Best Friend To Royal Bride / Surprise Baby For The Billionaire. Annie Claydon
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It had been a joke between them. ‘Thank you, Alex.’
He seemed pleased with her reaction, but there was still a hint of reticence about his manner. The man Marie knew would have seen only exciting new opportunities, but Alex seemed burdened by his responsibilities.
He’d come round. The clinic would be opening next week, and as soon as it started to fill with people he’d respond to that. He was going to have to if this place was to reach its full potential. Alex had so much more than money to give, and it needed his creative enthusiasm to thrive.
Marie switched on the coffee machine, running her finger along the selection of different capsules. ‘I’m going to have to try all of these, you know. I’ll work from left to right.’
‘I’d expect nothing less of you.’
When she put his cup down in front of him, he nodded a thank-you and pushed a manila envelope towards her. Marie opened it, tipping the contents out onto her desk.
‘These are yours. The credit card is for any purchases you need to make, and the key card opens every door inside the clinic. Those two keys are for the main door, and the other one is the main override for the alarm system. The car keys are for the practice’s vehicles.’
Marie laid the keys and cards out in front of her on the desk. This was the start of it all…
‘The IT guy will be coming in on Monday to set up your computer. Let me know if there’s anything else you need.’ Alex got to his feet, picking up his mug. ‘I’ll leave you to settle in, if that’s okay. I have a few things to do.’
Marie had wanted to share all this. Unpacking the bag she’d brought with her and taking a tour of the clinic to see all the work that she and Alex had been discussing for the last month. But Alex was already halfway out of the door.
‘Yes, okay. Maybe we can sit down together later today to go through some things?’
‘That would be great.’ He flashed her a sudden smile. ‘You like your office?’
‘It’s better than I could have imagined. Thank you so much, Alex.’
‘My pleasure.’ He turned, closing the door behind him.
Marie leaned back in her chair, listening to the silence. There was a lot to do here. A whole community of health professionals to build. There were mountains to move, and the most stubborn of them had just walked downstairs. Alex had built his dream, and although he had a fierce determination to see it thrive, Marie sensed he couldn’t love it.
That was going to have to change.
After Saturday’s quiet solitude, most of which Alex had spent closeted in his office, the bustle of workmen and staff on Monday morning was a welcome relief. Marie spent two days with Sofia Costa, the practice manager, interviewing the shortlisted candidates for the medical support team, and on Wednesday morning picked up the flowering plant she’d brought from home and went down to Alex’s office.
She’d wondered if his subdued manner was a reaction to their kiss, part of some kind of attempt to keep things professional, but he was like that with everyone. Thoughtful, smiling, but without the spark that made him Alex. In one way it was a relief to find that it wasn’t just her, but it was clear that the change in Alex’s life and the months spent developing this place had taken their toll on him. He normally thrived on hard work, but this was different. It seemed to be draining all the life out of him.
‘The interviews went well?’ He looked up from the pile of paperwork on his desk.
‘Very well. It was difficult to decide, as they were all good candidates. But Sofia and I have chosen three who are excellent. I’ve emailed their CVs to you so you can take a look at them.’
She put the Busy Lizzie plant down on his desk and Alex picked it up, examining the bright red flowers. ‘Is this a subtle hint that my office could do with brightening up?’
‘No, I don’t do subtle. It’s more in the way of a brazen, in-your-face hint.’
Alex smiled, walking over to the windowsill and putting the pot at the centre. He moved it to one side and then the other, finding the place he wanted it.
‘I don’t suppose you have any more of these, do you?’
Marie hid her smile. The old Alex was still there—he just needed a bit of coaxing out. If he wanted more plants she’d fill his windowsill with colour.
‘I’ve got loads at home. I took some cuttings from my mum’s. I’ll bring you more tomorrow.’
‘Thanks.’
‘I’ve got an idea.’ She sat down in one of the chairs on the other side of his desk.
‘Fire away.’
His lips curved a little. Alex clearly hadn’t lost his penchant for ideas of all shapes and sizes.
‘The light wells. They’re pretty awful as they are, and I’d like to turn them into gardens. I spoke to Jim Armitage and he says that there are some brick pavers that were taken up from around the gym and he saved because they were still good. He reckons they should be fine on top of the concrete, but he needs to get out there to check everything. The key card lock disengages, but there’s an original lock still on the door. Jim was going to climb out of the window, but I persuaded him not to.’
The foreman of works was a portly man approaching retirement, and Marie had feared he’d either get stuck while climbing out or not be able to get back in again. The same thing had obviously occurred to Alex, because one of those flashes of humour that reminded Marie so painfully of the man he’d once been lit his face.
‘Good call. I might have the key somewhere…’ He opened the bottom drawer of his desk, producing a large cardboard box full of keys of all shapes and sizes.
‘So you’ll come and have a look with me?’
If Alex was going to tell her that she was quite capable of doing this alone, then she was going to have to argue with him. She was capable, but that wasn’t the point.
‘I have a few things to do…’
‘This is much more important, Alex. As your co-director, I’m telling you that you need to come.’
He grinned suddenly and stood up.
Step one accomplished. Step two might be a bit trickier…
Marie never had been much good at hiding the motives behind her actions. It was something Alex wished he hadn’t had to learn how to do. She’d decided to get him out of his office and there was no point in arguing that he had work to do when Marie was determined. And when Alex thought about it, he didn’t really want to argue.
He’d missed this. Marie had brought colour to a life that had become suffused by restful cream walls and spaces that were fit for purpose. He followed her along the corridor that ran parallel to one of the light wells, holding the box of keys.
She took her key card from her pocket, swiping it to disengage the main lock, and then started to fish around in the box for keys that looked as if they might fit the older one. It took a few tries to find one that fitted, but finally Alex heard a click as the key turned in the lock.
She rattled the handle of the door. ‘It’s still stuck…’
Alex tried the door. ‘Looks as if it’s been painted shut—no one ever goes out there. You want me to open it?’
She gave him a beatific smile. ‘Yes, please.’
He put his shoulder to the door, and there was a cracking sound as it opened. Marie picked up a plastic bag, which had been sitting on one of the windowsills,