AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Something that sets KC Interiors apart is the fact that we give regularly to charity. Ten per cent of our net profits to be exact.” Well, there you go.
“Oh, right. Wonderful. Which charities?”
I pressed the arrow button and thankfully, I, or whoever designed this presentation pre-empted this question. “We support disadvantaged youth by providing opportunities for creative expression and skill development.” I pressed the arrow again. “Last year our funding allowed teachers to travel to Africa to teach design and construction of useful household equipment, as well as creative expression workshops which provide enjoyment and camaraderie among youth.” I was on a roll.
“You can turn off the presentation now,” Mr Turrow said.
Huh? I thought it was going well.
“Enough about the company, I want to hear more about you.”
Me? William was obviously wondering the same thing as he shifted awkwardly in his chair.
“I understand this business was born of your desire, tell me what led to the birth of KC Interiors. Why did you start it up?”
Crap. All I knew was that Kasey had provided money and stuff, I designed stuff and William managed stuff. What more could I say?
I really wished Lucy would barge in with some urgent phone call I simply had to take, or an announcement, like the building was on fire, or… the crazy naked guy from Main Street had escaped from police custody and followed me here, holding the poor guy from the information desk hostage until he could see me. Okay, maybe not that, but I was fast running out of words and couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
William stood. “You know, Mr Turrow, when Kelli first showed me the preliminary designs she’d come up with – just as a hobby at first, while our kids were young – I not only saw an amazing talent expressed on the paper, but an amazing glow on my wife’s face. Drawing, creating… it lights up her eyes. I knew she was onto something good. I knew her ideas were unique and that it would be a mistake not to pursue this as a business.”
Wow. Now I was more speechless than before. Hearing William talk about me like I had really been there when Diora and Ryan were young was strange. His eyes seemed to be back in the past, seeing the events that took place. Like it was real. Only it wasn’t real to me. I didn’t remember that time, but I did remember what it felt like to create something out of nothing. To take a blank piece of paper and produce a design that hadn’t existed before. I hadn’t drawn for years, not since I was thirteen, but the pure bliss when I was in the zone? There was nothing like it. So I began telling Mr Turrow this.
“And I knew that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. That creating beauty was a part of me, an expression of my soul and a passion that couldn’t be suppressed.” Only it had been. Not long after my thirteenth birthday in fact, when I’d finished creating a design I was particularly pleased with and –
Clap. Clap. Mr Turrow’s hands slapped together, interrupting my flow of thoughts. “Mrs McSnelly, what an inspiring story. I thank you immensely for sharing your deep passion for the creative process.” He stood and grasped my hands again, shaking them with even more enthusiasm than before. “However, this will of course be a decision based on business, so I will consider your proposal and that of the other companies I’ve met with today and advise you of my decision when I get off the plane at Heathrow.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
“Thank you both for your time.” He shook William’s hand, who ushered him outside, giving him his personal number and explaining that the office would be closed tomorrow but he could contact William directly so plans could begin immediately.
After he’d left, William led me into another room, which housed a kitchenette, table and chairs, and by the looks of it, one of those smart-lamps which brightened upon us entering. He closed the door behind him and then pressed what appeared to be a lock button.
“I think you won him over,” William said, coming towards me with arms outstretched.
“We won him over,” I corrected.
“Yes it was a team effort, wasn’t it? And even though you didn’t tell him half the stuff we’d planned, I think overall it went well.”
He slid his arms around my back and leaned his head into my neck, nuzzling it with his nose.
I tried to push him away gently. “What are you doing?”
He brought his face in front of mine. “We’ve got some spare time, why don’t we enjoy one of your birthday presents now?” He resumed nuzzling into my neck.
Oh God. “But, isn’t that supposed to be for tonight? And… Lucy’s out there.” I pointed to the door.
“Lucy will be busy finishing up the week’s admin work, she won’t bother us. Besides, the door’s locked.”
He tried to press his lips onto mine but I turned my head and they landed on my cheek. So he kissed that instead, then my ear, then the part of my neck just below my ear, his lips making squelchy sounds.
This was wrong. “William, I think you should stop.”
“Why?” He continued the kissing. “And what’s with all this ‘William’ talk? You haven’t called me that in years.”
“Right. Will, honey, I think it would be better to… save ourselves for tonight. You know, make it more special?”
“What’s more special than celebrating a successful business meeting, on your birthday, in a private staff room, on the spur of the moment?” He ran his hand down my cheek and then across my lips, and then down my neck, tracing the neckline of my top with his finger.
