Phenomenal

37 ~ A Woman's Heart

The next morning, Clarissa walked into the huge, bright, glass expanse that was the reception hall to her father's law firm. Partly modern, with its huge glass ceiling and front wall – partly traditional with its marble floor, pillars and reception desk, no expense had been spared, here or further into the depths of the building.

Staff and clients raced back and forth across the hall, disappearing through doors, up escalators or into lifts.

Clarissa walked across the hall, the click of her heels lost in the din of the other shoes, straight to the front desk, opening her mouth before the receptionist she'd chosen – for what she knew wouldn't be a pleasant task – had time to look up.

"I'm here to see my father."

The young woman looked up, startled. "Miss Sinclair," she said, jumping to her feet, before instantly sitting down again, the clacking of her nails against a keyboard hidden behind the ledge. "I'm so sorry we weren't ready for you, I didn't realise you had an appointment today."

"I know, I didn't book an appointment," Clarissa said.

The woman stopped trying to find her on the daily schedule and looked up. "Oh I see. I'm sorry you came all the way over just to book an appointment, what day were you hoping for?"

"Jennifer," Clarissa said after a quick glance of the name tag, "I did just say that I was here to see my father, not to book an appointment with him."

"I'm sorry Miss Sinclair, but your father's schedule is so busy today, you know he can only see anyone by appointment."

"I know, but I'm not willing to wait a month to see my own father. Seeing as not even he can be sure which hours he'll be home and he only ever answers scheduled phone calls – and as I am not willing to wait an entire month just for an appointment – I've turned up to see him whether he has the time or not. Call his secretary."

"Miss Sinclair," Jennifer said – and Clarissa could see the raising panic in her eyes, "Please, you must understand this is a somewhat unreasonable request."

"Oh I understand. I wouldn't want to face Gene either, but you're going to call up to her anyway, unless you'd like to call my father directly."

Jennifer went several shades paler and reached for the phone.

"Hello Gene, this is Jennifer.... Jennifer, from reception... yes... yes... no I— sorry, yes, I understand, sorry, Mrs Callaway. I have Miss Sinclair down here at the moment, she wishes to see her father... no, there is no appointment... no... I understand. Thank you."

Jennifer quickly put the phone down and looked at Clarissa.

"Mrs Callaway is very sorry to tell you that your father does not have time for unscheduled appointments today, perhaps if you book an appointment now and—"

"Jennifer," Clarissa cut in, "Call her back."

"Miss Sinclair, I really—"

"Call her back."

Clarissa could almost see her trembling as Jennifer reached for the phone again and she knew the other receptionists were watching out of the corners of their eyes, grateful they weren't the ones to deal with it.

"Hello, Mrs Callaway, this is Jennifer again... yes, it is... I'm sorry but she insists... I—"

Clarissa reached over the desk and took the phone from Jennifer, making her jump so badly she could have had a heart attack. Leaning her elbow on the desk and her cheek on her knuckles, Clarissa placed to receiver to her ear and listened to Gene Callaway snap at Jennifer.