‘All of this. We’re headed back tomorrow and...and I’ve had the most incredible time. I’ve enjoyed every minute.’
The cathedral, the glasses of wine staring into the moonlight, the kiss, the hum of desire... Stop! That was not why she had come to Milan.
‘The fashion shows, the opportunity to witness the catwalk first-hand, to taste it, hear it, be within touching distance.’ That too was the truth—she had revelled in the work. ‘It’s hard to believe I’ve also garnered a lucrative fee.’
‘You’ve earned it.’
The waiter returned with their drinks and she accepted hers with a smile. ‘I never realised a cocktail could be so beautiful.’
Yet this one was, in its curved glass, an orange concoction topped with a white flower and a mini-skewer of tiny strawberries.
Holding it up, she said, ‘To you.’
He shook his head. ‘To us.’ The words resonated between them and he added. ‘We made a great team.’
Sarah noted his use of the past tense. She felt regret, followed by a pinch of guilt. There was no regret or sadness to be going back to real life—her life at home with Jodie. Yet as she clinked her glass against his a small whisper at the back of her brain reminded her that it wasn’t over yet.
There is still the night ahead.
To drown it out, she said with determination, ‘And I’ve got my Sahara interview next week.’
‘I know you’ll ace it.’ Ben hesitated, sipped his cocktail. ‘There is something I don’t understand, though.’
‘What’s that?’ Wariness flared.
‘I don’t get why you’re working as a cleaner and a part-time sales assistant. There’s nothing wrong with either job, per se, but you’ve shown me this week that you’re capable of achieving a far more lucrative and, I suspect, fulfilling career. PR... Management... A different role in the fashion industry.’
Careful here.
Sarah put her cocktail down on the table, untasted.
‘Right now I don’t want to pursue a high-flying career; I want to be there for Jodie, so I need a job that allows me flexibility for school drop-offs.’
Ben shook his head. ‘That doesn’t make sense. Plenty of women in PR and management keep working when they have children.’
‘Yes... But...’ She picked up her drink again. ‘It’s just not a good fit for me right now.’ She took a sip of her cocktail in the illogical hope that it would mask the lameness of her answer.
‘Why not? You want to give Jodie the best start in life so surely you want to earn more money? And what about you? You deserve job satisfaction—a challenge, a career path.’
He leant across the table and touched the back of her hand lightly, as if to make sure he had her attention, and the contact zinged through her.
‘I’ve seen your talents—you’re articulate, good with people, observant, smart, not afraid to come up with ideas—and you have the confidence to hold your own in a room of celebrities.’
The warmth in his eyes and in his voice suffused her with a glowing pride in her achievement. But the flush was short-lived, as the past cast its cold shadow. This was all built on a lie. Ben Gardiner didn’t know the truth about her—didn’t know the depths to which she’d sunk.
‘Thank you, but right now I am happy where I am.’
‘I don’t believe that. I recognise talent when I see it and you are definitely hiding yours under a bushel. Why not apply for a job at the Sahara head office?’ He pulled out his phone. ‘I can check the vacancies right now.’
‘No!’ From somewhere she forced a laugh. ‘Slow down! And listen. That is not the route I want to go. It’s my choice—my decision.’
Though how she wished it could be different. No qualifications and a criminal conviction... Even with Ben’s recommendation that would come to light in the vetting process for a head office job, or somewhere else along the line. The humiliation of exposure, the idea of the disappointment in Ben’s eyes—her skin flushed at the very thought.
‘Please, just leave it.’
As he opened his mouth to reply the waiter approached again.
‘Oh, look. The pizza!’ she exclaimed.