The Importance of Being Emma by Juliet Archer

moment. I’m just relieved she’s seen the light about Robert Martin and I’m glad I could be of help.’ Her tone hardened. ‘But I don’t agree with your description of her, it’s unflattering and unrealistic. She’s actually the type of woman that would suit most men down to the ground. How did you put it? Pretty and compliant. In other words, good to look at and take to bed, but no threat to the male ego. You know, if you and Tamara ever broke up, you could do worse than go out with Harriet yourself.’ She smiled sweetly and went to shut the door in my face.
    I wedged it open with my foot and grabbed hold of the door knocker to steady myself. I was breathing hard and fast, as if I’d just run a marathon.
    ‘ I’m telling you, you should have left well alone. You’re trying to make her into something she’s not and never will be. For God’s sake, Emma, sometimes I wonder if you’ve even got the sense you were born with!’
    Her lip curled. ‘I’m afraid we’ll just have to agree to differ on this one. I’m sure your friend Robert will get over it sooner than you think.’
    Something snapped inside me. ‘You don’t seem to realise that you’re pissing about with a man’s heart – do you know what the fuck one is?’
    There was an insolent glint in her eye. ‘A man – or a heart?’
    ‘ Both!’ I turned on my heel and stormed off.
    Behind me, the front door slammed. I got into the car, leaned my arms on the steering wheel and rested my head on them, briefly. Then I straightened up, started the engine and drove home.
     
    ~~EMMA~~
    I lay in bed, drained but unable to sleep, thinking about what Mark had said. I’d only ever heard him swear like that when he was almost beside himself with rage. Until tonight, however, I’d never been the target for one of his rare outbursts.
    I knew I had nothing to reproach myself for. But I felt so miserable. Sort of incomplete. A jigsaw with one piece missing, the Mark-shaped one that didn’t quite fit, yet somehow belonged.
    We’d had our falling-out moments, of course. Particularly when he’d discovered my teenage crush on him, all those years ago.
    I’d dealt with that then and I’d deal with this now.
     

 
    Chapter Four
     
    ~~MARK~~
    Early on the morning of my birthday, I woke to the phone ringing next to my bed. I groped for the receiver and grunted into it.
    Saffron’s voice almost burst my eardrums. ‘Happy birthday, darling!’
    Before I had time to bellow something back at her, Father came on the line. ‘Many happy returns, Mark, did you get our card and cheque?’
    ‘ Yes thanks, they arrived yesterday I think. What time is it where you are?’
    ‘ God knows. Some time in the afternoon, we’re in Singapore, remember? Just come back from Haw Par Villa, a sort of theme park. Didn’t think I’d enjoy it, but it was fascinating. We’re off out again in a few minutes. Is Tamara there?’
    I rolled onto my back and grinned. ‘No, she’s coming later today.’
    ‘ So you’re all alone.’
    ‘ Apart from a couple of hookers I picked up last night.’
    ‘ I know you’re joking.’ He paused. ‘You are, aren’t you?’
    ‘ What do you think?’
    He said gently, ‘I think the sooner Tamara’s with you, the better. It’s not natural for a man to be on his own.’
    ‘ I’m going into the office, I’ll hardly be on my own there.’
    ‘ You know what I mean. By the way, have we got the new Parkinson contract agreed yet?’
    This led to a brief discussion about the need to keep particularly close to our biggest customer, who was being courted even more than usual by our competitors; then he was off on his next outing, Saffron nagging in the background.
    It made running Donwell Organics seem like a picnic.
    I lay in bed a little longer, thinking. Not about the Parkinson contract, I’m ashamed to say, but about the list of instructions I needed to give Mrs Burn in preparation for Tamara’s arrival; such as ‘Lay fire in drawing