A Complicated Affair

Chapter 3: A change of scenery

William T for Thomas Hall was a small man, in nature if not in stature. He was also not a genuinely generous man. Medium in height and straight-backed, he was 43 and baby-faced. His hands were large with spatula nails and he had a bent for publicity, advertising and marketing. He owned his own firm and employed eight people, one of whom was Noel Valentine, also with a bent for publicity, advertising and marketing. William T for Thomas Hall expected payment for favours rendered. He was at this particular moment expecting it from Noel Valentine. After commiserating over her recently received injuries, of course.

Payment was due because he had been uncharacteristically generous with the amount of absenteeism Noel had just taken. Seven weeks and three days to be exact.

Not that Noel had expected to be given the time. She had expected to be given notice. Seven weeks and three days were excessive, even given the circumstances. She hadn't originally requested it in one lump period. In fact, she had been in Cairns before she had rung to ask for an extension to a long weekend. Then she had rung to say she was in hospital and would be unable to resume work for three weeks. She had made four phone calls in total, expecting severance with the final two. This was her third day back in the office. William had been with clients and incommunicado for the first two but was now back on deck.

William Thomas Hall also had worrying eyes; they were sharp. At this moment they were trained on Noel and employing persuasion. He was sitting on her desk; she was leaning away from him in her chair.

'Dinner tonight. The Hyatt. How can you refuse?'

Fingers laced in her lap Noel repeated her last statement. 'Not a good idea.'

'One dinner date.' He had the advantage and pressed. 'Call it a thank you for allowing you so much time off.'

'If it was a thank you I'd be taking you.'

'You're right,' he said, dropping the knee he had been hugging. 'And I accept.'

Good, she thought without pleasure, he walked into that one. 'There's a limit to what you're allowed to order,' she said, putting a smile on deposit.

She met him there, dressed in light white linen, wide-collared and double-breasted to the knees, full-length sleeves covering the tops of gossamer white gloves. It was an outfit you wore to have dinner with the boss, not one that declared you were open to advances.

Noel asked for water with the menu. William ordered Riesling.

'You'll have to drink that yourself,' Noel told him when the bottle arrived. 'I'm driving.'

'You can always share my taxi home.'

Noel refrained from looking at him by twisting in her chair for the view. Pedestrians strolling past included the diners in their general sightseeing. 'I feel a bit like a side show.'

'We can go inside.'

'No,' she said, turning and settling back. 'You can't beat eating outside on a hot night.'

'Besides,' said William. 'They can see the opera house and bridge any time. You're a bonus they didn't expect.'

The hovering waiter was very young and very fresh-faced. As Noel glanced at him he gave her a polite smile as though he hadn't heard William's words. 'Would you like to order now, madam?'

She would and did, grateful to slide past the compliment.

It was the only one offered. Over starters and mains William spoke about work; current, past and future. It centred on Noel's contributions towards the end and veered to his and then her history over dessert. Innocuous stuff she was happy enough to supply.

Dessert was fresh berries and vanilla bean icecream made in the hotel's own kitchens. To do it justice William ordered a sauterne that doubled the bill and for which he said he would pay, insisting she share. After the first taste she ceased argument. With the colour and texture of honey, it dissolved on her tongue like sugar. With her second glass William raised Cairns. 'I don't know that I could've done it; a car in flames. I'd have been afraid of it blowing up.'

She didn't want to discuss it. 'I didn't think about it. Neither would anyone else.'

The city lights spangled his eyes, his voice was admiring. 'I think you're being modest.' He reached for her hand and held it, palm down. 'And all you got for your trouble were these.' His fingers stroked the still angry-red scar tissue. She had had to contend with one startled look in the ladies' room already tonight.

She detached herself. 'A man's life doesn't count I suppose.' Her tone was cool.

'That goes without saying. Have you heard from him?'

The space between her eyebrows puckered. 'Who?'

'The chap you pulled out.' Before she answered he knew she had not.

'No. Should I have?'

He took a sip of wine. With his elbow on the table he had to stick out his bottom lip and tip the glass into it. Being nearly empty it didn't surrender much. The glass parted from his lip, he peered at it and reached for the bottle. 'It was a bit of a shock, the other being someone we knew.' He drained what remained into his glass.

'You knew. Gem is your account.'

'You never met Patton?' He upended the bottle into an empty ice bucket.

'No.'

Conversation halted while the waiter removed the bucket and asked if they would like a replacement. William shook his head and stretching his length said, 'I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall in Gem Techtronics if it had been Patton you rescued.'

She blinked. 'Why?'

'Patton and Nick Donaldson weren't the best of mates. It's no secret that Donaldson wanted to buy Patton out after Patton inherited from his father. Donaldson thought he was a real i***t; wanted to turn the company inside out.'

'Who did?'

'Patton.' William pulled his chair up to the table.

Noel frowned. 'I don't understand. Wouldn't Patton have owned more of Gem? His father and Geoff Davies were equal partners, weren't they? So Patton would have inherited his father's fifty per cent, and when Geoff Davies died in September his wife inherited his, didn't she? Where does Nicholas Donaldson fit in? I'm confused.'

William spread his fingers on the snowy tablecloth and explained in low tones.

'Patton and Davies had some financial trouble three years ago. Ron Patton and I had known each other for a while and he approached me for a loan. While we were talking, Davies mentioned their problems to Donaldson. He knew a lot of people and Geoff thought he might come up with some names that might be interested in investing. As it turned out Donaldson and I both put money in.'

'That's why we have the advertising account.'

'Correct.'

'So how big a share does Donaldson have?'

'Fifteen per cent. I bought in for two and a half. Patton and Davies retained half each of the remainder.'

Noel shook her head. 'I'm even more confused. If Nicholas Donaldson isn't in charge, he's certainly doing a good impersonation.'