“Um...Joyce,” I look up at her.
“Hmm?” She’s concentrating hard on whatever she’s reading.
“Where...” I sound croaky so I clear my throat. “Where would I go to get a cocktail dress?” Joyce cocks her head to the side, looks over the rim of her glasses and smiles at me.
“Shopping on lunch?” I nod vigorously, hoping and praying she won’t ask me what it’s all about. “No time then, I’d say Coast. It’s down on East Street.” God I'm going to miss her. “They have some lovely dresses, and their sizing is good, none of this ‘it’s half the size it says it is’ nonsense.” I chuckle knowing exactly what she means.
“Thank you Joyce.” I walk over to her desk and kiss her lightly on the cheek. “You’re a life saver.” She beams up at me.
“Don’t worry if you run over a little bit, I’ll keep Susannah busy.” Joyce adds.
“Oh, ok thanks.” I walk out of her office with renewed enthusiasm. I am going to buy a dress!
“Hey Coral,” I stop just as I'm walking past my desk and look down at Susannah.
“Yes?” Maybe she wants me to pick something up for her?
“Are you free tonight? I thought it might be nice for us to get to know each other a little more.” She smiles sweetly at me, but her eyes are hiding something. There really is something weird there!
“Actually, I have a gym class Mondays and Thursdays, so I can’t, sorry.” I go to walk off but she stops me again.
“And tomorrow?” she shouts. I turn back and stare at her, she has her legs crossed, her eyes narrowed, and she’s tapping her pen on the paper pad. Is she trying to work out where I go and what I do?
“I have a regular spa appointment.” I lie and go to walk off again.
“And Wednesday?” I turn around again and see she’s trying to hide the fact that she’s gritting her teeth. I feel a strange warning sensation start at the back of my neck and trickle down the length of my spine – She knows! I swear to god she knows about me and Tristan! Shit!
“My mother invited me this morning to have tea with her Wednesday,” I answer. Trying to work out what it is about her that I recognise, something that I’ve seen before?
“Well as you’re so busy in the week, how about Friday?” she bites. I glare back at her. Why do I get the feeling the answer to this question is pivotal?
“Can’t, out with friends,” I answer artlessly. She glares at me for another moment then turns back to the screen. I frown deeply at the very odd conversation that just ensued and scuttle out of the office, down the stairs, through reception and into the bright sunlit day. That was weird, she’s weird!
Finding my sunglasses out my bag, I pop them on. Mobile in hand I go to call Tristan when I notice I have another message, please be Rob...
*I have arrived safely gorgeous and I love you that deeply too darling, keep your chin up, don’t think the worst. I’ll try and reschedule some meetings see if I can get back to you sooner, but I can’t say for sure. I like the sound of Hubby. Wifey – Stay safe, I’ll call you tonight. T x*
I close my eyes and hug my mobile. The melancholy feeling from this morning seems to have dissipated – Thank God! I don't want to walk around feeling like that all week. I hear several voices and open my eyes, the other receptionists are out for lunch. I hear one of them make a snide comment about me, the other women laugh along with her joke – So they do think I’m weird. Figures I am!
I try calling Tristan, but it goes straight to voicemail, hanging up I decide to try him again once I’ve finished my shopping spree...
WHEN I HEAD BACK TO WORK, I march straight past my desk, ignoring Susannah completely and head into Joyce’s office, hoping she’ll give me her honest opinion on the dress of choice. If she hates it I'm taking it back. Locking the door, I strip out of my blouse, then my trousers, take the dress out of the bag and carefully slip it over my head.
“So what do you think?” I ask a little hesitantly. At £135, I think it’s a little over-priced but it seems the more you pay, the better the fit. Besides, Tristan paid for this and the lingerie with the card he gave me, I hope he likes it all.
“Coral, you look lovely darling. It really suits you.” Joyce says.
I have chosen a stunning halter-neck dress in Royal Blue. It has a pleated bodice with vertical pleats heading down to the knees and a wide waistband for a flattering, draping fit. I liked the red one too but I thought it was a little Christmassy, but I may go back and get that colour if Tristan likes this one. But most of all, I liked this dress because it’s called The Goddess Short Dress, I giggled out loud when I read the label.
“You really think so?” I ask ignoring my trembling legs, my shaking hands.
“Yes, any special occasion?” Joyce asks patting her hair in place.
“Tristan’s taking me out Friday night,” I whisper not wanting Blondie to hear.
“Why are you whispering?” Joyce asks. I glance at her office door defiantly then grit my teeth, my nostrils flaring.
“Ok, let’s have a chat. Come on sit down, actually don't. Out of that dress first.” Joyce helps me out of the dress and hangs it on the back of her door while I get back into my blouse and trousers. “Come on then, out with it.” I stare out the window as I sit opposite Joyce, her big mahogany desk between us.
“Tristan’s away all week and she’s being weird with me. I think she knows we’re um...dating. Tristan doesn’t want anyone knowing yet, and I agree. It’s just... – I lean forward Joyce mirrors me – ‘I know she’s in love with him.” I whisper.
“With who?” Joyce frowns.
“Tristan,” I hiss.
“Susannah’s in love with Tristan?” Joyce gapes back at me.
“Yes, he told me last night, that she told him she liked him, it was years ago. He said he wasn’t interested.” I clench my teeth and stare down at the desk.
“Well that sounds reasonable,” Joyce argues. I shake my head in disagreement. “Coral don’t let this come between the two of you. You do have a tendency to blow things out of proportion.” Joyce tells me with one eyebrow raised.
“I do?” I frown.
“Yes,” Joyce titters. “It’s who you are darling,” she adds waving a hand in the air.
“Oh!” I sigh heavily. Maybe I am over-reacting to Susannah because of what I know?
“Now, if that’s everything I have some calls to make.” Joyce tells me. I stand from the chair and walk over to my shopping bags. For some strange reason, I don't want Susannah seeing these.
“Can I leave these in here?” I ask.
“Of course darling, put them in the bottom of the cupboards over there.” Joyce points to where I need to go.
“Ok.” Carefully stowing my bags away, I walk over to her door and unlock it, just as I'm about to open it, I hear Tristan’s voice – I didn’t put the idea of selling into her head, she asked me…
I turn around slowly. Even if it hurts Joyce to know that Tristan told me the truth, I have to know why she lied to me, why she didn’t just tell me.
“Um...Joyce,” I squeak.
“Quickly Coral.” Ok, maybe now isn’t the time.
Joyce rolls her eyes at me. “Coral, really I’ – “Why did you tell me that it was Tristan’s offer that made you think about leaving? He told me...he told me that you approached him, asked if anyone was looking...” I trail off my voice wobbling.
Joyce doesn’t answer me, she just sits there, looking shocked.
“I'm not mad at you. I just don't understand why you weren’t honest with me.” I say. I stare down at the floor, too afraid to look up. “But maybe it’s the same reason that Gladys didn’t tell me about Malcolm, and Debs didn’t tell me about their house being up for sale. Apparently I'm...difficult.” I stare up at the ceiling in a vain attempt to look anywhere but at Joyce, after all it’s the first time I’ve ever confronted my boss, my aunty, for lying to me, and she’s way scarier than Gladys or Debs.
“Sit down please Coral.” Jo
yce puts the handset back in its cradle and watches me walk over to her, sitting down I fidget several times until I feel comfortable enough to sit still.
“Firstly I'm sorry I lied to you. Secondly, I'm extremely annoyed that Tristan shared that with you. Thirdly, I was trying to protect you. I didn’t want you thinking I didn’t care about you or your future here in the company. I know how much this job means to you, and I have loved working with you all these years. Watching you grow from a shy, temperamental young girl, to a head strong, very capable woman. It’s almost been like...like having my own daughter.
“I knew how much this would hurt you by my leaving and selling up. I wanted you to think that…well I don’t know what I thought. I just didn’t want to hurt you. Flipping the truth on its back seemed the most ideal way to go, evidently I was wrong!” Her lips twitch to smile, but her eyes look so sad.
“It’s ok,” I gush. “I understand you care about me, I know that, and you feel like another mother to me too. Besides, Gladys told me about John’s letter, about how he wanted you to move on. I understand that, it makes sense. I just wish you had been honest that’s all, I feel like everyone’s hiding something from me lately.” I end in a whisper.
Joyce sniffs, clears her throat and smiles warmly at me. “I am sorry darling…it’s just everything has seemed so…so difficult lately’ – “Joyce you don’t have to explain anything to me, I think you’re doing exceptionally well...considering the circumstances.” I feel mortified for upsetting Joyce. I should have kept my mouth shut!
“How about you and Tristan? Is it going well darling, does he make you happy?” I nod vigorously and try to hide the love struck smile that’s taking over. “Ah, can’t stop smiling, that’s a sure sign.” Joyce smiles warmly at me. I can’t help the giggle that bursts from within me. “It’s about time,” Joyce adds. I roll my eyes and go to argue but Joyce stops me. “That will be all Coral. Come on, back to work.” I nod silently and stand.
“Are you going on Saturday?” I ask, hoping she’ll say yes. I don’t think I’ll get much time with her before she leaves.
“Yes, I spoke with Gladys last night.” I smile deeply at her. “Well off you go.” She waves her hand at me, I know she’s busy.
Smiling broadly, I scuttle out of her office and back to my desk, Susannah moves out of my seat and into her own. I tried to get hold of Tristan whilst on lunch, three times. He’s a very busy man, I know that, but I need to talk to him about her.
“Do you always take this long for lunch?” Susannah snipes. I look up at the clock – Shit I’ve been gone an hour and forty minutes.
“No. I do not,” I bark back, enunciating each word. “I was shopping for the boss!” I hiss at her, she wisely shuts the hell up.
TWO HOURS INTO THE afternoon, little miss prissy goes off for her afternoon coffee and I'm left to take a breather. God, she’s been like a bear with a sore head since I got back. I wonder what’s eating her? I still think she’s worked out Tristan and I are seeing each other, but apparently, according to Tristan, it shouldn’t bother her. After all, she was just sooo cool with Tristan turning her down – Yeah right!
Just as I think that, I wonder what she’s been up to on my computer. I start checking all my files, they seem normal, where I left them. Then I check Google history to see what she’s been searching, nothing comes up That’s odd! I click it again and find the history is empty?
I suddenly remember I have a Google image page saved to favourites from when I looked Tristan up! Shit! How embarrassing I should have deleted it, I hope she hasn’t seen it.
I click on favourites and scroll down the small list of sites I have saved, mostly for Joyce, and find that the page I saved of Tristan is gone. I look up and down the list again, just to make sure I'm not going completely bonkers – Nope it’s gone, definitely gone! – Ok, that really is weird. If she saw it there; why the hell would she delete it? Then I think that maybe I deleted it, and I don’t remember doing it? I nod my head in agreement. It sounds more logical, and I'm all for logic and reason, just like Spock – Yes, yes I must have deleted it at some point! – Strange though? I don't remember doing that…
AS THE DAY DRAWS TO A CLOSE, I start to feel a little panicky about going back to my studio. I contemplate staying at Tristan’s, but I soon realise that I need to be back at my place. I need distance from his things and his smell and his...well he’s just all over that house now. And it’s bursting with memories of the two of us. I think being there will make me feel even more melancholy. With my mind made up, and the work day over, I wait until Susannah has left before I go into Joyce’s office to get my bags and say goodnight.
“How’s it going?” She asks as I pull my bags out of the cupboard.
“Ok.” I answer keeping my eyes on the floor.
“Coral, I'm here if you need me, you know that don’t you?” Joyce softly says.
I sigh heavily, walk over to her desk and slump into the chair. “I have some concerns,” I huff. “But I'm not really sure you can help Joyce. I think it’s Tristan I need to speak to,” I add.
“Is it about Susannah?” I nod in agreement. “Yes… well, she certainly comes across as nice and polite but....” Joyce trails off.
My eyes flick up to meet hers. “But?” I question.
“Something...” Joyce says her eyes narrowing.
“That’s what I think. I mean, I know I'm not easy to get on with, but she just seems...” I wave my hand in the air unable to put my finger on it.
“Like she’s hiding something?” Joyce implies.
“Yes!” I squeak in relief. That’s it. It’s like there’s something there, something I'm not seeing.
“Well you just keep your head down young lady and don’t get involved. Do your work and don’t tell Tristan.” What?
“Why?” I frown in confusion.
“Because if she’s playing some sort of game, do you really want to come across as the one who is whining, the one who’s being difficult? No, you don’t. Any further concerns bring them to me, I’ll start a log. She said something odd to me today,” Joyce says drifting off for a moment. “Anyway forget about her for now. Go home enjoy your evening, that’s an order, I don’t want you sitting at home fretting about it, ok?”
“What did she say?” I ask with wide eyes.
“That is none of your concern Coral, what’s important is that you have me as a back-up. Now go home,” she admonishes.
I sigh heavily I wish she would tell me what she said. “Ok, well goodnight Joyce, see you tomorrow.” I stand and pick up my bags.
“Goodnight darling.” I wave goodbye as I head out of her office.
Switching off my computer, I put my overnight bag from staying at Tristan’s over my shoulder – I really need to get a second set of toiletries and make-up to leave at his place – pick up my handbag, my shopping bags and head down the stairs into reception.
“Cori,” I hear a voice whisper. It’s got to be Joe. I whip my head round, but I can’t see her behind the desk at reception.
“Joe?” I call out. I see her head peek up from behind the counter. “Joe, what are you doing? Why are you hiding?” I titter.
“Has she gone?” She whispers.
“Who?” I ask but I have a pretty good idea.
“That woman who’s working with you. Why is she here anyway?” She questions.
“Um...” Going against everything Tristan told me about keeping the take-over quiet, I decide to let Joe know. I want her to keep her job. I want her to get her kids back. “She’s gone Joe. Want to walk out with me?” Joe sags with relief.
“Thank god!” she exclaims. I watch her pick up her handbag and walk around the desk to join me. We both wave to Tom as we head out the building. Once we’re at least ten feet away from the office, I stop walking and turn to Joe.
“Want to tell me why you’re hiding from Susannah?” Joe looks nervous and simply shakes her head at me. “Joe,” I whisper. “You have to tell me,” I add sc
rutinizing her.
“I just got a call muddled up earlier, she came down to reception, she...” Joe stares out at the road.
“Tell me Joe!” I scold.
“She made me cry…” Joe whimpers, her voice trembling with unshed tears.
“What!” My temper immediately fires up. “Why? What did she say Joe?” She shakes her head at me. “Joe!” I stamp my foot in annoyance she has to tell me!
“She called me...I don’t know the word. I think she said icompit, inco – “Incompetent?” I interrupt, Joe nods. What a bitch! How dare she!
“She said she didn’t understand how I even got the job, that I'm useless. But it wasn’t so much what she said, it was how she looked at me when she said it… she scared me.” Joe starts to cry silent tears – Blondie has really ruffled her feathers.
Letting my bags drop to the floor, I pull her into me and let her cry it out, trying my best to comfort her. What the hell is this woman up to? Who the hell does she think she is going round upsetting everybody? Joe has to tell Joyce.
“Joe we have to go back inside. You have to tell Joyce’ – “No!” she barks and jumps back out of my arms.
“Why ever not?” I ask a little shocked.
Joe shakes her head and sniffs loudly. “Because she said she’ll deny it, she said it’s my word against hers. So I better keep my mouth shut,” she says her bottom lip wobbling.
“Oh she did, did she? Listen Joe, I'm going to tell you something. It’s top secret, no-one knows, so if I tell you, you have to give me your word that you’ll keep it to yourself. If anyone finds out, we both lose our jobs.” I stare back at her with wide eyes I want her to see I really mean it.
“Ok,” she squeaks. “I will.”
I take a deep breath – I really hope you don't make me regret this Joe!
“Joyce is leaving, she’s selling the company. The news will be announced in two weeks time.” Joe’s eyes widen with shock.
“Oh no! I'm going to lose my job,” she squeaks.
CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) Page 19
