Adam used to get Shirley to accompany him to these lunches, as Knight always brought his secretary.
He talked to Lucy about it, because he was reluctant to take Eliza. Lucy told him to stop being silly and conduct business in his usual manner. She suggested that if he stopped reacting Eliza might get sick of whatever game she was playing. He supposed she was right because the notes were starting to taper off.
Adam decided Lucy was right. He needed his secretary at this lunch and Eliza was his secretary. He just needed to be firm.
As he walked in that morning, he advised Eliza her presence would be required at lunch. She merely nodded and enquired as to the time and if they’d go together. What could go wrong?
Lunch was a disaster. Adam was embarrassed. He imagined Mr Knight thought he was having an affair with his secretary.
Eliza was certainly at her charming best. She played the hostess to the full.
Adam was used to Shirley, who was good company at lunch but didn’t try to take over. He found he didn’t know how best to stop Eliza.
She finished his sentences and gave him flirty smiles, all the while keeping up sparkling conversation.
Adam was left in awe. The sick feeling in his stomach grew as she started rubbing her leg against his.
The first time it happened he thought it an accident and moved slightly away. The second and third time he realised it was deliberate. He moved as far away as he could without drawing attention, but it didn’t stop her.
Business got conducted and decisions made, but Adam felt slightly removed, almost like he was in an episode of The Twilight Zone.
By the time they got back to the office Adam was quietly seething. He never got angry. He thought anger a waste of time, but Eliza made him angry!
He strode through to his office, thinking to calm himself down before he talked to Eliza about it. He went straight to the window, looking out, hoping the view would help.
However, she followed him in and dropped into the chair in front of his desk, crossing her legs and swinging her foot. He turned from the window as she spoke.
‘That went well, I think. We’re a good team.’ She spoke with a smile in her voice.
‘I’m glad you’re finally seeing things my way. It was a nice lunch, thank you.’ She gave him a full smile. A cat that got the cream smile.
Adam shook his head, not daring to move from the window, not sure he even trusted himself to speak.
‘Mr Knight is a doll, isn’t he? He was impressed with the team we make. Yes, it definitely went well.’ Eliza clapped her hands together, well pleased.
Adam could not believe what he was hearing. Did she really just say that?
‘It did NOT go well!’ he snapped, struggling to keep from shouting. ‘It was a disaster! Knight was left with the impression that we are somehow involved!’ he paused to draw a breath.
‘Can you not see the damage you’ve done?’ Adam was enunciating carefully. He was trying to keep his words civil and it was a struggle.
Eliza looked at him and for a moment he thought she was going to cry. But she straightened her shoulders and the moment passed.
‘I’m so sorry, Adam. I was so excited to be out with you at last, I got carried away. I didn’t think about your reputation. I should have been more careful.’
Again, the bottom lip quivered. Adam felt the strangest urge to slap her face. He wasn’t a violent man, and would certainly never strike a woman, but just in that moment he wanted to.
The thought brought him up with a jolt. This was not like him. When did he become a man who could even consider resorting to violence? What was happening? He did his best to hide his anger and speak calmly.
‘It was NOT a date!’ he declared firmly. ‘It was a lunch meeting with a client!
‘You’re my secretary, not my bloody girlfriend! Get out! Take the rest of the day off. I need some peace.’
He turned his back on her, trying to find some calm. He didn’t hear her get up from her chair and jumped when he felt her hand on his back.
‘I’m so sorry, Adam. I got carried away. It won’t happen again,’ she said softly.
‘Get out!’ he snarled, failing to realise that she’d called him Adam twice in this conversation. It wasn’t until later when he thought about it, he’d remembered.
This time she left, closing the door, softly, behind her. He stood at the window for a long time. It took a while for the view to work its usual magic.
When he recounted events to Lucy later, he glossed over his anger. He was frightened by the depth of it and embarrassed to admit how he’d truly felt. But he gave her enough information for her to realise his reaction had been serious. She laughed gently as he finished recounting the story.
‘Well, she’ll have got the message now, I would imagine!’
Adam agreed with her, his message had been very straight forward. Perhaps now things would settle. So why was he having trouble convincing himself of that?
Chapter Seven
Eliza was subdued for the next few days. She was as efficient as ever, but there were no attempts at lighter moments. She concentrated on work to the exclusion of all else. She avoided meeting Adam’s eyes.
However, Adam would catch her watching him with reproving eyes. She seemed to be waiting for him to make the first move.
He didn’t make any attempt to lessen the message he had delivered. He preferred the slightly strained air between them to the previous situation.
Adam finally started to relax. Thinking finally perhaps things could finally settle down.
Adam looked up from his work and his eye caught the clock. Twelve forty-five. He had got a lot done this morning and decided he now needed to get out of the office.
The café down the road suddenly seemed like a good idea. Lucy was busy this time of year and he was missing her company. Sitting in a busy café watching people would make a pleasant interlude.
He strode quickly from his office, pleased to be moving. ‘I’m going for lunch,’ he said as he walked past Eliza, giving her very little thought.
He found a corner table and settled back to enjoy his lunch, not paying particular attention to anything just idly watching the people around him.
Out of the corner of his eye he noted someone approach his table. He thought nothing of it, the café was busy, and it would be another diner wanting a seat. He didn’t mind sharing. He looked up to smile a welcome and his face froze.
‘I noticed you didn’t have a drink, so I got you a fresh-made lemonade. I know how you love that.’ Eliza placed a tall frosted glass in front of him and sat down in the chair opposite. She looked around with interest.
‘This place is nice. We should come here more often,’ she said, giving him her full smile.
Adam could think of nothing to say. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, having uttered nothing. Finally, ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.
‘Having lunch, of course.’ Her tone added the word, silly!
‘But why here?’ he questioned
‘Because you’re here.’ This time she did add, ‘Silly!’ She again gave him a beaming smile. ‘You do realise that if we want to eat lunch together, we have to be in the same place,’ she stated with exaggerated care. The smile never wavered.
‘We don’t want to eat lunch together!’ Adam was getting over the shock and his voice was adamant. She either didn’t get his tone (which was unlikely) or she chose to ignore it.
‘Don’t worry. I promise I’ll be circumspect, and act according to our public relationship, Mr Sullivan.’ She giggled, disconcerting Adam again.
She lifted her sandwich and took a dainty bite. Adam had lost all appetite and pushed his plate away. Moments later he stood and told her to take her time, then walked out.
When she got back to the office she acted like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
The next day he tried another café. To his dismay the same thing happened. Again, he got up and walked away, this
time without a word.
After the third such incident he spoke to Lucy about it. They both wondered why she would persist when it was clear Adam didn’t want her company. Adam assured Lucy he was very clear, but said Eliza seemed to just ignore anything she didn’t want to hear.
He asked Lucy to meet him for lunch the next day. She appeared in the office just after twelve. This time though, instead of walking straight through, she stopped in front of Eliza’s desk.
‘We really haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Lucy Sullivan. How are you settling in?’ Lucy said with a smile, holding out her hand.
Eliza ignored the outstretched hand and fixed Lucy with a glare.
‘Mr Sullivan is very busy and has asked not to be disturbed,’ she said coldly, standing and moving around her desk to block Lucy’s way. She looked like she had every intention of stopping Lucy from entering. Lucy had the strangest feeling that she would stop her physically if required, but Lucy had already alerted Adam, by text, that she had arrived. The door to the inner office opened and Adam stepped out.
Eliza spun around at the sound of the door opening.
‘I’ve told her you’re busy and don’t want to be disturbed,’ she said with a smile. ‘You go back in. I can handle her.’
She turned back to Lucy. ‘You’ll have to leave now.’ She moved forward to usher Lucy out, but Lucy was too quick for her and, moving around her, greeted Adam.
‘You’re earlier than I expected,’ he said as he hugged her.
‘Finished quicker than I thought I would and decided I could have a longer lunch break. That is if you’re up for it?’
‘You said you were busy and not to be disturbed,’ Eliza’s cold voice cut in.
‘Lucy never disturbs me.’ Adam chuckled. His gaze was focussed on Lucy, so he missed the flash of anger that darted across Eliza’s face. She quickly schooled her features.
‘Just let me get my jacket and we’ll go.’ He released Lucy and darted back into his office, reappearing moments later shrugging into his jacket.
Lucy murmured something to him and they walked out of the office arm in arm, laughing.
Eliza returned to her desk and sat stone-faced for a moment before angrily throwing her tray at the wall.
When Adam returned to the office, Eliza gave him a disappointed look but said nothing.
For the next few days she treated him with disdain, talking only when necessary.
Adam wondered if she realised that far from punishing him, she was acting in precisely the manner he preferred.
Of course, it couldn’t last.
Chapter Eight
The following week Eliza had apparently decided to forgive him and started joining him for lunch again. He stopped reacting to her presence. He would eat his lunch in silence, not answering her endless chatter.
Lucy assured him she would eventually tire of the one-sided conversations and leave him alone. Adam hoped she was right. She usually was good at reading people. But as time went by, he wasn’t so sure.
Eliza seemed to believe they were having lunch together. She chatted away, seemingly unaware of his non-responses and made no comment when, on finishing his lunch, he would get up and walk away.
It became a kind of twisted game. Adam would find out-of-the-way cafés, and for a few days enjoy the solitude. Eventually she would find him and join him, acting as if they had planned the outing.
He began to tire of the game and wished Lucy wasn’t so busy at work.
Feeling the need to regain control he decided, today, he wouldn’t try and find a café. He went out, grabbed a coffee then returned to his desk, thinking he’d get some work done and then leave on time or a bit earlier tonight.
Moments after he settled in, his door opened, and Eliza appeared with a tray which she set on his desk on top of his papers.
‘You can’t skip lunch, Adam.’
‘Mr Sullivan,’ he said through gritted teeth.
‘Pish, don’t be so stuffy, there’s no one around,’ she simply smiled. ‘Now eat your lunch.’
Adam looked at her, then looked at the lunch she had obviously prepared. He pushed back from his desk and picking up the tray, took it through to the staff kitchen.
Uncaring of the others in there, he placed the tray on the bench and turned to leave. She had followed him in, a puzzled frown on her face.
‘I don’t want lunch. I have work to do.’ He was aware as he pushed past her that he sounded like a petulant child, and an ungrateful one at that.
Everyone at Davis & Co thought she was wonderful, Adam realised. He seemed to be alone in feeling uncomfortable around her.
He knew, of course, that now there would be gossip. Just what he needed. But he didn’t know what else to do. He was lost in his thoughts as he left the staff kitchen and consequently nearly walked into Kim, a junior colleague.
He liked Kim. She was a good worker and would go far if she continued to apply herself. She stepped aside quickly so he didn’t barrel into her and let him pass. He didn’t notice her turn and with a concerned look, follow him to his office. She came through the door in time to see him slump at his desk with his head in his hands. She closed the door behind her and his head jerked up. His face lightened when he saw it was Kim, and not Eliza as he had expected.
‘Are you okay, Mr Sullivan?’ she asked softly, her concern evident on her face.
‘Fine, thanks, Kim. Just having teething problems with my new secretary.’ He shrugged his shoulders in an attempt to lighten the moment. ‘I guess I got used to Shirley’s ways and I’m finding it hard to adapt. At least that’s what Lucy tells me!’ he gave a wry grin.
Kim looked like she was about to say something but just then his door opened, and Eliza walked in.
‘Mr Sullivan is on his lunch break. If you need to talk to him, please make an appointment through me,’ she almost snapped at Kim, clearly taken aback at finding her here.
Kim shrugged, her look telling Adam she wasn’t taken in by Eliza, and looked deliberately back at Adam, ignoring Eliza.
‘I know how it can be. If you need to talk, you know where I am.’ Having said that, Kim sailed out of the office without another word.
Eliza watched her go. ‘What an odd bird’ she muttered. Adam coughed and put a hand to his mouth to disguise a laugh. Pot and kettle, he thought.
Still, it helped a little to know that Kim at least shared his concern about Eliza. He dismissed Eliza with a wave of his hand. He had no patience left, he wanted her out.
‘I need to concentrate. Please close the door on your way out,’ and putting his head down, he ignored her.
The notes started up again. Nothing he could take her to task over, nothing overt, more just a feeling that things were spiralling out of control. He told her he felt it inappropriate for her to leave him notes and asked her to stop.
As usual, anything Eliza didn’t want to hear, she didn’t hear! He decided not to make a big thing out of it, as before he began to ignore them, tossing them in the bin without even reading them. He didn’t mention them and said no more. Perhaps she would get sick of it, as she had before.
She was now becoming very possessive, guarding his appointments with vigour.
Again, nothing he could complain about, it was after all part of her job, but when he was told yet again someone had wanted to speak to him and Eliza had refused an immediate appointment, saying he was too busy, he felt it time to speak to her again.
She reminded him all innocence that he himself had said he didn’t want to be disturbed. He was sure she realised it was only her he didn’t want to be disturbed by. But what could he say: his secretary was too vigilant, and took him at his word?
He told her in future to book appointments without giving everyone the third degree.
He walked away once more feeling he had lost a battle, only he hadn’t realised he was at war.
Chapter Nine
Wednesday, Adam had a standing monthly golf game with Keith Ryan. Keith was
a senior analyst at Davis &Co.
He and Adam had started around the same time and worked their way up together, becoming friends along the way.
Talk was general until they reached the fourth hole. As they waited for the group ahead of them to tee off, Keith, shading his eyes to watch them, tossed an aside at Adam.
‘Hear you were an ungrateful prat the other day.’
Adam, who had also been watching the other group spun his head towards him.
‘What?’ he asked, puzzled. ‘When was I an ungrateful prat?’
Keith looked towards him. ‘Your secretary makes you lunch and you chuck it in her face. I’d say that was being an ungrateful prat. Wouldn’t you?’
He looked closely at Adam. ‘What’s up, mate? Lately you seem distracted and that sort of behaviour is definitely not like you. Trouble at home?’
Adam laughed, he couldn’t help it. Nothing could be further from the truth. ‘No, home’s fine. The trouble is at work.’
Keith looked puzzled. ‘What’s the problem at work?’
Adam hesitated, but he needed to talk to someone.
‘My new secretary, the very one who made me lunch.’ Adam kept his eyes down. He was still unsure about sharing his thoughts but decided it might help.
‘She makes me feel uncomfortable. It’s weird, she seems to be trying to start something. Sometimes it’s like she believes there’s something going on between us. She even tried to refuse Lucy entry to my office.’
He shook his head at the memory but couldn’t find the words to express the vibe in the room at the time.
‘How did Lucy take that?’ Keith asked on a laugh. Knowing Lucy, he would back her against a secretary any day.
‘Actually, she all but ignored her, didn’t seem to bother her,’ Adam responded.
‘There you go then. Nothing in it. If Lucy’s not concerned why are you?’
‘You know, she had problems with a relationship in her last job. I’m starting to think maybe there was more to that than we were told,’ Adam stated baldly.
Stalker, Stalker Page 4
