Page 76 of Third Time’s a Charm

“And you still think I should give him a chance to explain?”

“I wouldn’t say so if I didn’t honestly believe it’s in your best interests.”

“Or if you didn’t love being in the centre of the drama.”

He rears back as if slapped.

“I’m going to pretend you did not just say that because you’re understandably overwrought.”

He’s right. He didn’t deserve that.

“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.” I sit back down on the sofa and drop my head on his shoulder. Colin and I might not have been friends for all that long in the scheme of things, but we’ve been close ever since he came to work at Cellar Road International. He’s always had my back.

He waves my apology away with a cheeky smile. “For once, this is not about me loving drama. Not that I’m not loving the shit out of being in the middle of it.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head.

“This is about me wanting the best for you. Talk to him. You won’t regret it. Scout’s honour.” He holds up three fingers in a Scout’s salute.

“When were you a Scout?”

“Sweetpea, where do you think I figured out I like ds not vs?”

Chapter Forty-One

Louise

Colin leaves me with a lot to think about. Right now, I’m too raw to see Jasper. The warm comfort of Ant and Lil is what I need.

As if the burgers we inhaled at lunchtime weren’t enough, Ant makes a big pot of pasta and a platter of garlic bread for dinner that’s enough to feed half a dozen people. Comfort food for the win. The idea of wine doesn’t appeal after yesterday’s experience, so Lil whips up a jug of elderflower and soda, which I appreciate.

Taking their usual roles in crisis management, Lil reacts with anger at the idea I should hear Jasper out and makes a few creative suggestions on how to eviscerate him. Ant is more considered and logical.

“You know, if they’re pulling out of Australia, that leaves the market wide open.”

Lil and I look at him blankly.

“You have a brilliant plan. You have the contacts. You have the knowledge. Why couldn’t you set it up yourself?”

He’s a sweetheart, and incredibly smart. But he’s also a “glass is not just half full, it’s overflowing and why don’t we catch the runoff and use that too” kind of guy.

“Small problem. I developed the plan on their time. Using their resources. Tate Brown made it clear—despite the fact that Jasper told him it was doomed to fail—that he owns the idea. Also, I don’t have the money to set up something like this. What bank is going to lend money to an almost-twenty-seven-year-old woman with no experience running her own business?”

I look to Lil for support, but she’s looking at Ant as though he just discovered germ theory.

“I haven’t solved the issue of having the rights yet, although perhaps Colin talking about leverage means more than you think. But what if you didn’t need a bank? What if you knew an investor who is always looking for interesting startups to partner with? Someone who would give you the funding you need, and the support you need, without subverting your vision?”

I can see where he’s going with this.

When I first met Ant a couple of years ago, he was just entering into a business partnership with a guy called Benedict Carter. The plan was to take his surfboard business and café chain to the next level. Not only has it been hugely successful, but Ben and Ant have become good friends.

I’ve met Ben and his wife, Rosanna, a couple of times and they’re lovely. But the idea that he’d be interested in investing in me and my ideas is wild.

“I don’t know, Ant. Am I ready to go it alone? Jasper is smart and experienced. If he thinks my proposal doesn’t have any value, maybe he’s right.” I might be throwing up road blocks, but my mind is blooming with the idea that there’s a small chance I could do something here.

“Look, it can’t hurt to talk to Ben. And his brother is a lawyer, so he can help you out with anything around your employment contract.”

“I can’t ask them to do all that.”