Thanks so much for reading and reviewing guys. I hope you like the rest of the story .

Chapter 2

Jonathan grabbed his briefcase. He took the slice of toast Max handed him and hurried quickly for the door.

"Eh, not so fast buster, " Jennifer padded down the staircase almost silent in her fluffy slippers.

Jonathan turned to face his wife.

"Jennifer I'm in a hurry, I'm going to be late."

"Don't give me that, you're the boss of your own company. You don't have to worry about being late. Where are your eye drops?"

"They're in my brief case. I was going to put them in at work."

"Yeah I'm sure you were, hand them over."

Jennifer went to him with her hand out.

Jonathan knew the game was up.

"They're upstairs on my locker."

"Yeah I thought as much."

"I'll bring em down Mrs H."

"Thank you Max."

Jennifer turned with a stern look for her husband.

"My eyes are fine."

"Jonathan it's no laughing matter, you nearly lost your sight. If we hadn't gotten you out of the pool when we did, you'd be going around with a white stick now."

"I know Jen but my eyes feel fine, there's no need anymore."

Jennifer knew why he didn't want to put the drops in but she had to harden her heart. She took his hand and led him to the couch to sit.

She gave Max a small smile of gratitude as he handed her the drops.

Jennifer put him sitting down and kneeled up on the cushions beside him.

"Now just lean back and keep your eyes open. I'm going in on the left eye first."

Before he could react, she quickly dropped one into his right eye.

"Ow, ow," he grimaced as it stung like hell.

Gently she took hold of his hand so he wouldn't bring it up to rub the eye.

"Oh it shouldn't hurt like that." He muttered shaking his head against the pain.

"The doctor said it would, your eyes aren't fully healed yet. Come on breathe through it."

"What if I curse through it," he grimaced. "Whatever works," she grinned.

After a moment Jonathan turned to her.

"Ok, put the second one in now." He told her in a rather uncertain voice.

"Are you ready?"

"No," he shook his head slightly. "But do it anyway."

She leaned over him and gently inserted the drop as he struggled to keep his left eye open.

"Ow, Jesus," he leaned forward.

Again she quickly took hold of both his hands to keep them away from his face.

"I'm sorry, that was a big one. I know. I'm sorry sweetheart."

Jonathan squeezed his eyes shut against the pain. He tried to do the breathing exercises she taught him.

"Doctor Malory said it would hurt like that. You have a lot of scaring behind your eyes."

Jonathan could only nod.

"Maybe I should call the office. I don't think you should go in today."

He shook his head. "I have to oversee the new account. We have a meeting today with our branch in Brussels. I'll be alright….in a minute."

The pain began to ease, and Max handed him a tissue as tears began to flow down his face.

"I'm driving you to work Mr H and there's no point in you arguing. I'll go bring the car around."

Jennifer gave him a smile as Max headed off towards the garage.

Once he had dried his face Jonathan turned to look at her.

"Are you ok now," she asked, still scrutinising his blood shot eyes.

"You know what, you're a sight for sore eyes." He said.

She smiled in relief as she pulled him into a gentle hug.

~o~

His eyes were much improved by the time he was sitting at his desk. He frowned as he picked up the brown envelope left there. He looked again at the scrawled note inside. All it said was "For Tax" and there was twenty five dollars in cash.

Stanley Freeman hurried in at that moment. Jonathan held up the envelope for him to see.

"Again?"

"That's the third month in a row." Jonathan shook his head.

Stanley took hold of the note to examine it. "An envelope with a note simply saying "For Tax" and twenty five dollars in cash. It doesn't make sense."

"I don't much like the idea of someone coming into my office while I'm not here. Could you bring that down to security and let them know Stanley, I want to find out who this person is."

Stanley nodded as he took the envelope. "It would have to have been done last night as your office is locked from 7pm onwards."

"And it would have to have been done by a member of staff," Jonathan shook his head. "No, I don't like that Stanley. We have to find whoever is doing it and find out why."

~O~

Melany hurried into the office and put the files down in front of John Raymond.

"You're late,"

"I'm sorry Mr. Raymond, I had to wait for the photo copier and then..."

He put his hand up to signal her silence.

"Spare me the story. I need you to go to the lunch room and put my dishes into the washer and clean up."

"Yes sir,"

"And when you're done with that..."

They both looked up as Jonathan Hart walked into the office.

Melany shot a look at Raymond and then stared down at her files as Jonathan approached the desk.

"Sorry Johnnie, I didn't hear you knock," Raymond grinned .

"Its my building, I don't knock," Jonathan told him.

"Raymond, we need to talk."

"Of course," Raymond turned to the young girl.

"Can I get a coffee for two babe, and see if you can rustle up some of those cakes from yesterday."

Melany hurried off to do his bidding.

"Just hold it a second," Jonathan called out to her.

Melany froze, hardly daring to look at him.

"What is your name." He asked.

"Mel...Melany Sir," her voice faltered as she spoke.

Jonathan turned a cold eye on Raymond.

"Her name is Melany."

Jonathan turned to her. "You can defer that coffee Melany Go on your break, find one of those cakes for yourself. "

"Thank you sir." her voice was barely a whisper as she hurried to the door.

"Yes, thank you Melany." Raymond called after her but she was gone.

"She's a good girl really, not too bright."

Jonathan slapped a pile of leaflets down on the desk.

Raymond went slightly pale. "There they are, I wondered what had become of them."

"You left them down in the canteen," Jonathan told him coldly. "You are supposed to be giving these to every company you visit. Each leaflet has a comprehensive list of what we sell in the textile line and a price list. What were they doing in the canteen."

"I forgot them that's all," Raymond shrugged.

"And why are you not out selling. Its past 10.30. You should be out on the road by now."

Raymond heaved himself up out of his chair. "I was just leaving. For heaven sake I was on the phone to Richmond Mercantile all morning. You have to keep those people happy. I can't be everywhere."

Raymond shook his head as he grabbed his jacket and strolled out past his boss.

~O~

Once she had eaten Melany found John Raymond's leftovers and threw them in the bin. She pulled a face as she picked up the apple core he had left behind him. She threw the lot in the bin and rinsed out his cup. She was just about to exit the lunch room when "Time Warp" came on the radio. She couldn't help herself. The lunch room was empty. She cranked up the volume and did the dance as she sang along to her favourite hit.

"It's just a jump to the left, and a step to the right. With your hands on your hips, you bring your knees in tight.

But it's the pelvic thrust that really drives you in say yay yay yay en."

She was twirling fingers around her head before she realised she wasn't alone. Jonathan Hart was stood in the door way holding a mug of coffee and the morning paper. His face slowly split in a grin as he watched her dancing around like a mad thing.

"Don't let me stop you."

Melany flushed red from her neck upwards. She quickly turned down the radio and hurried out past him with a mumbled apology.

"No wait," Jonathan put his coffee and paper down on the nearest table.

She turned to face him but couldn't quite bring herself to look him in the eye.

"You're Melany right?"

"Yes sir," she nodded.

Jonathan scrutinised her for a moment.

"How old are you?"

Her face flushed red as she scrambled for an answer.

Jonathan took her pause to mean that he was being too personal.

"Look Melany, I don't want you to be afraid of me. We are all part of a team here. I'm a member of this team and so are you. We both play our part. "

"Thank you sir," she nodded, just wanting to be out of his sight.

"What I'm trying to say is that if you ever need help with anything my door is always open. If you are unhappy with anything or anyone...don't be afraid to come to me."

She nodded at his shoes.

"Yes sir, thank you. Must get back."

She dared a look up at his face. He had such a smile, she hadn't noticed that before. She could actually feel her heart do a little flip. A small smile crossed her lips and then she was gone hurrying towards the elevator.

The smile faded from his lips as Jonathan watched her go. Something about her had been sending alarm bells and he now knew what it was. He had to separate her from John Raymond. There was something unhealthy in their working relationship. But that wasn't the only thing. Jonathan's face darkened as he thought on it. She looked very young.