Harriet's Arrangement

Don't tell...

The three colleagues spent a pleasant evening with one another, and the conference the following day ran smoothly: Harriet felt on top form, anticipating problems before they arose, being on hand for anything clients needed, and generally ticking all of the boxes that she needed to tick. Kieran's nods of approval, and Johnny's new warmth filled her with a sense of pride, and by the end of the day, whatever confidence she had lost from the previous event had been almost entirely recovered. And, she realised as she began to help Johnny fold up the company banners, until this moment, she hadn't thought about Malcolm once since arriving in Bristol. She'd even put the WhatsApp group with Eva and Lily on snooze for the time being, wanting to switch off completely from everything that wasn't about this conference.

Drinks and dinner that evening with the whole team were thoroughly enjoyable – everyone was relaxed and happy, and Harriet began to feel more relaxed than she had for some time. Around 11pm, people began to drift away, and eventually she, Johnny and Kieran were the only ones left. 

"Well I think I'm beat," said Johnny cheerfully, "Great day, guys. And well done, Hattie – brilliant work."

She grinned at him. "You too, Johnny," she said, waving a hand in farewell as he headed up to bed. "Well, I think I'll go up too," she said to Kieran, "I just need to go to the car quickly – my phone cable has stopped working, I just need my spare."

"Ah what a pain!" Kieran said, sympathetically, "Well, I too am going to hit the sack, so sleep well!"

They stood up together and parted ways at the hotel entrance, but as she waited for the automatic door to slide open, Harriet froze. Was that... surely it couldn't be... but it was – a black Bentley. Waiting, with its lights on, right outside the hotel.

"Hattie?" Kieran had seen her stop so suddenly and was making his way back across the foyer. "Are you ok?" He followed her frozen gaze. "What are you looking at?"

She tried to snap out of it. It couldn't be him, surely. "Is that... I mean, no, nothing," she stammered, and then stopped as the car moved off and she saw from the light inside that it wasn't Malcolm at all. She sagged noticeably. "Sorry... I'm fine. I thought I saw ... someone."

Kieran peered at her. "Are you sure? Do you want me to come out to the car with you?"

She looked up at him, not wanting him to think less of her, but actually suddenly feeling that yes, it would be very nice to not be out in the dark by herself. He decided to spare her the embarrassment of having to ask. "Come on," he said, "Where did you park?"

They walked together to her car, Harriet enormously grateful to him for continuing to chat brightly as they went, allowing her rapid heart beat to slow a little. She pulled the phone cable out of the charging port in the front of the car and laughed at something he'd just said that she hadn't really heard, but she could tell from his tone was supposed to be funny.

They made their way back up to the first floor, and as Harriet turned to say goodnight, she stopped. Kieran was giving her a slightly funny look. "That car... it was like Malcolm's," he said.

She hesitated. "Um..."

"Why did thinking you'd seen Malcolm stop you in your tracks like that?"

Damn.

"I..."

"He quite frequently asks me for updates on how you're doing," Kieran said slowly, looking down at her, "Is he... bothering you? Is it the ridiculous way he treats you in the office? Because I can raise that officially if you need me to."

She didn't know what to do. Was this an opportunity from the universe to end this horrible thing that she'd accidentally fallen into? But... but surely he would know she'd said something. He knew everything. And hadn't he said just last week that her job would most definitely be in question if anyone knew of their 'arrangement'? And what would he do? And did she want it to end?