Chapter Twenty

‘ T hank you, dear. Now take care, won't you?' The woman who Tim had helped with the roof and the crows tapped Erin on the back of her hand and picked up the small cake box from the counter.

‘You too. And enjoy your cakes.' Erin smiled. It was lovely that here, in the bay, she'd met customers who recognised her already. She'd even had an elderly couple stop her in the street yesterday and talk to her after she'd served them earlier in the week. She'd never had that in the city. Yes, she'd recognised people who took the same Tube at the same time as her each day or seemed to travel to the same station as her, but people had never spoken. A quick smile here or there as someone held the lift for her or stepped aside to make room so she could squeeze in the train carriage, but small talk was a rarity.

She'd miss it.

‘Ooh, they're not all for me. I have the grandchildren coming for tea tonight, so this will be their treat for after.' She placed the box carefully in her handbag. ‘They always ask for one of Elsie's cupcakes.'

‘Have a lovely afternoon with them.' Erin smiled as she watched her customer walk back out into the bright sunshine.

‘Your turn to take your lunch break now.' Diane pulled her apron over her head. ‘It's gorgeously hot out there.'

‘Okay, thanks.' Erin stood back, letting Diane serve as she took her apron off and grabbed her mobile. Tim wasn't able to meet her today as he was on a job in Trestow, but she'd decided she'd take a wander along the beach towards the lighthouse, take a look at it close up.

As she weaved around the queue of customers, she paused and picked up an abandoned teddy lying on the floor by the door. She looked around before holding it up and raising her voice. ‘Has anyone lost a teddy?'

‘There was a family looking for one. They've just left though.' Brooke called across the counter towards her. ‘They had three kids, one in a buggy I think, and the dad was wearing an orange shirt.'

‘I'll see if I can catch them up, thanks.' Stepping outside onto the cobbles, Erin blinked as her eyes grey accustomed to the bright sunlight before shielding her eyes with her hand and looking up and down the street. Nope. She couldn't see any family matching Brooke's description.

She looked up the street towards the road leading out of the village before looking down towards the beach. Her best chance of finding them would be to head in the direction of the beach. If they weren't there, then she could try the car park by the restaurant.

Picking up her pace, Erin walked along the promenade, searching the tourists lounging on the beach, swimming in the sea or setting up picnics.

Bingo. That was them in front of her, walking down the ramp. They met the description Brooke had told her and the little girl being carried by her dad in the orange shirt looked upset, her eyes puffy and her cheeks red. She'd bet that was who had lost their favourite teddy.

She jogged towards them. ‘Excuse me, please?'

‘Teddy, Teddy. Stop Daddy, the lady has Teddy.' Looking over at Erin, the girl patted her dad's shoulder before wriggling to the floor and running towards Erin.

Bending down, Erin passed the girl the teddy and watched as she drew it in towards her and rubbed its ear along her lip. ‘There you are.'

‘Teddy!' The mum stopped pushing the buggy down the ramp and broke into a smile. ‘Oh, thank you so so much. He's Tia's favourite teddy, has been since she was born. I don't know how she would have coped if she hadn't got him back.'

‘You're very welcome. He'd been dropped in the bakery.' Erin grinned and waved at the small girl as she made her way along the promenade, heading in the direction of the lighthouse.

Glancing back behind her, she watched as the girl skipped ahead down the ramp, her prized toy still wrapped tightly in her arms. Erin shook her head and pulled her mobile from her pocket. She was sure she'd heard the unmistakable ping of an email whilst she'd been serving behind the counter. A sound she'd only heard a handful of times since arriving in the bay.

She began scrolling through her apps until she reached her emails. It might be from her new offices, or else a rogue one from her previous position. Tapping her phone screen, she frowned slightly. The email had the title, Welcome to our newest staff member . That would be her replacement then. She wasn't aware anyone else had left the office since her.

Erin clicked out of her emails, ready to put her phone back in her pocket, before pausing. It wouldn't affect her who took over her role, but it would be interesting to see if it was anyone she knew. It might be that Kyle had poached someone from their competitors, or else given a promotion to someone in the company.

Yes, it would be interesting. Just to be nosey. That was all. She clicked through again, this time opening up the email.

What? Who? Really?

She frowned. Vicki Holstone. Her replacement was Vicki Holstone. Erin had met her a handful of times when she'd had to visit the other office, but she was sure Vicki didn't have half the experience Erin herself had or anyone else in either of the offices at that.

Why would Kyle had promoted her to fill Erin's position? It wouldn't have just been promoting her up one level. He'd have had to promote her through a few levels of the business, at least three. It didn't make any sense.

Sam, who Erin had worked with for five, six years now, was way more qualified than Vicki and had been hungry for the promotion. He'd have been the perfect candidate to take other her role. Not Vicki.

She stepped aside and lowered herself to the ground, dangling her legs over the promenade before opening her messages and typing quickly before she changed her mind.

Hey, Sam. Just seen the email about Vicki joining you in the office. You ok? Erin

Biting down on her bottom lip, Erin went to delete the message. She should never have sent it. It wasn't her place to, and Sam had his own friends to confide in, to console him. He didn't need his former boss poking her nose in. Just as she was about to delete the message, three little dots appeared.

Too late. He'd already read it and was replying.

Fuming, to be honest. If I'd known I'd never stood a chance, I wouldn't have bothered applying for the promotion. Sam

Thanks for checking in with me. Sam

Erin sighed and reread his message.

You did stand a chance. A very good chance. You'd have been perfect for the role. Erin

She tapped her mobile against her palm. He really would have been. Everyone in the office looked up to him and because he'd been there so long, he knew the way things worked. Yes, Vicki had worked in the company for the past couple of years, but she hadn't worked in their office. She didn't have half the experience he did. Sam knew every system they used, their history with the clients and everything. What was Kyle playing at?

Not as perfect as someone living with the boss, though. Sam

Not that I'm bitter - much. Sam

Erin blinked. Living with the boss. What was that supposed to mean? Did he mean because Vicki had worked in the same office as Kyle and therefore, he knew her better than he knew Sam? No, surely not. Kyle was a professional and wanted the best for the company. He wouldn't let favouritism get in the way of promoting the right person.

Sorry. Shouldn't have said that. That was unprofessional, but if she gets a promotion as big as this when they've been together for five months, what will he give her after their wedding? Sam

Erin shook her head. Wedding. Been together? Who? Kyle and Vicki? No. Shifting position on the hard concrete, Erin closed her messaging app and scrolled through to her social media account. Tapping Vicki's name in the search bar, she held her breath as Vicki's profile flickered to life.

She watched as her mobile slid out of her hand, toppling down towards the sand below the promenade. Vicki's profile picture had been her and Kyle together. Hugging each other.

Sam had been right. The only reason Vicki had been promoted to the position she had was because she was seeing Kyle. Or, according to Sam, not only seeing him but living with him and quite possibly engaged too.

She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the warm sea air as everything fell into place. Her promotion, her transfer. She'd earned that.

Hadn't she?

Or had it all been devised by Kyle? A ruse to eject her from the office and replace her with his current girlfriend.

Dropping her head to her hands, she closed her eyes. If that was the case, then she hadn't earned her new job at all. She hadn't been given it because she was the best person for the role. She'd been given it because Kyle had pulled a few strings, had orchestrated the move, the job, everything.

She felt sick. This wasn't her dream. She hadn't worked so hard, put in so many hours, to be given a promotion on a silver platter. That wasn't what she'd wanted. Everything she'd worked towards was a joke. She was a joke. Her new job was a joke. Everything.

‘Hey, is this your phone?'

Uncovering her eyes, she looked towards the man below who had spoken and at her mobile he was holding up towards her. ‘Yes, thank you.'

Reaching up, he placed it in her hand. ‘You okay, miss? You look kind of annoyed.'

She grimaced. ‘I will be. Thanks.'

‘Good, good.' The man nodded before walking on, calling across to his dog, who hurtled out of the sea towards him.

Erin looked down at her mobile. Sam had messaged again.

You did know. Didn't you? Sam

Blinking back tears, she tapped back a quick response.

No, but I'm glad you told me. Erin

She turned her mobile off. She needed quiet now. She needed time to think.

‘SEE YOU TOMORROW.' Diane called as she closed the bakery door behind her and Brooke.

Waving weakly, Erin slumped her shoulders. Despite the bakery being busy, the time had crawled by since she'd returned from her lunch break. And however much she'd tried, she just hadn't been able to focus. She hadn't been able to think about all that she'd learned about the new job.Not properly.

But she had come to a decision. She wasn't going to let Kyle win. She would show him. She'd get to America and prove herself. She'd work harder than she'd ever worked before, put in more hours and dedicate her life to the role. If she did that, her new colleagues would soon learn that even if she'd been moved strategically, she a worthy person for the position.

And more than that, she'd prove to Kyle that she could do the job.