by Liz Fielding
He would probably object to his niece working for the man in any capacity. He would certainly object to her being employed as his cleaner.
‘I don’t understand what you think you’ll get out of this,’ Fizz said, when she had finished.
‘Nothing. It’s different, that’s all. It started off as a kind of as a bet with this actor I worked with in Oz. Five hundred pounds goes to your charity if I win.’
‘Oh, well, in that case, please carry on. You have my full support.’
‘It’s just for a month. To prove something. Then I began to get a close-up of reality and I have to do something to help. ‘
‘Tell me about it.’
Fizz listened sympathetically to Mel’s story about Paddy’s problems, about the way Janet Graham treated the women who worked for her, but finally she stirred.
‘It’s a rotten situation, Mel, but I really don’t see what you can do. And frankly I don’t think Mrs Graham sounds like the sort of woman to start a crèche for her staff.’
‘She isn’t. The thing is, Fizz, this plan of mine is a whole lot more than that. ‘ She went on, outlining her ideas, her sister’s eyes widening as she listened. ‘You do understand, don’t you?’ she pressed, when she’d finished. ‘I’m just playing at this for a bet. For women like Paddy and Sharon it’s a battle everyday of their lives just to survive. I can’t simply do nothing - it isn’t right, is it?’
‘No.’ Fizz hesitated. ‘No, it isn’t right. These women are getting a very raw deal, but do be careful you don’t make things worse than they already are. If Mrs Graham finds out that you’re stirring things up you might find that you’re all out of a job. This might be a game to you, Mel but for the women you work with-’
A game? No. It was more than that. Far more. ‘You don’t have to spell it out, Fizz. I’ll be careful.’
Fizz nodded. ‘Well, I hope the information I’ve brought is a help and I’ll see what else I can find out. I’ll get one of those eager young reporters at the radio station researching the need for crèches in the workplace.’ She gathered her things. ‘And you don’t have to worry, I won’t tell Luke. Not because he’ll fuss. Not because he’ll descend on you and insist you give up this job of yours. But because he’ll want to take it over and do it all for you.’
‘Probably a lot better than I could.’
‘Not necessarily. This is your idea, your plan and it’s coming from your heart. To be honest, darling, I’ve never seen you quite so animated about anything.’ She reached out and cradled her cheek in one hand. ‘If it is just this?’ she asked, searchingly.
‘What else could it be?’ Mel said quickly. ‘This is real, Fizz. Not make-believe.’
Fizz tilted her head sideways slightly. ‘Ummm. Well, if you need any help just whistle...’
‘Thanks. You’ve been a brick.’
‘...on one condition. You’ll let Luke go ahead and organise this party for you.’
‘Do I have a choice?’
‘There’s always a choice, Mel.’
Melanie grinned. ‘What kind of party?’
‘Anything you like,’ Fizz said. ‘All the works with a marquee on the lawn? A quiet family dinner? A picnic on the beach?’ She paused, for a moment. ‘A combination of all three, perhaps? Think about it for a day or two and let me know what you want and when and then I’ll let think Luke think he’s organising a surprise.’
‘I don’t have to think about it. Let’s go with a picnic on the beach.’
‘Whatever you say. Now, I’d better let you get on with your shopping.’
‘Good grief, yes. I used to wonder why supermarkets stayed open so late. Now I know. I’ll come down with you.’ She grabbed her jacket. ‘Have you seen Heather since the wedding?’ she asked, as they made their way down in the lift.
‘Mac bailed her out last week after a demonstration in Trafalgar Square and took her down to the cottage to stay with him and Claudia. Thankfully no one realized who she was so it didn’t make the papers.’
‘Poor kid.’ Fizz glanced at her in surprise. ‘I imagine getting into the papers was what she wanted. She’ll make sure someone knows who she is next time.’
‘You think it was a scream for attention?’
‘Not a personal one. I imagine she just wants someone to remember that she’s the daughter of a Gulf-war hero, not some actor her widowed mother upped and married.’
‘Melanie!’
‘I’m sorry. But everyone seems to be forgetting how young Heather is. Diana and Edward are happy so that’s all that matters. And I don’t suppose she’s got over that crush she had on Mac.’
‘Dear God, Melanie, Mac’s must be nearly twenty years older than her. She’s just a child.’ Then, ‘Oh.’
‘Exactly. A child who’s lost a much loved father, Fizz. Seeing her mother and Beau married is like her father dying all over again, don’t you see? More than a funeral, more than a gravestone, it proves that he’s gone. That he’s never coming back. Mac was to some extent a substitute I suppose, but he fell in love with Claudia. You can’t blame her for loathing us all.’
She didn’t wait for her sister to reply, but stepped forward and hailed a passing cab for Fizz, so that her sister shouldn’t see the tears that threatened. That would be too ridiculous. And when she turned back to kiss her goodbye her smile was brilliant.
‘She won’t stay with Claudia and Mac for long, Fizz. She won’t be able to bear it. Especially once she realizes that Claudia is pregnant.’ Fizz stared at her. ‘I could be wrong, but didn’t you think, at the wedding, that she had a special bloom? That Mac looked like a man walking a foot above the ground?’
Melanie was just putting the finishing touches to Jack Wolfe’s kitchen when the front door bell rang. It was Richard and he didn’t wait to be invited in, but walked right by her into the apartment.
‘Richard!’ she exclaimed. ‘You can’t come in here.’
‘Relax, Mel,’ he said, with an easy grin. ‘Jack Wolfe is in his office, I saw him arrive twenty minutes ago with his lawyer. He’ll be hours.’
‘That’s not the point. You shouldn’t be here.’
‘Well, you haven’t been by lately, so I thought I’d drop in on you and see how you are.’
‘Check up on me, you mean. To make sure I’m really working.’
‘There’s no fooling you, darling.’ Richard was wandering around the apartment, his eyes everywhere. ‘You’re right about this place. It’s everything I would have expected.’ He picked up a small bronze figure of a dancing girl, examined the signature before replacing it. ‘Nice.’
He paused briefly before a large abstract work of art before turning to take in the simple, uncluttered interior. Melanie didn’t know why he had come, but she was uneasy. He seemed hyped up.
‘Richard, please. You really must go.’
He had come to a halt in the kitchen and now he turned to her. ‘Aren’t you even going to offer me a cup of coffee?’
‘There isn’t time. I’ve got five minutes and then I’m out of here.’
‘Plenty of time for coffee. I’ll make it.’
‘No, Richard,’ she said, desperately. ‘Just go. Please.’
Her words finally seemed to sink in and he said, ‘Oh, look, I’m sorry, Mel, you’re right, this was stupid. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just had this feeling that you might...’
‘What?’ He didn’t answer and she blushed. ‘You thought I might be here with Jack Wolfe. Well, thank you, Richard. As you can see I’m quite alone so you can go now.’
‘I’m just worried about you, Mel. I feel sort of responsible.’
‘Well, you aren’t. No one is responsible for me. Only me.’
He pushed his hand through his hair, obviously embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry. Really. Look let me do something to help.’
‘Just go, Richard.’
He glanced at the black sack of rubbish already tied up, ready to be carried down on her way out.
‘Well the least I
can do is carry this down for you. To make up for being such an idiot.’ He picked up the sack before she could object and Mel shrugged. As he said, it was the least he could do. He paused in the doorway, ‘When will I see you again?’
‘I’ll come down to the wine bar one evening,’ she said, vaguely.
‘Tonight?’ he pressed.
‘No. Not tonight. I’m having a drink with some of the girls after work.’
‘You’re joking?’
She was affronted. ‘Why should I be joking?’
‘Well. This isn’t really your scene is it? In fact I don’t really understand what you think you’re doing.’
‘You know what I’m doing. Relieving you of five hundred pounds in a good cause.’
‘I was just winding you up, you know.’ He seemed exasperated with her. ‘God, you’re just so gullible. Get out, Mel, before you get hurt.’
‘I can’t.’
He frowned. ‘Of course you can. Just walk away. Or was I right? This is all about Jack Wolfe. That’s why you’re so desperate to get rid of me. You’re hoping he’ll come back.’
‘No! No, Richard, it’s nothing to do with him. Really.’ She hesitated. If word was to get back to Janet Graham - but Richard was like her, an outsider. He wouldn’t tell. He might even help. ‘It’s this,’ she said, taking a leaflet from her pocket. ‘What do you think of this?’
He took the crumpled leaflet and looked at it. ‘“How to Start a Workers Co-op”? What is this?’
‘The first shot in a revolution, Richard. Why don’t you come along? I’m going to need all the support I can get.’
He stared at her for a moment. ‘You’re crazy, do you know that? You’ll get them all sacked.’
‘Keep the booklet,’ she said, as he thrust it back to her. ‘Read it. Think about it. You might change your mind.’
‘I didn’t join this party to start a war, Mel.’
‘Then why did you join, Richard? You’ve plenty of talent so why didn’t you just sign on with Trudy or someone and look for some real work?’
‘This isn’t real?’ He hefted the sack in his hand. ‘You could have fooled me.’
‘Well?’ Greg Tamblin demanded, impatiently.
‘No need to panic. Carstairs is still the target. This trip to The Ark is simply to distract anyone who might be taking an interest.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Quite sure. Mr Jack Wolfe isn’t going there to sniff around for a soft target. He already owns a very sizeable stake in the place.’
‘Who owns the rest?’
‘A old friend of Wolfe’s called Angus Jameson, he’s in on the whole thing. Just listen to this: “... Everything is in place regarding the new acquisition but, as you are aware, there is always interest in my movements so I think it would be a wise move to leave the final details to Mike and take a little holiday. A few “panicky” phone calls from you to the right investment people should be coincidental enough to convince anyone interested that I have more on my mind than sunbathing ...”
‘The devious bastard. You’ve done well, Richard. I won’t forget this.’
‘The only reward I want,’ Richard Latham said, with the utmost sincerity, ‘is to use Jack Wolfe, the way he uses other people.’
‘He’ll never know,’ Greg pointed out.
‘I will,’ Richard said.
And he knew that because Greg Tamblin was greedy and assumed that everyone else was the same, he would believe that the money would be enough.
*****
Revolution? Sitting in a pub near the Busy Bees office, Mel glanced around at the unlikely recruits to her army and wondered if she were quite mad. Probably. She launched into her introduction before she could lose her nerve.
‘Right, ladies, I won’t keep you long, because I know you’ve all got more important things to do than listen to me,’ she said, handing each of them a large envelope. ‘Don’t open those now, it’ll only waste time. You can read everything when you get home.’
‘You must be joking,’ someone muttered.
‘Lock yourself in the bathroom for ten minutes,’ Mel advised, briskly.
‘With four kids?’
‘Shut up, Jo. I’ve got a bus to catch. What’s all this about, Mel?’
Melanie looked around at the weary faces of the women she worked with. All they wanted was to go home and, hopefully, find five minutes to put their feet up in front of the television. How on earth could she expect them to find the time and energy for anything more?
‘I’ve got an idea. A plan. I’ve done some research and with a bit of luck and a lot of hard work -’ she looked around them ‘- and none of you are afraid of hard work, I know it can work. I’ve written it all down so you can look at it later. But basically what I’m asking you to think about is this. Janet Graham treats you all like garbage. How long are you going to let her get away with it?’
‘What do you suggest? Strike action?’
‘No.’ The idea of organising a placard demonstration had enormous appeal and her presence would certainly have guaranteed publicity. But the minute the furore died down the system would be back to normal, except that Paddy, Sharon, and anyone else who joined in, would be out of a job and probably marked as troublemakers into the bargain. ‘I know that’s impossible -’
‘Life’s bloody impossible.’ This was greeted by laughter.
‘Difficult.’ Mel summoned another round of drinks. ‘But you don’t have to lie down and take it.’
‘What’s your solution, then?’
‘Not my solution. Yours. The answer, if you’re willing to take the risk, is to form a co-operative and work for yourselves.’
There was a moment of stunned silence. Then Sharon downed her second drink in one swallow and stood up.
‘Thanks for the drink, Mel. And the laugh. See you in the morning girls.’ And that was that. Sharon was their natural leader and once she left, the others followed, the envelopes abandoned, unopened on the table. Only Paddy remained.
Mel stunned at the suddenness with which she had lost her audience turned to her. ‘What did I do wrong?’
‘You won’t get anywhere until you’ve won over Sharon, she likes to be queen bee.’
‘I don’t want to take over the hive, Paddy. I just want to help.’
Paddy’s smile was sympathetic. ‘I’m still here. Tell me about it.’
‘You don’t have to rush back to feed your family?’
‘Dave was made redundant last week, Mel. He’s no Delia Smith, but he can open a tin of beans. So, what’s it all about?’
‘Oh, I’m sorry, Paddy. You’ve got troubles enough, you don’t want to sit here and listen to my crackpot ideas.’
‘I might as well. Laughs are in short supply around our house just at the moment.’
‘Then I’ve got a better idea. Let’s get a pile of pizzas and take them back to your house. That way we can get Dave’s input too.’ Paddy gave her an old-fashioned look. ‘The pizza’s are on me.’
‘It’s not that, Mel. They’ll be cold by the time we get them home on the bus.’
‘Then we’ll take a cab,’ she said, grinning broadly. ‘And when you tell Sharon about it, she’ll be mad as hell she didn’t stay and join in the fun!’
CHAPTER SIX
‘MELANIE!’ Janet Graham put her head round the door and called her into the office. ‘I’ve got a special job for you today.’
‘Special?’
‘Mr Wolfe, as you may know, has a weekend cottage in Henley,’ she said, her tone proprietorial, as if because of her business connection with the owner, she had some stake in it. ‘He’s had a new bathroom installed and now the workmen have left now he wants the place cleaned through. His driver is coming to pick you up any minute. It’s straightforward enough, but since you have all day make sure that you do a thorough job.’
She smiled, rare enough to be unnerving in itself, but it wasn’t that which bothered Melanie.
‘Did Mr Wolfe ask for
me especially, Mrs Graham?’
‘You? Of course he didn’t ask for you.’ The smile disappeared as quickly as it had come and Melanie could have bitten out her tongue for giving the woman the satisfaction of lying to her. ‘Why should he ask for you?’ she asked, suddenly suspicious.
‘No reason,’ she said, as carelessly as she knew how. Just that he had come close to kissing her and she had come perilously close to letting him. If he had asked for her... That foolish, betraying lift of the heart told her more about her feelings than all the hours and days of heart-searching since. ‘I just thought it might be easier to send someone else,’ she continued, her fingers crossed behind her back. ‘I should be working with Sharon and Paddy today.’
‘Leave me to worry about that. Mr Wolfe wants a cleaner for a whole day out of town and you just happen to be more expendable than anyone else.’ Janet Graham could look you straight in the eyes and lie. She was lying now, Melanie was certain of it, for no better reason than to make sure she didn’t get above herself, begin to think she was important. ‘Sharon and Paddy will manage perfectly well without you.’
In other words they’d do three jobs for the price of two while Mrs Graham would get three fees and only have to pay two wages. No wonder the woman was smiling. But Melanie knew better than to say anything.
Working for Mrs Graham was, as Richard had promised, an education and she was learning all about being treated like a nobody, about keeping her mouth shut and taking it. He had thought she would find the work difficult, but that was the easy part.
The knowledge that she could, if she chose, walk away at any time gave her a detached view of the situation. For the other women, she knew it was simply take it or leave it.
The sharp toot of a car horn outside attracted Mrs Graham’s attention.
‘There’s your driver,’ she said, sharply. ‘Don’t keep him waiting.’
‘Morning, miss,’ he said, taking her workbox from her and opening the door of a large, dark workmanlike estate car, so that she could climb into the front passenger seat. ‘I’m Geoff, Mr Wolfe’s driver.’
‘Good morning, Geoff.’ The man was pleasant enough, chatting about his wife and family as they drove swiftly along the M4, until once they were past Windsor he turned off and headed into the country.
