‘That’s fine, Alex,’ she said, ‘keep it up if it’s not making your work too hard.’
Alex was becoming increasingly happy to have such a beautiful girl at his beck and call! ‘Not at all,’ he demurred, ‘she’s actually becoming quite useful and it’s really good to see her confidence developing.’
Of course Margarite kept a keen eye on the situation but had to admit that all seemed to be going very well.
The following week, HDC was going to be away on a prestigious training course for two weeks and would be totally absent from his office during this period. This meant that Sunia would be with Alex every day. On the first day, Alex came to Sunia’s desk.
‘Right, Sunia, what about you doing this simple document pack? I’ll be here to help you and to check that everything is OK.’
At first, Sunia looked stricken and responded that she could not possibly do it. She wouldn’t be able to remember what to do. She would make mistakes and everyone would be in trouble. Alex was insistent: ‘Look, I know you’re good enough to do it. Have a go! I’ll watch over you.’
So, feeling that something momentous was happening in her life, Sunia obtained the storeroom key from Margarite. Standing in the storeroom – warning light checked – she made her first real decision and spoke out loud: ‘A small folder, I think.’ At that instant, she felt wonderful!
During that morning, the document pack built up. Sunia had to obtain various documents and forms from a number of different sources and she checked with Alex several times to make sure she was doing it correctly. At last, the Schedule Sheet had been produced and the Check Sheet raised. The pack was complete! Sunia was elated as she passed her “very own work” to Alex for the initial check. He worked through it steadily and found everything correct apart from a minor error on the Schedule Sheet.
He pointed this out to Sunia and invited her to correct and reprint the sheet. ‘Don’t worry about this, Sunia. We all make mistakes that need to be corrected. That’s why we have such a rigorous checking procedure. When you have made the correction you need to take the pack to Margarite for the DHDC check.’
A widely smiling Sunia appeared in Margarite’s office with the Document Pack. Margarite looked at the Check Sheet: ‘Sunia, were you the Base Coordinator for this pack?’
‘Yes, Margarite, I was. Alex watched over me but I did all the work.’
‘Sunia, this is very good work. You’ve been hiding your light under a bushel, haven’t you? Someday you’ll have to tell me why.’
Sunia looked thoughtful and serious: ‘Yes, Margarite, there is a reason and I’m just beginning to realise what it is. I’m so grateful to Alex. He is such a wonderful person and a very good teacher. When I’ve worked everything out, I will tell you all about the reason for my slowness.’
The following two weeks passed happily with Sunia becoming steadily more competent at DC work, under the tutelage of the ever-patient and pleasant Alex. Margarite was extremely pleased. In addition, it was obvious that a special bond was developing between Sunia and Alex.
Sunia’s eighteenth birthday was now fast approaching. Some months before, her father had sought a discussion with her mother on the question of birthday presents.
‘Oh, we’ll get her some really good clothes, handbags, shoes, cosmetics, that sort of thing,’ her mother had said.
‘Yes, that’s fine, but I think we need to buy her a car,’ her father replied.
‘But she can’t drive,’ her mother said, ‘we offered to buy her lessons but she refused.
‘That’s true, but I think she is different now. Much more confident. Anyway, I’m going to buy her a car – just a small one. That’ll make her want a Driving Licence. And we can buy her driving lessons, too, as part of her birthday.’
Sunia’s birthday was at the weekend. When she awoke on the morning of her birthday, there were many lavish presents piled around her bed. However her eyes widened when she saw the shiny car key on her bedside table. She immediately leapt from the bed and flew to the window. There, standing in the driveway below was an extremely pretty Fiat Cinquecento Gucci Special Edition in sparkling white paintwork with perfectly gorgeous alloy wheels. It had a broad pink ribbon tied around it, saying “Happy 18th Birthday Sunia”. Within seconds, Sunia was outside in her dressing gown and slippers, unlocking the car door and slipping into the soft two-tone leather seat behind the wheel. As she looked at the specially styled Gucci interior, her eyes shone with pure delight.
‘What a fabulous car! It’s like a film star’s car – somebody really famous,’ she breathed.
‘Do you like it?’ Her father, also in dressing gown and slippers, stood smiling beside the car. Sunia jumped from the car and threw herself into his arms.
‘It’s absolutely wonderful,’ she cried, ‘it’s the very best present ever!’
‘Yes,’ her father said. ‘It’s the very top of the range in Fiat 500s and the very latest model.’ Sunia’s father was a car enthusiast and would not dream of buying anything but the top of the range! He continued, looking at his daughter affectionately: ‘You’ll need to start driving lessons as soon as possible. Meanwhile, you will be able to drive it in here in our grounds. It’ll give you a start. I’ll teach you the basics, then it’s up to you. One of your birthday presents is a course of driving lessons.’
‘Papa, when can we start?’ she cried. ‘Can we start right now?’
Her father smiled: ‘Well I was thinking we should get some clothes on first and, I don’t know about you but I’m looking forward to some breakfast. Let’s do that and we’ll start after breakfast.’
They went into the house, arms around each other affectionately.
On Monday morning, HDC returned. Yes, it had been an interesting course, he told Margarite, quite useful. Had anything been happening here? Nothing much? Well, that was what he expected. He had organised things before he went so that it would be a quiet two weeks for the Department. He wanted to make sure that there would be nothing difficult to deal with while she was in charge.
Margarite said nothing but felt her jaw muscles tightening. How she wished that Julian would not treat her like this. Love does not die easily and Margarite still loved Julian despite what he had said and done to her. She always hoped that he would revert to his former self and they could start again, living together in the love she had enjoyed so much.
‘Fine, Margarite, that’s all. You can get on with your own work now. Would you ask Sunia to come and see me?’ Pointedly, Julian turned to his In Tray and started to read the top sheet.
A few minutes later, a reluctant Sunia knocked at HDC’s door. Suddenly, she felt completely different about her association with Julian. Where before she would have come with passive obedience, now she wished she could stay as she was, working in DC with Margarite and Alex. She felt a surge of love as she thought of Alex: ‘And I think he loves me too.’ Sunia had noticed how happy Alex always was to see her.
‘Come in, Sunia,’ Julian’s voice was filled with joy. ‘Come in. Happy Birthday! You see, I haven’t forgotten. Even although I was away on this important Management Course, I still remembered.’ Julian, smiled at her expectantly, waited to be congratulated.
With some effort, Sunia smiled palely. ‘Thank you, ah, Julian.’ Saying that name still felt wrong.
‘Sit down here, Sunia. Here is a birthday card and, “Surprise, Surprise”, I’ve bought you a birthday present. It’s just a little token of my … affection … for you.’ Sunia said nothing as she took the small box and opened it.
‘It’s very nice, Julian,’ she said, neutrally. The rose quartz glowed pink in the light and she did think it was quite a nice, unusual stone. ‘It needs a thicker chain,’ she thought, ‘this thin silver chain does not set it off correctly. Gold or platinum would be better.’
‘Put it into your bag, Sun
ia, you had better not wear it now. We don’t want all the other staff to get jealous, do we? We just need to keep it a secret between us. But you can give me a kiss, if you like!’ Julian was becoming emboldened and leaned forward enticingly.
Sunia was taken aback by this request. She certainly did not want to kiss him. Yes, she had appreciated his kindness and friendliness, making her his informal PA, and so on – but kissing him? It didn’t seem right. She hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward and kissed him very lightly on the cheek. ‘Thank you, Julian, it was very kind of you.’ Her words were spoken perfunctorily, an echo of the trained words of childhood.
Julian, oblivious of her reluctance, was over the moon. She had kissed him! Her lips felt so soft and warm. His desire for her almost boiled over. He ached to hold her in his arms. He reached out, intending to grasp her arm and draw her closer but she moved back out of his reach.
‘Julian, I have a headache and I’m not feeling very well. Unless there is something you specifically want me to do for you, could I continue my work in the General Office? I can just sit quietly and do it. I have been doing some work for Margarite while you have been away and she is quite pleased with my progress.’
Julian was very surprised. Margarite satisfied with Sunia’s work? He never expected to hear that. He would have to have a chat with Margarite about this. ‘It must have been all the training I have given her,’ he thought, although, deep down, he was rather puzzled. In truth, he knew that he had not done any training with her that would be useful for the work of the General Office. Then he became aware that Sunia was still there, standing motionless, looking at him impassively.
‘Ah, yes, Sunia. I’m sorry to hear you don’t feel well. Do you want to take the rest of the day off?’
‘No thanks, Julian, I’ll be fine. I’ll just work quietly at my desk.’ Julian followed her slim, beautiful figure hungrily as she left the room and closed the door quietly. But now he felt uneasy, unsettled, uncomfortable. Something had changed. What? How? Why?
Julian
In truth, Julian had not had a good time on the management course. In fact, it had been a traumatic experience. He had gone there eagerly, knowing that his intelligence and easy charm would soon establish him as a leading light on the course. He had been on other courses and, in his perception, that was what usually happened. However, this course had been very different. The Course Tutors and the other attendees seemed to be a very peculiar group. He had approached them all in his usual friendly, informal manner but they had not responded well. They were offhand with him and excluded him from their conversations. Julian was seriously perplexed.
‘Normally, I am the centre of attention in such circumstances; everyone, even the tutors, welcome my interjections and listen carefully to what I have to say.’
It had all started when his car had refused to start on the first day of the course. By the time he had organised emergency help to boost the battery, he was well behind schedule and arrived late at the venue of the course. As his rather old BMW arrived at the car park, he noted that almost all the cars there were recent models. Then he saw two almost identical Audi saloons parked alongside each other with their drivers deep in conversation. Julian proudly swept his BMW alongside.
‘Good morning,’ he called incisively. The men acknowledged him briefly and continued their conversation. Julian listened. They were talking about their cars, about the impressive working of their automatic gearboxes. Now Julian considered he was an expert on the workings of automatic gearboxes!
Looking rather disparagingly at their shiny cars he interrupted their conversation: ‘I know you will both have the standard 5-speed auto but I greatly prefer the 4-speed that I have in my trusty BMW. People keep offering me later BMW models but I always refuse; the older model is a much better car, particularly with the superb 4-speed gearbox. The ratios are finely tuned to the power curve of the engine – and you know how much more torque you get from four cylinders, don’t you?’ The men looked at him rather blankly.
‘We have CVT,’ one said crisply, ‘I think you would find that CVT is much better. It means that the torque distribution is optimal through the power range.’ Julian flushed. He did not know what CVT was! The man recognised his confusion.
‘CVT, Continuously Variable Transmission. Much better.’
He turned his back on Julian and resumed his conversation with the other man.
Julian stumbled into the building to register. There was an elderly man in uniform behind a small reception desk.
‘Yes?’ the man said, without looking up. Julian gave his name.
‘You’re very late,’ the man said, ‘you’ve been allocated the very last room. It’s on the top floor. Used to be servant’s quarters up there, you know. Pretty compact, it is.’ The man smiled derisively as he said this.
Julian thought it was time to put this officious man in his place: ‘I am afraid that is unacceptable, my good man. I require a more spacious room. At my firm, I am Senior Staff, a Head of Department. Would you just sort that out, immediately?’ Julian was at his most haughty.
‘Can’t do it, I’m afraid,’ the man said, ‘everyone is Senior Staff on this course and the rooms are allocated on a first come, first serve basis. You didn’t exactly come first, did you? In fact you came last.’ The man smiled at his joke. Then he reached behind him and threw a key across the desk. ‘Room 509, there’s no elevator, you’ll have to walk up.’ He turned away and paid no further attention to Julian.
Julian was furious. His legs were quite tired by the time he had walked up five long flights of stairs. The fifth floor was a rabbit warren of narrow, dark corridors and he had some difficulty locating Room 509. When he finally found it, it proved to be small and very cramped with a low ceiling.
‘Quite unsatisfactory!’ he raged, ‘I shall complain to the Course Director. And I will place a complaint about that insolent man at the Reception Desk, too.’ Julian consulted the Course Schedule. He saw that all tutors and members of the Course were to meet in the Lounge for coffee. There, the Schedule said, they would meet the Course Director.
‘Good,’ he thought grimly, ‘I have business with that gentleman.’
Most of the course attendees were already drinking coffee in the Lounge when Julian arrived. He looked around and identified the Course Director by the badge pinned to his lapel. He was standing in the centre of the room, talking affably to a small group of attendees. Julian marched across and interrupted: ‘Excuse me,’ he said loudly, fixing the Course Director with a dominating eye, ‘can I have a word? In private …’
The Course Director did not move. He looked at Julian’s name badge and said in a quiet but penetrating voice: ‘Ah, yes. I want to speak to you. There’s been a serious complaint against you from a member of my staff. It seems you were very rude at the Reception Desk. We treat such matters very seriously here. I suggest an apology is in order. Now would be a good time to put things right, don’t you think?’
The Course Director returned to his conversation with the others. The room was hushed and all eyes were on Julian. He was absolutely mortified and went bright red. He had been humiliated in front of the whole Course! He wished the ground would open and swallow him up as he slunk from the room.
The rest of the Course continued in the same vein; Julian seemed unable to get anything right. He had apologised to the man at the Reception Desk with his eyes on the floor. He had tried to recover from his public humiliation by turning on the full force of his considerable charm and wit, all to no avail: ‘I normally get on with people splendidly,’ he thought with despair, ‘but here, I just seem to fail all the time.’ He spent all his free time closeted in his small unpleasant room, thinking: ‘If I just stay in here, hopefully, I can’t get into any more trouble.’
So the Course proceeded with agonising slowness and a depressed and nervous Julian cou
nted the days until he could leave and return to the familiar life he knew.
‘It will be lovely to return to the work I do so well.’ Julian had lost none of his modesty! Eventually, the wonderful day came. The Course was finished and he could leave. As he drove out the impressive gateway, his spirits soared: ‘Soon, I will see Sunia. I’m sure she will be very pleased with her birthday gift.’ The thought of seeing Sunia again made him shiver with the delight of pure love and adoration.
‘So what’s all this about you being pleased with Sunia’s progress?’
Julian had appeared in Margarite’s office and the tone of his voice was derisive: ‘This is what Sunia is trying to tell me. It can’t be true, can it? You’ve always had a down on that girl and I can’t imagine you changing your mind.’
Margarite was stung by Julian’s tone and answered with some irritation: ‘Well, you’re wrong about that, Julian. While you were away, Sunia asked Alex if he would help her and, to my great surprise, it seems to have been a great success. So successful that Sunia assembled a simple Document Pack last week as Base Coordinator. All by herself, I am told. I never thought I would see the day. I have congratulated her and authorised her to work with Alex as much as possible. I doubt whether she will ever be our top scorer, but at least she seems to be gaining confidence and becoming useful at last.’
Julian was greatly alarmed. What was this? Sunia working with Alex? He had never paid much attention to Alex, considering him just one of the unimportant “foot soldiers” in the Department. Now he would pay a great deal more attention to him! Meanwhile, he must put a stop to this right away.
The Knowledge Stone Page 35
