“Us?”

“Charlotte, myself and Michael.”

“Right, so….?

“I’ve been quite impressed with your performance….”

Really?

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I liked the way you dealt the situation out on the street the other day, and Ben in the downstairs lobby; even, dare I say it, the situation when Ben dragged you to our home, although I’ll admit, that’s with the benefit of hindsight.”

I flush. “You didn’t seem very impressed at the time.”

He rolls his eyes ceiling-ward. “Yes, I’ve never apologised for that, have I….”

“I don’t think you have a lot to apologise for, Sir. I feel terrible about it….”

“Well, get over it. It’s in the past. I want to talk about where we go from here. It seems to me that you handle yourself rather well in awkward situations and that being the case, I have a favour to ask of you.”

What’s he talking about?

“Right…. what is this favour?”

Perhaps I look suspicious. For a moment, he meets my eyes, his gaze level, expressionless; then he says, “Don’t misunderstand my motives, Kirstie. I’m not about to go dipping my nib in the office ink. It would be horribly unprofessional of me, and also, regardless of what Ben might think, I’m a married man.”

I flush. “I didn’t mean that at all.”

“Good. But for the avoidance of doubt….”

change

is this

everyone who comes in or out of the building; workers, visitors, delivery men, couriers.… everyone. They all must go by you. You also see a lot of what passes by the building or

Choosing his words?

you already do naturally and as part of

“To you?”

me. You will be my eyes and ears

“So, you want me to…. what? Be a spy

to do something underhand or illegal and that’s not it at all. Really, all I’m asking you to do is something which comes easily to you, which is to watch the people around us for any kind of threat.

through my stomach. “Is this just about Ben

take Michael’s feelings into consideration. Despite Marcie’s remarks to the contrary,

and it doesn’t faze me. That female has been trying to get her claws into Michael for years. It must have come

laugh. “A

brows, laughter dancing

what am I

to Charlotte,

leaves me thinking of the proverbial swan; all calm grace above water, frenzied activity down below, out of sight. “Mr

“James….”

I think you have to tell me more than that. It sounds as though you’re

asking that of you. Other people, myself included, will deal with any threat you

sort of

wish I could answer that, but I can’t. In short, I want you to watch for anything that….” He holds up both hands in a

you want? For me to report what I

that’s all I’m asking

do I make

If you hit

“Which other people?

“Michael for one….”

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255