Law of Attraction (2 page)

Michael thrust a neatly pressed handkerchief in her hands. “If you’re worried about the extra work, please don’t be. I do realise there is a limit to what anyone can do and I’m not some sort of draconian boss from the Victorian era.”

“I know,” Kay sniffed.

“So come on, tell me.” Michael reached over and took her hand in his and held it gently, as he lightly stroked her fingers.

Just as Kay was about to unburden herself and confess her fear of the future, she was aware of Betty hovering nearby. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Can I help you, Betty?”

Betty bobbed in deference to Michael and he raised his eyebrows towards Kay who couldn’t help a small wobbly grin. “Please, Kay, I’m running out of tea and the milk smells off. I brought the bottle in from the step first thing and it’s in cold water in the sink as usual. What shall I do?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Kay watched Michael discreetly retreating to his office. “I’ll give you some money out of petty cash, Betty,” she said, her equilibrium returning, “and you can go to the shop along the road and get what you need. Please get a receipt as it will have to go through the account books.”

“Thank you, Kay. I was so worried and everyone will want their tea at eleven.” Betty took the envelope into which Kay had pushed the money, and put on her coat.

Kay couldn’t settle. She had to find out what was happening. Taking up her shorthand notebook, she tapped on Michael’s office door.

“Come in,” he called. “Ah, Kay, I was hoping we’d be able to continue our conversation. Please tell me what’s upsetting you.”

“I’m worried about my future prospects. I know I’m being selfish, but it means a lot to me to be working with this firm and now I’m not sure where I fit in.”

Michael gave a half smile. “There are going to be some changes and some big challenges. I hope you are ready to share them with me.”

Chapter Two

“First of all, what exactly is it you’re worried about?” Michael pushed his hair out of his eyes.

“You said there’d be more work…”

“I also said I am aware there’s a limit to what anyone can do.”

“I know, and if you’ll just let me finish…” said Kay. Michael put a finger to his lips and smiled as she continued, “The thing is I’m your secretary, but your father’s secretary will take my place, it’s obvious. She’s far more experienced and better at the job.”

“And much less fun and funny. And much less pretty.”

Kay could feel the colour rising up her cheeks.

“But she’s also moving to Australia. She and her sister have decided they want to make a new start with the assisted passage programme. She hasn’t said anything in the office because she wasn’t sure it would all go through. So there isn’t a problem. I’d like you to remain as my secretary and help me keep things on track. With your support I can ensure Harris and Son, soon to be Harris and Partners, remains the most reputable and flourishing solicitors in the county. It’s not going to be easy.”

“You can’t imagine how relieved I am, thank you. I know it won’t be easy without your dad here, but everything runs pretty smoothly and we have some big clients. They’ll all stick with you so long as we carry on doing a good job.” She rose to leave.

“Just a moment, Kay. I need to tell you something.”

Kay slowly sat down again. Her mind was racing. She told herself not to be ridiculous and imagine he was going to tell her he liked her or wanted to go out with her. But then he had told her she was pretty and funny. Isn’t that what most girls liked to hear? And it was clear he enjoyed her company and thought highly of her ability.

“Are you listening, Kay?”

“Sorry.”

“I could see your mind was wandering, very unlike you. I’m about to tell you something that I don’t want anyone else to know just yet. I think it would dent morale just at a time when we need to be positive and forward looking. I received a rather odd letter this morning from Reacher and Good, our biggest client. They are moving their business elsewhere. I couldn’t make sense of what was said at all. It was as though they knew something I didn’t.”

“But they can’t! Why?” Kay felt indignant. After all the effort they’d put into looking after their legal affairs.

“They say that something has come to light which means they can no longer trust us. I’m going to telephone them today and see if we can arrange an appointment to get to the bottom of this. I’d like you to come with me. Meanwhile not a word to anyone.”

“Of course not. I’m very sorry, Michael, and just at the time when your father’s leaving and you’re trying to make a go of things.”

“I couldn’t have put it better myself,” Michael grimaced. “Now I think we’d better get on with the work we do have.”

Back at her desk Kay found it difficult to concentrate. She decided to go to the stock cupboard and see how Betty was getting on with the task of stock-taking. It was a job she liked doing herself, but had thought she should delegate now that she was the boss’s secretary and had more important things to do and it was helping Betty learn new office skills.

“How’s it going, Betty?”

“I can’t make things add up.” Betty frowned at the clipboard she was holding. “I know I haven’t done this before, but it seems pretty straightforward. So why is some of the stationery missing?”

“I’m sure it’s a simple mistake. Let’s go through it together.” It was just what she needed to take her mind from what Michael had just told her.

“Some of the headed notepaper is missing, also a box of carbon paper and some typewriter ribbons. And a stapler.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, Betty. Let’s get the steps and make sure there’s nothing on those top shelves and go through it all item by item.”

Exhausted and dusty the two young women slumped on the floor. “We’ve checked everything. Those items are definitely missing,” Kay said.

“What do we do now?”

“We’ll have to tell Mr Michael. That’s all he needs.”

“I suppose he has got a lot on his plate what with his dad retiring.” Betty paused. “He’s quite attractive, isn’t he, but he’s nearly old enough to be my father. He’d be all right for you though, Kay.”

* * *

Kay had been perplexed by Michael’s reaction to the news of the missing stationery. She thought he’d have been angry and surprised, but he showed no sign of being either. However, she’d picked up on the tenseness of his facial muscles once again. He was probably a bit anxious that things should be perfect so his father could retire with no worries about the business. He’d just thanked Kay for letting him know and she felt she’d been dismissed rather hurriedly.

The door to Michael’s office remained firmly shut through the rest of the morning. When everyone returned from their lunch break, Michael was standing by Kay’s desk. “There’s to be another meeting in my office on Monday after I’ve finalised a few things over the weekend,” he said. “There are some important changes you all need to know about.”

“Can I help at all? You know I won’t say anything to the others.”

“I do know you are trustworthy, but I’m afraid you’ll have to be patient to find out what’s going to happen next.”

* * *

When the office staff had assembled once again in Michael’s office, he said, “I won’t beat about the bush. As you now know Mr Harris senior is retiring next month. I am very pleased to report that we are opening a bigger office in Blayton soon as I’m taking on a couple of new solicitors. I’ve found the right premises and am having it fitted out and decorated. As soon as it’s ready we’ll open. I estimate a couple of weeks. This means that I will be leaving this office to oversee things there and I would like to give you the opportunity of coming with me to help. It won’t be easy starting from scratch in a place where we’re not known, but I am confident it won’t take long to build up a good relationship with the locals and make a going concern.”

“I can’t come, I’m sorry,” said Betty, after putting her hand up to comment. “I’ve got my mum to consider.”

Michael smiled at her. “I quite understand, Betty and I’m sure Mr Harris senior will be pleased to have you here with him while he ties up loose ends before he goes. Of course all of you will be given good references should you decide not to join me in Blayton.”

Kay watched as Betty turned bright red as she, too, was charmed by Michael Harris. He was a lovely man and Kay felt privileged to be working for him. What would happen now? Would the move to Blayton be practical for her? She was surprised Michael had been so secretive and hadn’t told her about the transfer, what else had he kept from her?

“Now you know where and when the move will take place, I’d like you all to think about whether you might like to join me. During the coming week, I’ll see you each in turn and we’ll have a chat about the possibilities.”

Without a doubt Kay knew she wanted to be with Michael. Her office skills were good, he’d said he’d like her as his secretary. It would be a new beginning.

* * *

Although Kay desperately wanted to go to Blayton, she knew that she would have to tell her parents about it and if they weren’t happy then she wouldn’t be able to. Although she would be twenty-one shortly, she liked to have their approval. She let herself in. Her mother worked so hard, thought Kay as she looked at the still-damp washing hanging around the kitchen. She would have been doing the household chores continually throughout the day as well as visiting their elderly neighbour and taking her a dish of dinner, no doubt. “I’ll lay the table,” she offered after giving her mother a hug and a kiss.

The front door opened a while later and Dad was home. Time to eat. Kay was hungry; the sandwiches she’d made herself to have in the lunch break seemed a long time ago. She tucked into the cold meat and bubble and squeak.

“Busy day, love?” Mr Watson looked over his spectacles at Kay.

“As usual, but Michael told us some more news. The office is moving to Blayton. It’s good for business, but not everyone wants to go. Some of us will stay behind to help Mr Harris senior tie things up here.”

“It’s nice to hear of a success story,” replied her father. “They’ve got a good reputation in town.”

“My goodness, it’s all change there. That’s a bit tricky for some people I suppose,” her mother said.

“Yes, I suppose it is.” Kay knew that living away from home would be more expensive and she wasn’t sure she would be able to afford to rent a room even with the bonus they had been promised in this week’s pay packet. But she desperately wanted to go. She put her knife and fork together and took her plate to the sink. Standing there she tried to stop the tears from coursing down her cheeks.

Her mother was soon beside her, wrapping her arms round her daughter. “Come on, love. You have to be realistic. Let’s do some sums and find out how much rooms in Blayton cost. Your father and I aren’t going to stop you if there’s any way you can go. We know how much this means to you. Let’s pop the kettle on for a cup of tea then we’ll look at the adverts in the local paper.”

“Thanks, Mum, I do really want to go, but I also know it might be impossible. Michael would give me a good reference if I have to find another job, I’m sure.”

“It may not come to that.” Once settled at the table again Mrs Watson got busy. “Now, what about this one?” she said as she circled an advert with her pencil then continued to read down the column.

* * *

“It doesn’t sound promising so far.” Mr Watson tamped tobacco into his pipe.

“No, quite a few are shared rooms, one has outside facilities and a couple are in the worst areas of the town. We don’t want Kay living there. There’s just one which sounds all right. It’s not too expensive. You might be able to manage that one. Just. But there’ll be no new clothes or nights out with your friends.”

Kay’s heart sank as she thought of her future life stuck in a dreary room, sharing a bathroom with strangers and eating horrible meals cooked by an unkempt landlady with no money to treat herself. On the positive side she would still be working with Michael and doing a job she loved. But no, she should be realistic. She reached for the paper and turned to the job adverts. But there was nothing which appealed, so she cleared the table and washed up the dishes before making an excuse and going to bed. Of course, she couldn’t sleep and lay awake thinking about a nice little room in Blayton and the opportunity to venture into the wider world a little.

* * *

Kay was unhappy about going to work the next morning hoping, for once, that she wouldn’t be summoned to Michael’s office. She didn’t want to explain to him why she wouldn’t be able to transfer to Blayton.

“We’ve a busy day ahead, Kay,” Michael said as he bounded in, rain dripping from his mackintosh. “There are all sorts of things we need to finalise regarding the move and we still haven’t set up that meeting with Reacher and Good to find out what the problem is. They seem reluctant to see me. Are you ready? I want to dictate some letters.”

“Yes, of course.” Kay picked up her notebook and pencil and followed him into the office.

“So, why are you looking so unhappy? Let’s get that sorted before we start.”

“I made a decision last night. I can’t move to Blayton with you.” The words tumbled out.

Michael’s face fell. “I’m deeply disappointed.”

“Of course I’ll stay for the move and then help Mr Harris, but I’d be grateful for a reference.”

“I was relying on you coming. How will I manage without you?” Michael moved closer to Kay and took her hand looking deep into her eyes.

The feel of his skin on hers caused her heart to patter and for a moment she was distracted. Then she remarked decisively, “There are plenty of good secretaries.”

“But no one like you, Kay. We get on so well. I think we have a very special relationship.”

“I agree we work well together. I’m sorry. I talked it over with my parents last night and there is no way I can leave home.”

“I’m very, very sorry to hear that, but of course I understand that you must abide by your
parents’ wishes. I don’t suppose it would help if I talked to them?”

“No, really, my mind’s made up.” Kay didn’t want to tell him that their only concerns were financial and that she had made the decision.

Having dictated several letters Michael leaned back in his chair. “Now we need to sort out the pay rises.”

“Pay rises?”

“We’re going to be expanding and with more business we’ll be busier than ever. I think everyone should benefit from that.” A frown crossed his face. “That’s if everything goes as I hope. I’m afraid this difficulty with Reacher and Good has rather dented my confidence. But Father says it will be something and nothing so I’m to carry on with my plans. He has a surprising amount of faith in my abilities!”

Kay wasn’t quite sure what to say. “I’m sure he’s right. Since I’ve been working for you all your clients have been very satisfied with your work.”

“Hmm, which is why this business with Reacher and Good is so puzzling… or maybe not. I’ve just had a thought. I might know what’s at the bottom of this.”

“Are you going to tell me or is this another secret?” Kay wished she didn’t always say what she thought.