CHAPTER 67

Geneveive Tessa Robert

 

Hoplas Designs has gotten a lot of customers since we opened four years ago. The profits have been good, and the losses have been fair. I spoke to Dad about opening another branch in Edinburgh, which is currently the best place for rising businesses. He suggested I speak to his friend, an estate manager who is well known for getting the best properties in the city. 

‘When is Mr. Luke coming?’ I asked, checking my schedule with the kids. Vera was going to be with them this evening while I rested. I have been working hard for two months now without a break. Estella has been helpful, but I didn’t want to overwhelm her with a lot of activities.

I didn’t have any PTA meetings to attend, so I guess I could squeeze time for Mr. Luke.

‘He will be here by four o’clock, ma. That’s all the tasks for today,’ she replied, closing her notebook.  

Halsey was also a hater of modern technology. She will rather write her to-do list in a notebook than use the iPad I purchased for her to make the work easier. She would have written reports if not for the fact that I warned her that it was unprofessional. If you claim to be computer literate, then don’t hesitate to use it.

She had grudgingly accepted, but not with the iPad. I stopped trying to change her.

‘Alright,thank you. When Mr. McPhee comes, give me a head start before you allow him in. That man gives me an uneasy feeling,’ I said, suddenly wishing I hadn't. I didn’t want Halsey to think I hated the most eligible bachelor in Liverpool. I tried to do damage control immediately. 

‘I didn’t mean that way. He’s a nice gentleman who loves to talk a lot about everything. I mean everything.’ I chuckled, hoping Halsey would overlook my words.

She smiled. ‘He can be annoying too, ma. The last time he came, he made me make coffee three times for him. It’s either too hot, warm, or cold for him. At the end of the day, he didn’t drink the coffee.’

I laughed, ‘Well, prepare yourself for another drama from his end, dear.’ 

‘I will give you a head start when he comes,ma.’ she said, walking out.

I picked up some latest designs that needed my attention and started making finishing touches to them. Two hours later, I was done. Two were supposed to be emailed to a new client, which mom helped secure while she travelled to Bristol for a friend’s daughter's wedding. I checked the client’s mail in my diary but couldn’t find it. I was sure I wrote it there when Mom sent it via text message that day. 

I checked my phone messages. I couldn’t find it among the numerous conversations I had with Mom. Where could it be?

Maybe I scribbled it on a piece of paper and threw it in my bag that day. I picked up my bag, checked every piece of paper in there, and finally found it. Hope’s handwriting had covered the email address, but I could make sense out of the mail. I managed to get the right mail and hoped it didn’t bounce back. I sent it, and boom, the mail bounced. How ? Why?

I checked the mail address. I had gotten something wrong. A letter that wasn’t supposed to be there. I tried guessing, but the mail kept bouncing. I gave up and called mom. She was the only one who could help out at this point.

‘Hello, mum. How are you doing?’ I asked, biting away at my pen.

She yawned, ‘You just woke me up from my beauty nap, and it’s not yet time for our appointment. Why are you calling me?’ 

I apologized.  ‘I am sorry, mom, for waking you up. Please, I need your help with an email address. Remember that Hatt client you got for me at your friend’s daughter's wedding in Bristol? I lost the address, and I need it urgently. Please tell me you still have it.’

She replied. ‘I will check my messages and send them to you. Is that all?’ 

I grinned, ‘You’re the best, Mrs. Robert. Thank you for saving your daughter’s life.’

‘You owe me a dinner at the Liverpool Chicken Pot; bills are on you, CEO Geneveive.’ she laughed. ‘I will see you by two o’clock.’ 

Mom is always finding ways to eat at the chicken pot. She hadn’t even sent the email address, and she was already writing a debt. The message popped in as I was about to drop my phone. What I had on the paper was quite different from what she sent. I used it anyway. After all, I was distracted when Mom sent the text message that day.

The mail went through, and I completed another design. It was a replica of the statue of Liberty, but the moon and stars surrounded it. The client wanted something distinct, and I had done exactly that.

I emailed the creative director in charge of the project and informed her to review if I left anything behind. I didn’t want to disappoint this particular client. He was a friend of James. Lucas Silvertone. Born into the family of the present-day Duke of Wales. It will be bad if we lose him due to carelessness.

I focused on other activities, and once in a while, I checked up on Estella. This was already noon. The twins will be home now. James should be with them. Estella confirmed this and also informed us about Hope’s lunch. She had eaten everything. That was a huge feat. I felt like yelling, but I chose to dance instead.

The telephone buzzed. It was Halsey. ‘He is here, ma’am’ 

Mr. McPhee. The most eligible and youngest bachelor in Liverpool. He had a rich British accent and a bit of an American accent too. He learned the latter by watching movies and travelling to the United States for meetings.

I arranged my desk, checked my appearance, and did a bit of make-up. ‘Let him in,’ I sent a text to Halsey. There was no need to call her.

There was a knock, the twisting of the knob, and he was walking towards me with a huge grin. 

 

I exchanged poems with him, and we talked about the weather and politics.

‘Alright, you want us to remodel your company and your house, right?’ I asked, bringing out my tablet.

He smiled and said, ‘Yes, Genevieve. I want something that is simple but attractive to the eyes. Do you have samples to show me?’

 

I noticed his eyes follow my movements. He was checking me out!