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. Jealousy!
“What for?” Grant queried, knowing it was none of his business anyway.
“Because I love Tizzy and..” Branson was cut short when Grant did not let him complete his sentence
“Love! For heaven’s sake Branson, you barely know each other.” Grant fumed.
“What has time got to do with the kind of love I have for Tizzy? I loved her from the moment I saw her. And I am sorry if it displeases you, but now that I have found her, I am not letting her go. Not for anybody.” Branson said
“It’s talk like this that has frightened her off. Don’t tell me you have already told her all this rubbish” Grant was wild
“That, young man, is none of your business. Tizzy and my life is not your concern.” Branson tried to sound as irate as Grant.
“Are you making this a fight Branson?” Grant knew he was being insane. He was jeopardizing not only his relationship with Branson, his commercial dealings with him, but he could also be putting T & G Mallaby on the line. And for whom? Tizzy? Hell for all he knew Tizzy might be leaving because she did not like working with him.
“We are not fighting for the same thing Mallaby. I do not want Tizzy as an employee.”
Branson stressed on the last word.
“Oh come on Branson, are you trying to tell me that you really love Tizzy?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?” Branson sounded hurt “Tizzy is a wonderful woman, talented, and ”
“And she has wonderful children.” Grant cut it hoping this news would scare Peter off.
“That would make no difference to my feelings for Tizzy.” Peter cool reply irritated Grant further.
This was not the reaction that Grant had hoped for. When his ploy did not work, he told himself, ‘if I could fall in love with her knowing about them, why shouldn’t Peter?’
“Peter you barely know her. What less than a week, how can what you feel be love? You admitted to being lonely. I can understand your wanting a companion, but Tizzy is not like other women. She is not one who will just walk a few steps and leave.”
“Grant, if I can help it, Tizzy will never leave. I have asked her to move into my home. It’s too big for one old man.”
“I don’t know what sort of game you are playing Branson, but Tizzy better not get hurt.” Mallaby’s rage was almost uncontrollable. Tizzy, move into Branson’s home? Branson comfort her during her nightmares. No he could not bear the thought of that. Tizzy belonged by his side, in his arms, as his wife. Wife! Did he just think of her as his wife?
He smirked at the contradiction in his own remark about knowing Tizzy for less than a week. Didn’t he know from experience, a day was all he had needed to fall in love with her himself. ‘Tizzy, why can’t you feel the same way about me, as I feel about you, he screamed within himself. ‘Branson is all wrong for you’.
“Mallaby, explain this. Why are you worrying about Tizzy getting hurt, when Trisha should be your concern at the moment?” Branson watched closely for Grant’s reaction.
“What has Trisha got to do with any of this?” Grant exploded.
“If I was having a dinner with a lady, so were you” Peter continued
“Trisha is an old friend, though why I have to explain that to you is beyond me. My relationships are none of your concern.”
“Well said, Mallaby. My sentiments exactly.” Branson hit back
“Except that Tizzy is my employee and you are my client” Grant put forward his justification
“Soon to be ex-employee, and if you ask it of me, I can terminate our contract too.” Branson knew their game of words was now heading towards dangerous grounds.
“Let’s just put it this way, Branson, if Tizzy goes, as far as I am concerned, so do you.”
Grant no longer cared if the Branson account was lost. If Tizzy went with Branson, he did not want to meet Branson ever again.
Grant walked out of Branson’s office, without a nod. Just then his mobile phone rang. Becky was waiting in his office for the meeting. He needed sometime alone. He had come to ask Branson to leave Tizzy alone for a while, instead had ended up party to a caveman approach to a simple matter. He should have enforced his unwritten rule, ‘no socialising between employee and clients’. It was too late to enforce that rule now. Tizzy would leave even sooner, if he took that step. No, he would have to ensure, he inundated her with so much work, that dinner dates would be out of question while she was employed at T & G Mallaby.
He drove around for a while then stopped and had a Cappuccino at the local café. After that he head back to work. When he reached, it was 3 pm. He had missed two important meetings, he had missed lunch and he had missed Tizzy. She had gone home early complaining of a headache. So much for keeping her back with extra work he thought before turning his attention to the messages on his desk.
He called Becky in at 4 pm and asked her to bring in all her files. Then with her he went through each and every one, and transferred almost all of them to Tizzy. He told Becky he wanted her to take it easy.
“But Grant, with Tizzy leaving, wouldn’t you be better off transferring her files to me, instead of the other way around?” Becky was surprised by his move
“No I intend to recruit new staff for that section. I want you to concentrate on training and helping them. With three on the team we won’t face this problem ever again. And Becky, let me know what you decide about returning to work. Your place will be secure, no matter how many people we finally recruit.”
“Thanks Grant. I have to admit, I hate the thought of giving up the work I love. Can I take another couple of days to decide?" Becky was elated that Grant valued her so much.
“Take all the time you want” Grant said. A minute’s silence followed then Grant spoke again.
“Becky, do you have any idea why Tizzy decided to leave?” Grant knew that if anyone knew the real reason it would be Becky.
“No Grant I don’t, but I for one am not going to believe the reason she gave. There is something that is worrying me. Tizzy was tied up this afternoon and Branson left seven messages for her in about half an hour. Maybe she is leaving the company, so that she can pursue
her relationship with him, or maybe she is running because of him.” Becky thought out aloud.
Then she looked at Grant and wished that she had not said a word. His eyes burnt with amber flecks that made his look almost fierce. His hand was clenched in a ball with the knuckles shining white. Lately Grant was exhibiting a lot more emotions that he ever had in the past. He was known for his cool professionalism. Nothing had ever frazzled him in the past. Cool was not the word that would apply to him at this moment.
“In either case, I am the one who will lose her.” Becky somehow knew he was no longer talking of Tizzy as an employee. She had to have that chat with Tizzy. I must be crazy; I have to be crazy to even think it. But could it be possible? Was it possible that Grant was in love with Tizzy himself? She would have to watch the two of them more closely but this evening she would grill Tizzy till she had her answers. All of them!
Becky could not wait until 5 pm. She took the files she wanted to work on at home and drove to Tizzy’s place, stopping to pick up Pizza for the two of them.
At 5.30 pm she was ringing the doorbell and happily welcomed by the barking dogs. Tizzy had a pressure band around her forehead. ‘So at least the headache was real’ she reflected.
“I thought I would bring dinner. Roger is working back tonight, and I could not face dinner alone, but if your headache is bad, I’ll go” Becky felt guilty now that she was here.
“No don’t go, I am glad you came. The pizza smells lovely. Let’s eat it while it is hot.”
Tizzy said as she moved indoors.
Becky got the drinks while Tizzy laid the table. They ate in silence until their first slice had disappeared from their plates. Becky took another piece but Tizzy refused to have another slice. “You are eating for two, so don’t look guilty. Enjoy it,” she told Becky
Then Tizzy laughed when Becky looked at a third slice. “Maybe you are eating for three” she joked.
“Heaven forbid.” laughed Becky, then sobering down she continued. “For someone who loves Italian food, you didn’t have much.”
Tizzy looked straight into Becky eyes and said “Becky, was that comment going somewhere?”
Becky did not bother to beat around the bush any longer.
“Tizzy, you know the office grapevine. What’s this about you seeing someone?”
“Seeing someone, who?” Tizzy was intrigued
“Branson of course! He has made his interest in you apparent. And you have gone out with him too.” Becky was direct
“Becky have you gone mad. Peter is a very nice person and I like him a lot, but there is no such thing between us. He is lonely after his daughter’s death. He is looking for that daughter in me. And besides, he is Grant’s client. I would never do that to Grant.” Tizzy replied surprised by Becky’s words. And then she pursued another line of thought. “Becky, who else thinks this? Don’t tell me the whole office believes this gossip?”
The look on Becky’s face told her that she had guessed correctly.
“Oh no Becky, what is Grant going to say? What’s Peter going to think? Oh shivers, what will this do to their dealings. I better clear this up.” Tizzy mumbled.
“I should never let men enter my life. It always ends up in a mess,” Tizzy continued in a whisper.
“Tizzy if Branson is not the reason you are leaving, what is? Don’t give me the bit about meetings etc. You know Grant would work things around so that you will not be in this situation again”. Becky continued.
While Tizzy thought of an answer, Becky found another piece to fit into the puzzle. Only this morning, Grant had spoken of having at least three staff in the department. Grant was working the situation around so that ‘Tizzy’ would not be in this situation again.
Branson may love you Tizzy, but it’s Grant, who is in love with you. Now I have to know what you really feel about Grant. Thank God you are not in love with Branson. That’s one less complication to sort out.
She told Tizzy about Grant’s plans for the department, but Tizzy remained expressionless. “With three staff, you won’t need to worry about presentations. Won’t you think again about your resignation?”
“No, Becky I have to leave.” Tizzy remained adamant.
“What will you do? Find another job?” Becky questioned
“No I am going to start my own business. I can work from home. Use the internet. That way I won’t have to have contact, and yet be able to run my business successfully.”
Becky admitted the idea was brilliant and suited Tizzy’s situation, solving all her problems.
“Why don’t you talk to Grant, maybe he can set the same thing up for you there” Becky added
“No! Please Becky, don’t say a word to anybody yet. Please.” Tizzy implored
“Alright, I won’t say anything. I do feel a bit guilty though” Becky continued
“Why should you feel guilty?”
“Well if I had not been unwell, you would not have had to attend the meetings and today you would not have resigned.”
“Becky, my leaving has nothing to do with you. I promise”
“Then who does it have to do with, Tizzy? Grant?” Becky already knew the answer
“Becky let’s talk about something else.” Tizzy implored
“Tizzy how far will you keep running? Maybe it’s time to stop. The past can no longer hurt you. But if you run now your present will.”
Tizzy was silent a moment then smiling said “Aren’t pregnant women supposed to have memory losses or something?”
That was the cue that ‘Tizzy’ was no longer a subject for their conversation. Well! Thought Becky, if you close that topic, let’s open another.
“I heard you dined at the same restaurant as Grant and Trisha. What’s she like? Everyone one says, drop dead gorgeous.” Becky said the words, while closely observing Tizzy’s face
“Very beautiful” was the answer she got.
“Was it just the two of them or were they dining with others?” Becky pursued
“Why the sudden interest in Trisha?” Tizzy asked
“It’s not sudden. It’s just that you are the only one who has really seen her. Did Grant introduce her to you both?”
“Yes, as they were leaving. Becky she really seemed quite nice. But we really did not have a chance to talk much.”
“Come on Tizzy, if Grant was dating a beautiful woman at a table for two, surely there would be more to tell”
“You are a hopeless romantic, that’s your problem. Why don’t you ask Grant? He is a good friend of yours, not mine” Tizzy averted the question
“Well actually that is the reason I am asking all these questions. I don’t want some money hungry woman catching him. He deserves better.” Becky went on
“Then he has got better. Trisha seems a lovely person and if I were you, I would not question Trisha’s motives or feelings, now that she is his fiancée. It won’t do your friendship any good.”
“His fiancé! Who told you that? Branson?” Becky was sure this was Branson’s doing.
“No. She was wearing an engagement ring, they were holding hands, and they left together.”
Becky needed time to absorb this. If Grant was engaged to Trisha, then why had he not mentioned it to her? If he had promised himself to someone else, why then was he upset about Tizzy’s involvement with Branson? Nothing made sense anymore. Maybe what some people said was true. Pregnancy made you more stupid.
Just then the doorbell rang. Tizzy rushed to the front door. The dogs gave a knowing bark. A minute later Branson walked in.
‘Come in Branson, you might as well add to my confusion’ thought Becky
“Hi Becky, I hope I am not interrupting anything?” Branson asked
“Not at all, I was just checking on Tizzy.” Becky answered
“Yes, that’s why I have come as well. I rang your work and was told that you had gone home sick. I hope it was not last night’s dinner?”
“ The d..dinner was lovely. This is just a
headache.” said Tizzy
“Mallaby said you have resigned. Is that true?” once again Branson was direct in his questioning.
“When did you talk to Grant?” it was Becky who asked the question
“This morning, when he accused me of scaring Tizzy off.” again he was direct
“He did what?” once again it was Becky. So that explains Grant’s foul mood when she rang him about their 11 O’clock meeting.
“That pup has the nerve. He was out with a stunner of a model, and he has the gall to object to my dinner with Tizzy.” Branson was talking to Becky but constantly glancing at Tizzy as if gauging her reaction.
Tizzy was silent.
“I don’t blame you for leaving. He is the most arrogant, selfish man I have ever come across. I don’t know how you both put up with him.” Branson rambled on
Becky could feel the seeds of dislike rising against Branson. How dare he walk in here and put Grant down.
“Peter, I am sorry, but I think it is really all my fault. I timed it badly, with Becky’s situation, the extra workload; all Grant needed was my resignation to push things over the edge. I should have waited. I can see that now. I will explain the situation to Grant tomorrow.” Tizzy tried to defend Grant’s action.
“Peter, it’s unfair to say the horrid things you just did about Grant. He is the most wonderful boss one can hope for. If our situations were not what they were, we would never leave T & G Mallaby.” Becky said sternly
“Your reason is your pregnancy and the baby. I can understand that. But Tizzy has no such reason to give. She has cleared me from being the cause. So that leaves Mallaby”.
“I am right, am I not Tizzy? I am not the cause for your flight Tizzy, he is? You can’t stand working for the man. And if his behavior this morning is anything to go by, I don’t blame you one bit”
“Peter, I am leaving for my own reasons. None of you are responsible for that decision. And you are wrong about Grant. I had never been happier than during the past five years working for T & G Mallaby.” Tizzy felt compelled to clear Grant. Why, she asked herself was she doing that, when the truth in fact was that, Grant was the reason she was running. But she was not running away from him, rather, because of him.
Becky by now was very upset with Branson. How dare he come in and slander Grant’s good name. If this had been her home, Peter would have been out of the door by now. She was annoyed with Tizzy for not taking that stand.
“Well my personal opinion is that Mallaby wants to spend more time with that Trisha, and your er.. situation and Tizzy’s resignation, is going to force him to spend more time at work instead of with her, and that is what is really annoying him, not that I really blame him for that either. She was a stunner, wasn’t she Tizzy?” Branson said watching Tizzy closely.
Both Becky and Branson saw the effect the conversation was having on Tizzy. She was hurting so much that Branson wanted to rush and console her, tell her that he was joking, but he had come very close to breaking through the barrier, and he forced himself to continue with the cruel remarks.
At first Becky had been so angry at the callous statements that she almost told Peter to get out. It was when she saw Branson take a step towards Tizzy to wipe away her pain, then saw him stop himself, that Becky realized what was happening.
Like her, Branson suspected, that Tizzy was not as unaffected by Mallaby as she pretended to be. In fact, if Branson pushed just a little more, Tizzy would break. Her pain was almost unbearable now.
“Well, it will do him good to have his little comfortable world turned upside down. You are leaving, Becky will leave shortly and I told him this morning that I was taking my business elsewhere. Oh I know, one account will not break T & G Mallaby, but if I pass the word around that Mallaby’s best, have left him, I am quite sure, a major dent will be felt by his firm.”
“That’s enough Mr. Branson.” Tizzy was now shaking in anger. “How dare you come and pretend to be a friend to us and then do this. If I had known how horrible you really are, I would never have paid attention to your words. I thought you were a nice man, who was lonely and missed his daughter. Instead you prove to be this ..this ruthless person. I don’t want to know you. Please leave at once” she cried distressed
“Well that’s a strange one. You desert the ship and accuse me of sinking it. If everything that I have said is wrong, then tell me why are you leaving?”
“It’s none of your business” Tizzy’s voice was hurting even her own ears
“It is very much my business. I have been accused, by the great Grant Mallaby himself, of deliberately trying to scare his staff away” Branson hated what he was doing, but he had to go on. Act 1 Scene 3 depended on it.
“I said I would clear that up.” Tizzy was short
“How? By running away and justifying his accusations” Branson sounded angry
“Look Tizzy, we both hate the man...”Branson continued
“I don’t hate him. For heavens sake Peter, I have no cause to do that….” Tizzy could not complete the sentence for Branson cut in.
“The blow that hurts the most is the one that is hit when the opponent is at his weakest. You Tizzy dear are giving him that blow, not me. Only hate can make someone do that. Only hate can make you walk away from someone the way you are walking away from Mallaby.”
Tizzy was in tears now.
“Peter, I think you better leave now. Can’t you see what you are doing to Tizzy?”
Becky tried to intervene.
“I thought you were my true friend. That, I was like a daughter to you. You were using me as a pawn in some sort of sick game of yours. Go Peter, I never want to see you again.” Tizzy said between sobs.
“Tizzy, please stop, look up, it’s ok, just ignore the man.” Becky spoke, and then looking at Branson said “Mr. Branson I think it’s time you left.”
“It’s always the same, Becky, men end up behaving like animals.” her tears flowed on
Becky looked up, but Branson had left by the front door. She held Tizzy for some moments longer and then said,
“But he was right about one thing wasn’t he, it’s Grant you are running from. You really don’t like him do you?"
“Oh Becky, if you only knew the truth.”
“Then tell me, help me understand the situation. Tizzy, tell me, am I right, have I guessed correctly. Are you in love with Grant? That’s it, isn’t it Tizzy. You are running from yourself.”
Finally Tizzy broke down. The deluge of tears acted as a balm to her pain. She felt a relief as the burden of her knowledge was now shared. Finally she decided to tell Becky everything. But where was she to start, and more importantly where would she bring in the end.
Becky waited with abated breath, and then listened to every word. She realized it was time to bring Tizzy out of her cocoon, before it was truly too late and Grant was lost to Tizzy. If Grant loved Trisha, then the story would end as it was. She was the only one who could find out what Grant truly felt about both these women. And, for that matter, she also had to know what Branson really felt. Did he mean what he was saying, or was he acting a part? This sudden dislike of Grant, this wish to hurt him, did not make sense. The two men had got along so well. Branson was even giving him new business. The only way she would learn of the truth was if she met Branson and Grant separately.
“Tizzy, does Grant know how you feel about him?”
“No Becky, and you won’t tell him either. Becky promise me, you won’t. Or I will disappear. No one will ever see me again.”
“Tizzy, what if he feels the same way?” Becky pleaded
“Look at me Becky, then look at Grant. Would you wish me on him? Didn’t you say he was a good friend of yours?”
“And so are you. Gosh Tizzy, there is nothing wrong with you, except your desire to look undesirable. Let Grant see the real you.”
“Becky this is the real me. The way I am now. I stutter, I am plain and I hate meeting people. I have no place in his life, a
nd he would be out of place in mine.”
“Tizzy, let us just pretend for one minute, that Grant might feel the same way…”Becky started
“Becky, he can’t feel the same way. You don’t feel love for one woman, and offer marriage to another.”
“This engagement? Why has he not told anyone of it?” Tizzy asked
“Maybe, he has only just got engaged. Becky, I saw the ring, I saw them holding hands and the truth is they make a lovely couple.”
“But..” Becky again began
“No buts Becky, you promised. Now I better let you get home or Roger will never forgive me.”
It was past 10 pm. Roger would not be worried but he would be anxious. Becky rang him and told him that she was on her way. Then bidding goodbye she left. Tizzy assured her that she would be fine and refused to go over to Becky’s place for the night.