Everyone at the office, not to mention Emilys girlfriends, found plenty to gossip about ever since she had managed to charm an older, rather affluent gentleman. Henry was fifteen years her senior and the managing director of the very company she worked for.
Shed barely walked through the door and shes already getting married, whispered coworkers in the tea room.
From fish fingers to filet mignon, that one.
Spot on.
Emily herself had made every effort to keep her relationship with the boss under wraps. After all, theyd started dating before she ever accepted the job offer, not that shed had the faintest idea he was the boss. Shed attended her interview entirely blind. Nevertheless, she was hired on the spot, with Henry swearing that the decision was made by HR, purely based on her CV and previous experience.
Later, of course, Emily discovered the truth and implored Henry to keep things quiet. Unfortunately, office secrets tend to have the shelf life of a lemon meringue tart left in the sun. Soon enough, everyone was nattering about the dashing widower and the new young thing who had tickled his fancy.
Emily was never one to flaunt her looks and remained convinced shed earned her position through meritnot mascara. Of course, the workplace grapevine loudly disagreed.
Not even two years since Lauras passing, and now dear Henrys planning to remarry, theyd mutter.
Laura was the previous owner of the company and Henrys late wife. Theyd lasted ten years before a tragic accident left Henry with a lucrative company and a rather tidy sum in his bank account.
Henry was instantly declared Britains Most Eligible Widower, although for a time he was distant and melancholic. This, in turn, made him even more irresistible to a certain demographicnamely, women who love a good project.
How loyal, they sighed.
Like a swan! others swooned, tilting their heads for maximum effect.
In all honesty, Henry was no heart-throb; he pulled in admirers less with his jawline than with his bank balance. But Emily hadnt fallen for him because of his wallet. No, their first encounter was classic British banality at its finest: Henry, in a rush, ran his trolley into her at Tescos checkout, laddered her tights, mangled her suede shoes, then scolded her for queue-jumping.
Rather than wilt, Emily retorted in true English fashion, and Henry ended up paying for her groceries and then practically sprinting after her across the shopping centre to apologise.
Please, forgive me; its been a beast of a day, he pleaded. Let me help carry your bags.
No, thank you. I drove here; Im absolutely fine, Emily replied.
Truth be told, Emily owned no car. She loitered in the car park until Henry finally left, then headed for the bus stop. To her annoyanceor perhaps good fortunehe drove by just as she was waiting for the bus.
Hop in.
Honestly, Im fine, thank you.
I refuse to leave until you get in the car, Henry insisted, now blocking the bus and attracting pleas from other passengers for Emily to accept, so hed finally let them get on with their lives.
In the end, she relented.
Henry proved rather charming, once relieved of his trolley and a bad temper. Emily even thought, under different circumstances, they might have become friendsthough Henry had romance in mind. Hed assumed no woman after Laura would ever measure up, but then there was Emily: so entirely unlike Laura in both looks and temperament.
Still, there was something about her. To the point where he began waiting outside her building daily, convinced persistence was just what the doctor ordered. Eventually, she caved and agreed to a date. Then, she just happened to land a job at his companya coincidence, perhaps.
Henry couldnt have cared less about the office chatter and made no secret of his feelings. He wasnt about to drown Emily in expensive gifts, but his attention was unwavering.
Emily, meanwhile, rather enjoyed how he looked at her, as well as his enormous central London flat, fancy car, and the life of comfort he dangled before her. It wasnt long before she packed her bags and moved in with him, meeting his mother, Mary Thompson.
Mary was a quiet lady, used to taking her sons lead. After Laura died, Henry had brought Mary to live with him; she cooked, tidied, ironed shirts and kept the house running like a well-oiled kettle.
Emily didnt mind in the slightestshe never aspired to be domestic goddess and happily ate whatever Mary produced. All was rather cosy… until Henry decided marriage was in order.
One thing did nag at Emily: Henry still wore his wedding ring, even after Lauras death.
I still feel connected to Laura, he admitted. This irked Emily, so she asked him to remove it.
If it bothers you, Ill take it off, Henry hesitated, caught off guard.
Youre not married anymore; otherwise it feels like Im dating a married man, she explained, and he agreed, tucking the ring away and promptly forgetting about it.
When the proposal day arrived, Henry took out a small box and thought he was about to bowl Emily over with the family heirloom.
The setting: A chic restaurant, live jazz, a nice glass of wine. At the bottom of her glassnearly at the cost of Emily chokinga ring with a diamond so large you could see it from Manchester.
Will you marry me, Henry declared, trying to slip the ring on Emilys finger, but she recoiled.
No.
Pardon? No?! Henry was dumbstruck.
Im not wearing that ring.
Its a priceless heirloom! You havent the faintest idea what its worth! Henry flushed with frustration.
I dont care what its worth. Im not wearing a ring your late wife already wore.
But why?
Its simply bad luck.
Dont be ridiculous!
Next, youll be expecting me to turn up in her old wedding dress! Your mother mentioned its still in the loft somewhere.
We can buy a new dress, but the rings are irreplaceable. You just cant find craftsmanship like this anymore!
Im not wearing someone elses ring. I dont want to see it on your finger either, Emily pointed at the old band. You know how I feel about this.
Is that your final answer? he scowled.
Yes. Sorry, said Emily, getting up. The night was officially ruined.
Maybe we need a break, Henry muttered.
I think the same, replied Emily.
Emily left; Henry didnt chase after her. The band played on and the waiter brought their mains; the ring stayed in its box.
At work, Emily did her best to avoid Henry, who, it must be said, barely emerged from his office. That evening, she retreated to her parents house. They welcomed her with open arms and encouraged her to end the engagement and try someone her own age.
Youre gorgeous and smart! Why do you need Henry? Hes old enough to be your dad, and a widower to boot!
Emily kept her own counsel. On one hand, Henry seemed a good prospect for a husband, but on the other, his persistent loyalty to his late wife was starting to rattle her.
This limbo lasted several days. Henry didnt call, and Emily went so far as to take sick leave. Soon, the office rumour mill kicked into overdrive: the boss and his beauty were finished.
Henry fanned the flames himself with a thunderous mood; staff tiptoed around his cloud of doom and even his mother received frosty replies when trying to discuss Emily.
Mary, however, was having none of it. She spotted her sons suffering and, sensing hed never swallow his pride and apologise, took matters into her own hands and paid Emily a visit.
Mrs Thompson?! Emily was shockedno guests expected.
Hello dear. How are you feeling?
Under the weather, really.
Is that the reason youve moved out? So I wouldnt catch it? Mrs Thompson peered.
Not exactly, said Emily, turning rosy.
Then come back home. Henry is beside himself without you.
Doesnt show, does it? Emily pressed her lips together.
Well, hes stubborn, but he won’t talk about what happened. Whats gone wrong? You love each other!
He wants me to wear the heirloom ring from his late wife.
Ah So if not for the ring, all would be well?
He needs to let it go, sell it if he must, and buy something new. The thought of wearing a ring another woman wore its just not for me. Weddings bring enough bad luck without reused jewellery.
I agree, Emily. I think Henrys simply not ready for marriage. He cant let go of Laura, even though hes fallen for you.
Cant build new things on old foundations, Mrs Thompson, Emily replied. Im sorry. Thank you for coming; it was nice to see you.
Mrs Thompson left, feeling sympathy for both son and bride-to-be. Their argument was trivial on the surface but rooted much deeper.
A week of convalescing later, Emily had to return to work. The idea of seeing Henry again was so cringe-inducing she decided to hand in her notice and try her luck elsewhere.
Henry signed her resignation without a word, glowering like a sulky teenager skipping his pudding.
Youre a grown man, but youre acting like a child, Emily commented on her way out.
Youre the first person ever to refuse me anything, Henry sulked.
Emily didnt respond. She knew shed done the right thing. As she left, she noticed Henrys old wedding ring glinting on his finger.
Ive done the right thing. Hell never let his late wife go, Emily thought, then set about packing her things.
With her decision final, the weight lifted, and she finally felt free, while Henry brooded on, wondering why Emily didnt appreciate him, nor take up the golden opportunity to become Mrs Most Eligible Widower.
