Disclaimer: Don't own Cars. Do own Simon Carrera.
Title subject to change.
In the Shadow of my Father
It was another quiet day at the Carrera Attorneys of Law office. The average day consisted of a number of clients phoning in, pretty much all asking for S Carrera senior. I didn't mind to begin with, but I was fully trained now, and just as capable as my father. The few clients I'd had said I was better than my father; the rest wouldn't give me a chance to show them just how good I was. Dad had been so proud when I had graduated, that was when he had taken me as a partner in his company. I had been thrilled, until I found myself sitting in my office twiddling my thumbs hour after hour, day after day. I had been sorely tempted to just walk out a number of times, but I had stayed. It was always busy in the company. As well as my father and myself, there were another three attorneys. There were also two receptionists, a mother and daughter team. There was another girl in that family. I had looked after her some evenings when her mother and sister were unable to do so. She was the sort of child that I would want, should I ever meet the right man. I reached for the phone as it started ringing.
"Carrera Attorneys of Law, Sally speaking, how can I help you?" The first line I said when I answered the phone was automatic now.
"Could I speak to S. Carrera please?"
"Speaking."
"Oh…but you're female."
"Yes, I am." I gritted my teeth.
"Um, S. Carrera senior?"
"I'll go get him." I sighed. All my life people had been asking for my father. I hadn't minded so much when I was younger and didn't know much about being an attorney, but now it was downright frustrating. Sometimes Dad would pass a job on to me, but the clients were never happy. I pressed the transfer button and dialled my father's extension number.
"Dad, phone call for you."
"Thanks, sweetheart."
I replace the phone and stared out the window. What happened in my Dad's office generally wasn't of much interest to me, until he asked me to help with something, which was quite a rare thing in itself. I glared at the door as it opened.
"Did I do something?" Dad looked puzzled.
"No, just not in the best of moods right now."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"I'm going out for a while, can you take any calls that come in for me?"
"Sure." I tried to keep my voice neutral, but I could still tell I sounded fed up.
I turned to stare out the window again as the door closed behind him.
The end of the day couldn't come soon enough for me. Finally I was able to shut my front door on work and just relax. I turned the radio right up as I made my dinner, wishing once again that I had someone to share my flat with. Being on my own got lonely. Once a week I returned to my parents' house for dinner, but it didn't stop the loneliness creeping in as soon as I returned to my own home. I decided to sit out on the balcony as I ate, not something I normally did, but it was a good evening for it. I managed to tune out the traffic whizzing passed on the road below after a while. That was one of the problems of living near the centre of the city. I was grateful for my double glazed windows and air conditioning. It meant I got a good amount of sleep each night, and I didn't need to suffer with unbearable temperatures either. Night fell, leaving me bathed in the warm glow from the lamps in the kitchen. I got to my feet slowly and headed inside to do the washing up.
It was the chirping birds at dawn that woke me the following morning. I pulled back the curtains on the full-length window, returned to my bed and gazed at the sky as the sun rose above the horizon. My flat looked to the west, so I got the sunsets rather than the sunrises, but I could still see the sky changing colour. I lay awake for a few hours, dreading the day ahead. Dad had told me he would be out of the office all morning, which left me to take calls for him again. It felt like I was his personal secretary sometimes. Eventually I forced myself to get out of bed, deciding a shower might help me to feel ready for the day. I tried putting classical music on as I ate on the balcony again, but nothing I tried worked. It was with a heavy heart that I proceeded to work that day.
"Your father asked me to put all his calls through to you." Seraphine smiled kindly at me as I walked through reception. "He said you'd know what to do from there."
"Thank, Sera." I shut the door to my office with a satisfying snap.
The first phone call of the day came much sooner that I was wanting. I answered apprehensively, but it was Dad asking me to check up on a few details. I pulled the correct file from the heap that he had given me yesterday and provided the information he needed. It was then quiet for a couple of hours.
"Phone call for Mr Carrera." Seraphine's voice came over the phone.
"Put it through." I sighed.
"Can I speak to Mr Carrera please?" The voice on the other end asked instantly.
"I'm afraid he's out of the office this morning, can I take a message for you?" I presumed he would take me for Dad's personal secretary.
"No thanks, I'll email him." The man hung up without so much as a goodbye.
This isn't going to by my day. I sighed, putting the phone down and logging onto the Internet.
For most of the rest of the morning I browsed the Internet for anything remotely interesting, picking up the phone from time to time as clients phoned in with queries and problems. Some of them were willing to accept my help; others said they'd try again later. One nearly took me over my breaking point.
"Carrera Attorneys of Law, Sally speaking, how can I help you?" I answered with my usual line while flicking through an interesting website.
"Can I speak to Mr Carrera please?"
Another one. "I'm sorry, he's out of the office at the moment, can I help you?"
"Depends what you think I need help with, love." I could hear the sneer in his voice.
"Well if you told me what it was I might be able to do something."
"Can you put me through to Mr Carrera?"
"Not at the moment, but I can take a message for him if you want me to?"
"Then you can't help me."
"I am an attorney."
"And?"
"Just because I'm female it doesn't mean I can't do what my father can. I'm just as good as he is."
"Really?"
"You bloody prejudiced – " I slammed the phone down before my mouth got me into trouble. Now I've done it. I rested my head in my hands. I wasn't aware of anyone entering the room until a female voice spoke to me.
"Are you all right, Sally? I heard you shouting."
I glanced up at Seraphine. "I'm ok, just got annoyed at something."
"Maybe you should take a break."
"Later." I replied, without knowing why. I longed for a break, but I denied the invitation to take one. "I have to wait for Dad to get back."
"He called in earlier, he's not going to be out on business for the rest of the day."
"Ok, thanks for letting me know." I moved over to one of the filing cabinets and opened it, though not really looking for anything.
Half an hour later the phone was ringing again.
"Carrera Attorneys of Law, Sally speaking, how can I help you?" I tried to keep my voice level and cheerful.
"Is Mr Carrera in yet?" He was back.
"He won't be in until tomorrow." I snapped.
"Ooo, touchy aren't you?"
"Stop bothering me, I have work to be doing."
"Not what I've heard. Daddy gets to do everything, and baby has to do everything in his shadow."
I snarled down the phone. The man on the other end laughed.
"Can I help you?" He imitated my voice.
"You're bloody lucky I'm not alone in this office, pal." I spat.
He laughed again. "You really need to control your temper, Miss Carrera."
"Git." I muttered, smashing the phone onto its base again.
The phone was ringing again. I couldn't face talking to anyone else. I ignored it, knowing Seraphine would take the call if I didn't answer after five rings. I heard her talking into it, something along the lines of 'Mr Carrera isn't in today'. I could tell from the tone of her voice that it was the same bloke that I had just been talking to. Would he actually give up? I swung my chair around to look out the window. It had been a wonderful day outside, while I had been stuck inside answering phones to obnoxious clients. I felt a stray tear rolling down my face. Suddenly something inside me snapped. I got to my feet while more tears escaped. I didn't bother to turn the computer off, or put any of the files away. I grabbed my pen, shoved it into my bag, grabbed my jacket from the peg behind the door and stormed out of the building. Seraphine tried to call me back, but I ignored her. I'd had enough. I nearly ran the short distance to my car in my desperation to get way. Wrenching open the door, I jammed the keys in the ignition, turned it around and made for the nearest Interstate away from the city. I didn't pay any attention to people beeping at me as I sped along the roads. I passed a few police officers, but none tried to pull me over. Even though I was so fed up with my life, I kept just below the speed limit. I wanted to get away, not get pulled over.
I found a small motel a little way outside the city as darkness was falling. I pulled over for a couple of hours rest. I'd been awake over fourteen hours now, and desperately needed sleep. I quickly paid for a room and parking and managed to escape the beady eyes of the owner of the motel. I curled up on the bed, tears running down my face again. I knew it wasn't Dad's fault. He hadn't known this would happen, and I'd not told him what was going on. If it was anyone's fault, it was mine for keeping quiet. I eventually managed to get back to sleep for a couple of hours, rising with the birds again. It was a bit of a cloudy sunrise, but that didn't bother me, it meant I was driving with the sun straight in my face as I headed east.
After a couple of hours I pulled into a filling station to top up on gas and get an early breakfast. I wasn't particularly hungry, so I just went for a coffee and a bagel. I picked up a couple of sandwiches to take away before I returned to my car. The engine didn't want to turn over to begin with, but a sharp tap on the dashboard seemed to get it going.
I drove east for the rest of the day, stopping only once more for gas and to make use of the facilities at a nearby motel. As night drew nearer I knew I should start to look for another motel, but I wasn't sure there would be one any time soon. I'd not seen any signs for a couple of hours. After another hour or so I pulled off the Interstate onto a deserted road. There had been no sign, only a pole that had once held one. I knew it wasn't safe to stop so close to the Interstate, so I carried on for a few miles. The car wasn't sounding very happy about it. I'd not done much long distance driving before, and I'd not had the car serviced for a while. It sputtered along for a couple of miles, giving out completely near a faded old sign. In the darkness I couldn't make out the words on the sign. I guided the car over to the side of the road, letting it stop on the sandy verge. I let it sit for a while before I tried to start it again, but it wouldn't go. Eventually I let it sit, after smoke started to creep from under the hood. I huddled into my jacket, trying to hide from the cold night air. I wound the window up and flicked the internal light on. Out of pure habit I kept a book in my glove compartment. I was glad I had it with me. It was starting to look like a long night.
Author's Note: I've had the idea for this one knocking around for a while. I've managed to get the first couple of chapters written today, though the next one might not be online for a few days yet. I've actually got two versions of this story, one that follows Sally (this one) and one that follows Chick. They both go by the same title. For now I'm concentrating on this one. I will (hopefully) post the one that concerns Chick in due course. Anyway, for now...
Hope you're enjoying this so far. Reviews would be much appreciated. More to come soon.