after Katie was born. It wasnât really what sheâd wanted to do, but she was happy to have a job in a place where the people were nice and didnât mind a baby in the corner. So sheâd stayed and become part of the company, helping Pat Parfitt with everything from organising label printing to invoicing suppliers. Things changed when Parfizz started selling again. There was a pay rise and with Patâs son, Liam, they were turning the company around. Finally work had become more than just a job. But now this ad ban. From a government that claimed it supported small business. Vanessa put her head in her hands.
âHi.â Liam Parfitt was suddenly in the doorway, looking as if heâd been up all night.
âYouâve got Weet-Bix on your shirt,â said Vanessa.
âIt was porridge this morning.â He grinned.
One of the things Vanessa liked most about Liam was that he always seemed to be in a good mood. Like his father Pat, he seemed to have missed out on the grumpy gene. âIâm amazed you can see me behind all this,â she said, waving a hand over the bulging in trays. âI thought computers were meant to put an end to this kind of mess.â
Liam shrugged. âIâve bought you a present.â
âA secretary?â
âNo. Something better.â From behind his back he produced a bottle containing a green and red swirly liquid. In his other hand he held two glasses with ice. Using his forearms, he cleared a space on the desk. He pulled a bottle opener from the back pocket of his jeans.
âMerry Christmas,â he said.
âEr â itâs October,â said Vanessa. âAnd this could be the last drink Parfittâs ever produce. I donât know if I feel like celebrating.â
âWell, if that happens, letâs go out with a bang, not a whimper.â He poured and Vanessa watched, amazed as it fizzed and swirled then settled again into its green and red diagonal stripes.
It was the drink Liam had been working on all year. Heâd kept it secret and now Vanessa knew why.
âThatâs incredible.â
âI know. Dad had the idea for something like this years and years ago. He was fiddling about with a formula, but it never worked for him.â
âHow did you do it?â
âI didnât. But Carole Beauchamp loved the idea and got some of her product development people in the States onto it. It turns out Dad was closer than he thought. Itâs all to do with the different concentration of bubbles in each colour.â
âWow.â
âAmazing, isnât it! If it takes off, and Carole thinks it will, she might roll it out globally next year. I just wish Dad was around to see it.â
âYes, but I think wherever he is, heâd be proud.â
âI think so too. Now, has Katie come up with a name yet?â They had told her there was a Christmas drink in development.
âI donât know, letâs ask her tonight.â
âSheâs okay about me and the kids coming over?â
âOf course. Katieâs always liked you.â
âYes â as Patâs son. But this is different.â
âSheâll be fine. Weâll be talking about the new product, anyway. Katieâs always happy when itâs business.â Vanessa lifted her glass to the light. Then she took a sip. âIt tastes . . . Christmassy.â
The phone rang and she put it on speaker. âParfitt Family Soft Drink Company. Vanessa Crisp speaking.â
âCaesar Maxwell here. Put me on to your boss please, darl.â
Vanessa and Liam looked at each other. Liam had to swallow his drink quickly, before he laughed.
âAh, Iâm the General Manager,â said Vanessa. âThat makes me the boss, I suppose. Can I help you?â
There was muttering. Then a cough. âWell, itâs Caesar Maxwell .â
The name rang a bell. Vanessa raised her eyebrows. Liam shook his