Breaking the Boss's Rules

‘I … I …’ Eva rallied. ‘I never thought that—I just wanted what was best for you. I wanted you to make something of yourself.’

‘And I have done that. I’m proud of my work at Langley.’

‘Being a PA is a good steady job …’

‘It is—and I’m a good PA. But I’ve been more than that at Langley and now I want to pursue my dream, Mum. Not yours, but mine.’

‘And end up penniless, knocking on my door for help?’

‘No! I’ve thought all this through. Langley is safe now, and I’ve arranged with Peter to keep working there part-time. I’ve got a manageable student loan. I’ll show you the figures, if you like. I can make this work and pay my own way. I’m so excited—please be excited for me.’

‘I’m excited for you.’

Swivelling on her trainer-clad foot, Imogen surveyed her father with surprise.

‘Truly I am, Imo. I may not have made it yet, but if you’ve been accepted into art college then maybe I can live vicariously through you. Well done, poppet.’

Poppet. He hadn’t called her that for so many years. Not since those rare times when he’d sat with her as a child and shown her how to draw. Until either Eva had put a stop to it or he’d disappeared back to his studio, leaving her to fend for herself. But at least now he could find it in himself to be happy for her, rather than begrudge her a success he hadn’t had, and she was grateful for that.

‘Thanks, Dad.’

‘Tchah! Well, I’m not excited for you, Imogen.’ Eva sniffed. ‘I can’t stop you, and I won’t try, but I still think you’re making a grave mistake. You’ll get caught up in this art malarkey and the rest of your life will pass you by. When will you have time to meet a nice man to settle down with?’

The question hurt, and she blinke

d hard as an image of Joe shot into her head. Nice. Settle down. Not words she associated with Joe—but it didn’t matter. Like it or not, he’d insinuated himself into her heart and it was proving hard to prise him out. But she would—even if she had to get a chisel.

‘You lost Steve, and now—’

‘Steve loves Simone. And next week we can all dance at their wedding and wish them well.’

And she meant it—the thought of attending no longer had the sting it had held before. Steve and Simone were happy—that much was clear from the one conversation she’d had with Steve after he had voluntarily reimbursed her for the cost of the cruise. Further evidence had been provided by the stream of happy photos that Simone flooded social media with on a daily basis.

True, her stomach still dipped at the idea of being pointed out as the poor little ex, but she’d manage. At least she would be able to foil the sympathetic stares and prurient curiosity with her college news.

‘So,’ she said firmly. ‘How about we open the champagne?’

One day later

Exhilaration shot through Joe’s veins at the familiar feel of the surfboard under his feet. He felt weightless, suspended in time and nature, at one with the elements.

The power of the sea was both awe-inspiring and thrilling. Sheer adrenalin pumped in his blood as he caught the wave, and the screech of a seagull blended with the pounding in his ears, the tang of the sea spray on his skin causing sheer joy.

Just like the way he felt when he was with Imogen.

One week later

OK. She could do this. Imogen gazed out of the window as the train pulled in to the old-fashioned Devon station and she tried to block out her parents’ bickering voices.

‘Don’t see why any of us are coming to this damned wedding at all,’ Jonathan muttered. ‘Though I suppose if you feel you need to go, Imo, the least we can do is come to give you some moral support.’

Eva sighed. ‘I’ve explained time and again that we are going to this wedding because Steve was once part of our lives and he is the son of one of my oldest acquaintances.’

‘The same acquaintance who looks at me as though I’m something she stepped in,’ Jonathan grumbled as he lugged a suitcase onto the platform.

‘Guys …’

Some things would never change—she would probably be playing peacemaker between her parents for ever. Yet it could be worse; she might have lost her parents in a tragedy like Joe had.