Flowers in Bloom

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

“Mr Clayton? I’m Emily Delevigne.” Emily walked across the lobby with her hand outstretched. “Welcome to Caleris Global. Did you have a good trip over?”

Wyatt shook her hand. “Yeah, it wasn’t too bad. Let’s get right down to it. Show me what you got.” He followed her into the lift that took them to her fifth-floor office.

They sat down and Emily pushed a small pile of documents across the desk. “This is the one you’re going to be most interested in, I think,” she tapped the top of the pile. “It has everything you asked for. It’s an old, impressive building, with an excellent reputation, fantastic facilities, a great deal of privacy, and some very, very rich members. It has been in the same family for many generations.”

Wyatt smiled. He knew a whole lot more about The Riverside Golf and Country Club than he was ever going to let on. The property Emily had earmarked was one he and his investors had wanted for a very long time, but it had always been out of his grasp – until now.

Emily continued: “It’s not even on the open market yet. It’s somewhere I’m already rather familiar with as my closest friend lives in the same area and her husband is a high-profile member of the club.”

“And?” Wyatt narrowed his eyes.

“And I think there may be a little local opposition to your plans. But I’m sure that’s nothing new for you.” Emily had done her research. Wyatt had fought many battles in the cutthroat commercial property market and had a reputation for being one of the most ruthless businessmen in the world. Nothing ever got in his way.

Wyatt studied the brochure for a few minutes, and then flicked through the details of the other properties Emily had matched to his requirements. He returned to the first.

“No. This is the one. Get into it and report directly to me next week when I’m back in the States. I’m flying to China tomorrow afternoon. I’ve got big plans for this place, so the members can either get on board or find another club.” Wyatt stood up to leave. He kept his meetings brief and to the point. “I’ll expect a detailed report, I don’t want any surprises.”

After Wyatt had left her office, Emily picked up the phone and dialled Olivia’s number. She answered almost immediately.

“How spooky, I was just about to call you,” Olivia laughed.

“How are you feeling?” Emily asked.

“Fat and revolting,” Olivia replied with a sigh.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve looked amazing throughout the whole bloody pregnancy.” Emily laughed. “Is it ok if I come down for a few days? Is Sebastian home or away?”

“God yes, get yourself down here immediately. He’s playing in the Irish Open and he promised Rory he’d go to help with a charity thing. I didn’t have the heart to ask him to stick around just to keep me amused, but I’m dying of boredom. You’ll be a most welcome guest.”

“I’ll head straight down after work, so should be with you by supper time. Oh, that’s my call waiting. Got to go, see you later.” Emily rang off.

In Appleton Vale, Olivia hung up the phone and waddled towards the kitchen. The baby was due in a couple of weeks and she couldn’t relax or get comfortable. No-one had been more surprised when she and Sebastian had found out they were expecting a baby. It had most certainly not been in their immediate plans. Delighted as they both were, a tiny part of Olivia wished that they could have had more time to be just the two of them.

Everything had happened so quickly - her life over the past few years had been a whirlwind. She had arrived in Appleton Vale to ghost-write Sebastian’s autobiography two years ago and had never left. Sebastian had been at his very lowest and on the verge of self-destruction when they met, having seen his game, his reputation and his personal life torn apart by the tragic loss of his first wife Ellie and her daughter Lizzie. He had fallen in disgrace from the very top of the world golf rankings, and his status as a one-time global sports icon had altered so dramatically that he had become poison to all but a few close friends.

Meeting Olivia had turned things around for him. They had an undeniable attraction from the start, but it took months for either of them to realise that they had fallen in love, and many more to actually admit it. Sebastian had bared his soul in a daring ‘Piers Morgan Life Stories’ interview in a bid to capture her heart. It worked, and just days later he triumphed in The Open Championship - his fallen star was restored.

Sebastian continued to mine his rich vein of form, fighting his way back to World number one, much to the delight of his fans around the globe. He won a third US Masters title in April, bringing his Majors total to five, and firmly re-established himself as the best in the game.

By contrast, his wedding to Olivia had been a quiet affair, with only a handful of close friends and family invited to Appleton Manor for a beautiful service in the grounds of the estate. It had been an unseasonably warm October morning, with the sun low in the sky and leaves dancing on the trees, when they had promised to love and honour each other for the rest of their days.

And now, as Olivia eased her heavily pregnant body onto one of the chairs around the battered pine kitchen table, the back door opened and Georgiana came bounding in with Lady at her heels.

“Morning, Liv, any movement?” Georgiana asked as she was ambushed by Hector and Ace.

“If one more person asks me that I’m going to explode,” Olivia snapped. “Don’t you think I’d tell you if it were time?” She rubbed her belly and sighed.

“Ok, no need to bite my head off,” Georgiana rolled her eyes and patted the dogs. “Sebastian wants an hourly update, you know what he’s like.”

“Well he shouldn’t have bloody well gone away then.” Olivia yelled in frustration.

Georgiana pulled a chair up alongside Olivia and took her hand, “I know it’s hard with him being away, but to be fair, you were the one who pushed him to go so you can’t really complain.”

“God I’m sorry, I’m being a b***h. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m supposed to be all happy and relaxed, and I’m anything but.” She sniffed into a tissue.

Georgiana gave Olivia a hug and got up to turn the kettle on.

“There’s nothing wrong with you, it’s just your hormones. How about a nice cup of tea and some of Hattie’s ginger cake?”

“Don’t you have better things to do than babysit me?” Olivia smiled weakly.

“No. You’re the family priority right now. I have to be at the yard for the farrier in an hour, and then I’m off to London for a production meeting and staying the night. Hattie will be back from Fiddlebury by then to take over.”

“Take over? You make it sound like I need a constant nursemaid.” Olivia’s attempt at a joke sounded hollow.

“Don’t be silly. The baby could come any day now, and the last thing you need to be is alone. Sebastian will go nuts if one of us isn’t with you if it happens while he’s away, and none of us wants to incur that particular wrath.” She rolled her eyes.

“Well you don’t need to worry, Emily’s coming down tonight. She’ll be here for supper.”

“That’s nice, shame I’ll miss her,” Georgiana replied as she stuffed a large chunk of cake into her mouth. “I’m meeting some friends at The Duke.”

“Christopher?” Olivia couldn’t keep up with her sister-in-law’s prolific dating.

“Nah, dumped him last month,” she grinned. “He was way too needy, I just want to have a bit of fun.”

Olivia laughed. “Don’t let Sebastian hear you say that again. He just can’t handle the thought of you dating.”

Georgiana shrugged her shoulders and flashed a cheeky smile. “What’s he going to do about it?”

“So, who’s the new lucky man then?” Olivia was keen to find out more.

“There isn’t one, yet!” Georgiana laughed. “Let’s just say I’m open to offers for someone to sweep me off my feet.”

“That sounds exciting. I doubt Sebastian could even lift me up right now, let alone sweep me off my swollen feet.” Olivia looked down at her feet and wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about, silly,” Georgiana said. “He’s one hundred per cent in love with you, he worships the ground you walk on. Wait till the baby comes, he’ll be showering you with gifts. Ooh, maybe even some enormous diamonds,” she grinned.

Olivia laughed. “You mercenary little so-and-so.”

“Just saying.” Georgiana raised an eyebrow.

“Just saying what?” Hattie asked as she struggled through the kitchen door with a dozen shopping bags.

“Nothing you need to know,” Georgiana giggled, and jumped up to help her.

“Oh deary me, that was an effort,” Hattie puffed. “I’ve never seen Fiddlebury so busy for a Tuesday. I got those bits you wanted Olivia, although I’m still failing to understand quite how bananas, caramel syrup, ham and fried onions can blend together to form anything even remotely edible.”

“Trust me, it’s satisfying every craving I have right now.” Olivia began delving in the bags for something else to eat.

“Bloody hell, you’ve just had two slices of cake. How many are you eating for?” Georgiana instantly regretted her joke when Olivia shot her an evil look.

Olivia sighed. “I look revolting anyway so what’s another few pounds? Maybe that’s why Sebastian was so keen to get away from me?”

“Now you’re just being ridiculous,” Georgiana retorted. “He didn’t even want to go - you pushed him. If you want him here, just call him. He’s got the jet on standby and he’ll be here in a flash.” Olivia’s fluctuating hormones were starting to jar. “Now, stop being so bloody obtuse and go and relax. Read a book, take the dogs for a stroll, do something, anything,” she urged.

Hattie backed her up. “Yes, why don’t you go and relax in the study and I’ll bring you some more tea.”

“I’m pregnant, not a bloody invalid,” Olivia snapped and waddled out of the room. leaving Hattie and Georgiana looking at each other and rolling their eyes.