Chapter 3

As Melany entered the office the door was slammed after her. She stepped back as he rounded on her with a face filled with rage. He took her by the arm and brought her to his desk.

"What is this?" He demanded.

John Raymond held up the briefing to all senior members.

"You've been leaving messages on Jonathan Harts desk haven't you?"

She shook her head, putting her hands up to her face in fear.

"Yes you have, He has spoken to security about it."

Her face flushed red with nerves at the thought of that.

"I just gave him money, for the Tax."

"You don't pay tax to Jonathan Hart you idiot you pay it to the IRS. Didn't they teach you anything at school?"

"I was home schooled."

"Has he said anything to you."

She shook her head.

"No," she lied.

Raymond nodded and took in a breath.

"Well you'd best keep out of his way until this blows over. He won't hesitate if he finds out your real age. He'd do you for fraud. "

"Maybe I should just quit this job, I mean its getting too dangerous."

John Raymond flashed her a look.

"No, no."

He came around his desk and gave her a hug she didn't want.

"I'll look after everything don't worry. If it ever comes to it I'll take the rap. I have your back sweetie."

"No, you shouldn't have to do that though." She politely extracted herself from his embrace.

"I mean If I'm at fault I should own up to it,"

Raymond gave her a sardonic smile.

"You've obviously never dealt with a man like Jonathan Hart, he'd throw the book at you. Melany your mother has just finished her treatment there's a long road ahead for her. She will need you around."

Melany nodded, a worried look turning her features pale.

"Don't worry Melany, let me do all the worrying. Now I need you to go to the bookies for me and put a bet on each race like I told you to before."

Raymond handed her a large bag of cash.

"It sure Is a lot of money Sir. I don't like to handle all that money."

Raymond gave a little laugh.

"Its my life savings, I figure what of it. May as well blow the lot. You can't take it with you."

She looked down at the large bag of money.

"But...you could buy a car or I don't know, a boat or something."

Raymond handed her a slip of paper. "Here are the horses. Put 5,000 on each one. You can hang around then to pick up the winnings."

"Can I go pick up some groceries at the store next door?"

"I don't care what you do as long as you pick up the winnings after the race."

~O~

Jennifer looked over at him, there was silence as they ate. Jonathan was in a world on his own.

"Penny for your thoughts," She smiled as she took his hand.

He tried to smile back.

"It's nothing. It's just some guy at work. I don't trust him. Do you ever get an instinct Jen?"

"I trust your instincts Jonathan, I think you should too,"

Jonathan took a sip of his wine.

"I don't know whether I can trust my instincts. Ever since that pool incident I haven't..."

He took another gulp of the wine and smiled.

"Never mind, it doesn't matter. It's in the past now."

"Ever since the pool incident you haven't felt...safe." Jennifer finished for him.

Jonathan could only nod agreement as he locked eyes with her.

She reached a hand up and ran fingers through his hair.

"Its understandable. It takes time. You're eyes weren't the only thing that was scarred."

"Jen... let's not."

"No I wont," she squeezed his hand. "but I want you to know that if and when you're ready to talk about it I'm here,"

Jonathan nodded. He reached over and poured them both another glass of wine.

Jennifer leaned forward.

"What about this guy at work."

"I just don't like him. I mean I can't prove anything but for one thing I don't like the way he speaks to female staff. There was a young secretary with him today and the way he spoke to her. It was incredible. "

Jennifer smiled "oh, standing up for young secretaries are we, should I be jealous."

"No Jennifer, I have socks older than this kid." Jonathan grinned back at her. " Anyway I'll just have Stanley check him out. I could be totally wrong about the guy but I get a bad feeling every time he's around."

~o~

Melany was finishing up after another late night. John Raymond liked to do overtime. No one had to know he was sat behind his desk drinking Irish whiskey and smoking cigars. Most people just kept away from him. He wasn't a popular figure at Hart industries.

Melany cleaned up the office around him and did her best to endure his indulgent whiskey fuelled attack of self pity.

"That Jonathan Hart, he probably has like a rich father. He probably inherited...all of this crap."

Melany nodded as she picked up the scrunched up bits of paper from the floor and threw them in the waste basket.

"See him flouncing around, the arrogant bastard, talking to women as if he owns them. He thinks he's something. One of these days I'll cure all his ills. One of these days I'll put him to the floor. One of these fine days I'll put this fist in his face."

Raymond looked up as the girl had stopped working and was looking straight at him.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Can't you take a joke. You're so serious. Go on get home. See you tomorrow."

"Sir I'm not coming in tomorrow remember I told you my mom has an appointment with the doctor. I have to go with her."

"Oh yeah right. Be here all the earlier on Thursday then. Go on get home. You're starting to look attractive. That's how drunk I am."

Melany quickly grabbed her duffel bag and headed out.

"Good night Sir."

He raised his glass to her and took another good drink.

"Shut the door on your way out."

~o~

Melany hurried into the office. She had missed her bus and was seriously dreading Raymond's reaction. He was in foul humour most mornings as it was. She ran in and dropped her bag in the corner of the large room as usual.

She was surprised to find an awkward looking armchair in front of Raymond's desk. It wasn't normally there. She took hold and began moving it.

"Leave it there,"

She jumped at the sound if Raymond's voice as he entered.

"It's for visitors, if they come in they now have somewhere to sit. "

"Sir, I'm sorry I'm late I missed my..."

The words died on her lips as she noticed two police men outside. They were talking to Jennifer Hart.

She whirled around to face Raymond.

He was putting on his jacket as he spoke.

"No, they're not here for you. Jonathan Hart has gone AWOL. He never arrived home last night. He probably shacked up with his mistress for the night. I have to go downstairs. Stay here, I'll be back."

He hurried out of the office leaving the door ajar. Melany could hear Mrs Hart, she was crying.

"I thought he would be here, He never stays out overnight without telling me where he is. He needs to take steroid eye drops. He doesn't have them with him. I have them here."

Melany stood listening to the woman's anguish. She looked down and put a shaky hand to the armchair now situated in front of Raymond's desk. She moved it over slightly. She stared with wide eyes at the small dark stain on the carpet. It looked as though someone had tried to scrub it. It looked like blood.