go out there and take it.’
A small frown creased her brow as her blue-grey eyes surveyed him.
He held out a hand. ‘Goodbye, Imogen. And good luck.’
Her fingers lay in his for one brief final moment. ‘Goodbye, Joe.’
Two months later
Imogen drew in a deep breath and looked around her tiny new studio apartment with approval. Spick and span, with nothing that even the most exacting parent could complain about. Fresh flowers on the small foldaway table, which was open and beautifully laid, complete with ice bucket for the champagne currently in the fridge. Hell, this would be a celebration even if it killed her. If it wasn’t, and her parents went loopy, then she’d just drink the damn bottle herself.
Heaven knew she deserved it after the past months—but it had been worth every single lost moment of sleep as she and all of the Langley team had pulled together and managed to meet every criterion on Joe’s list. Now Peter and Harry had met with Joe and Langley was safe—the knowledge was a constant warm glow inside her.
But that wasn’t the reason for this lunch. Apprehension fizzed in her veins and as if on cue the doorbell rang. Her heart beating a nervous rhythm against her ribcage, she crossed the floor and pulled the door open.
‘Hey, Mum. Hey, Dad.’
Panic roiled in her tummy at the sheer enormity of what she’d done and what she had to tell them. Even so, the certainty that she was right calmed her—Joe had been correct. She couldn’t live her life for her parents, no matter how much she loved them. Any more than he would expect his sisters to follow a path of his choosing just because he had chosen to take responsibility for them.
Instead he’d encouraged them to live their dreams, and he spoke of them with love—never disappointment. Eva hadn’t ever been able to do the same, and whilst that was perhaps wrong, what had also been wrong was Imogen’s compliance in that. That was why Joe had urged her to embrace art.
Joe. Why did anything and everything always come back to Joe?
‘Imogen? What’s the matter? We haven’t come all this way just to watch you daydream.’
Eva Lorrimer’s querulous voice pulled her into the present.
‘Sorry, Mum.’ Imogen hauled in breath—no point dressing this up. ‘Thank you for coming. I’ve got some fantastic news. I’ve been accepted into art college.’
Silence plummeted as Eva opened and closed her mouth, whilst Jonathan Lorrimer shifted from foot to foot.
‘Is this some sort of joke?’ Her mother had gone pale, her forehead pinched.
‘No, Mum. It’s for real. It’s a top London college and I can start in January.’ Imogen tried for a laugh … winced at the strangled gargle she achieved. ‘So you know what to get me for Christmas.’
Eva shook her head. ‘How could you be so stupid, Imogen? After everything I went through for you …’
Guilt surfaced, along with a hefty dose of self-doubt, but then she pushed her shoulders back and adhered her feet to the carpet. Joe might not be in her life, but he had taught her something life-changing. That life was for living and it was her life to live.
‘Mum!’
To her surprise the interruption worked and Eva stopped talking.
‘I know I’ve never managed to achieve what you wanted me to achieve, but that doesn’t mean I’m stupid. Just because maths and science aren’t my thing it doesn’t make me useless.’ She could feel a weight lift from her shoulders, was liberated by the words.