He pulled off his coat, switching his briefcase to his other hand, and flapped the sleeve to get it off. Someone came up behind him and grabbed the coat, helping sluff it off his body before reaching up to take the hat from his head. He turned and saw a reed of a woman, with a mass of black hair bundled up on top of her head. She smiled at him.
"You're nine o' clock said he'd be late today and your lunch was pushed back to noon. If you change your driver I think you could be home by five thirty today."
"Excuse me?"
The woman paused, "That's today's schedule. Mrs. Harding said you always ask for your schedule first and then plan your day around it."
"I know what Mrs. Harding does I'm just wondering why you're here and she's not." He looked her up and down, "Mrs. Harding has red hair and much paler skin than yours."
"It's my Jamaican heritage… or was it Trinidad?" She shrugged, "In the end it's not really the point. The point is, I'm Mrs. Harding's replacement over the holidays. I'm the temp, Eve."
"Eve?"
"They did tell you I'd be filling in for administrative and secretarial duties, didn't they?" Eve huffed, "I guess the line dropped. Honestly I'm wishing for the days when phone calls go wireless like the radio."
The man blinked and the shook his head, extending his hand. "I'm-"
"John Bates, my boss for the next three weeks." Eve shook his hand, "I'm actually rather chuffed to meet you. I followed your case on that man… what was his name… Gable? Gary?"
"Green?"
"Yes," Eve adjusted the coat on her arm and the hat in her hand to applaud, "It was marvelous what you did there. Putting scum like that behind bars. The QB's got to be proud to have you on their side."
"Then you've not paid attention lately."
"You mean the Mason case?" Eve waved a hand, "I followed that one just as closely. You can't win them all."
"I guess not." John pointed toward his office, "I'm going in now. If you need anything just knock."
"Don't worry Mr. Bates, I've got this."
John nodded slowly, feeling a little run over by the vibrant personality at seven thirty in the morning. He had a hand to the door before he stopped and pivoted to see her hanging his coat in the small closet. "Where'd you say you were from again?"
"The temp agency."
"No, nationally."
"I didn't." She stepped back, "But a little here and there, a bit of everywhere I guess. I'm a melting pot."
"Like, America?"
"Spent some time there." Eve took her seat, tugging her skirt closer to her knees, "I just go where I'm needed."
"And the temp agency sent you there?"
Eve's eyes didn't quite meet his as she looked to the side before scrunching her face, "They send me where there's a job to be done."
"Interesting agency."
"It certainly is. I get to meet a lot of interesting people."
"Not everyone, surely."
Eve seemed to think a minute before shaking her head, "Nope, they're all interesting."
John scoffed, "I'll be sorry when I disappoint you then."
Eve went to respond when the phone rang. She held up a finger to stop his thought and picked up the ringing phone, "Office of John Bates, CPS. Yes I'll put you right through to his line." Eve pulled the phone back from her ear and covered the receiver, "You'd better take this."
John pushed into his office and felt a little too frazzled to start his day. But he put down his briefcase and picked up the phone, "John Bates."
After the nine o' clock meeting (now starting at nine thirty) went longer than expected John gathered a stack of papers on his desk to give his secretary. She met him at the door and grabbed them from his arm before placing a cup of tea in his hands, "You need the boost."
"How'd you-"
"Know?" She adjusted the papers in her arms, "Instinct. And I added a touch of milk, since it's not Earl Grey, as well as a shot of cinnamon. Helps to clear the congestion in your nose."
"How'd you know I was congested?"
"You didn't wear a scarf today and you've been sniffing all morning." Eve handed over some tissues, "I'd also recommend warmer socks."
John blinked at her, sipping at the tea. It warmed his mouth and the taste of cinnamon brought him back to another question, "How'd you know I like cinnamon. Even Mrs. Harding doesn't know that."
"I'm good at what I do. Observant." She flicked through the pages, "Sorting into the appropriate files?"
"I need the research team to handle those."
"I'll get Ms. Smith right on it." Eve went to leave but John put a hand on her shoulder.
"Not Ms. Smith."
"She's head researcher."
"Yes but," John grunted, "Don't involve her if you don't have to."
Eve eyed him a moment, nodding to herself, "If you insist. You're the boss."
"Most days." John returned to his office and sorted through the papers before going out to speak with Eve. "Ms. Eve-"
"Yes?" She looked up from her desk.
"I need that note about the-"
"The judge is Lord Hepworth. I'd recommend you take him a bottle of sherry considering he just lost his house to a mortgage and then he'll be more inclined to listen to your offered plea deal. The note you're looking for is under your phone but I already rescheduled them for tomorrow at one." Eve pulled a thin file and handed it to him, "And preliminary research on the Haxby case. They recommend a settlement."
John blinked, "You're terribly efficient at this Ms. Eve."
She curtsied, "I try. I also looked over some files and realized that between Mrs. Harding and yourself you don't really have a system."
"Probably because I run the poor girl into the ground and I'm not very organized myself." John thumbed through the file. "If you want you can-"
"I already did." Eve handed over a paper, "This is a guide to the file drawers. Thought it'd be helpful."
John looked between the paper and Eve, "Are you sure you're only a temp Ms. Eve? You seem over qualified."
"I'm just very good." She nodded at him, "Your eleven o' clock lunch is here. Best not make them wait."
John gathered his things at the end of the day and looked over his desk. It, like his office, was spotless. Every file was organized, summaries were within reach, and the research was already in his briefcase for the night. He shook his head and only looked up as Eve knocked on the door before entering.
John spread his hands at the office, "I don't know how you did Ms. Eve but if I weren't so fond of the report I already share with Mrs. Harding I'd request you stay on permanently."
"That's very much appreciated." Eve clasped her hands in front of her, "I actually had a question."
"After all you did for me today there's actually something I can do for you?" John chuckled, "I'm at your disposal as you seem so willing to be at mine."
"That's just it," She cringed, "It's not a question you'd want to answer."
"Really?" John gestured to the seat in front of his desk and he took his. "What could you possibly ask that I wouldn't want to answer?"
"How'd you get this way?"
"What?"
"It's December first, Mr. Bates." Eve pointed at the office. "You've got no decorations, I checked your schedule and you've no plans for the day, and none of the calls to the office are personal ones."
"This is a business, Ms. Eve."
"Oh I know." Eve nodded, "But you used to be so lively."
"You say that like you know me."
"But I do, Mr. Bates." Eve laughed a little, "I've known you for a very long time."
John narrowed his eyes, "How do you know me?"
"I've been watching you."
"I think we've just crossed a line Ms. Eve." John reached for the phone but Eve stopped him, taking the phone out of his reach.
"It's just Eve and the reason I've been watching you for a long time is because I'm your guardian angel."
John widened his eyes and snorted, "Guardian angel?"
"Laugh all you want but how else would I know the scar on your left knee was from that time the window in your mother's house exploded during the Blitz?" John paled slightly as Eve continued, "That shard of glass flew right for your face but suddenly you felt someone move your knee. Didn't you ever wonder who did that?"
"I thought-"
"Or the time you and your ex-wife were driving and she careened off the road? You thought you were dead for sure and yet you survived the crash with only some nerve damage and a broken leg?" Eve smiled at him, "Those were me."
"Why?"
"Because you're destined for so much more, Mr. Bates." Eve stood, "And I'm here to help you see that."
"I think you're wasting your time."
"It's never a waste. Even having to stand by as you broke Ms. Smith's heart." Eve let out a bitter sound, "I wanted to throttle you myself I was so angry with you. Letting Vera get in the way again?"
"There was nothing I could do."
"You could've gone back after you got your divorce." Eve leaned over the desk, "You broke her heart and she cried for weeks."
"It was better she realize I wasn't the person for her."
"But you are," Eve sat down in the chair again, her elbows going to the table as she clutched at the air, "You are everything she needs and it's you who doesn't see that."
"I'm not the kind of person worth saving."
"You're wrong, Mr. Bates," Eve pointed her finger in his face, "And I'm going to prove it to you."
"How?"
"By doing my job." Eve stood again, "You're in need of someone to help you examine your sins. Someone to help you feel renewed."
"People like me don't deserve that."
"I beg to differ seeing as a higher power than myself commissioned me for this." Eve stood, straightening her clothes, "It's time to face your demons, Mr. Bates, and for me to guide you through it."
"You'll be my Virgil?"
"If you like. Unlike Dante, we're not going through the levels of Hell." Eve tapped the desk top, "Though it may feel like it."
"Why?"
"Because you, John Bates, are living beneath your privileges. And it's time you realized that so we can fix it."
