“Excellent. See you later.” He strode off into the building, not waiting for her to catch up or even to hold the door open for her. She shrugged. Maybe he didn’t want anyone to notice that he had given her a lift, not that anyone significant would be in the building this early.
Some of the other partners came in early, but the receptionist and secretaries rarely arrived much before nine o’clock. There were clearly two sides to Alex Weston and home and work did not mix. That was fine by her. She opened her office door and settled down in front of a new heap of mail. Poppy had carefully slit open the envelopes and left them ready for her return. How thoughtful, she smiled to herself.
As the staff arrived, several of them waved or called greetings through the door. Everyone seemed pleased to see her and she felt the warm glow of being wanted.
By the end of the morning, Sarah had completely forgotten that she had ever been away. She had a small digital recorder and made great use of it, instead of making her usual written notes for the secretaries to type her letters.
She made lots of calls and set up appointments for clients for the following day. She would need to read up some files during the evening so she was completely up to date with everything. There was one particularly difficult case where she was acting for the father, following a messy divorce. The ex-wife was claiming that his child was unwilling to see him and he was very distressed.
On the wife’s instructions, she needed to arrange supervised access through social services and somehow, to persuade his ex to allow it and comply with the divorce agreement. She hated such cases where feelings were running so high, knowing logic and common sense got lost in the welter of emotions that had killed what had once been love. It had made Sarah herself very cautious about her own life. She often wished she could have been as certain as her sister.
When Beth and Mike had decided to marry, it had always been exactly what they both wanted and neither of them had any doubts. Neither of them had ever had any other person in their lives and they both seemed just as happy now after all the years. Maybe she had simply not met the right person and when she did, there would be no worries. Meantime, she had to try to sort out the complexities of Mr Knowles and his family.
It was almost five o’clock when Sarah realised that she hadn’t had her meeting with Alex. Too late now, she decided and tidied her desk, ready to call a taxi and go home. Her phone rang.
“Miss Pennyweather? Sarah. Mr Weston wonders if it would be convenient to see him now?” It was Julia, his secretary, an elderly lady who had been with the company for many years. She had previously worked exclusively for Ken, the now retiring head of the practice. She wondered what Julia thought of her new boss, the new head of practice in all but name.
“Fine,” she murmured, mentally cancelling her relatively early finish. “I’ll come along right away.” She picked up her briefcase and pushed various documents into it for reading at home. She felt weary but there was only one more day before the weekend.
She had a little thrill as she thought of going out on Saturday to look at puppies with Alex. Maybe they could stop at some nice country pub on the way back. Thoughts of log fires and cheery warm bar food seemed most appealing. She wondered if she dare mention it to him.
“Mr Weston is waiting for you,” Julia said as she arrived in the outer office. “Go straight in. Would you like anything to drink? Tea, coffee, water?”
“No thanks. I’m going straight home when I finish here. I’ll use your phone afterwards if you don’t mind. I need to call a taxi as I can’t drive yet.”
“I’d offer to do it for you but I don’t know how long you’ll be and I’m about to leave for the day.”
“Thanks. No problems.” She tapped on the door and walked in without waiting for a reply.
“Good evening. Hope you had a good day? Thanks for coming in. Hope it hasn’t made you late for anything?”
“No. I was about to call a taxi so you caught me at the right moment.” He indicated a seat and she sat down.
“I’ve been working on everyone’s targets, today. We need to revise the whole system if we are to keep all the administrative staff. Business rates are rising and well, frankly, there just isn’t enough income being generated.” He handed her a sheet of paper. “This is what I’ve set for you, based on the client base you had over the past six months and your own fee hours.”
She glanced down at the words and figures and gasped. She looked back at him. “You are surely joking? I can’t achieve this. For one thing, it depends on who walks in through the door. You’ve seen the sort of cases I work on. As I said the other day, these are all people with little or no income. They’ve been through divorces and a family break up. Some of them are struggling to pay unrealistic fees set by the support agency. How can I suddenly start charging them fees like this?”
The cool grey eyes stared back at her, unblinking. He was silent. The mouth she had thought generous and attractive was set in a firm line. He drew in his breath at last, he spoke.
“I’m sorry you see it that way. I’m really not trying to be unreasonable but we have to face reality. It’s a case of this or sack two or more of the admin staff. I know none of you would be happy with that. We all rely on them for many things and you’d end up doing things like your own photocopying and typing letters. That strikes me as being a waste of expensive time and inevitably would mean longer hours. Give it a try and we’ll review it in a few weeks. Now, I mustn’t keep you any longer. You’ll be wanting to get home.”
“Right. Thanks. Erm, would it be convenient for a lift in tomorrow?”
“Certainly. Same time as this morning?”
“Thanks. That’s fine.” She hesitated, wondering when he’d have time to see to Major and his own horse. It didn’t look as though he was ready to leave yet and it was already dark outside. Her horse would need his feed and to be put inside the stable.
“Is there something else? I’m afraid I’m not finished yet so I can’t offer you a lift home.”
“No, it wasn’t that. I was . . .”
“Oh. You’re worried about Major? It’s fine. Mrs Harper was putting them both in the stables and seeing to the feed for both of them. They’ll be well looked after. No worries.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. Good old Mrs Harper, she thought sarcastically. The woman was obviously making herself indispensable. So what, she thought. She should be grateful someone was looking after her dear Major. Why should she feel any sort of silly resentment, or could it be jealousy, about the woman.
Alex may have been friendly enough outside work, but he certainly wasn’t showing her any favours in the office. In fact, she would be interested to see if everyone had such unrealistic targets set or whether he was actually making sure he wasn’t seen to be showing her any favouritism. She tried to convince herself that he was nothing to her on a personal level.
It was kind of him to take in her horse and to have given her a meal the other night, but whatever her idiotic thoughts might have been the previous evening, they didn’t have a future and it wasn’t the start of something. She dialled the taxi firm and went into the reception area to wait. Alex Weston was an enigma.
“I’m so glad it’s Friday,” called Charles Talbot as he breezed through reception the next day. “I do love Fridays. My, you are getting in early these days,” he said as he leaned on the door post of Sarah’s office. She and Alex had driven in with very few words again. He wasn’t a man who liked to chatter when driving, she had realised.
“Lots to catch up on.” She could smell his aftershave from the other side of the room. Someone should tell him about it, she thought.
“Trying to impress, are we?”
“Not at all.” He was on a fishing trip, trying to find out if there was anything going on between her and Alex. Perhaps Poppy had been talking out of place.
“Look, can I have a word?” He came into the office and closed the door. “I was wondering if his majesty had given you his
idea of what targets are possible?”
“Well, yes.”
“And?” He raised his eyebrows. “And are yours remotely achievable?”
“Actually, no. At least most of your work is property based. Mine is all the family stuff that simply doesn’t pay because nobody can afford it.”
“You must know what the property market is like these days. Everything’s seizing up. I don’t have a hope of getting even half way there.”
“Well, at least I know it isn’t just me he’s singled out for a boost in keeping the company afloat.”
“So what are we going to do about it?”
“He told me to see how it goes for a few weeks and then we can meet again to discuss it.”
“I’m not happy about it. Not one bit.”
“Nor me, but there’s nothing else to do. We can’t be responsible for half the staff being sacked. Now, you must excuse me. I have a client coming in half an hour and I need to refresh myself on his notes.”
“Fancy a drink after work? Friday night treat?”
“Sorry, no. I can’t.”
“Shame. So, who’s the new guy in your life?”
“There’s no new guy,” she snapped, blushing.
“Don’t give me that. Someone’s putting a blush on your cheeks and a spring in your step.”
“There’s nobody, I assure you.”
“Great. That means there might still be hope for yours truly. And if you change your mind about that drink . . . give me a buzz.”
She shook her head as she pulled out her notes and settled to work.
It was a difficult morning. She felt so sorry for her first client and did what she could to comfort him. She agreed to speak to his ex-wife’s solicitor and see what could be arranged. The worst part came when she informed of their increased charges. His face fell and he looked distraught.
“But I can’t afford that much. Does that mean I can’t have you working for me any more?”
“I’ll do whatever I can, I promise you. It’s all out of my hands. You must understand the economic climate is a problem for all of us. Leave it with me. I’m sure I can find ways to prune what I have to charge.”
She showed him out. Along with the wretched targets, there was a time sheet where she was supposed to write down pretty much every bit of work she was doing for every minute of her day.
It was supposed to be a temporary thing, so the powers-that-be could have more idea of how time was being managed. None of it took account of the fact that she often spent her lunchtimes at her desk working, while she munched her sandwiches. Getting in early and leaving late were also a part of her usual routine and none of this was being taken into consideration, it seemed to her. Speaking to the other juniors over coffee, she sensed a feeling of rebellion brewing. Alex was not making himself popular right from the start of his tenure.
Charles was leading the debate.
“I mean to say, how can we actually charge extra when the clients aren’t coming into the office in the first place. We can hardly go and drag them in off the street. I was even thinking of going round to the estate agents and getting them to recommend me, assuming they ever manage to make a sale in the first place.”
“You can’t do that. It isn’t legal.”
“I know. But desperate times . . .”
There was a great sense of unrest in what had previously been a happy practice. Sarah felt embarrassed about seeing Alex outside work, largely because he was taking the brunt of everyone’s dissatisfaction. She returned to her office and began to answer some e-mails, her one handed typing improving sufficiently to make it a practical task. Charles came into her office once more.
“If you intend trying to persuade me to go out with you . . .” she began.
“Not this time. You seem to be closer than most to the new broom. Any chance you might talk to him? I think he’s going to have open rebellion on his hands if he doesn’t see reason.”
“I’m not actually that close,” she said flatly. “I’ve simply been having a couple of lifts into work, while I can’t drive. He says absolutely nothing when we’re driving and makes it clear he won’t discuss office politics with me. I have been thinking about the situation though. I’m really wondering if the problem rests with the past and the kindly Ken. Maybe he never wanted to rock any boats and the whole system has been slowly collapsing. The credit crunch has just made everything so much more urgent.”
“Someone said you’d defend him. Clearly you do have some sort of relationship burgeoning. Sorry I bothered you.”
“For goodness sake, Charles. It’s nothing like that. There is no relationship. I’m not defending him. I told him my target was unreasonable and exactly why I think so.”
Charles gave a snort. “And where is your precious horse at present?” She looked down. “Poppy let it slip that he was looking after him. Very cosy.”
“I assure you, it means nothing. It’s only while I have this dratted plaster cast on my arm. Alex happens to have a horse of his own and plenty of space to stable a second horse. Major will be back in his paddock as soon as I can manage him again. I wouldn’t have put you down as an office gossip.” She was angry now.
“OK. You needn’t explode. I’ve obviously touched a sensitive area.”
She sighed. What was the point? There was nothing she could say to change his opinion.
“Think what you like. There is nothing going on, but if you want to disbelieve me, that’s up to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another client due any moment.”
He left her office, a smirk on his face. One thing that was for certain, she would not be going to look at pups with Alex the next day. It would be sure to get back to the office gossips who were determined to pair them off. It seemed that even if she had thought that she and Alex might become good friends, it was not going to be possible. He would be furious if he knew people were already talking about them.
“We’re all going round to the wine bar after work,” Poppy announced near the end of the day. “You will come, won’t you?”
“I’ve already told Charles I wouldn’t go out for a drink with him. So, in honesty, I really can’t.”
“Don’t worry about him. I’ll tell him I bullied you into it.”
“OK then. It would be nice. I’ve hardly been out anywhere since my accident.”
“Great. I’ll give you a shout when we’re ready.”
Sarah tidied her desk and decided she’d done enough for the day. She completed the dreaded time sheet and dropped it into the main admin office as instructed. As she was coming out, Alex bumped into her.
“Oh, Sarah. Glad we bumped into each other. I was wondering if we might go for a quick drink before heading back to the village. Actually, I rather wanted to invite everyone to celebrate the end of my first week. What do you think?”
“Tricky one. I’ve just agreed to go to the wine bar with them. I’m not sure who’s going. Maybe you could suggest it to the others. If it comes from me, it would look bad. As if we had something between us.”
“And we don’t?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Pity. I thought we were getting on rather well.”
“Outside the office maybe there is something. But you’ve hardly been Mr Popular here at work and positively cool to me.”
“Then an invitation to free drinks all round might be just the thing. Who’s the best one to speak to?”
“You could try Poppy, but don’t let her think I put you up to it.”
He gave her hand a quick squeeze and said thanks. She slipped back to her own office unnoticed, overhearing him inviting everyone to join him for a drink.
“Thanks,” she heard Poppy’s voice. “We’re going to the Jug and Bottle. Join us there.”
“Right. Half-an-hour?”
“Fine.” There was a buzz of conversation as he left. Undoubtedly, the others were scolding Poppy for letting him join them.
“He is the enemy, after all,” Charle
s was mouthing off.
“Well, it’s a free drink and maybe he’ll stop being the enemy if we socialise a bit.”
Out of the office, Alex turned out to be quite a hit. He relaxed completely and was entertaining, charming and quite the perfect host. He bought several bottles of wine and wouldn’t let any of the staff pay for their share.
Sarah watched him carefully and saw that he didn’t drink more than one small glass himself, knowing he had to drive home. She was relieved to see it. Charles on the other hand, was drinking rather excessively and she knew he had a car parked back at the office.
“I hope you don’t plan to drive home,” she muttered to him as discreetly as possible.
“Course not. I shall take a taxi,” he replied rather too loudly. “Perhaps someone would like to share my cab with me? We could have a bite to eat first and make a night of it. Any takers?” There was a sudden silence and people began to collect things together to leave, mumbling that they needed to get home.
Alex touched her shoulder and she swung round. She had been sitting at the opposite side of the table, trying to ensure nobody would make any comments.
“I might as well drop you off on my way past. It seems silly for you to order a cab.”
“Well, yes. Thank you. That would be very kind.”
“I’ll meet you back in the office car park. Better to be discreet.”
“OK. Thanks. We don’t want anyone thinking we might be friends, do we?” There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone. He glared at her and then smiled. She said her goodbyes to the others and watched as they made their way home. Charles was still standing on the pavement.
“Won’t you change your mind and come for something to eat? There’s that nice Italian just round the corner. I shall be sober once I’ve eaten and I can drive you home.”
“No thanks, Charles. Like I said, I need to get back home. I have a taxi coming for me at the office. See you on Monday. Have a good weekend.”
“Thanks, you too,” he muttered and wandered down the road. When she was sure he was out of sight, she went round the back of the offices and met Alex, sitting in his car, waiting for her.
A Love Shared Page 4
