Page 37 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘I appreciate it’s a conflict of interest for you,’ said Eric smoothly.

But Jack shook his head. ‘It’s not just that. It’s wrong. Very wrong to manipulate people like this.’

‘It’s just business,’ said Eric, with a shrug.

‘No. It’s more than that to me,’ Jack told him. ‘This is friends and families being uprooted just because you won’t take no for an answer. It makes no sense. Why do I get the feeling that it’s more personal this time?’

There was a pause. ‘I may have had dealings with the family in years gone by,’ said Eric eventually, avoiding eye contact. ‘And I never forget an insult.’

‘And this is you finally getting your own back?’ Jack was still horrified. ‘Well, I refuse to play any part in this.’

‘I’m sorry you feel that way,’ said Eric. ‘I shall, of course, be sad to lose you. However, there are plenty more people who would be willing to take on this project in your place.’

Eric didn’t care, Jack realised. If he didn’t push through this project, Eric would get someone else to do the dirty work instead.

But for the first time in a long time Jack didn’t care about the promotion, the money, the competition. This was about the principle.

He had achieved everything he’d always wanted, having been lured in by the expensive suits and a better lifestyle. But was it actually better? Had he got that far by not hurting anyone? Suddenly he wasn’t so sure.

‘Tell me one thing,’ said Jack. ‘What if they don’t cave? What if the family don’t sell, regardless of your idle threats?’

Eric’s eyes grew hard. ‘Then they will discover that the threats aren’t just idle.’

‘This is going to have a terrible effect on their lives,’ Jack told him, exasperated.

‘We can’t please everyone,’ said Eric, sounding bored. ‘I cannot be concerned with every tenant on the Willow Tree Hall estate.’

‘Are you even concerned about any of them?’ snapped Jack.

Eric fixed him with a stare. ‘Well, as they say, you’re either with us or against us.’

Jack stood up from the desk and looked down at Eric. ‘I quit,’ he told him. ‘And don’t worry about me making things awkward around here as I serve out my notice, because I won’t.’

Eric raised his eyebrows slightly but merely said, ‘As you wish. Of course, were you to agree to do this small project then there would be another bonus payment at the end of it. A very generous bonus, you’ll find.’

‘I don’t care about the money,’ said Jack. And it was the truth. The money was less important for the first time in his life.

‘What about a new company car?’ said Eric. ‘I might even stretch to a Porsche next time.’

‘Keep your damned car,’ said Jack. ‘I’d rather have my integrity.’

With that, he walked out of the office, slamming the door as he left.

15

After yet another delayed start to the day with the whole family fighting for the bathroom, Lily arrived at Willow Tree Hall later than intended that morning, feeling stressed.

‘I was wondering whether I could take you up on your offer to stay in the staff quarters, if that’s OK?’ she asked, having poured out her first mug of coffee for the day.

Annie smiled. ‘Of course. Bit crowded at home, is it?’

Lily rolled her eyes. ‘Four adults and one bathroom. It was never going to be easy. But I’ll have to pop home every couple of days, otherwise Mum will kill me.’

Annie assured her that it was fine for her to stay.

With that matter in hand, Lily was determined to make better use of her day. But she was

quickly finding out that being a housekeeper was a little harder than she had anticipated. She had thought that the cleaning and washing side of things would be the easiest of all to handle.