Roses Are Red - Miranda Rijks Page 0,4

He storms out of the office, slamming Ajay’s door behind him.

Ajay closes his eyes and lets out a long sigh. I right the chair that Adam knocked over.

‘I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘It’s an impossible situation.’

Ajay looks at me. I see pity in his dark eyes and a weariness in his sallow face. ‘You need to sort it, Lydia. At this rate, one or the other of you will have to go. You need to be civilised to each other; put the interests of the business above your personal quarrels.’

‘I know,’ I say softly.

I gaze out towards the car park. Adam’s Bentley Continental speeds from his parking space, and it’s only the impressive power of the car that stops it from screeching and spinning as he turns at high speed onto the exit road.

‘He’s gone. Let’s go back to the boardroom,’ I say.

‘I think you and I should go out for a drink at lunchtime,’ Ajay says, picking up a folder from his desk.

The Weaver’s Arms pub is located down a narrow country lane about ten minutes from the office. Ajay and I used to go there often, and many of our most important business decisions were made at a little wobbly table in an alcove surrounded by low oak beams. But about five years ago, Adam had an upset stomach, which he attributed to their food, and we haven’t been there since.

Today, Ajay and I are back, seated at our regular table. I assume the place has changed hands during the past few years, because the walls have been painted a rich dark blue, the colour of a summer’s night sky, and the tables are no longer rickety.

‘Are you getting divorced?’

‘At some point,’ I say, holding my glass of bitter lemon tightly.

‘What does that mean for the business?’

‘I don’t know. We haven’t talked about settlements and stuff.’

‘What does your lawyer say?’

I scrunch up my eyes. ‘I haven’t got a lawyer. Not yet.’

Ajay grabs my hand. ‘But he’ll screw you, Lydia. Adam’s a great accountant; he’ll use every loophole in the book to make sure he comes out of this smelling like roses.’

‘You’ve never told me before that you don’t like him,’ I murmur.

‘I do like him.’ Ajay releases my hand, but his eyes suggest otherwise. ‘Well, I don’t like how he’s behaving towards you, and I don’t agree with his current ideas for Cracking Crafts, but generally he’s a good guy, and he’s an excellent financial director. But this isn’t just about your marriage. Your arguing and his erratic behaviour are in danger of affecting the livelihoods of over a couple of hundred people. You must fix this and get a good solicitor.’

‘We’ve talked about divorce, but haven’t started proceedings yet. I think he’s having an affair again. And the children don’t know anything.’ I sigh.

‘Children aren’t stupid. They’ll be picking up on what’s going on. Get this sorted, Lydia.’

I let out a groan as I close my eyes. ‘Honestly, Ajay, I don’t know what to do. Mia has exams coming up, and I don’t want to rock the boat right now. I’d rather have the discussion in the school holidays.’

‘Ok, love,’ Ajay says, leaning over and giving me a kiss on the cheek. ‘You know I’m always there for you, don’t you?’

Tears come to my eyes as I nod at him.

‘And Adam. He’s not a bad man.’

‘I know that, but he’s been acting strangely ever since his father died nine months ago. I suggested that he go to therapy to discuss it. He went ballistic at the idea.’

‘It’s hard for all of us when we become orphans, whatever our age.’

‘He wasn’t even close to his dad. After his mother died six years ago, I had to force Adam to visit his dad.’

‘Marianne was depressed for months after her mother died. It affects us all in different ways.’ Ajay tips back the remainder of his Coca-Cola.

‘How is Marianne?’ I realise I haven’t seen her for ages. The last time we met, she told me how hard she was finding her empty nest.

‘She’s fine,’ Ajay says, crossing his arms and briefly glancing away. ‘I suppose we’d better get back to the office.’

As I stand up, I feel exhausted. Ajay is right. Adam and I need to sort things. But how, I really don’t know.

3

It is just after 1 p.m. Adam hasn’t been in the office all morning. I don’t know where he is or what he’s doing. Nicky might know, but I can’t be bothered to ask. He was at home,