Lost and Found

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Wednesday 3rd June 2008

Amelia didn’t want to open her eyes; being curled up against Clay’s broad chest was warm, cosy, safe. The previous evening had ended later than planned, Li had been wild, running on adrenaline, and Amelia as usual was dragged along behind at breakneck speed. They’d finished several bottles of champagne, all the while Li insisted on holding the selection of helium filled balloons she’d brought from the book launch.

After an hour Amelia had grabbed her, “what the hell is the matter with you? You’re wild tonight, even by your whacky standards!”

Daichi nudged his girlfriend, “tell her!”

Li turned to her with a grin, “my book has been entered into the National Book Awards, I found out this evening. Guess where the ceremony is?”

Amelia shrugged, “I can’t imagine.”

                “New York bloody City! That’s where! So in six weeks, I’m coming out to see you! How cool is that?”

The rest of the night passed in a blur and both her and Clay were grateful to finally leave, their flight was the following morning. It was only as they were leaving that Li made a reference to ‘us’ coming to New York, and for the first time Amelia had the sneaky suspicion that she was referring to more than just Daichi and herself. Nope she was talking about publishers, Helena...and probably Sol.

Thursday 4th June 2008

Jetlag had plagued her all day, and Amelia was struggling to see five o’clock. At ten minutes to, there was a tap on the door and she looked up to see Clay leaning against the doorframe.

                “Got a minute?”

Smiling she nodded, “of course boss!” She watched him cross the room and perch on the edge of the desk.

                “I’ve had Marc Freeman on the phone.”

She digested the bizarre comment; Marc ran a similar almost rival business on a much grander scale to them across the street. “Really? What did he want?”

Clay looked a little awkward and took a deep breath before he spoke, “he wants you...for his business that is.”

She could feel her jaw drop, her mouth open in shock as she tried to work out what that meant.

                “We’d be compensated, of course, but hey, we headhunted you...a lot of people have been watching your performance.” He sighed, “It’s not the first offer I’ve had.”

                “But you want to get rid of me? Now?”

Clay’s laugh was warm, “oh no! But it would make things easier, I’m not concentrating knowing you’re at the end of the corridor, and I figure that if this between us goes any further...well working and playing together could make Jack a very knackered and distracted boy.”

                 “I don’t know what to say...” that was no lie. She was stunned to put it mildly. “Why didn’t you tell me about the other offers too? Clay?”

He sighed, “You are so modest you don’t seem to realise that people are talking about the impact you’re having. You’re the biggest prospect here, and you have created interest. I’ve been quite smug in those meetings. But this offer is bigger, they’re a huge company, it’ll be a big move for you...”

                “Can I think about it?”

He nodded, “don’t think I want you to go. But it may be the best solution for so many reasons. If you do decided you want to speak to Marc, then I’ll organise a meeting.”