Chapter 2

Monday at work is always busy. Clients to deal with, invites to send out, party supplies to order. I don't know what I'd do without my PA Tara. At the moment we`re in the middle of planning a 30th birthday party for a clients son. He's just made partner at the law firm where he works so his rich mommy is pulling out all the stops for this one. Which reminds me, I need to make sure my PA has ordered the list of supplies I left her. I press the intercom button on the phone "Tara, have you ordered the 6ft chocolate fountain yet? Remember we need two of them." Her distant voice comes through the speaker. "Yes, I got them. Although why anyone needs that much chocolate is beyond me. I also sent the invitations out on Friday and everything will be delivered to the hotel on the morning of the party so we`ll have plenty of time to get it all set up, don't worry. We`ve got this sorted." I breathe a sigh of relief. I didn't think we could pull this off in time especially with taking it on at the last minute and having to plan the whole thing in 4 days, plus the clients crazy demands of ice sculptures and 6ft chocolate fountains. "Thanks Tara. What would I do without you." I say through the intercom. "I don't know, but maybe you could let me take an early lunch that's a great way of showing me what a valuable part of the team I am." She chuckles. I smile. "Yeah, of course you can take lunch early. Have an extra half hour if you want. Have fun." I turn back to my computer and resume my typing."Do you want anything...Erm Kate, your mom just walked in." She says in a hushed tone. My fingers stop dead on the keyboard. Damn. What's she doing here. I rub my forehead with my fingers. "Oh, this should be fun" I think to myself. "Send her straight through Tara. I don't need anything thank you. Enjoy your lunch." I push my chair back from the desk. "Let's get this over with, chin up Kate."

A minute later in walks my mom Suzanne Hamilton, all designer suit and perfect hair. Her dark blue suit is immaculate and her shoulder length brown hair is straightened to perfection. She looks amazing and she knows it. Modesty has never been my moms strong point. She looks younger than her 45 years that's probably why she can get away with dating men half her age. She walks into my office as I stand. She glides over to me and puts her hands on my shoulders. "Hello darling. You look fabulous." She says in an exaggerated posh accent and air kisses both of my cheeks. "What brings you here mom?" I ask in an ambivalent tone. She takes a step back and places her handbag on my desk. "Well, hello to you too Kate. I thought you`d be happy to see your mother since you haven't been in touch for nearly two months." I haven't been in touch! Why the hell should I be the one to get in touch. I'm not the one who abandoned my business and disappeared off to the Maldives with my new toy boy! I want to scream at her but I keep my cool. "Mom, you went on holiday with your new boyfriend. You didn't even tell me where you were staying. I got a text saying going to the Maldives with Reece, See you in a few weeks. That's it. No hotel name, no phone number. You didn't even take your mobile. What did you want me to do? Hire a private detective? call Scooby Doo? Put your picture on a milk carton? I couldn't do anything mom because while you were off getting a tan I was here keeping the business going. Like you should have been." I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I wasn't expecting to tell her how I felt but she finally deserved to hear it. When I open my eyes my mother is staring at me open mouthed. "I am entitled to a holiday." She protests. "I would never have left if I didn't think you couldn't run the business alone. The way you say it, it sounds as if I just ran off and abandoned you, I'd never do that." She says offended. My composure snaps. "You did do that!" I shout. "You did abandon me! You sent me a damn text and fucked off for two months mother! Two months! You didn't care if I was rushed off my feet. You didn't care if I knew how to do it alone! All you cared about was going to top up your tan with your toy boy so don't walk in here and act like everything's OK because its not!" I yell. "Well Kate, I never realised you felt like that. I just wanted to give you some responsibly. But fine, if you can't handle it I can stick around and help out." "Just do what you want mom. You do anyway, regardless of what I think. Do whatever makes you happy." I say deflated. I can't be bothered to argue anymore and I'm really past caring about what she thinks. She picks up her handbag and heads towards the door. "I'll leave then. I'll pop back later on in the week and help out. I've got some things to sort out first. I`ll be in touch. As always its a pleasure to see you darling." And with that she turns and strides out through the door. I slump back into my chair. "Yeah, see you in another couple of months mom." I mumble under my breath.

By the time I get home that evening its 7 pm. I stumble through the door and kick off my shoes. "Aaahh that's better." I wriggle my toes against the cool wood floor. "Kate?" Lizzy's voice echos down the hallway. "Yup, that's me." I shout back. I malinger down the hallway to find Lizzy. She's curled up on the couch reading a book. The TV is on mute flickering away in the background. "Your home late. Where ya been?" She looks up from her book. "I've been at work. I had some things to finalise so I'm ready for the party tomorrow. I was tying to stay busy so I didn't think about my mom. She came to see me today. It didn't go well." Lizzie`s eyes widened and she sat up a little straighter. "Well, its about time she showed up. What did she want?" I walked over to the couch and sat down with a huff. "You want a quick summary? Well, she wanted to know why I haven't been in touch, then we argued and then she left... again" Lizzy looks at me sympathetically. "Are you OK chick?" She asks and rubs my arm. "Yeah, I'm good. Just tired. I'm going to have a long soak in the bath. Wanna order a pizza? I'm starving." I start to get up from the couch and something on the TV stops me in my tracks. Those blue eyes, that messy hair.. holy shit! Its him! I realise I'm holding my breath. Breathe Kate, breathe! I will myself. "Oh my god! Lizzie look." I point frantically. Fixated at the screen. She turns to where I'm pointing and her eyes widen as they take in what's on the screen. "What the hell..." Nicholas is stood on the steps of the court house talking to a reporter. He looks amazing in a grey suit and black tie. His hair is all wind blown and mussed up. He looks sinfully sexy. "Turn it up!" I squeal. She grabs the remote and turns the volume up. "And are you happy with the outcome of today's verdict?" The reporters voice comes through the speakers. Nicholas smiles. "Of course. Its what we`ve been fighting months for. Harassment in the workplace is becoming more common. If there were more verdicts like this then it may not happen so frequently. People should be happy in there work environment not mercilessly harassed. So the answer to your question is yes, we are all ecstatic with the outcome, thank you." And with that he walks down the steps of the building and gets into a waiting car. "What was all that about?" Lizzy says shocked. "I have no idea. But at least we know what he does for a living." I say standing up from the couch. "I'm going for a bath." I head towards the door. "Have you called him yet?" Her voice stops me in my tracks. I turn back to face her. "No I haven't, I totally forgot. I was so pre occupied with work it must have slipped my mind. Do you think its too late to call him now?" A smirk speeds across her lips. "Its never too late to call a hot guy. Go get it sorted girlie. Its been far too long since you had a date." She winks. I turn smiling and walk to my room. I pick up my bag, sit on the bed and rummage through it to pull out my cell phone and the card with Nicholas`s number on. I take a deep breath and enter the number in my cell. "Hmm, I think a date with the gorgeous lawyer is just what I need." I say to myself then lie back on the bed and hit the call button.