Authors: Julia Bell
Anna
entered an office that was a good size with a huge window that filled the room
with bright light. A large desk dominated the opposite side of the window and
sitting behind it was Jason Harrington.
Sharon
gestured to the chair in front of his desk and then went to sit down a short
distance away. As Anna walked towards Jason, he stood up and held out his hand
in greeting. He’s certainly attractive, thought Anna, with dark brown hair and
deep blue eyes, but it dismayed her how his manner seemed to be brisk and
efficient. Taking his hand, she realised she probably wouldn’t meet his
specifications for a personal assistant. She licked her lips and tried to
relax. How ironic, she thought, believing this was such a clever idea, but now
feeling like a trapped animal. Her grim thoughts were arrested by his smile.
It was a wonderful smile that lit up his face and seemed to convey a warm
feeling of genuine friendship. She shook his hand, hoping hers wasn’t
trembling. Sweat started trickling down her back.
“Mrs
Stevens, I’m so pleased you arrived safely. Did you have a good journey?”
“Yes,
I did, thank you.”
They
made themselves comfortable.
“Splendid!
Well, let’s get down to business.” He paused for a moment before continuing,
“I run a busy shipping agency, exporting and importing a variety of goods.
You’ve met my present PA, Sharon, who unfortunately is leaving me to go back to
Ireland to get married. I’m looking for someone who can run this office,
whether I’m here or not and generally take care of things at this end. I can
be away quite a lot as I have business interests in London and....”
Sharon
pulled a face. “And Paris…and Brussels…and…”
He
gave a chuckle that made Anna smile. “Anyway, you get the picture, I’m sure.
I travel a great deal and sometimes I need to attend meetings at our main
office in Bristol. However, I do work here at home most of the time. The
person who runs this office, would have to be efficient and willing to work the
hours that suit me. I’m not a bad boss, at least I hope not, but I am
demanding. I expect my PA to be here when needed. And to make things easier,
I do provide food and accommodation.”
Anna
stared at him. “I would live here?”
“You
would be given a comfortable room and enjoy the benefit of Mrs Wilby’s
excellent cooking.”
“I
will certainly miss that,” Sharon sighed.
Jason
grinned at her before turning his attention back to Anna. “When I’m away, my
PA would have to work on his or her own initiative. Are you OK about working
on your own?”
Anna
nodded. “Yes, I’m quite happy about that.”
“Good.
Now then, let’s see what we know about you.” He looked down at the open file
on his desk and Anna’s mouth dried up. She licked her lips as she watched him
scan down her CV. “I see you’re a widow with twin boys.”
“Yes,
they’re eighteen and just about to go to university.”
He
nodded. “Does that mean you haven’t any family responsibilities as such?”
“I
have a mother, stepfather and younger sister living in Wakefield. That’s all.”
She
felt a great urge to sit on her shaking hands, but instead, she held them in
her lap, locked together. Keep a grip on yourself, she told herself, this will
soon be over.
His
eyes searched her face and then rested ever so lightly on her clenched hands.
“I
see you achieved good ‘A’ level grades and you’ve been employed for the last
four years as a school secretary?”
Anna’s
spirits soared as she explained her ambitions to him, her face becoming
animated. “Yes, I decided to go back to college when the twins were twelve. I
thought a secretarial qualification would help me go further in a career. As
you can see, I worked for the Prison Service for two years as a typist and then
I started working as a school secretary.”
She
felt an enormous sense of relief that for once, she was telling the truth.
He
smiled in admiration. “You’ve certainly worked hard to look after your
children.”
“I…I
married young.” He was watching her and before she knew it she had blurted out,
“I spent many years caring for my husband. He was ill with…with multiple
sclerosis. He died…” What had she told Mrs Wilby? With great relief she
added, “six years ago.”
Anna’s
spirits sank, her brief moment of truth had ignited and burnt out so quickly.
Jason
nodded. “That shows a great deal of dedication for one so young. That’s the
sort of loyalty that can only be commended.” Anna tried to fight the waves of
sickness. He pressed on with his interminable questions. “You understand that
this position is immediate? How will your sons manage if you come to work in
Bristol? You say that they’re not leaving home until after the summer? In
fact, isn’t Bristol a long way from your family and friends?”
“My
mother will take care of the boys until they leave.” She swallowed with
difficulty. “I want to get away from my home town.” She hoped she didn’t sound
selfish and added, “Memories, you understand.”
His
expression softened. “I can understand why you’re looking for a fresh start.
Life can sometimes hit below the belt.” Anna kept her expression impassive.
Jason sighed as though reflecting on his own sorrows before saying, “I don’t
bother with shorthand. I much prefer to dictate into this little machine.” He
tapped the recorder on the desk.
“Audio
typing would be no problem for me,” she said quietly.
He
carried on talking; explaining the work conditions and salary, but Anna had
stopped listening. She wanted to go home. She had said too much and the sooner
she was on that train the better. The elated feelings she had had when setting
off that morning had evaporated. It was only a matter of time now. Soon he
would say, “Thanks, but no thanks,” and she would be on her way.
Anna
glanced towards the window, noticing how the trees in the garden were already
starting to shed their blossom, the tiny petals fluttering down in delicate
flurries. Another month or so and it would be summer. So absorbed was she in
her own thoughts, she failed to hear Jason Harrington’s next comment. It was
only when she realised the room had fallen silent and Sharon was rising to her
feet, was she able to pull herself back to reality.
“Would
you like to follow me, Mrs Stevens. I’ll take you back to the kitchen and with
any luck, Mrs Wilby will have another cup of coffee for you.” Dazed, Anna
followed her from the office and across the hall to the kitchen. Mrs Wilby was
bustling about preparing lunch, but grinned when she saw them. “Look after
her, will you? I’ll be back shortly.”
“Sit
down, my dear,” said Mrs Wilby. “No doubt they’re going to put their heads
together and decide on the best person for the job.” She poured out the coffee
and Anna took it in her hands, gulping it down.
“Well,
it certainly won’t be me. I was terrible!”
“Now,
don’t talk like that,” laughed Mrs Wilby. “You never know what’s going to
happen. Better to wait and see.”
“But
I was awful. All nerves and prattle,” said Anna. “I can’t believe that the
other five candidates were worse than me.”
Mrs
Wilby threw back her head and her laughter echoed round the large kitchen.
“You have no idea, my chick, no idea at all. The first one turned up an hour
late and from what Sharon told us, didn’t stop chewing her gum all through the
interview. The second one looked down her nose at us as if we were far below
the likes of her and as for the third…!” Anna began to laugh and it eased the
discomfort. “The third one was plainly after the boss rather than the work.
I’ve never seen so much thigh or bosom.” Tears of laughter streamed down her
fat cheeks. “Poor Ben didn’t know where to look.”
“I
bet,” giggled Anna, putting her cup down on the table. “Where is he, by the
way?”
“Oh,
he’s gone to tie up the daffs. He’s the gardener and handyman too, you know,
as well as the chauffeur.”
“And
what about the fourth and fifth?” asked Anna.
Mrs
Wilby thought for a moment. “The fourth rang up to say he had had a better
offer and we’re still waiting for the fifth! So, you could be in with a chance
after all, my dear.”
Before
Anna could reply, Sharon appeared. “Could you come back to the office please,”
she said.
Anna
tried to read her expression but it was obvious she wasn’t going to give
anything away. She followed her once more across the hall and into the office,
where Jason was leaning back in his chair, tapping his pen on the desk. His
expression was serious as he told her to take her seat.
Anna
sat down, her body calm, her thoughts quiet. She knew what was coming and she
was ready for it.
“Well,
Mrs Stevens. The job is yours,” said Jason without any preamble.
Anna
stared at him. “I’m sorry, did you say I’d got the job?” she stammered.
“Yes,
I did and I’m hoping you can start within the next few weeks. Sharon has
agreed to spend time with you, teaching you the ropes and getting everything
sorted out.” Turning his head, he directed his next remark to Sharon. “Has
your father given you a date for starting?”
She
shook her head. “No, he’s leaving it up to me, but it would be helpful if I
could have a good five days in the office with Mrs Stevens.” She looked across
at Anna and a smile spread across her face as she realised Anna’s utter
bewilderment. “I think you’ve taken Mrs Stevens by surprise, Jason.”
“You’re
offering me the job?” repeated Anna.
Jason
laughed. “If you want the job, it’s yours.”
“But...I
never expected!” Her voice faded as she glanced from Jason to Sharon and then
back to Jason.
He
shook his head in amusement. “Are you accepting the job or have you come all
this way just to turn it down?”
“I’m
sorry. What I mean is…I’d like the work very much. It’s just that your offer
has come as…actually, I’m gobsmacked.” Her voice shook as she scanned the
expression of the man sitting opposite her.
He
threw her that disarming smile of his, understanding her confusion. “Well, Mrs
Stevens…Anna. May I call you Anna?” She nodded. “I’m always delighted when I
catch people unawares. But I’m sure you’ll do very well as my PA. Your work
as a school secretary has given you the right experience. Of course, Sharon
will have to train you in the way I want the office to run and we’ll have to
sort out your references.” He glanced down at her CV again. “I see you’ve
put down your referees as the headmistress at the school and your boss in the
Prison Service.” Anna nodded again and he added, “So, when can we say you’ll
start?”
“I
must give four weeks’ notice,” she answered slowly. “The headmistress will be
surprised but understanding. She knows my boys are going off to university in
the autumn.”
“Good.
Then let us know,” said Jason, a bright smile lighting up his face.
Anna
nodded and murmured a soft, “Thank you.”
Jason
rubbed his hands together as if he had just completed a satisfactory business
deal and stood, holding out his hand. She took it reluctantly. “Good!
Welcome to the family, Anna. I hope you’ll be happy with us. Now then, Sharon,
where’s my damned briefcase!” Sharon jumped up, collected a black leather bag
from the chair by the wall and placed it on his desk. He opened it with a
sharp snap of the catches and started flinging in papers. He closed the case
and picking up his mobile phone, attached it to his trouser belt. “Will you
tell Ben I’m ready to leave for the airport.” Sharon left the office en route
to the kitchen. Jason straightened his tie, all the time his eyes fixed on
Anna’s white, pinched face. “Are you all right, Anna? You look pale.”
She
shivered. “Do I? I suppose I must be in shock.”
He
gave a jolly laugh. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll work very well together.
I’m not usually wrong about people. I’m a fairly good judge of character; I
have to be in my line of work. Goodbye until I see you again.” He strode
towards the door, but then stopped on the threshold and after a moment of
consideration asked, “I know this is going to sound a bit of a cliché, but
have we met before?”
Anna
shook her head. “I don’t think so. It’s the first time I’ve been to this part
of England.”
He
smiled and left the room.
The
quietness seemed to suffocate her. What had she done! Of all the idiotic things
to do, to go and accept a job that was out of the question. Sharon returning
interrupted her confused thoughts.
“Now
then, Anna. Would you like to look round the house first and then have some
lunch with Mrs Wilby and me? Ben will be back in about an hour and then he can
take you to the station.”
The
barrage of questions made her head throb.
“I’ll
do whatever suits you,” she smiled.
Sharon
looked round the office, her eyes filling with tears. “We really are like a
family,” she sighed. “There isn’t any ‘them’ and ‘us’ to speak about. We all
kind of pull together to get the work done. I’m going to miss everyone to be
honest, but I’m going to work for my dad in Dublin. My fiancé, Aengus, wants
us to get married this year as he’s fed up of waiting.”