AUgust prompts: single parents AU, professional rivals AU
Disclaimer: I'll never be them, but I know what this feels like.
A/N: here's another AU I wrote earlier.

By A Single Thread

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As she walked through the main foyer of the large, modern office block she worked in, the display behind the receptionists' desk caught her eye. She groaned in dismay.

Featured on the wall, underneath the photos of the upper echelons of management, was the smug photo of one John Smith, PA to the Director of Design. How on earth had he managed that?

Oooh, she hated him! What with his sticky up hair, stupid glasses, wonky nose, and beaming arrogant smile, messing up her life. Who did he think he was, muscling in on her patch? If it wasn't for her daughter Jenny, she'd have told him where to get off ages ago. But she had to think of Jenny's wellbeing. And John's son, whatever his name was.

She sighed. Being both single parents should have endeared him to her, but all he did was ruffle her feathers. Perhaps she could tolerate him a bit more if he wasn't in competition with her to be PA to the CEO? Her current position was PA to the Director of Financial Services, a job that she loved, but the CEO's PA was about to retire, leaving a very lucrative position for them to compete for. In fact, the CEO had called them both into his office and explained that so far he couldn't decide between the two of them for his PA's replacement; could they possibly sort it out amongst themselves.

What an idiot, she'd thought. CEOs have to make difficult decisions all the time so it should have been easy for him. Either that or his current PA had nixed his decision. Who knew?

If she got that pay rise, she'd be able to afford some decent accommodation and not the pokey flat she lived in. Somewhere with a garden or overlooking some greenery. Anywhere would be better than her current home. Well, almost. There was still the possibility of returning to look after her widowed mother…

Yes, in theory that sounded quite nice and selfless; but whoever met the spitting viper that was Sylvia Noble instantly understood why she wasn't keen to return to the family home. If it had been her dad or her Gramps, she would not have even given it a thought and packed immediately. But dealing with Sylvia Noble required a different strength of character, shall we say?

Anyway, since the announcement of the soon to be available PA position, Donna and John had been doing their best to push themselves forward. They were both highly competent at their job, therefore, it had been fifty-fifty up until this point. But if John was getting his greasy mug plastered on the company wall then that suggested he was in the lead, and she couldn't have that. Oh no.

All these thoughts rattled around her head as the lift took her up to the floor where she worked. It wouldn't do, she reminded herself. Look professional, act sunny and adaptable, and crush that John Smith into the carpet like the bug he was!

One last adjustment to the fall of her pencil skirt, and a tug on her matching jacket, and she entered the open office space that led to the individual offices. First on her list was a galvanising cup of coffee.

Oh gawd. As she turned to step from the kitchen area with her much yearned for coffee, she noted who was now stood near the fridge.

"Well if it isn't the second-best PA in London," John greeted her with, wearing the smarmiest smile she had ever seen. He leaned against the wall as though he had all the time in the world.

"If PA means Pathetic Adult or Piss Artist, I'm happy to let you be top," she countered, strolling past him to get to her desk. "It suits you down to the ground."

"The ground is where you belong, but I'll let you stay here," he smirked.

"You're so kind," she sarcastically responded with a mock bow.

"Will you two pack it in!" the office manager grumbled at them as she sternly eyed them from her nearby desk. "Anyone would think you're the same age as your shoe size."

"Talking of eight year olds," one of their co-workers stated, "child ahoy. Is he one of yours?"

At the end of the corridor leading into the office a young lad appeared, probably early teens judging by his school uniform, looking quite distressed. "Dad?" he wailed as he stumbled forward.

John instantly stood up straighter to greet him. "What's the matter, Jamie? What's happened?"

"Dad," Jamie whimpered, throwing himself into John's embrace. "It's awful."

"You can't keep doing this," John muttered in irritation. "Follow me." He then held onto the boy's shoulders and led him towards the design offices.

Donna tried to watch impassively, her mind latching onto the words John had angrily said. Young Jamie kept appearing like this, did he? That must impact on John's job and his ability to do it. How unreliable of him…

Stop thinking evil thoughts, she chastised herself. Poor boy, all upset like that. Children do all sorts of odds things that interfere with work. 'But would John let it go if it was Jenny who kept showing up like this, all helpless?' her traitorous mind pushed forward.

Well, she supposed he would use it against her. Or someone else in the company would. She'd seen it happen to enough people. Although it rarely happened to a man.

Time to find out more, she decided.

A/N2: as you can see, I've left myself room to continue this one.