Page 35 of The Mad Marchams

“Dammit.” Mabel frowned at the screen.

Apparently, Joss had been desperate enough to talk with her that he’d tracked her IP address, or something similarly nerdy.

She composed a reply to the first, making sure to cc Iko and Deepak.

None of your business. I already told you I was taking 3 months off.

The next email contained a detailed explanation of a new project, and she read it out of curiosity. By the message’s end, though, her usual excitement was missing. The thought of starting something new right now made her want to cry.

We need you here, Mabe. There’s a new opportunity that’s too good to miss. You can’t be that selfish not to help out your team. We’ve been in this together for years!

After a deep breath she wrote a reply.

I am not interested in pursuing this project right now. I suggest you find someone else.

Her phone buzzed with a text notification from Joss.

ARE YOU FRICKING KIDDING ME??

Mabel compressed her lips. She hated being addressed in all caps.

THIS ISN’T FAIR, MABE. WE’RE A TEAM. WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

She sent back:

I’m not stopping you from going ahead, Joss. There are plenty of other people who can do my job and would welcome the challenge.

He replied quickly.

IT WOULD BE TOO DIFFICULT TO START AGAIN WITH SOMEONE NEW. WE DON’T HAVE THE TIME.

Mabel exhaled slowly and sent another message.

That’s not my problem. I’m not in the right place for this project. I am too close to burn out.

THEN MAKE THIS THE LAST ONE YOU DO. PLEASE??!! I NEED THE MONEY SO THAT I CAN MARRY SAMMY AND HAVE KIDS. DON’T LET YOUR JEALOUSY OF MY HAPPINESS RUIN EVERYONES’ LIVES!

She might have said a bad word as her fingers flew over the keyboard.

This isn’t fair, Joss. I’m not prepared to sacrifice my mental health just to make you richer, okay? If you don’t stop trying to guilt me into doing this, I’m going to block you and the others completely, and I’ll never work with you again.

Mabel shut down her laptop, plugged her phone into the charger on the counter and made herself a fresh cup of coffee. She waited to feel her regular guilt for standing up to Joss and instead felt nothing but relief at finally putting her foot down. There was more to life than making money and just because she’d realized it sooner than all the others didn’t make her the bad guy.

A few moments later, she received a text from Iko.

Joss is way out of line. I’ll talk to him, okay?

Mabel pushed her phone away. She needed to get away from her devices and out of the house. Where better to go than to Colin’s grandmother who lived her life like it was always the roaring twenties and treated Mabel like a foreigner who hadn’t quite grasped the language?

Mabel paused to pick some flowers from the beautiful garden and walked down to the main house. She found the dowager countess in the breakfast room consuming quantities of toast and marmalade while Felicity toyed listlessly with a boiled egg.

“Good morning, Lady Marcham,” Mabel said brightly. “I brought you some flowers.”

“How lovely, my dear. Hand them over to Felicity. She’s a whizz at arranging them.”

“Hi Felicity,” Mabel set the flowers near Felicity and took a seat opposite the dowager. “What can I help you with today?”

“You can accompany me to the village where I wish to consult with the baker about a birthday cake for Freddy.”