“Oh, another thing,” he suddenly adds. “I should tell you. Your charity.”
“My charity?” I echo, not following.
“Your community center in Catford? We’ve just decided it’s going to be one of next year’s official company charities.”
“What?” I gape at him.
“I was going to try to let you know somehow. Anyway, here you are.” He spreads his hands. “It’s official. Next year we’ll be raising money for the Church Street Community Center in Catford and for Cancer Research.”
I’m almost speechless. He listened. He remembered.
“I went to visit them, in fact,” Alex continues, his eyes glowing. “I spoke to the kids. Met the leaders. And you’re right. They’re awesome.”
“You went to Catford?” This is so staggering, I can’t quite take it in. “You went to Catford?”
For a moment Alex doesn’t answer. He’s fiddling with the jukebox buttons, his jaw set.
“Like I say, it got to me,” he says at last, a little gruffly. “What you said in the office. I don’t want to be some entitled bastard who can’t see out of his own privileged bubble. I felt pretty chastened, if you must know. There you were, doing something for your local community, forging links, making a difference—”
Oh God. Is that what he thinks? My head feels hot with guilt. Me? Forging links with my community?
“Alex.” I cut him off. “Listen. I…I didn’t forge any links. The truth is…I never actually went to visit the community center.”
“What?” His head jerks up in shock.
“A girl gave me a leaflet and told me about it.” I bite my lip in embarrassment. “That’s all.”
“A leaflet?” He stares at me. “I thought you were heavily involved! No wonder they hadn’t heard of you. I couldn’t understand it.”
“Well, I would have been!” I say hastily. “If I hadn’t moved away. I mean, I’m sure it’s a great project and everything—”
“It is! It’s a bloody marvelous project.” He stares at me disbelievingly. “Why am I telling you about your community project?”
“Because…er…you’re a really good person?” I venture, and risk a little smile.
To my relief, Alex’s mouth is twitching. I think he can see the funny side.
“Well, do let me give you a tour of your own charity project sometime,” he says sardonically.
“Er…thanks!” I meet his eye. “I mean it. Thanks.”
I’ve found the plug of the jukebox, and I’m about to ask Alex if he wants to hear it work, when he glances at his watch.
“Shit.” He frowns. “I’ve got distracted. Do you have any idea where Demeter might be?”
My stomach flips apprehensively as I glance at my own watch. She’s been gone twenty-five minutes now. That’s a head start, isn’t it?
“Look,” I say. “Alex. I have to tell you something.” I rub my nose, avoiding his eye. “Demeter’s…She’s…”
“What?”
“Well, in actual fact…she’s…”
“What?” demands Alex.
OK, full disclosure: I’m really quite nervous. In the heat of the moment it seemed obvious I should help Demeter. It seemed the right thing to do. But now that I actually have to fess up…
“She’s…gone to London.”
“London?” Alex’s gaze darkens. “When?”
“Twenty minutes ago or so.”
“But what…why…” His eyes suddenly snap in furious realization. “Wait. You have seen her. Did you tell her?”
“I gave her some warning, yes,” I say, trying to hold my nerve.
“I don’t believe this,” Alex says evenly. “You mean you ran straight from our conversation and said, ‘You’re going to get fired!’ ”
This is so exactly what happened, there’s no point denying it.
“She deserved to be told!” I shoot back hotly. “There’s more to Demeter than you realize. She’s given a lot to Cooper Clemmow; you can’t just chuck her out—”
“I don’t care what you think of Demeter, it was not up to you to warn her.” Alex looks absolutely livid. “And if she thinks she can dodge the bullet by running away—”
“She’s not! She’s looking for a way to save herself! There’s some email or something…shhh!” I interrupt as I see Dad approaching. “We don’t know each other, remember?”
Alex flashes me another incandescent look, then turns to Dad with his charming smile. “So, Mick,” he says. “What’s the damage?”
“This is what I paid.” Dad holds out a scribbled figure. “Shall we say half?”
“Let me think about that.” Alex pockets the paper. “I need to get on. Katie, maybe you could show me some more of the farm? I feel we’re not quite done with the subject.”
There’s an ominous tone to his voice, which makes my stomach flip over, but then I remind myself: He’s not my boss anymore, is he?
“Sure,” I say warily. “What do you want to know?”
“Oh, quite a lot, I’d say,” says Alex, flashing me an unsmiling look. He strides purposefully out of the barn, and Dad hurries after him.
“You a man of business then, Alex?” he inquires.
“In a way.” Alex smiles at Dad again. “Thanks for your time, Mick, but now I’m very keen for Katie to show me…” He turns to me. “The stables, was it?”