‘Good.’
‘Do you have any questions, Anna?’ Charlotte asked as silence descended once more.
Anna stood up. ‘Yes. Can I have my jacket back, please?’
* * *
‘So what do you think, then?’ Charlotte asked after Anna had left.
Daniel didn’t know what to think. He needed an assistant who was reliable, not one who got lost and had poor timekeeping, so even before the interview had begun, he’d written her off as unsuitable.
At first her answers had backed up his instinct. She’d looked as though she was visibly shaking, and her responses were predictable, as though she was saying what she thought he wanted to hear. Then part way through the interview she’d rallied and stood up to him. She’d shown herself to be assertive and that she knew what she wanted. But she had changed from mouse to tiger in an instant, with an unpredictability that he definitely didn’t want in an assistant.
There was something about her though, something that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He was intrigued by her and feltthat he wanted to get to know her better. She had nowhere near the sophistication of the women who appealed to him. She was pretty, with large green eyes, a heart-shaped face and a straight nose, in a kind of a girl-next-door look. There was very little artifice about her, but that was probably because the rain had washed away most of her make-up. And the way her damp shirt had clung to her, accentuating her curves — well, he would defy any man not to be stirred by that. But as his employee? No, he didn’t think so.
‘None of them were suitable.’
‘Really?’ Charlotte asked. ‘I know she got off to a shaky start but I thought Anna was well qualified.’
‘Maybe, but she was spikey. She’d probably spend the whole time arguing whenever I asked her to do anything.’
Charlotte said nothing for a moment, then replied, ‘Well that might depend on how you asked her.’
Daniel shook his head. ‘She was the best of a bad bunch. I’m either going to have to carry on, on my own, or re-advertise the job.’
‘As you wish.’ Charlotte got up from the sofa. ‘You asked for my opinion but you obviously don’t want it, so I’ll leave you to it.’
‘Oh, Char, don’t get all huffy with me. I’m sorry, I am listening to you. I’m just so fed up with being messed around.’
‘I know. And I understand you must be really upset about not seeing Ben this weekend. But, Daniel, you can’t keep taking it out on everyone else. You’ll get yourself a bad reputation.’
Slowly Daniel smiled. ‘I think it’s too late for that. Have you read the papers recently?’
‘I never believe what I read in the papers, or on social media,’ she replied. ‘But seriously, have a re-think about Anna. She could be the one.’
He frowned. ‘I seem to remember you saying that before, and look how badly that ended.’
Chapter Two
The rain had stopped by the time Anna left Daniel Redfern’s house and weak sunshine was trying to break its way through the grey clouds. She limped towards the Tube station, her shoes rubbing on the patches of skin on her heels, which had blistered and were now bleeding. She was bedraggled, in pain and furious. She didn’t care if she didn’t get the job — in fact, she’d decided that she’d turn it down if she did. She’d never be able to work for such a rude and obnoxious man. She couldn’t believe he hadn’t even bothered to read her CV.
The Tube was busy, but thankfully she managed to find a seat. When she reached her stop at Canada Water she began the short walk to the Angel pub, where she’d arranged to meet her friend Daisy. She would have preferred to go straight home and sink into a nice warm bath, but she knew that as soon as she arrived home, her evening chores would immediately engulf her and there would be no time for relaxation until much later. So, maybe a glass of wine and a moan with her best friend would revive her a little and put off the inevitable.
Inside the pub she stopped to adjust her vision to the gloomy interior. When she saw that Daisy hadn’t arrived yet, she headed to the ladies’, ran a brush through her now frizzing hair and reapplied her make-up. Feeling slightly more human, she went to the bar and ordered herself a large glass of white wine. Several groups were sitting at tables chatting loudly, obviously pleased that the weekend had started, and there were several regulars propping up the bar. She grabbed an empty table in a secluded corner and sat down gratefully.
A few minutes later, Daisy bustled in and headed towards her.
‘Sorry I’m late,’ she said, her face lit up with her ever-ready wide smile. As usual she was full of life, her walk asbouncy as her dark curly hair. Anna had always admired Daisy’s rather bohemian style, her love of puffy-sleeved blouses and long skirts. As a personal assistant in a banking firm in the city, it wasn’t a look she should have successfully carried off, but it matched her bubbly personality and somehow she seemed to get away with it.
‘Don’t worry, I’ve not been here long either,’ Anna replied.
‘I’ll just get myself a drink and I’m all yours.’
Once Daisy sat back down she got straight to it. ‘So come on then, how did the interview go?’
‘Horrendous.’ Anna cringed at the memory. ‘I wish you’d never persuaded me to apply for it.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. What happened?’
