Your Lying Eyes

Your Lying Eyes Chapter 19

The next day or so seemed to drag by so slowly for Howard.  They tried to keep busy, even managing to arrange impromptu visits to a couple of the local radio stations, promoting the tour which was going to be starting soon.  Another two weeks of rehearsals and then they would be moving to Glasgow for the first of the tour dates.  Howard wanted to have things sorted out with Anna by the time the tour started.  He didn't want to be going on tour with the uncertainty hanging over him.  It didn't seem likely that she would be coming with him.  Not now that she had started this job.  Unless she decided that she didn't like it and left.  Somehow he didn't think that was likely.  She'd been so determined to manage on her own, he didn't see her giving it up easily.

Chloe arrived home on Tuesday with some interesting news for Anna.  She had been out with Maisie and had met up with one of her friends amongst the dancers.  Due to the enforced stay in Ireland for the band, the rehearsals had been cancelled.  They went to have coffee and a chat.  Louisa had been dying to pass on the latest that she'd heard especially the news that Sophie had been sacked by the band and sent home more or less in disgrace on the first flight home on Saturday.  Her stay in Dublin less than 24 hours.

"She must have done something really wrong for that to happen," said Louisa.  "I've worked with them loads of times before and have never known them to sack anyone.  There's all kinds of rumours going around but no one knows the actual truth."  

When she heard this, Anna was pleased.  It showed that Sophie had gone too far this time and none of the band were prepared to put up with it.  For her it was more proof of Howard's commitment to her in spite of what Jason had told her.  

Anna was impressing everyone with the way she had taken to her job at the office, especially Joe Barratt.  She was efficient and meticulous.  By Wednesday evening, things were set to improve for her.  

As the others finished for the day, she too, tidied her desk, impatient to be off.  Howard had sent her a text to let her know that he was back at the hotel and would be going to the apartment to see Maisie as usual that evening.  As she finished and was about to head home, Joe called for her to come into his office.  She sighed and reluctantly did as he asked.

"Sit down Miss Jordan.  I've got some news for you," he told her pleasantly, indicating for her to take a seat by the desk.  Anna sat down, wondering what he had to say to her.

He smiled at her as he perched on the corner of the desk, taking in the anxious expression on her face as she waited for him to tell her what he wanted.  Not for the first time, he was struck by how pretty she was.  Her long slim legs curled around each other as she sat on the edge of the chair.

"We've been very impressed with the way that you've handled the work load here since you started.  You are obviously very good at this," he told her.  "We, that is John and I have decided that you should start to work as my P.A. after the weekend.  Of course it will mean an increase in salary as well as more responsibility.  Do you think you could cope with it?" he asked her.

Anna looked at him, not taking in at first what he was saying to her.  She blinked at him.  This was the last thing she had expected him to say.  So far he hadn't said very much to her apart from instructing her in her work.  

He laughed at her puzzled expression.

"I can see that it's come as a bit of a surprise to you, Miss Jordan.  How about we go and talk about this over dinner?  There's a few things that I could do with explaining to you and we would never get the chance to do that in the office here, it's always so busy."

Once again, Anna was too stunned to reply immediately.  She thought quickly.  Maisie was with Chloe and she was sure that if they had dinner early that she would still be able to make it back in time to have her talk with Howard.