Twenties Girl

“I want to break up our partnership,” I say, my jaw set. “It was a mistake. I’ll speak to the lawyer.”

“Whatever.” She stands, folding her arms, and leans back proprietorially against her desk. “But you’re not poaching any of my clients; it’s in our agreement. So don’t get any bright ideas about ripping me off.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I say tightly.

“Go on, then.” Natalie shrugs. “Clear your desk. Do whatever you’ve got to do.”

I glance over at Kate. She’s watching us, utterly aghast.

“Sorry,” I mouth. In response, she gets out her phone and starts texting something. A moment later, my phone bleeps and I pull it out.

I don’t blame u. If u start a company can I come? Kx

I text back.

Of course. But I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. Thanks, Kate. L xx

Natalie has sat back down at her desk and is ostentatiously typing at her computer as if I don’t exist.

I feel a bit light-headed as I stand there in the middle of the office. What have I just done? This morning I had a business and a future. Now I don’t. I’ll never get all my money back off Natalie. What will I tell Mum and Dad?

No. Don’t think about that now.

My throat is tight as I pick up a cardboard box from the corner, empty the computer paper out of it, and start packing my stuff. My hole punch. My pen holder.

“But if you think you can set up on your own and do what I do, you’re wrong.” Natalie suddenly lashes out, swiveling on her chair. “You don’t have any contacts. You don’t have any expertise. All your airy-fairy ‘I want to give people great jobs’ and ‘Look at the whole picture.’ That’s not going to run a business. And don’t expect me to give you a job when you’re starving in the street.”

“Maybe Lara isn’t going to stay in recruitment!” To my astonishment, Kate chimes in from across the room. “Maybe she’s going to do something else altogether! She has other talents, you know.” She nods at me excitedly, and I peer back in slight confusion. I do?

“Like what?” says Natalie scathingly.

“Like mind reading!” Kate brandishes Business People. “Lara, you’ve kept so quiet about this! There’s a whole piece about you at the back on the gossip page! Lara Lington entertained crowds for an hour with her spectacular mind-reading feats. Organizers have been inundated with requests for Ms. Lington to entertain at corporate events. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ said John Crawley, chairman of Medway plc. ‘Lara Lington should have her own TV show.’”

“Mind reading?” Natalie looks gobsmacked.

“It’s… something I’ve been working on.” I shrug.

“It says here you read five minds at once!” Kate is bubbling over. “Lara, you should go on Britain’s Got Talent! You’ve got a real gift!”

“Since when could you mind read?” Natalie’s eyes narrow suspiciously.

“That would be telling. And, yes, maybe I will do a few corporate events,” I add defiantly. “Start a little business up. So I probably won’t be starving in the street, thanks very much, Natalie.”

“Read my mind, then, if you’ve got such a gift.” Natalie thrusts her chin out challengingly. “Go on.”

“No, thanks,” I say sweetly. “I’d rather not pick up anything nasty.”

There’s a snuffling noise from Kate. For the first time today, Natalie looks discomfited. I pick up my box before she can think of anything else to say and head over to Kate to give her a hug.

“Bye, Kate. Thanks for everything. You’re a star.”

“Lara, good luck.” She squeezes me back tightly and whispers, “I’ll miss you,” in my ear.

“Bye, Natalie,” I add shortly as I head to the door.

I push it open and walk along the corridor to the lift, press the button, and heft the box in my arms. I feel a bit numb. What am I going to do now?

“Sadie?” I say out of habit. But there’s no reply. Of course there isn’t.

The lift in our building is slow and ancient, and I’m just starting to hear its dim, cranking sound when there are footsteps behind me. I turn to see Kate approaching, looking breathless.

“Lara, I wanted to catch you before you left,” she says urgently. “Do you need an assistant?”

Oh God, she’s so sweet. She’s like the girl in Jerry Maguire. She wants to come with me and bring the goldfish. If we had one.

“Er… well, I don’t know whether I’m setting up another company yet, or what, but I’ll definitely let you know-”

“No, for your mind reading” she interrupts. “Do you need an assistant to help you with your tricks? Because I’d love to do it. I can wear a costume. And I can juggle!”

“Juggle?” I can’t help echoing.

“Yes! With beanbags! I could be your warm-up act!”

She looks so excited, I can’t bear to crush her hopes. I can’t bear to say, “I can’t really mind read; none of this is real.”

I’m so weary of no one else understanding. I wish I could sit down with just one person and say, “You know, the truth is, there’s this ghost…”

“Kate, I’m not sure that’ll work out.” I try to think of how to let her down lightly. “The truth is… I already have an assistant.”

“Oh, really?” Kate’s eager face deflates. “But they didn’t mention any assistant in the article. They said you did it all on your own.”

“She was kind of… backstage. She didn’t really want to be seen.”

“Who is she?”

“She’s… a relation,” I say at last.

Kate’s face falls still further. “Oh, right. Well, I suppose you probably work well together if you’re related.”

“We’ve got to understand each other pretty well.” I nod, biting my lip. “I mean, we’ve had a zillion arguments along the way. But, you know. We’ve spent a lot of time together. We’ve been through quite a lot. We’re… friends.”

I feel a pang in my chest even as I’m saying it. Maybe we were friends. I don’t know what we are now. And all of a sudden I feel heavy despair. Look at me. I’ve messed everything up with Sadie, with Ed, with Josh, I don’t have a business anymore, my parents are going to freak out, I’ve spent all my spare money on bloody flapper dresses-

“Well, if she ever doesn’t want to do it anymore…” Kate’s face brightens. “Or if she wants an assistant?”

“I don’t know what our plans are. I just… it’s all been a bit…” I feel my eyes sting. Kate’s face is so sympathetic and open, and I’ve been feeling so tense, the words start slipping out. “The thing is… we had a row. And she disappeared. I haven’t seen her or heard from her since.”

“You’re joking!” says Kate in dismay. “What was the row about?”

“Lots of things,” I say miserably. “I suppose mostly about… a man.”

“And do you know if she’s…” Kate hesitates. “I mean… is she OK?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happened to her. She could be anywhere. I mean, normally we’re talking to each other all day long. But now… total silence.” With no warning, a tear rolls down my cheek.

“Oh, Lara!” says Kate, looking almost as upset as I feel. “And all this with Natalie too. Can Josh help?” She suddenly lights up. “Does he know her? He’s so supportive-”

“I’m not with Josh anymore!” I give a sudden sob. “We split up!”

“You split up?” Kate gasps. “Oh God, I had no idea! You must be so stressed out!”

“It hasn’t been my best week, to be honest.” I wipe my eyes. “Or my best day. Or my best hour.”

“You did the right thing, though, leaving Natalie.” Kate lowers her voice fervently. “And you know what? Everyone will want to do business with you. They love you. And they hate Natalie.”

“Thanks.” I try to smile. The lift arrives, and Kate holds the doors open for me while I lug my box in and balance it on the rail.

“Is there anywhere you could look for your relation?” Kate surveys me anxiously. “Is there any way you could track her down?”

“Du

“Maybe she wants you to make the first move, though?” Kate says tentatively. “You know, if she’s feeling hurt, maybe she’s waiting for you to get hold of her. It’s just an idea…” she calls as the doors begin to close. “I don’t want to interfere…”