Harriet's Arrangement

New Chapter

The news that Malcolm had stepped down as an active member of the executive board had spread to every employee of C&C Events by the end of that week. Harriet's shock when Kieran found her to let her know (before it had become widely known) had caused her to sit suddenly in the chair that was thankfully immediately behind her.

"Are you serious?" she breathed, incredulously, "Just like that?"

"I think... he suddenly became aware of how real it had got," Kieran said, shutting the door of the meeting room he'd ushered her into, "And he realised just how lucky he was that none of us that knew what was going on had taken it any further."

She nodded, a little lost for words.

Kieran crouched down in front of her as she tried to take it all in. "It's over, Hattie," he said, "This really means it's over."

Tom had been repeating the same words to her whenever she'd had a wobble for the past three days since ending the conference and coming home. She had brushed herself off the morning after the incident with Malcolm and carried on as normal: Kieran had looked at her as if she was risen from the dead as she breezed in at 8am and poured herself a cup of coffee, checking her schedule over as if it was just an ordinary day. He'd approached her cautiously and asked how she was, and she'd smiled warmly, said she was fine and requested they broach the subject of the previous day another time. He'd nodded, and the same had been relayed to Johnny when he had arrived. The conference had proceded as normal – Malcolm had, to Harriet's immense relief, not shown his face again – and Harriet had headed home with Tom later that day.

Now Kieran was here, telling her Malcolm had officially parted ways with C&C – as far as a founder could part ways with his company. That really did feel final. She looked at Kieran, who was peering at her with a mixture of warmth and concern, and found herself smiling. "It is, isn't it," she said, believing it perhaps for the first time, "Wow."

He returned her smile. "Can I apologise, on behalf of C&C?" Kieran said, sitting down a few feet away, "I know it's very little, but I feel it's the least I should be doing."

She shook her head. "You have nothing to apologise for, and neither does C&C," Harriet said, "You can't take responsibility for his actions. He's gone, and if it's ok, I'd really rather turn the page and start over." She left unsaid the fact that she wanted him to forget all of the things he'd seen, and now also knew or had assumed about her relationship with Tom.

"Understood," Kieran said, looking relieved, "New chapter."

"New chapter," she agreed, smiling gratefully at him.

Tom greeted Harriet at the door to his flat that evening with two glasses of sparkling wine. He handed one to her and grinned. "To the end," he said, closing the door behind her and lifting her bag off her shoulder.

"No, to the beginning," she said, feeling suddenly a little overwhelmed, "And to freedom."

They clinked glasses, and Tom pulled her to him with his free arm, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'm taking you out," he said, "There's a place on the river that I've been dying to take you to. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect," she said, "Thank you, Tom."

"Great. I booked for 7. Which leaves a little time..." His eyes were twinkling.

She grinned at him. "What did you have in mind?"

"Considerably less clothing," he said, linking his fingers with hers and leading her through to the bedroom, "And a healthy serving of good old plain vanilla. I just want to make you feel as special as you are right now."