Chapter 1

It was Jennifer who had started this tradition. Jonathan had to admit it did cheer them all up and boost morale. They were all laughing and chatting excitedly as they entered his office. He and Deanne had set out as many chairs as he could fit in the room but still some members of his team had to stand at the back against the wall. It didn't dampen their spirits any though. They welcomed this break from routine and the chance to chat with their friends. John Raymond took the seat closest to Jonathan which irritated him slightly.

Raymond wasn't with the firm very long but he ingratiated himself so much with Jonathan.

There was only one good friend in Jonathan Hart's life and she was at home trying out Irish Stew from a recipe book and probably burning it. And Jonathan would probably eat it just the same.

When they were all assembled, and the door was somehow closed Jonathan began.

"Ok you know why we are all here," he smiled amiably, "the annual Christmas night out. What am I forking out for this year? I need suggestions."

One of the forklift drivers shouted up from the back. "What about a game of kiss chasing."

Everyone laughed, a few of the girls shook their heads in mock disgust.

"What about a night at the Opera," Doreen from records spoke up.

"No," the lads all yelled out.

There was a disturbance at the back of the room as people moved to let someone in through the door. A young secretary came in and stood with the others in the back row. Jonathan frowned as his gaze fell on her.

"Sorry," she muttered abruptly as a skinny hand came up to pick nervously at a spot on her face.

"That's alright," Jonathan told her with a small smile. It wasn't her lateness that held his gaze.

John Raymond called his attention away with a hand to his shoulder. "What about a night at the track." He suggested "score a few wins on the dogs. We won big last year."

Jonathan thought this over, sure the guys would probably love it, but the girls weren't so keen last time. The meeting broke up twenty minutes later with nothing decided. They put all the suggestions down on a piece of paper and there would be a secret ballet to decide once and for all where they would go for their Christmas night out. Deanne said she would organise the vote.

Everyone began filing out of the office. Once again Jonathans eyes fell on the young girl who had arrived late. She had lank shoulder length hair which could do with some style but that wasn't it. Jonathan hoped he wasn't that superficial. She wore a purple top and skirt that hung without shape on a super skinny body. Jonathan frowned to himself. She looked for all the world like she was hiding something, or was that just his imagination.

~o~

John Raymond stared back at her irritably. She was getting on his nerves now.

That shaky high-pitched voice was going through his head.

"Mr. Raymond, I just wanted to ask you about this." She came to the side of his desk and showed him a receipt for a dinner for two at Le Vermont on 5th Avenue. He knew exactly what that was about. He had taken a girlfriend there last week.

"Its not a designated place for lunch meetings so I just wanted to know where to file it."

"I told you before. Anything like that is filed under Jonathan Harts name."

She looked back at him with uncertainty.

"But I don't do Jonathan Harts filing, I do your…. "

"Its Mr Hart to you." He snapped.

"Oh yeah, I'm sorry. Mr Hart." She whispered as she picked nervously at a spot on her face.

"Put your hand down, you don't want people to know your real age do you?"

She shook her head.

"I pay you in cash to help you out, but if anyone knew at this company that you hadn't paid taxes you would be in a world of trouble. And don't even consider mentioning my name If you ever get caught. Mr Hart would have us both put in prison,"

The look of fear on her face was just what he had hoped for. He had punished her enough. He smiled up at her then.

"Don't worry. I'll never tell anyone. It's our secret. You want to earn some money for your mom and I need a secretary who can file things properly so we make a good team don't we."

"Yes sir," she said in barely a whisper.

"Now go file that under Mr. Harts name and then you can go to lunch. Take an extra long lunch. Be back here for 2.30."

"Thank you Sir," she nodded as she backed out towards the door.

~O~

Jonathan scrutinised the press release once again. There was no doubting it, Colmans International had undercut them yet again and now they had lost the contract. Jonathan threw down the paper in disgust.

"How in the world did Colman's know we were bidding for that contract?" he asked.

Stanley didn't have to answer that question, they both knew the answer.

After a moment Jonathan spoke again.

"Stanley can you and Deanne get a copy of all staff records. I want to know who joined up in the last year. Someone Is leaking information to the Coleman company and I want to know who that someone is before they ruin us.

"Yes sir, of course." Stanley hurried out.

~o~

She carried the bags through the hall and dumped them down on the kitchen table.

"Is that you Melany?"

"Yes mom."

She hurried into the bedroom.

"How did you get on today?"

As she sat on the bed her mother took her hand.

"It was good, I'm getting the filing done now. You remember how slow I was, well I'm getting the hang of it now Mr Raymond was pleased with me."

"And what about Mr Hart, you're managing to avoid him."

Melany nodded enthusiastically. "We had this meeting about the Christmas party and I was worried because he was looking at me but I think it was ok. He just went on with the meeting."

Melany's mother gave her a tired smile.

"That's good, I'm so proud of you my little working girl."

"I'm not so little, I'm 16 now."

"You're too young for all this."

Melany frowned a little as she looked into her mother eyes. "how were you today, no sickness?"

"I was a bit sick this morning, nothing too bad."

"Did you eat?"

"I had a little bowl of cornflakes."

"You were waiting for me to make soup," Melany smiled.

Her mother squeezed her hand.

"Oh I'd love some soup, just a small bowl though sweetheart."

"A small bowl but try and eat it okay?"

With a small smile for her mother Melany hurried to the kitchen.

As she worked at heating up the soup her mother spoke from the bedroom.

"You've said Mr Raymond can get really mad at times what about Mr Hart Melany, what's he like."

Melany continued on with her work as she spoke.

"I don't know mom, he seems very professional but I wouldn't like to cross him."

"Well you just keep your head down and your mind on your work and you'll be okay."

"I will mom."