advertising-for-love by Rakhibul hasan (fb2 epub reader .TXT) 📖

And then there was Trisha. Much as she liked the woman, she knew she could not go through the future, seeing them together. The pain she felt now would be nothing compared to the pain she would suffer then. But what answer should she give? She could never tell him the truth, and lying to him was not

an option

“Grant if I could stay, I would, but…”Tizzy had just begun, when Grant cut her short

“In that case, I won’t stop you. When do you want to leave?” Grant questioned abruptly.

“As soon as you find someone else” Tizzy began

Just then the phone rang and Becky ran in and answered it. Grant and Tizzy listened.

“Hi Peter, I am very well, thanks. Did you want to speak to Grant? To Tizzy? Yes sure you can.” With that Becky handed the phone to Tizzy

Tizzy looked at Grant, held her hand over the mouthpiece. “I won’t be long” she whispered.

“Branson better not be the cause for your resignation.” The cutting remark floated in the air even after Grant had left the room.

Once again Becky frowned. And Tizzy spoke into the mouthpiece only to find that her voice had died within her. It took a few sips of water for her larynx to work again.

By then Becky had followed Grant out of the room.

“Grant, wait up, this is a pregnant woman chasing you.” she called after him

“I am sorry Becky, what is it?” he growled

“Maybe I should ask you that, what is it Grant?” she returned.

“Look Becky, maybe I should have listened to you. You asked me to watch over her. You said Branson would scare her away. Last night they were dining together, and today she resigns. I think Peter has had some influence over Tizzy’s decision to leave, wouldn’t you say that?”

“Dining with Branson? Tizzy? Are you sure?” Becky could not believe her ears. Tizzy did not socialise with anyone apart from her and Roger. Dining with anyone else would be out of the question and especially not a man she hardly knew. Grant had been given the wrong information. She was sure of it.

“I saw her myself. She arrived with Branson and believe me, he was all ears.” Grant could not hide his irritation

“And you think he is stealing one of your employees, is that it? But Grant, he is just a client. He does not run an advertising business. He is not competition. Why would he even bother to do that?” Becky could not see the logic behind such a move from Branson.

“Becky, don’t you see, he is not stealing an employee, he is dating one.” Grant fumed back.

Becky burst out laughing, but Grant continued to smother in anger.

“Grant, did you hear yourself. Tizzy is not interested in any man, I hoped for a long time that she would find someone nice or someone nice would find her. But Tizzy will never get involved with any man. At least not at the moment” Becky commented trying her hardest to be serious and without giving too much information.

“How can you be so sure Becky? Branson is rich, he has power, and he is also lonely. Tizzy is talented. And when she chooses to be, she can be quite attractive and she is also alone. Branson said Tizzy reminded him of his dead daughter. That would explain only his motive for a relationship. What is hers?” Grant babbled on

“Grant what are you really upset about, Tizzy leaving us or Tizzy dating Branson?” Becky could not understand Grant’s reaction. Yes Tizzy was a brilliant employee, but even brilliant employees left. It was never the end of the world. But Grant was acting as if it was. And the way he had looked and spoken to Tizzy. Would she be wrong, if she said, Grant was interested in Tizzy himself. Surely he could not be jealous of Branson? But there was definitely a jealous undertone to his voice when he had spoken to Tizzy last.

“Why would I be upset if she dated Branson? Tizzy is a grown woman. At any other time if she liked Branson that would be fine, but Tizzy is very fragile at the moment and vulnerable. You yourself asked me not to let Branson scare her away. But Branson must be using his leverage as a valuable client, to force Tizzy into going out with him” Even Grant realised that his argument was sounding weak. In this day and age, that kind of intimidation did not work.

Becky heard Grant but her mind was elsewhere. Suddenly she asked, “You said just now, ‘when she chooses, she can be quite attractive’, what did you mean by that?” then before he could reply, she fired her second question to him “Grant are you interested in Tizzy yourself? Is that what the problem is?”

Grant became silent. ‘Interested in Tizzy? What an understatement. No Becky, he wanted to say, I am not interested in her, I have gone way past mere 'interest'.

“The problem is Branson. He is going to cost me a very valuable employee.” His phone rang and with than Grant made it very clear that the conversation was over. He asked Becky to come in for the meeting at 11 am.

Becky walked back to her desk. On route she popped into Roger’s office. “Roger, have you noticed anything strange with Grant?”

“He seems to be very thoughtful lately but I would hardly call that strange. The poor guy has been holding the fort single handedly for five years, and now with our little problem, I have been told Grant has basically taken it all on himself. Tizzy has managed things beautifully but with her problem, it’s Grant who has done all the presentations and conducted the meetings.” Roger hoped he had been helpful

“I don’t mean strange as in overworked. I mean strange as in, do you think he is emotionally involved with a lady?” Becky tried to beat around the bush in her attempt to be loyal to everyone.

“From what I heard, he met Trisha last night again, that makes it twice in less than a fortnight”

He replied thinking that he had solved the puzzle

“Roger, please pay attention. Do you think he is interested in someone at work?” Becky decided to pursue her chain of thoughts

“At work, come on Becky, as long as the work is done, Grant is least interested in the figures or faces around here. The only figures Grant is interested in are the ones on the paper, besides there is only one beauty here as far as I am concerned, and I have already married her.” Becky beamed

with joy at his remark but she still hadn’t heard what she came for.

“You are a sweetie, I am lucky to have bagged you” she answered.

“But ..” she started

“Becky, who do you have in mind? You know you do, so let’s hear it” Sometimes Roger knew his wife better than she knew herself.

“OK since you asked and only because you asked,” Becky began “I sense something odd between Grant and Tizzy”

“Tizzy!” Roger burst out “Oh come on Becky, Tizzy hates men.”

“She does not hate men, Roger, she is afraid of them. There is a difference.” Becky fiercely defended her friend. “Did you know she dined with Branson last night?”

“Now that you mention it, I did overhear something in the lift the other day. Branson apparently asked Tizzy out for lunch. Grant it was said made his displeasure known. I just thought it was because Grant does not like employees being involved with clients. But I still think you are wrong Becky. Tizzy is not Grant’s type.”

“Roger, I noticed something today. There was softness in Grant’s eyes and tone when he addressed Tizzy. Then Branson rang for Tizzy. You should have seen Grant. He was blazing mad. I have never seen him that way before. And Tizzy, she resigned today.” Becky continued

“Resigned? This is getting serious whichever way we look at it. What the hell is she going to do? How will she manage alone? Maybe Grant or Branson is not the problem. Maybe Tizzy is nervous about being on her own, as she will be, after our baby arrives and you are not here.”

“No, that’s not it. She knows the same arrangement could have been made with my replacement. No it’s got to do with Grant. Look honey, I have to get to the bottom of this. Would you mind if I went to Tizzy’s place after work? We can’t talk here, and I think a talk is urgently needed. For my sanity, if not for any other reason.”

“Yes my little Sherlock Holmes, go solve your case. I have a sales call to make at seven anyway.” Roger thought Becky’s imagination had gone way overboard this time but he also knew telling her so, would have no effect on her enthusiasm to solve her mystery.

Once back at her desk, Becky was lost in her work. It was 11.05 am when she remembered her meeting with Grant. Picking up her folders, she raced to his office. Grant was not there. Becky took a seat and waited for almost twenty minutes before ringing Grant on his mobile.

“Yes.” he growled into it

“Grant, it’s Becky here. I am at our 11 am meeting. Where are you? Is everything alright?” she spoke hesitantly

“Oh hell, sorry Becky, I am in the middle of something at the moment. We’ll have to meet later. I will ring you when I return to work.” And with that he was gone.

“And have a nice day to you too” Becky yelled back into the dead phone.

Chapter 9

Grant had been in Branson’s office for over half an hour and Peter had not said one sentence that either acknowledged or denied his involvement with Tizzy. Grant had burst into his office much to the dismay of Branson’s secretary. Branson himself seemed more amused.

“I was wondering how long it would take you to come storming into my office.” Branson said amusement coloring his tone.

“Of course I will bloody well storm in. What the hell did you tell Tizzy last night? I will not allow you to scare off my employees like that.”

“Employee! My dear man, it’s singular. I am only interested in one employee. As far as scaring off anyone is concerned. What would I gain by that? We had an innocent dinner. Grant you were there yourself. We had a decent meal, in a public place and in a civilized manner.”

“So why did she resign today?” Grant burst back

“Resigned? She gave me no indication of that. In fact I got the impression that T & G Mallaby was her life, … and love”. Branson added hesitantly.

The news however threw Branson. He mentally went over what Mallaby had just said. ‘Now why would she go and do that? This is an interesting development’ he thought to himself. ‘Mallaby what would you say if I told you I think if anyone is scaring her off, it is you’ he thought to himself. ‘I think I have correctly guessed what Tizzy is feeling, now let’s see what is going on where you are concerned’.

“If you like, I can try and find out the reason. I am having dinner with her tomorrow.”

Branson asked Grant. Having said the lie, Branson told himself that he had better be able to convince Tizzy to go out with him again.

His guess had been right. Once again the ambers flew from Grant’s eyes. No, Grant certainly did not like his meeting Tizzy. And the reason could only be one.