Disclaimer: I do not own Cherub.
Author's note: This story contains strong language which may offend some. Please don't complain if you are offended, I gave you clear warning.
Chapter Three
"Miss Adams? There's a woman here to see you," Niamh Wilkinson's voice crackled through the intercom. Lauren sighed, slammed down her pen, and pressed the button to talk.
"What's her name? I'm busy, Niamh."
"I know that, Miss Adams," Niamh rushed, "but she says it's urgent. Something about your brother. Says her name is Gwyneth."
Something clicked in Lauren. Something James had said. Something with a G.
"Let her in, immediately." Lauren said abruptly.
The woman who walked in the door was tall and willowy, with a tiny waist and long, curly blonde hair. Lauren looked her up and down. This woman didn't look like a reporter, she looked like a model, and the smell of smoke hung around her like a curtain. Lauren tried not to cough.
"Can I help you?" She smiled, fakely.
"Let's not pretend you don't know who I am." Gwyneth said shortly, dropping her bag onto the floor and sitting down across from Lauren. Lauren's eyes hardened.
"Alright, Gwyneth. You realise I could have you arrested, don't you?" Lauren said threateningly, "Now why don't you tell me what you want and we can come to some sort of…compromise."
"I'll get straight to the point," Gwyneth smiled sickeningly, "I'll give you these," she pulled a tape and a notebook out of her bag and slammed them onto the desk, "if you give me a job."
Lauren was taken aback for a moment.
"A job?" She repeated dumbly.
"Yes. I want to teach English."
Lauren, for a moment, couldn't speak. She didn't trust Gwyneth. Why should she give her a job?
"Um…I'll have to discuss it with the board," Lauren spluttered, "leave a contact number and I'll call you in a few days."
"You have one week," Gwyneth said coldly, sweeping the tape and notebook back into her bag and standing up, "before I give this to my editor."
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Kerry sealed the ham sandwich inside a plastic bag and shoved it into Ada's purple Bratz lunchbox.
"Have you got your shoes on, Ada?" She called into the living room.
"Yes," came the reply. The little girl herself came skipping into the kitchen, her school bag swinging from her tiny shoulders.
"I put in a sandwich, crisps, a chocolate bar, an apple and an orange juice in here, ok?" Kerry handed her the lunch box, "Don't eat the chocolate bar unless you've eaten the apple already."
"Ok, mum." Ada smiled cheekily.
"You're happy here aren't you?" Kerry asked, crouching down so she was face to face with her daughter. She'd only been living with Kerry for six months.
"Better than the orphanage," Ada said, "look, mum! I put a ribbon in Jade's hair." She thrust a Bratz doll into Kerry's face and Kerry smiled.
The doorbell rang. Kerry walked through the apartment and opened the door. It was Ingrid, her friend from across the hall, tightly holding her son Jack's hand. Ingrid looked harassed and tired, but still managed a small smile.
"Hello Ingrid," Kerry smiled. Ingrid looked baffled and Kerry frowned, before realising she was still speaking Mandarin. She switched back to English effortlessly, "sorry Ing, we speak Mandarin in the house. Ada! Come on!"
Ada hurried out of the kitchen towards the door, swinging her Barbie doll and her lunch box. Ada's grasp of English wasn't great yet, but she was getting along. She scrunched up her small face, and finally with a gasp she said,
"Hello Jack."
"Hi Ada," Jack grinned. Jack was the same age as Ada, and the two were close friends.
"Alright then, we'll go. See you later, Kerry." Ingrid took Ada's hand and led her down the stairs. Kerry watched them go, then closed the door softly.
The phone started ringing.
Kerry sighed. However awful it sounded, she just did not have time today for another tearful orphan she'd counselled.
"Hello?" She snapped into the phone.
"Kerry? It's Gwen."