Guardians Book One - Magic Rising

Chapter Three

The next day when Kath arrived, Lady was already seated at her own desk - sure enough, no ornaments other than a couple of HR organisation charts, and another perfectly matched pencil skirt suit and crisp white blouse. Kath waved to her on her way to the kitchenette, and received an unsmiling nod in return.

"The ice queen cometh," James had clearly watched the exchange through the glass wall, and waved his hands at Kath as she entered. "Doesn't pick up a morning coffee, either. Guess she is weird."

Kath poured herself a large mug of strong, black coffee and inhaled. "Ah, I've decided to just let her get on with it. If we all act normal maybe she'll realise and copy us." She didn't bother mentioning yesterday's weird conversation about the Thames; poor thing, everyone clearly didn't like her already. Kath didn't want to make her seem any more weird than she already appeared. "I feel a bit sorry for her, actually," she said, aloud. "I get the feeling she doesn't know many people around here. She lives alone. Guess she didn't bring any friends with her from uni."

"With that attitude I'm not surprised," James' tone was softer than his words implied, however, and Kath smiled.

"I bet she'll relax soon. Just be nice to her, right?"

"I work in HR. 'Nice' is my speciality." James tipped her a salute, and a thought occurred to Kath.

"Didn't you interview her, then?" she asked, sipping her coffee.

James shook his head. "Nope. She came on recommendation from one of the Director's contacts, so it was pretty perfunctory. He interviewed her."

"Really," said Kath. James grimaced.

"Bit...nepotistic, but to be honest, I see that a lot. So I wasn't surprised. There's a lot of networking going on these days."

"This isn't exactly a big firm, though," said Kath. "It's just a startup, really. Why here?"

James shrugged. "Convenient, I guess. She lives pretty local, I remember seeing. And the Director has fingers in a few pies. He used to be military, you know."

Kath finished her coffee, surprised. "Really? I never knew. Why'd he start an accounting firm?!"

James laughed. "Bored with blowing people up, maybe. Now he prefers the cut and thrust of a good tax demand."

"What a life!" Kath sniggered, refilling her mug and making for the exit. "See you in a bit, anyway. Better crack on."

"Enjoy," James twitched his fingers at her before turning back to his own coffee.

-

Lady was quiet that day - well, quieter - and although she spent the day focussing on her computer screen and her paperwork, once or twice Kath caught her staring out of the window, eyes flickering left and right to take in the scene and the people, scanning the shoppers.

She wondered how she could possibly start the conversation.

So. I mean. Haha. I'm fairly sure I'm just going a bit mad and my imagination is running away and all that but any chance, on Sunday night, you were on the roof of the German beer hut beating up someone then diving into the river? Just...you know, wondered. If that was your sort of thing.

She snickered to herself. Lady glanced over at her.

"Sorry, just...thinking," Kath said, her cheeks flushing. Lady held her gaze a moment - Kath was getting every so slightly less stunned by those eyes now - and inclined her head, turning back to her work with one last glance out the window.