Chapter 7
Karen head started to spin as she tried to think of something to say to her husband.
"Karen, are you there?"
"Uh...yes, yes, I'm here, Stanley." She answered quickly.
"Who were you talking to when you picked up the phone?"
"Just now? Oh, that was...uhh…that was Will, y'know, our lawyer? We've just been going over the wills and he's been ringing all morning so I thought it might be him, again."
"Oh. Right, ok. Well, I just called to tell you I'm coming home next week, ok?"
Stan had been on a business trip in LA for the past month.
"Oh, are you?" She tried to sound enthusiastic about it but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her face.
Stanley laughed, "Once more with feeling please! Haven't you missed me, Kare?"
"Of course I have." She said as she viciously wiped her face dry.
"Good, cos I've missed you. My plane gets in on Thursday morning at about 10 so I'll see you then, ok?"
"Thursday at 10. Ok."
"Love you, bye."
"Yeah…bye, Stan."
She hung up the phone and quickly found a handkerchief. What was she going to do? She had almost forgotten about Stan and everything had started to go so well for her. Things hadn't been fine between her and Stanley for a while but by that phone call, he obviously wanted to make things better. She needed to talk to Will desperately but remembered he had said he was busy until lunchtime. It would have to wait. She wiped her face one last time, straightened her blouse and walked towards her bedroom to get ready for her lunch date.
"Will, can I talk to you for a minute?"
The voice made Will come to a halt as he walked out of his office door. Finally it was 12.30 and he could leave to pick up Karen. But just as he got free, Ben came round the corner.
"Uhh, well, I'm kind of in a hurry, Ben…"
"It'll just take a quick second. I just wanted to let you know that Stanley Walker is coming back from his business trip next week. That means he is your number one client again. Remember, Walker Inc is worth a lot to this company so I expect you to make him your priority and you won't come into the office looking like shit."
"Excuse me?"
"Come on, Will!" he pointed at the bags under Will's eyes and his sullen skin. "How much sleep did you get last night? Look, like I've said, Walker Inc is this company's top client and you will not screw this up. Or you will be out on your ass. That's all."
Ben walked off, leaving Will in shock. First he learns that Stan is back and second that his job is on the line if anything gets in the way. He needed to see Karen.