Back downstairs, a cluster of paralegals sit, apparently discussing paperwork, around one desk. As soon as I appear in the doorway, they stop talking and look up expectantly.
I paste a self-satisfied look on my face and make a big deal of plonking the armful of files Joanne gave me down on my desk.‘No rest for the wicked, eh?’ I say, grinning over at them.
It was obviously my overactive imagination, thinking that everyone knew about Joanne and Shaun’s relationship. There’s no way they could know.
I busy myself clicking through emails, waiting for my heart rate to settle down. I can’t help feeling relieved that I’ve cleared the air with Joanne; regardless of my opinion on what’s happened, it wouldn’t do to get on the wrong side of her.
Last year, her PA of eleven years, Penny, failed to put an important regional meeting of legal professionals in her diary, resulting in Joanne being mortally embarrassed when the head of the SRA, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, called her personally to express his disappointment in her no-show.
The next day, Penny announced, very reluctantly, her decision to take early retirement from the company, and a week later, Anya was appointed.
So I consider myself lucky she’s held out the olive branch in terms of the job.
My phone lights up and I see it’s a text message from Shaun.
Hope everything OK at work. Can we talk tomorrow?
Joanne has confirmed my workload is going to be heavy with the addition of the new cases. Why should I let Shaun off the hook by asking him to move out? He can pull more than his weight to make up for what he’s done.
After ten minutes or so, I pick up my phone and text a reply.
Yes. We definitely need to talk.
And we will talk. Not about what he thinks, though.
YOU ARE READING
Dangerous Affection
HorrorI know my daughter better than I know myself and if there's one thing I know for sure at this moment: it's that Maisie is not ok. My ex-husband Shaun and I are still friends. We would do anything for our beautiful little girl, Maisie. But now Shaun...