Cora stared out the window over the river. Her mother was still talking. So many questions. How the people in the new office were, how Patrick was and Robert. If she had liked the coffee or was, she already drinking tea.
Her mother spoke over Crawley Advertisements as if it were theirs, was that what was behind all this? Was it just a coverup that they wanted to open offices here? Because how were they going to get clients when Crawley Advertisements was already renowned here in London.
“Yes, Mama. I will Mama. “Of course, Mama.” Cora answered all the questions that she asked. But she was feeling unease. Should she ask her father why she was truly here in London? What was the real reason?
“I have met Mr. Crawley and his son. There is also a daughter. Rosamund Crawley, she is a nice woman.” Cora answered the next question.
“Lady? What do you mean Mama? She introduced herself as Rosamund. Nobody has used Lord or Lady; they are not that old-fashioned here Mama.”
Cora sighed; her mother had such a weird view of how England was. As if they never stepped out of 1920.
“It is 2023 you know that right?” She snapped. “Well, never mind. I have to get some groceries. Give Papa my love.”
Cora put the phone back in her pocket and looked outside. The view of the river was astonishing, and she had to remind herself that the next time she spoke with her father, she needed to thank him.
+++
“John, did you give my proposal another thought? Robert brought his glass to his mouth. He was sitting in a pub at the riverside. John was his friend since primary school. He had lost sight of him, but last year they he bumped into him at a concert. He had noticed that John had a good set of brains and that he would love having him in the company and especially now with the arrival of Mrs. Levinson, he was desperate to have an ally next to him. He also knew that John needed work, since he was laid off.
“I did look at it indeed. But are you sure, your father needs more staff members?” John asked.
“You will be working for me, not my father.” Robert answered a little bit annoyed. Why did people always think everything had to be done by his father. He was as much partner in this business as his father was.
“I did not want to upset you.” John started, what annoyed Robert even more. “But the last time I checked the company is still under your father’s name.”
Robert sighed; he could have known John would look into the company. “He is still the head of the company, you are correct. But I am his successor and full partner already.” He took another sip of his beer. “So, what do you say, you want to come and help me out?”
“I could use the money.” John said. “Let us see what this will bring, and I cannot wait to meet your American colleague. Is he typical American as we thought?”
Robert froze when he saw a woman enter the pub, this could not be, he thought and he tried to hide behind John, who gave him a weird look. John turned around to see why Robert was behaving this weird.
“Since when do you hide from beautiful woman?” He inquired.
Robert still tried to make himself small. “Well, you asked me just now about the American colleague. That is her.”
“Her?” John said surprised, turning towards the woman again.
“Stop looking at her.” Robert hissed. “She will notice us.”
“I would not mind, when a woman that looks like her would notice me. My, oh my, they send the Diamant of their company.”
“Stop it.” Robert said. “They send the only person without a brain to help us out. They must think we are stupid.”
John chuckled. “You met with her today, did you?”
“I did. Why do you ask?”
“You are very confident about her capabilities.” John said, carefully.
Robert huffed. “She is American and a woman. Who is clearly more worried about her looks, than anything else.” He looked at Cora, who was standing at the bar. She had changed her clothes, into a nice fitting pants and blouse. Her hair was in a simple up-do. He would not mind it when she decided to wear that blouse to work, he thought. But at the same moment, he got annoyed by that thought. What was it that this woman did to him? She was good looking, yes, he could not deny that, but he always thought he needed more than simply good looks. All of the sudden Cora turned her head around and looked him in the eye.
+++
Cora had put her groceries away; she had been sitting on the sofa and staring outside. It was too early to go to bed, and the weather outside still looked nice. She decided to go for a little stroll along the riverside. When she passed the pub, she had met Rosamund, she went inside.
As happened back at home, when she entered somewhere she saw heads turning. Quickly she checked her clothes, nothing was wrong. Buttons were clothes and her zipper was up. She let out a sigh, she could do this. She was going to be strong and not hide away in her house. She ordered a white wine, while she was standing at the bar, she felt eyes in her back. She turned her head around and saw Robert sitting on the other side staring at her. She met his eyes and she noticed that she startled him. ‘Good’ she thought, she could see judgment on his face. He had clearly been talking about her with his friend. The man sitting opposite of him, was a big guy. About the same age as Robert was, probably a friend.
She was handed her glass of wine and decided to walk over to Robert. She was not in the mood for more negativity from his side. He had not spoken a word the rest of the afternoon. She had heard him mumble and she could only guess but was almost certain he was complaining about him. She had refused to ask him for help and instead wrote all her questions down and would go to Patrick tomorrow to get answers. She had scrolled through the website and internal page of the company to learn what projects they were taking on.
“Hello Mr. Crawley, she greeted him.” She took her hand out to the other man sitting at the table. “Hello, I am Cora Levinson.”
“John Bates.” The man answered. “You are the new addition from America?”
Cora grinded her teeth when John said addition, as if she was just a prop. She forced a smile and answered. “I indeed work for ‘Levinson and Son’ We look forward to working together with ‘Crawley Advertisements’ nice meeting you, Mr. Bates.” She did not know why she had walked over to them.
“How can we help you?” Robert asked.
Cora shook her shoulders. “Oh, I am alright. I only wanted to say hello. Enjoy your evening.” Cora turned around on her heels and walked to the terrace part of the pub. She was going to have a challenging time here the coming months she reckoned. She felt a little victory, she had noticed the way Robert had been staring at her. He was intrigued, she knew. Could she use this to her advantage?
Verhalen van Traan 