Chapter 7: Signing The Contract
"Have you got something to tell me?" Charity asks as soon as I enter the office.
"I don't know have you got something that you forgot to mention?" I raise my eyebrows, putting my bag down on my desk.
"You're buying Jimmy's shares?" She butts in.
"You didn't even tell me Jimmy had shares!" I exclaim. "I had to find out from your daughter."
"So you thought you would just go ahead and buy them without checking with me first?" She persists.
"Well I seemed to think the topic was untouchable." I argue as she narrows her eyes.
"What if I wanted to buy them?" She raises her voice slightly.
"You don't have the money to buy them!" I retort. "Your business has sunk as it is and you've been inside for a year."
"Yeah so everyone keeps reminding me." She rolls her eyes. "...I suppose if I was going to let anyone be my business partner, you're not the worst bet."
"Don't thank me too much." I mutter.
"I can trust you?" She checks and I nod confidently.
"I know how difficult it can be, having a new partner in your business." I sigh. "I fell in love with mine... One murdered the love of my life and then attempted to burn me alive... One raped me and then got killed by his mother... One of them had an affair with someone who was practically a teenager... And one of them was lovely, so perfect. My last husband... We could have been so happy..."
"So what did he do?" Her voice softens slightly, despite the shock in her expression.
"Nothing." I say the word gently. "I cheated on him."
"Oh." She mumbles.
"And then in order to ensure he didn't find out I made him sell his business and run off with me once we were married." I tell her.
"Which I'm guessing didn't work." She assumes and I nod.
"Tracy flaming Barlow." I say under my breath. "Lucky you've never run into her."
"You took your time." Jimmy greets me as I enter his house.
"I've never signed a contract without reading it over several times beforehand." I inform him. "Trust me, bad things can happen otherwise."
"Right." He nods. "And your decision is?"
"My decision is... Where's the dotted line?" I pull a pen out of my bag and his face lights up. "The cash has been transferred."
"Sign here then please." He hands me several sheets of paper and I scribble my signature down multiple times.
"Couldn't wait to get rid of this could you ey?" I grin.
"Hey, it's been a great business." He tells me, looking quite emotional about the departure. "But we all have to move on and I trust you will do it justice. You already have, by the look of the books."
"I won't let you down." I shake his hand firmly as the front door flies open and Nicola claps eyes on our entwined hands.
"Oh hello." She greets, bitterly. "So this is what you do when I'm slaving away at work is it?"
"Carla's just bought the business." He tells her, letting go of my hand.
"Fab." She nods, disinterestedly. "So you'll have no reason to come over here again."
"Nico!" Jimmy exclaims before turning back to me. "How about I buy you a drink later. Teach you anything you don't yet know."
"Oh yeah thanks for the offer..." Nicola drones, putting her hands on her hips. "Not your business anymore, remember? You are officially a stay at home dad."
"It's a date." I pull a face at Jimmy before subtly exiting the house, Nicola's death stare following me out. I am heading up the path before I hear a whistle from behind me. I know who it is before I even turn around and my eyes fall on Ross, striding towards me.
"Don't you ever have any work to do?" I call over to him.
"Been to see Jimmy?" He avoids the question. "Should I be jealous?"
"Well that's your decision." I pull my hair back as the wind blows it in my face. "I've just bought his share in the business actually."
"Ooh, get you." He nudges me, beginning to walk beside me. "So you're sticking around for good then?"
"That was the plan from the beginning." I narrow my eyes. "Don't be getting any ideas."
"Me? Never." He scoffs. "Cheeky drink in the Woolie later though?"
"I have plans." I turn him down.
"Well then cancel them." He insists.
"No!" I argue.
"Tomorrow then?" He continues.
"Probably working late." I shrug him off. "Now that I'm a high powered business woman again, I can go back to dating rich, successful, good looking men."
"Who said it was a date?" He winks at me before walking off and I try to conceal the smile on my cheeks. "Seven thirty tomorrow, don't be late."
"Woah, what's going on in here?" I ask, entering the Woolpack with Jimmy. There was loud chatter going on and empty bottles of champagne lining the bar. Balloons were jotted around the room, and sandwiches laid out on one of the tables, although none of it looked overly planned. "Is it someone's birthday?"
"Robert and Aaron are engaged!" Chas shrieks, already clearly tipsy.
"Ah, really?" My eyes light up, focusing on Robert's happy smile. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks." Robert shakes my hand appreciatively.
"So come on then, details." I dump my bag on the bar, suddenly ignoring Jimmy. "Who proposed to who? Must say, I didn't have you down as the marrying type Aaron."
"Yeah he's not." Chas drones, taking another gulp of champagne as she passes me my large glass of wine.
"I proposed." Robert coughs slightly. "It kind of came out of nowhere... And Aaron looked as if I had just announced a murder plan."
"But now they're gonna live happily ever after." Chas exclaims, clinking her glass with mine.
"As if." Aaron mutters, entwining his hand with Robert's.
"See? So much enthusiasm." Robert grins as Chas pulls me to the side.
"Can we get splattered?" She whispers at me, pouring herself another glass of champagne. "I really want to get drunk."
"I can see you're enthusiastic about this too." I point out.
"Just shocked." She shrugs. "We can toast the fact that we will forever be single and lonely."
"Oh ta very much." I mutter, but smile at her all the same.
"Except for picking up toy boys along the way." She grins. "Please?"
"Fine." I sigh, taking a large gulp of my wine. "But I don't build up a good reputation when I'm drunk."
"Neither do I." She claps her hands excitedly. "But everyone already knows that."
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