CHAPTER SIXTEEN
We end our adventure with this chapter. I hope you are not disappointed in how it ends. I hope it has answered all your questions. For the reviewer who wondered why Perry would go off and dance with Laura. She was like an acquaintance of mine, no matter how long ago she dated someone if you were her friend you never had anything to do with him. Laura had no boundaries. How dare Perry look at another woman especially one she felt was so beneath her attention. Rather than have her go after Della he chose to get her away from that situation. We know over the years Laura's attitude never changed. Della eventually reconciles with her family, but that is down the road. Perry is the perfect person to help her get over the Michael debacle. Again, thanks to Little Miss Ruth for her help and guidance and your friendship. All of your reviews have been terrific and made my days. Watch for the next FF coming soon, "What About Us".
Della Street took one last look at herself in the ladies room mirror, on the ninth floor, of the Brent Building. She was wearing a green flared skirt with matching bolero jacket, a crème colored silk sleeveless blouse, with matching heels and purse. Her chestnut curls framed her lovely face, and the light touch of make-up looked just right.
Perry Mason had asked her to come to his office at five o'clock. He told her he didn't want any interruptions during their interview, and that his typists always made sure they were gone by five. She was nervous because she had no idea what kind of things he would ask her. Della had finally admitted to herself that she really wanted to work with this man.
She walked into an office that looked like a tornado had blown through it. File cabinets were not closed. Typed pages were lying on a desk and they hadn't been sorted from the carbons. Mail was in a pile that was about to fall over. She could hear him talking, but before she could call to him the telephone rang. It was obvious there was no one to answer the switchboard. She automatically sat down, picked up the receiver, said, "Perry Mason's office," and after scrambling for a pencil and paper wrote the message.
As she hung up the phone Della glanced up to see him leaning on the door jamb with a huge grin on his face. "I can see, already, you will be a great addition to my staff," he informed her.
"Since you know I can operate a switchboard I don't want you to go assuming too much Mr. Mason," she retorted.
Moving over to the reception desk he replied, "I can assure you, Miss Street, when I checked with Mr. Delaney about your secretarial skills I was very impressed."
"You checked on me?" she wasn't sure whether to seem assured or indignant. He didn't need to know Paul Drake had already spilled the beans.
He helped her from her seat, put his hand possessively on her elbow and walked her to his office. "The work I do is very confidential. I need someone who knows the importance of that situation. Now if you'll sit down we can begin our interview."
Della looked around the office. His desk was large, but it was covered with open law books. There were papers and folders piled on the table to her right. Everything needed to be dusted, and ashtrays and coffee cups needed to be emptied and cleaned. Her mind was going a mile a minute trying to decide what to do first.
He looked at her for a long minute and finally asked, "well you have seen my offices. They are a little chaotic. So, what would you do first.?"
She raised an arched eyebrow at him and commented, "A little chaotic?"
"That's what I like," he remarked. "You get right to the point"
Della took a deep breath, "well first I would get those typed pages on the desk in the reception area sorted and in folders and in files. If they are confidential they cannot be where anyone can read them. Next a temporary receptionist must come in tomorrow until one can be hired. Who knows how many calls and how much business is being lost. The mail has to be gone through it looks like it hasn't been opened in days. Your desk needs to be cleaned off and the filing over on that desk needs to be done."
"Is that all?" he wanted to know.
She tilted head at him before she spoke. "That would be just tomorrow morning. A filing system has to be established, I would need to look over your books to see who is paying bills and writing the checks, it would be important to know where you buy business supplies, do you have accounts, where you bank, a regular cleaning crew needs to come in every day, we would both need a calendar of your appointments, time in court, and all important names and telephone numbers, and that's just a day's work."
The lawyer leaned back in his chair. "Is that all."
Squirming around in her chair she announced, "as a matter of fact you could use a new, bigger, client chair and maybe a sofa against the wall. Speaking of walls, they look pretty plain and where are you diplomas and business license?"
He waved his hand around and explained, "somewhere in these piles. One of the girls was going to get frames and put them up."
"Thank you for reminding me. I would need your permission to run the office and evaluate the typists. We would need to know if they can be kept on or let go. I have the feeling you were looking at pretty faces and figures rather than experience."
He tried to look innocent. "I checked their typist certificates."
Della took a deep breath and just shook her head. "I think Mr. Mason if I were to take this job I would have to evaluate their abilities."
"If you take the job I would want you to organize this office to your taste. Also, I want you with me in court, in here during client appointments, and you will know as much about my business as I do. Would that be a problem for you? This will not be your ordinary workplace, the hours could be irregular, the cases will be out of the ordinary, and there may be some travel. So, what do you think?"
She hesitated. "I'm not sure where to start because this doesn't concern the actual work I would be doing. This mess needs immediate remedies. I will admit you have made this sound fascinating. Yet there are other factors to consider."
"Della, I think I know why you are reluctant and I think I understand your reluctance. You are right we need to talk about it and come to some ground rules. I'll begin by saying I was very attracted to you from the time we met. At that time, I knew nothing about your background. That's why I wanted to write while I was in the Pacific, so we could learn about each other. Circumstances changed all that."
Blushing slightly Della admitted to him, "Since you are being so frank I will admit also I was very drawn to you. When we went to the USO it was just to give the soldiers and sailors a nice evening before they shipped out. I was engaged at that time. It ended up not working out, but I thought I would never see you again. Yet we know what has happened."
Perry looked at her closely trying to decide if he should ask what happened with her fiancé. He noticed when she spoke of it she was shaking slightly. He decided it was better to let it go for now, so he said, "I feel like I am the winner to have you back in my life."
"So," she began, "How would this fit into our working relationship? I do have to tell you I am not ready for anything more right now, for any other relationship but a work relationship. I'm not ready right now to talk about my former liaison. My focus is getting myself at a place where I have confidence in myself and my abilities. A challenging job just might do that."
He looked at her, beautiful, talented, organized, and a definite challenge and it broke his heart that that someone would have hurt her. What he told her was, "I can't promise you that there won't be times when I will want to kiss you. I will want to take you to dinner and dancing, and I'll even sing to you. What I can promise is, if anything makes you uncomfortable then all you must do is say so and I'll back off. It is my hope in working together, learning together, and building a successful practice there may be the opportunity to build a life together."
It was so difficult to hold back the tears. Was this man for real? She was so sure Michael had been the answer to her dreams, but she had been so young. Looking into those unbelievable blue eyes and that handsome face she couldn't deny to herself that it would be like heaven to be in his arms. Yet, this was not the way to start the job of a lifetime. Finally, she said, "Yes Mr. Mason I would like to work with you.
He got up quickly and pulled her up. He looked into her hazel eyes and leaned down and kissed her forehead. "You have made me a very happy man."
They stood there just looking at each other as there was a knock on the corridor door. She was startled, but he informed her, "It's Paul and Andrea. I thought we might have something to celebrate. So, will you join us for dinner and dancing?"
An hour later they were at Ciro's close to the band. The place was packed, and it was obvious Perry had made reservations ahead of time. They were having a wonderful time when he asked Della to dance. It soon became evident why he wanted her on the dance floor as he began to sing. "Nothing like you has ever been seen before. Nothing like you existed in days of yore. Never were lips so kissable. Never were eyes so bright….."
Della Street asked, "Mr. Perry Mason what am I going to do with you?"
"I have never met anyone like you before Della Street. I need you in my life, to talk to you, to spend time with you, and to learn from you. If we can do that I will be the happiest man in the world. I warn you, my dear, I am not always easy to be around especially when I am working. My clients come first when I am working on their cases, Paul will tell you that. I promise our lives will never be dull, but you will always be a priority.
Leaning against his chest she whispered, "that is pretty impressive counselor, but be warned that I will speak my mind if necessary."
He grinned at her, "Oh I am counting on that Miss Street, I'm counting on it."
As he swung her into the middle of the floor Della thought, 'could dreams really come true? Is this man really what he seems to be? Well if she didn't take this wonderful opportunity then she just might never know'. A chill went up her back when he looked down at her. 'It just felt so right. Well nothing ventured, nothing gained. She was ready for the ride of a lifetime and she was sure it would not ever be dull with this man at her side'.
"The best is yet to come." He whispered in her ear.
"I Remember You" words and Lyrics by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer
Nothing Like You Has Ever Been Seen Before" words and music by Fran Landesman and Bob Dorough
FIN
