My breath choked as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to him, even though she was stiff as a board. The applause erupted, but his words carried, just loud enough to hear.
I’m so proud of you, he said. I’m so very proud.
And then he let her go.
She dithered for a moment, clutching that envelope in her fingers, a flicker of emotion on her face before her guard came back up. She nodded and thanked him, and then she backed away, retreating to her desk to a fanfare of congratulations from her colleagues.
David made his exit with a final thanks, and I took the floor, reiterating everything he’d said about their hard work and how impressed I’d been with their attitude and dedication over a tough start to the programme.
I sought out every pair of eyes, every eager smile, thanking all of them personally and individually, finding something worthwhile to say for every one of them.
Until I came to Verity’s empty chair.
I scanned the desks, back and forth, trying to locate her amongst the others, but she was nowhere to be seen.
I set everyone the task of grabbing a coffee and an informal discussion amongst themselves before the week wound up early, and I headed out to the kitchen, and further to the toilets. Still there was no sign of her. Her bag was still in the footwell of her desk, her scarf still draped over her chair, and a glance through the front window showed her sporty little Audi still in her parking space.
A couple of admin girls were chatting by the photocopier in the corridor outside, and I asked if they’d seen her.
About ten minutes ago. They pointed to the stationery storage and server rooms. Went that way.
I found little princess Verity behind a stack of envelope boxes, crouched on the floor with her face in her hands, sobbing her heart out like the whole world was ending. I dropped to a crouch beside her, and she let out a ghastly wail.
“Go away!” she said. “Please, just go away!”
But that’s not my style.
I waited until the sobs eased off a little, waited until she pulled her hands from her face and stared at me with puffy eyes.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head.
I dropped to my ass, indicating I wasn’t going anywhere. “If this is about the leaderboard, you needn’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve had some great conversations this week, I’ve heard you. You’ll get your lead any day now, you just didn’t get your break today.”
“I can’t do it!” she cried. “I just can’t!”
“You can,” I said. “I know you can. You’ve worked hard, you’re doing well. Sometimes the results don’t come in, it can be bad luck, pure and simple.”
Her face crumpled like a scared little girl, and Verity’s bluster was all gone. She looked like a child again, the girl I’d seen in her pigtails all those years ago. “She’s going to ruin my life!”
“Katie?”
She nodded. “He loves her more than me!”
Her words took me aback. “That’s not true,” I said. “Your father loves you very much.”
“Not like he loves her!” She wiped her tears on the back of her hand. “Be nice to your sister, Verity, share your things with your sister, Verity. Make sure Katie has a good time, Verity. Let Katie choose which horse she wants to ride, Verity. Make sure you give her first choice, Verity. Why don’t you wear your hair like Katie, Verity? Katie’s so pretty, Katie’s so nice, Katie’s so fucking clever and cute and sweet and blonde and fucking wonderful, Verity.”
“I’m sure things weren’t like that,” I said. “I’m sure that isn’t how your father intended them.”
She shook her head. “She turned up and it was all about Katie, sweet little Katie. He was working too hard to spend time with us, but when it was time to pick up little Katie he was always right there, driving over to get her and bringing her back like a little doll. Katie, Katie, Katie. Did Katie have a good time? Did you play nicely? Did you share?” She scowled. “And what about me?! What about me having a good time?”
The idea that Verity was shunned in favour of a younger sister she hadn’t known of until she was ten was quite ridiculous, I was certain of it, but Verity’s eyes weren’t lying. Her outburst was raw and real, and full of bitterness.
Whatever the real situation was, this was how she’d