Hello lovely readers. Words – 11.7K.
Than you to supernioufette, .10 and SyfyRomantic for sending me PM's to encourage me to keep writing and finish the story. You all rock!
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Anna was stunned. So were the others. Vera's words played over in her mind, much like an annoying song would. "I am your new boss. I've come here to stay." Mr. Bates would be mortified when he found out.
Nobody moved, and she continued with her explanation. "I am the new Manager, seeing as the other finds himself in trouble. From this moment on, you will take all direction from me." She crossed her arms across her chest, her body language daring those present to oppose her.
Anthony had been in charge, and he was present. When he didn't contradict her, this became the new reality for everyone. Michael and Richard also remained silent. Nobody dared to breathe.
"What will happen to Mr. Bates in jail?" asked a concerned Daisy. It was sweet of her to do so, Anna thought, but the poor girl should have known better. When did Vera care to ever speak about Mr. Bates?
"That is up to the authorities to determine. I'll assume he won't be here in a long time. We must move ahead without him." Her response was given without much thought to empathy to him, or the others in the office that had worked with him for years. It was no different than her prior treatment of him.
A gasp came from Phyllis, and realizing how vocal she had just been, she immediately shut herself down. She did not want to be the center of attention or target of any unwanted comments from the new manager. Vera did notice, but let it slide with a tilt of her head and instead sent a conspiratorial smile to her cohorts, sitting towards the back. Sarah and Thomas were together, as always. They said nothing, but their evident happiness felt like a slap in the face to everybody else who had any regard for their true boss and manager, John Bates.
Anna was lucky enough to be aware that Vera had made her own dissolution request, and so the events of that morning, while shocking, made sense to her. The others were clueless, in the absence of that crucial bit of information. Mr. Bates had made them believe Vera wasn't even allowed on the premises, and then she was here, taking his place. Confusion abounded.
"Will we be sacked?" asked the fearless James, and his usual flirty demeanor was gone. Even he sensed the gravity of this situation. His mood was on par with everybody else's. No matter how flirty Vera had been with the men and how much they might like her as a person, everybody had seen her failures as a manager. She hardly did anything while she was here. She was a source of conflict, rather than discipline. If she were now in charge, what chance did the company have? What chance did they all have at continued employment?
"Oh, well James. That's a tough question to answer. For the immediate future, I am sure that I am not ready to make any changes, but I won't lie. I think this company could use a good shake-up to bring in fresh perspectives in the form of new employees."
The ambiance in the room sunk even further. They were in for a rough ride.
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"OMG." Gwen didn't have a fancier comment to make, and judging by the blank faces shared by her coworkers, neither did they. No sooner than they were released from the meeting, Vera trudged out with Anthony in tow. The others just hovered in their places, waiting for the minute that her door of her newly selected office closed, so that they could congregate and discuss what had just happened. Thomas and Sarah headed outside, while most of the pilots met in the crew room. The kitchen was occupied by the usual – Gwen, Anna, Phyllis and Daisy.
"Double OMG." Daisy laughed nervously. "What just happened?"
"I'd say we died and went to hell." Those were the strongest words they had ever heard Phyllis say. She looked livid and wasn't even trying to repress this from coming through. Her knuckles were clenched, lending to her desperation.
Anna certainly agreed with Phyllis' comments and there was so much she wanted to say, but felt best to remain as neutral as possible. If she were to become emotional over this, her cover would be blown, and even worse, her feelings for Mr. Bates could be known. She remained silent.
"I wish we knew more. If Anthony was aware of this, I would have appreciated a forewarning." Gwen crossed her arms in protest. She rarely spoke ill of others, but her frustration was also evident.
"I'm sure he was just as surprised as we are. When I saw her coming, I called him and he met her out front. I heard the whole thing. He had no clue." The least thing Anna could do was defend the man. Gwen appeared appeased with her response.
"Wasn't she no longer a partner?" Daisy asked timidly. "Or did I understand wrong when Mr. Bates spoke about it?"
Anna felt a pang of guilt. She had so much knowledge, and she couldn't make it easier for any of them. She couldn't explain anything at all. Phyllis helped Daisy out instead. "What I understood is that he had applied for the dissolution, and that the courts would supervise the process. The process was probably not finished yet and with his current incarceration, is likely stalled."
"Yeah. That sounds logical," Anna commented so that at least it appeared she was participating.
"What is important now is how we proceed," added Phyllis. "I don't doubt that Mr. Bates will get out of jail and I, for one, want to keep the operation as smooth as possible so that is one less thing that he has to worry about."
Bless her, thought Anna. In all of her peculiar, closed-off and reticent ways, she had always seemed to support Mr. Bates and that's what was needed around here – supporters who could keep the operation going, regardless of what was to come under Vera's rule. It was obvious they wouldn't be able to count on the wretched likes of Thomas or Sarah.
"I hope he's back… Soon. I don't know what I would do if Vera became permanent around here," Gwen looked positively horrified at her own thought. "I guess that would mean no more Sales for me. She does everything that Richard wants. My training will be gone before it ever started…"
"Well, I don't suffer nearly as much as all of you, being in the air and away as often as I am, but, he's been nothing if not kind with me and I can see that this is really his company. I can tell that he cares more about it than she ever will, as it was only ever a diversion for her. I can't do much from where I am, but I will support him as well and hope that he comes back." Daisy was resolute in her declaration.
"I'll do whatever I can too." Before Anna could say anything else, they were joined by Tom and William who had come to the kitchen before heading back out to the maintenance hangar. All of the women knew instinctively to not say anything further. Not that these two men weren't trustworthy, they'd been hardworking and loyal before, but they didn't want this to become a large gripe session that could get out of hand. Anna still had her doubts about William too.
Their silence was too sudden and unfortunately, too obvious. "So, ladies... Did we interrupt something?" Tom's cheeky voice sounded out as all of the women lowered their eyes in mild embarrassment.
"No. Nothing important. I'll go back to work now." Phyllis managed a small smile and set off. She was quite quick about it, enough so, that Tom reacted to her departure.
"Did we do something wrong?" the chief mechanic asked when he was sure she was no longer capable of overhearing.
"Oh, please don't be offended by Phyllis. She's just very dedicated. She meant nothing by it," Gwen confirmed, eager to defend Phyllis and appease the young men. It worked, and they seemed relieved. Tom relaxed.
"Don't mind us; we just needed some sugar for our tea. We've run out." While Tom opened the cabinets, looking for a spare container, William held back. He was always quiet, that was nothing new, but he wouldn't maintain eye contact with anybody.
He must still be upset about his date gone wrong, thought Anna, as he held himself in a similar demeanor to when she saw him last week. Then, she noticed Daisy. Daisy had clammed up and there was an aura of tension about her.
Anna could tell William was very uncomfortable, and so was Daisy. Something was wrong between the both of them, as they couldn't look at each other.
"Found it. We'll be on our way." He handed the dispenser to William, as he bowed himself off as a flirtatious gesture. "Have a nice day."
William just offered a timid, "Bye."
When they were out of earshot, Daisy breathed again. It was loud, and not easy to ignore. "Oh, God…." She added. Her face reflected sorrow.
"What's the matter?" asked a concerned Gwen. "Are you ok?"
"I don't know what I am going to do to make it up to him. He won't even look at me."
"What? Why? What did you do?" Asked Anna in rapid succession.
"He's liked me for months and I've known about it, but tried not to encourage him. The other day, he asked me out, and I felt like I couldn't say no, he was just so eager." She put her hands over her eyes, in clear embarrassment.
Deep down, Anna knew what was coming, and she couldn't be happier. Was it possible? Could she be that lucky? After all, she did not want to believe William was capable of dating Vera.
"But what happened?" Gwen implored.
Daisy uncovered her eyes. "I said yes, and proceeded to forget all about it when Alfred asked me out."
Gwen understood what had happened, and she didn't seem too pleased.
"You stood him up?" asked Anna, pleading to the God's of the universe for her to be more precise and confirm it. Let Daisy be the culprit, please… she prayed internally.
"I did. I never showed up. He rang me, but I was with Alfred at the movies and I dared not answer." She pouted her lips. "The next day, I tried to apologize, but he wouldn't have it. He's not talked to me since."
Hallelujah, rejoiced Anna. William was NOT the lover and the twisted hand of fate that brought Vera and him to be side by side, was a coincidence. She still had to figure out who Vera was intending to see, this didn't solve her dilemma, but she decided to rejoice for another few minutes before worrying about that.
"Why did you agree to go with Alfred, if you were already committed to William?" Gwen was slightly annoyed. She seemed to take William's side in this. He really was such a sweet young man.
"I told you. I forgot… I've always liked Alfred, to be honest, and I never thought he'd ask me. I've hinted, but he's always pining for his ex – Ivy, from Patmore's Catering. When he asked, I was so chuffed, I completely forgot about William."
"You'll have to think of something, dear," offered Anna as she took Daisy's hand and patted it effusively. "It wouldn't be nice to leave things like this."
"I know," conceded Daisy.
With William no longer a potential lover, they were now down to three.
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Anthony couldn't believe what was coming from Vera's mouth. Besides antagonizing the entire staff and leaving them with the worry that their positions were in jeopardy, she had a list of management directives that she wanted to put into action immediately. By the little analysis she had afforded each item, she must have hashed this rather quickly. He read down the register she'd created – eliminating the names of the current aircraft and exchanging them for characters from the Lord of the Rings novels, reducing the catering offering to water and crisps, installing a Jacuzzi in the locker room, eliminating the customer courtesy Wi-Fi network, giving a raise to a few select employees of her liking, firing the law firm of Crawley and Blake, and hiring Sampson and Bullock in their place. Wow. There were at least another ten items.
"Vera, your initiatives are interesting." He was at a loss for words, really. None of them made much business sense. "Before we proceed any further, I'll need to tell you the exact same thing I told Mr. Bates when he brought forth his news about the impending business dissolution. Mr. Bates is still your partner until the court makes its decision. Until that time, you cannot hire, fire without cause, promote anyone, increase a salary or make any expenditures above one thousand pounds, unless both of you sign for authorization. If you want any of these things before that happens, I'll have to get his approval."
"Oh, stuffy Tony…..." She bat her eyelashes at him, as coquettishly as possible, and rubbed her shoeless feet against his legs. Slyly, she sat back and positioned herself to amplify and accentuate her bosom. "You can get these things done without John's authorization." She was affirming it, not requesting it. "Anyway, he's in jail and likely to be there for a long time. He's a thief for robbing company money. His point of view is worthless in my opinion."
Employing old tactics? Oh Vera, thought Anthony. If you hadn't screwed me over with Edna, maybe your old charms would be working well on me right now. I loved you….For the first time in his life, he felt empowered and mad. He had been pushed around for far too long. He could see right through her. He was naïve, but he wasn't a complete idiot... Mr. Bates had helped him see that and he would be eternally grateful. And then he did something he had never done before – he rebuffed her.
"I dare say, Vera, your feet have wandered away from you. Can you collect them so that we can continue this conversation professionally?"
She shook her head lightly, trying to comprehend what she had just heard. Her once amiable face, hardened slightly, but not enough to reflect ire, although he could sense she was not happy. She pulled her feet away.
"Tony, what's happened to the man I used to know?" she asked, still batting her eyelashes and with a less flirty, but still coquettish way. She rebounded nicely from the rebuff. "I've only been gone a few weeks."
"Oh, I'm still here." He smiled. It was best not get her upset. He still needed to be able to maneuver within the office and getting her upset wouldn't help. "I would rather just make sure everything is working well during these turbulent times."
Before Vera could even make any statements, Anthony continued.
"Speaking of turbulent times… Surely you are aware that given the current judicial sanctions we are facing, we do not have enough money to operate for more than three weeks."
"Mmmmm, Yes. I'd heard about the freeze." Vera pouted her lips with mock concern. "Only three weeks? How very sad." There was not an ounce of real concern in her reaction.
"What do you recommend we do, Vera?" He was guessing she had no clue. "Given that you have a list of demands that require cash outlays, I am wondering what your plan is to save the company from a very imminent demise."
Anthony knew that the only hope that this company had, rested in Mr. Bates hands. He would hate to see it go, as it had real promise. He hadn't continued working here just because it was a job. He could see the potential for growth, and having just won the CONOCO EXPLORATIONS account was proof that they could do more. It didn't seem feasible; however, if they didn't find a solution, and judging by the way she was sighing and shrugging her shoulders, he wouldn't be able to count on her, even if she had 50% responsibility to help.
"Oh, you can figure it out," was her curt response.
"Well, I have a loan offer from our bank. The amount they are offering would cover our operating expenses for at least two more months, hopefully enough until all of this is resolved, but the interest is very high, compounding at 20% and they would only allow the loan if we utilize one of the helicopters we do own as collateral. It would be due at the end of two months. If we have not resolved our issues, we could lose a chopper."
"That seems risky." Was her only response.
"Or, you and John can each give up a percentage ownership and we take a partner who can provide us more immediate liquidity." It was worth mentioning, and suggesting, that she too give up a percentage.
"Oh, no, that won't do. I won't be giving anything up. If that is the alternative, then we go with that, but the ownership stake has to come from John."
Typical, Anthony thought to himself. Always thinking of herself and not of the company.
"Vera, it's the only way. You should consider it." His words were firm, hoping she would focus on what he was saying. She wasn't taking the situation as seriously as he wanted.
A devious smile came upon her. "It's not the only way, Anthony. If John doesn't want to sacrifice any part of his current partnership, which will soon be mine anyway, then, we operate until we can, then liquidate our assets. Selling the land here and in Bridlington, plus what we can get from the sale of the helicopters, I expect that it is several million pounds. Much more than the one million I invested to begin with. It's almost a better option for me, if I am honest. No more insufferable staff to manage. I could take it all and go away."
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"I can't understand why you are playing hard to get." He sidled over to her when she was focusing on answering a customer service query and didn't notice him until he was right behind her.
Richard's voice provoked goose pimples all over her, not of the good kind, those that you get when you are incredibly excited at something. It was generated by the chill in the air, the coldness that wafted around her. And now, Mr. Bates was not here to protect her.
He seemed to understand that too, after his run-in with the owner, the last time he'd talked to her.
"John Bates isn't here to save you this time, princess. You best do as I say. My patience is wearing thin."
Anna, as always, had her voice activated recorder working, and thought it best to provide a warning of sorts, so that when her case went to the police, there existed evidence that she had denounced this behavior, never finding it acceptable.
"Richard, I find your harassment of me, unacceptable. I should like you to know that I am in no way interested in you, and I have never done anything to make you believe any sort of relationship between us would ever be possible. I would appreciate it if you desisted from making any lewd comments and started treating me with some respect."
"Or what?" he laughed in her face. "You'll tell papa Bates? Good Luck with that."
Unfortunately for Anna, Richard always knew when to choose his moments wisely. Rather unexplainably, she found herself alone. Vera was in her office, or rather, John's office, with the door closed, but the others were gone.
He leaned in until he was inches from her face.
"You better get used to this. As of last Friday, John Bates accepted my bid for a partnership percentage. You see, he owes me, and he's in a bit of a bind right now. So…. In a few days, it should all be settled, and I'll officially be an owner. If you want to stay here, there's only one way."
Anna didn't know what was worse, another harassment attempt from Richard, or finding out from the idiot himself that John would seek to partner with him, even with everything that he knew. This couldn't be happening. She was so stunned, she couldn't even come up with a clever comeback and this gave Richard the upper hand in talking to her again.
"I'm rather fond of your lips, or what I remember of them, so, why don't I see you tonight, on the tarmac, when the others have gone? Some of those choppers have really comfortable interiors."
The door suddenly opened and Vera was standing in her door frame. Richard jumped back. Anna wanted to be relieved, but, somehow, being caught by Vera was no comfort. It made it all worse. The eyes on the woman's face spoke of tempered rage.
"Alice! What are you doing?"
"Nothing, Mrs. Bates. I was trying to do my work and Richard approached me." That was nothing, if not, the truth. Trying to be prudent, she said nothing else on the matter.
"Anna had a clueless look and I came to see if I could help. She's still rather new here, after all." Richard's defense made him look like a saint, and lambasted her. She wasn't sure this was helping him or her.
Vera did not look like she bought that explanation. This was not good at all.
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"Explain this to me so even an old booby like me can understand what it all means?" Anna had come to visit Pops and Elsie after a very tense first day in the office with Vera. When she'd accepted to stand in for Gwen, she didn't know how quickly the job description would change. What a difference between the co-owners. Working for Vera would be a hardship she never anticipated.
Now, she needed to explain so far what they had against her beloved Mr. Bates, and hopefully get her Godparents to see what a good man he was. Even if they were helping, she perceived they were still not that happy that she was involved with him at all.
"You're not an old booby," Anna answered back laughing. I am sure you'll understand everything."
"Oh, yes he is and don't you let him think otherwise," added Elsie as she walked from the kitchen with a fresh pot of tea for their evening sojourn. She set it down and as she did, she allowed her hand to trail across his back. Pops shivered from that seemingly innocent action.
They exchanged a look between them, one of those that Anna wished she weren't present for. What was it with these two? Before too long, they'd be kicking her out of the house so that they could utilize their time for other more interesting endeavors. They'd best carry on so that it was over sooner than later.
"Alright, settle down you two. Please remember that the man I love is in jail, and the absence of him is felt greater when you two carry on." She did love him, even when the knowledge of Richard's impending partnership was gnawing at her insides. She'd not had much time to process this news. She couldn't imagine Richard would lie about this. She didn't know what to think. If John, knowing her experience, had still decided to partner with him, that would be unfortunate.
Returning her thoughts to her Godparents, she noticed both colored in embarrassment, but they didn't take their eyes off each other. Not even when she emphasized the words regarding Mr. Bates. Mmmmm.
"So, thanks to Joe …This is what we have right now….." she took the piles of papers and arranged them. Both Charles and Elsie finally turned to pay attention to her. "John and Vera Bates both own Bates Airlift. According to the way accounting is done at the firm, all of the money that comes into the company is held in this main operating account. Based on a predetermined formula, there is a monthly disbursement to each owner, a payment on their gains. They are equal payments and very generous. The main operating account always has money. The amount of disbursement to the owners does not change, even if much has accrued within the operating account. The firm owns three helicopters, but leases the others, thus, leasing payments, and all expenditures, including payroll, comes from this account."
She turned to look at both of them. "Are we good so far?" They both seemed to understand, and she continued.
"There is a Swiss bank account in his name. It is not illegal to have a bank account in another country and in the last twenty years or so, Switzerland has made it more difficult to hide money in their banking system. They really didn't want that reputation, so, things have become more transparent. The thing is, John says he does not have a bank account from Credit Suisse, opened several years ago. There is 5 million pounds in that account and Vera claims the disbursements into that account were illegally channeled from the main operating account.
"Since he owns the firm, and is getting paid, why do they assume he committed fraud?" asked a curious Elsie. "Why would he steal from himself? It makes no sense."
"It depends on how you look at it. The purported account where he allegedly funneled the money to excludes Vera. You could say he was stealing from her, or stealing operating funds, but he didn't steal at all. I don't believe he did."
"So, how did the money get there if he didn't do it?" asked a confused Pops. "It couldn't have gotten their on its own."
"No, you're right. From what I know, only Mr. Bates, Anthony and Thomas have access to the main operating account. Thomas', main function is to do payroll and accounts payable, so he needs access at all times. Anthony hardly accesses the system, but he is the back-up in case Thomas is sick or unavailable. Mr. Bates, as manager-owner has access as well. He signs off on any disbursement and there are some, in small, recurring amounts, going across to the other account. They are small enough to not be noticed or cause concern; 30 pounds today, 15 tomorrow. Because they are small, they don't pose a risk, say, than if there was a disbursement of $10,000 pounds. That would be noticeable. Over an extended period of time, the small amounts add up."
"Well, couldn't somebody else have done them? Say Thomas? If he had access, or Anthony, why do they suppose Mr. Bates did it, vs. the others?"
"Good question Elsie. They tracked the IP addresses to that of his desktop and on occasion, that of his laptop at home. According to this information, all the transactions were done only on his machine. Those that Thomas did, which are the legal day to day payments, are done on his IP address, thus, the police can trace that only the illegal transactions were done by Mr. Bates."
"Oh, wow," was all that Pops could offer. "The case against Mr. Bates seems iron-clad, then." He wondered if Anna was getting in over her head with this. If the information pointed to the owner, whatever made her believe it wasn't him?
"Nothing is ever what it seems, Pops. You taught me that. If I know Mr. Bates, and even if we've only been together a short time, I believe I do, he wouldn't do this. If you knew the struggles he's faced, and how kind he is to his employees, how well seen he is in the community, you would agree with me too. This isn't in his nature."
"So how do you plan on proving it, baby girl?" asked a motherly Elsie.
"I know Vera is behind it. She has strong motives to hate her husband. He shared with me some of their past history and it is very likely that she is carrying out revenge on him."
Pops scowled when he heard her. "He's done things to her that requires revenge? Are you sure this is the man you want to be associated with?"
Pops again with his well-intentioned but misdirected concern - "Yes Pops. I know his entire life story. He told me, I didn't have to look for any records and discover it on my own and yes, I do want to be associated with him. Very much so."
Her end words, very passionately spoken, made Elsie reach out to stroke her hand. She wanted to be reassuring.
"Pops didn't mean it that way, darling, and both Pops and I respect your choices. You know what is best for you. Please don't be upset."
Anna smiled at both of them. "I'm not upset at either of you. Just frustrated that he is in this situation, and that you can't get to know him better. That's all."
Elsie tried to move the conversation along. "So, what are your next steps and what can we help you with?"
"Vera can't have acted alone. She's not that smart, technically. She may be cunning, and she may have put together a brilliant plan, but I rather think somebody else put it together by her request and my mind keeps going back to Thomas. It could very well be somebody on the outside, but Thomas is her friend, and he has more knowledge about our payment systems than anybody else in the company. If it's an inside job, my money is on him."
"Should we follow him?"
"Regrettably, because he is gay, and I was looking for potential lovers and not fraudulent cohorts, I've not investigated him properly. I think that is in order first. I just placed my order with Joe. Thomas Barrow's complete background coming soon… Then, Yes, I think you should follow him. I'll place the GPS tomorrow."
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"You are a sight for sore eyes." John held back the emotions he experiences at seeing his friend in the visitor room. Tears threatened to overcome him. He wasn't traditionally an emotional man, but being in place like this, with little support and few visitors could really break down a man. Rob had been allowed to come, and the moment he saw his friend, all the repressed emotions from the days he'd spent here threatened to come to the surface. He worked hard to appear serene.
"I am pleased that they finally allowed you outside visitors. I was flabbergasted when I learned that you wouldn't be allowed bail. Murderers and pedophiles get bail, but an alleged embezzler, doesn't? What kind of world do we live in when the scary people are free, and those with alleged paper crimes are in here?" He posed his question at the little camera that was hooked up to the top left-hand of the ceiling, thinking they could hear him. "It's crazy, I tell you…what they do to people who don't deserve it."
John smiled at Rob's fervor. "They can't hear you, only see you. That's here for your protection in case I attack you." His tone was sarcastic.
Rob's voice changed its tone from indignation, to concern. I've been mad with worry, but Matthew has been keeping us updated."
John momentarily closed his eyes, formulating deep thought. "I fucked up. Vera threatened me and I didn't listen. Now, she's had her way with me as she always said she would. Why did I try to divorce her?" John ran his hands through his hair. "If I hadn't done it, I would be miserable, but I would be miserable in my office and with my helicopters, and above all, free. Now look at me." He flailed his hands, attempting to accentuate the bleakness of his caustic environment.
Rob's concerned demeanor did not change. "John, if she got you for embezzlement, I can assure you that this was always her plan. The divorce only made it sooner. You don't think she would have done this eventually?" Rob's voice produced enough emphasis that John was forced to consider what he was saying. "You had a right to set yourself free and we will not let her win. You have all of the Crawleys behind you, your lovely Anna who will not relent, and according to Anna, most of your staff are behind you too. You are not alone in this."
A bit of determination came back into John's psyche. He was feeling very defeated, the weight of what Matthew had recently told him, corroding his self-worth.
Rob could tell his pep talk was having a positive effect. "…and when you get out of here, you have a lovely young lady who is pining away, and waiting for you to come back to her. That ought to be incentive enough."
John allowed himself to be happy and crack a smile. "Yes, she is lovely. I wish I could see her."
"….and she wishes she could have you back too. Mary tells me that their flat looks like something you would see on a TV detective show. She has pegboards all around the living room with information on all of them. She is very determined John. You chose a good woman."
"Yes, I do believe I am lucky." He hesitated for a few minutes before adding, "I love her, you know." It was less a question than a statement and John smiled timidly, the words coming out of his mouth without reserve. The solitude of the prison environment and his experience had caused him to evaluate everything around him. He did love her and Rob was the first person he ever told. He couldn't believe that he had said it out loud either.
Rob couldn't hide his excitement. "By golly, that's marvelous, old chap." His excitement was short-lived as a thought occurred to him. "Are you sure this isn't the solitude and your desperation speaking?" He didn't know what the environment was like, but was sure that it was oppressive, leading to radical thoughts and depression.
"There is desperation in me right now, and I won't deny it, but it's not that. I've known her only a short time, but it's the happiest I've ever been in my life. Now that I no longer have her around me, I can see it now clearer than I have before. The absence of her is more painful than being in here. I love her."
Rob renewed his smile. John's words convinced him that it was not the incarceration speaking. "It's soon, but, you deserve to be happy. When will you tell her?"
"Probably never, as I have to do something that will hurt her and she'll likely not forgive me." He looked crestfallen at the thought. He was still tormented by what he had to do.
"What?" Rob looked confused. What could possibly be so horrible that Anna would lose her interest in him?
"This incarceration has hurt Bates Airlift's finances. All my accounts are frozen. Anthony, my Controller, has urged me to raise capital, in exchange for a percentage of ownership. We need just enough to operate while I am in here."
"How does that hurt Anna?"
"Richard Carlisle, my Sales Manager, has put in a proposal, as he's got the money. He also nearly hurt Anna, in a way I cannot elaborate. If I take him as my partner, Anna will justifiably never speak to me again."
Robert was trying to comprehend what John had just explained. Why did things have to be so complicated? He couldn't imagine what Richard could have done to hurt the young lady. Mary had never mentioned anything, but then, as her friend, she might not want to. He wanted to know more, but John seemed closed to further discussion on this topic. He let it go and focused instead on the monetary issues. He knew a little about money. He had some too. Perhaps, he had the funds to help.
"How much money do you need?" he offered, thinking he might have the solution to John's problems. He wasn't rich, but his pub business did allow him a good living and he had some savings put aside.
"At least 100,000, preferably 150,000." John answered, not pinning too much hope on Rob's apparent interest. It was a heavy sum of money that the average business owner did not have on hand.
Rob's eyes popped open at hearing the shockingly high number. "Blimey. That is a lot," he added, losing the confidence he had moments ago. He allowed himself to share his friend's fear. Raising a sum such as that would be no easy feat. Cora's fortune had dwindled over the years, mainly because she'd been too generous, giving most of it away. He doubted they had that in her coffers. "I have about 25,000, but that won't do, will it?"
John nodded his head.
"I can look for somebody willing to put in the difference, but this would take time, John. Nobody out of the blue will give us 75,000, or more, without proper campaigning or an investment prospectus." He looked befuddled, combing through his mind on how he might go about it. Ever a good friend, he did not want to lose all hope.
"Time that I just don't have. Anthony will want to have the papers set up by next week. He has deadlines for things to pay. You don't know how much I thank you, though….. Knowing you would have helped is of great comfort to me."
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"Anthony, Richard came to see me about the partnership. He already knew. Did you tell him?" John was concerned that Anthony might be sharing too much information with Richard.
"No, I didn't. I promise…. but I think you shouldn't worry about that, you should worry about something else instead."
If Anthony didn't tell him, who did? Nobody else at Bates Airlift was aware of what was going on with his finances. Anthony stared John down, determined to make him focus. "What?" asked a resigned John. "Everything is going wrong. What should I worry about now?"
"Oh, I'm sorry to make it worse for you. I really am, but Vera turned up yesterday and has planted herself as the new manager." Anthony sighed, realizing how ludicrous his own words sounded.
"The new manager?" Things kept on getting worse, rather than better. When would it end? "She's never done anything remotely managerial in all of the years that we worked together. She is the queen of delegation, procrastination and laziness."
"Yes, the new manager… whether she can handle the work, or not." As an afterthought, and just as annoying, he added, "….and she's taken your office." John scowled, but Anthony continued. "She told me that with the dissolution, she would own everything and that she might as well start managing it as if it were hers." Anthony hated to pass on this information and he dreaded being caught in between them. John had gained his loyalty, but it was irksome, nonetheless, to have to perform as communicator between them. This felt like middle school.
"She can't do that. The law won't allow it." John appeared adamant and confident that he wouldn't lose it all.
"I am not a lawyer, John. Matthew could probably advise you better, but I saw Vera and I saw her determination. I believe her capable of everything. I would suggest you do something now to make sure you are not left on the street."
John put his hands on his head for what seemed the tenth time that day. "There isn't much I can do. My only friend who has any funds does not have enough to help me. I don't have family that I can reach out to. Saving myself is furthest from my mind. My priority is Bates Airlift. I need to save the company."
Anthony felt John's pain. "Well, to save the company, you have Richard…." John's face did not react positively to his suggestion. "John, our time is up. It's now or never." Anthony's words were strong, meant to convey the severity of the situation. He really couldn't have John think about this forever. It would take at least a week for the funds to be channeled correctly, and at least a week for the contracts to be approved by both sides.
"He had the gall to ask me for 50% at one time." John snickered, remembering conversations of the past.
"I am sure that was a negotiation starter. What percentage did you consider giving him for this?"
"At one point, up to 20%, if Vera had agreed to give up some of her stake too. Now, I am thinking somewhere between 10 and 15%. "
"…..and you understand she won't give up anything, right?" Anthony cocked his head to the side, eager to get confirmation from John that he wasn't under any false illusions about that. There was empathy in his eyes.
"Does she realize the situation we are in?" John asked, his tone incredulous that Vera wanted the glory of being Manager, but was not willing to make any of the hard sacrifices that came with the job.
"She does and she doesn't care. She told me that if the company goes bankrupt, she would just as easily liquidate the assets and her return on investment would still be larger than when she started." He could see John shaken by those words. He couldn't imagine how it felt to see something you created slipping away. "So, this is all down to you. If you want to give Richard the higher stake, for his $150,000 you could. It would be a bargain for him, but it is the amount of money we need to manage while this entire debacle is cleared up. Then, you would only have to worry that Vera will fleece you for the remaining amount."
"I get that I need to inject money, but I really don't want it to be him." Before explaining further, he addressed this. "I've gone over this in my head a million times and he is not worthy. I can't share why at this time. If I have to, I will, but, are you sure there is no other way?" His voice was reduced to pleading.
"I'm sorry John, but the terms the bank was offering are too risky. We stand to lose much more. Given the amount of time we have, I must confirm, Richard is your only way."
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"You'll be charged formally tomorrow, John. The prosecutor advised me that they have everything they need. I'm here to tell you what to expect."
"I'm all ears." John, usually sarcastic, was quiet. The harshness of his conversation with Anthony had eroded some of the fight he had within him. He'd had days of bad news, and it was best to just take this in directly. Antagonizing Matthew was not the answer.
Shocked by the subdued nature of his client, Matthew continued. "The Crown Prosecution service, based on the Fraud Act of 2006, will charge you with Fraud by Abuse of Position, and also, simple Theft. IF you are found guilty, you could be in jail for 5 years for the Fraud charge, and another 5 years for Theft."
"I am being charged twice?"
"One is for being dishonest as a manager; the other is for taking the money. Both of these are under the criminal court. Vera can also choose to sue you in a civil court, if she wishes to get back the money you allegedly stole."
John couldn't even comment. This was all ridiculous. "What's next?" he asked.
"They'll come to get you tomorrow afternoon. Try to look your best."
John rolled his eyes. Really Matthew? As if he were allowed to groom himself freely…..he didn't know when his next bath would be.
Always a keen observer, Matthew picked up on John's reaction. "I know John, just, do what you can. I'll be there with Charles Blake, my partner. Remember him?"
"I think I've seen him before in your offices." He had a vague memory of young man, just as dashing as Matthew, but they'd never worked together.
"Good. Well, he has more court experience. I handle most of our contract work and he does most of the litigation. He will help me argue against your charges. The Crown Prosecutor will be there, and Vera is allowed to be there if she wants, with the lawyers who protect her personal interests. They won't have the right to say anything, though. They'll only just observe. After you are charged, we'll enter your plea of "Not Guilty". The court will then establish a date for your trial. You will be moved farther away from York, but not too far. You will be taken to Wetherby male prison."
"Oh goody…. A real home, where I can settle in. Will I get my own room?" His facetious comments where understandable, given his situation. Matthew chose to ignore them.
"From that moment on, we will be in a rush against the clock to find all the evidence we need to set you free. It is likely that the court will want to interview everybody in your office to find out what everybody knows. Any time they do that, I, or Charles will be present."
"My team will be dragged in here?" This time, John's face fell. "I had hoped to avoid this hassle for them, not to mention, that I would prefer to maintain my shame far away from them."
"I'm sorry I can't avoid that. In the course of our investigation, we may want to bring others in for questioning too. You'll never have to face them. It will just be them, with the lawyers.
John rolled his eyes again. That wasn't reassuring.
"To perk up your mood, I have a letter from Anna." Matthew's words had the desired effect.
At the mention of her name, a jolt of electricity ran through his body. "A letter? I thought she might not want to write any more since she won't be allowed to come….. How is she? Is she as beautiful as always?" Any written words from Anna would make the hideous last couple of days go away.
His bitter and sarcastic client turned into a prepubescent school boy. "Yes, a letter. She seemed heartbroken at not being able to come, but she is well. I handed her everything the Crown Prosecutors had given me on Friday and I am meeting her this afternoon to go over what she's achieved so far. And yes, she's still as beautiful as when you last saw her…."
He finally reached into his briefcase to retrieve it. "You go ahead and read it. Here is paper and a pen if you wish to write back. I'll be reading some emails on my laptop. You have 20 minutes."
Dear John,
I was very heartbroken to learn that I can't see you as soon as I want, but rest assured, love, that I understand. Nothing is more important to me than getting you out and I would not want to become the instrument that complicates it all.
I am working as hard as I can to find the truth about things and am following some leads. I will find the answer and I will get you out. Please don't lose faith.
I know your world seems bleak right now, and the news around you is only getting worse. I don't have any words of wisdom, but I can assure you that if you want me to be here, I will, and I will be waiting for you when this is all done.
Yours,
Anna
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"I think Thomas is involved," shared Anna as she put forth the financials of her Bates Airlift colleague. "Look at his bank accounts. He has a healthy sum of money. Not too much that it stands out, but much more than the average office worker who would be saddled with car and house payments."
"Mmmmm," wondered Matthew out loud. "Maybe he lives with family and takes public transportation?"
"I've looked into that too," she reassured him, very confident with her information. "He drives an Audi A3 into work every day. It is a last year's model, fairly new. It is a pricey vehicle for somebody with a non-managerial accounting job and I would imagine his finances would be stretched paying for this moderate luxury, but I find no history of car payments in the last two years. We found no evidence, from any banks, providing a loan to Thomas Barrow to pay for it. How did he source it, then? Council records do have it registered as belonging to him, so, my next step is to determine how he acquired it."
Matthew gave a restrained grin. Anna was on to something.
"As for his house, he owns a flat. It is in an average neighborhood, in Fulford. He had a mortgage for it, a bank loan for 15 years. After three years, it appears to have been paid off completely. We checked if he'd inherited any money, or won a lottery, and there is no paper trail for either event. His father is a clockmaker and his mother a teacher, so they are not rich. There is currently no explanation as to how somebody with his salary, and no other known means of revenue, could buy and pay off a property in such a record time."
"This is impressive, Anna." Matthew took hold of Thomas' accounts to look them over. "Are we positive he doesn't have any other accounts?"
Anna wouldn't lie. Getting praise from Matthew felt good. Her confidence was growing.
"None in Great Britain. Joe, our cyber expert, is looking at Switzerland now, because if Thomas is Vera's helper, then it would be logical to look at this country. It's just a more time consuming search, on top of the other dozens of leads I asked him to follow up online."
"What about Vera?"
"We are tracking a series of withdrawals she's been making for a while. When I first started investigating for Mr. Bates, we noticed that Vera had been withdrawing money from her account, systematically. These withdrawals are in the form of cashier's checks. At the time, we decided not to track them because we were focused on catching her lover, and did not think this was pertinent to our case. Now, of course, we are revisiting this. It is a titanic effort because the money could be used for anything and there is no way, at this moment, that we can determine where it went. There is no computer trail for them, so we must find matching deposits, in the same systematic way, somewhere else. We don't have anything yet, but we will."
Matthew ran his hand over a piece of paper in his briefcase. When he looked at it, he became tense.
"What is it?" Anna inquired when she noticed his change in demeanor.
"I feel like a fool. This piece of paper is part of John's account information. It must have separated from the pile I gave you. I hope I didn't hamper anything by not providing it together."
"I'm sure you didn't. I'll take a look at it tonight. I've been trying to determine if there is a pattern to the deposits and right now, I can only see that they tend to be at night." She took the paper without looking at it. She wanted Matthew's attention for something else.
"Matthew, I need to ask you something." She meant to find out what was happening with Richard, and her voice took on a more serious tone, enough that Matthew focused on her.
"What is it?"
"I heard something unsettling today. I am hoping you can confirm or deny it." He appeared curious and Anna continued. "Is it true that John is partnering with Richard?"
Matthew appeared relieved that the question was something he could answer and apparently not something related to their illicit relationship. He wasn't averse to helping them communicate by being their courier, but he did not want to provide gossip from one to the other.
"Yes, he is."
Anna felt a rush of blood to her head. She'd never experienced high blood pressure before, but she imagined this might be what it felt like. Her heart started beating erratically and she felt like she might faint.
Her very obvious reaction was not immediately apparent to Matthew, until he realized she wasn't responding with any further questions. The firmness of her jaw and shallow breathing alerted him that she was agitated.
"Is that a problem?" he asked innocently, unaware of all of Richard's transgressions.
"You are my lawyer, correct? Anything I say is in confidence?" Anna looked at him as she sought to control her emotions. She reminded herself that it was her choice to put off making her accusation. John had supported her the moment she shared her experiences. She reminded herself that if she were able to talk to John, surely he'd have a good reason to partner with the man who'd assaulted her.
"Yes, Anna….Is there something I should know?" He braced himself. The last time he went through this charade with her, when she'd officially retained his services, he'd been made privy to a bombshell revelation. Something made him think he was in for another one.
"Yes. There is."
She proceeded to tell him everything Richard had said and done in the past, including John's knowledge about it. She even played the last snippet from their latest conversation where she was made aware of the partnership news.
"I'm not often shocked, but so far, with you, I'm two for two." Matthew had to think for a moment. This was of impact to Anna, no doubt, but he wasn't sure what it did for John's case yet. "Why haven't you reported this?"
"It would hurt John during the investigation and my cover would be blown. Anybody with decent investigative skills that does a background check on me will discover my association with Carson's Private Investigators. How soon after I put my accusation through, would it have taken Vera to discover this and put two and two together? It would have compromised John, and accelerated what has already happened to him. It would hamper my ability to do this job effectively. I want to accuse him formally, I do, but the timing is not right."
Matthew sighed, very audibly. Why must things be so complicated? He couldn't argue against her. Everything she said was logical. "As your lawyer, I would say that your welfare is the most important thing to worry about. The more you wait, the more we risk him hurting you or somebody else. We don't want to have that in our conscience. As John's lawyer, I would say thank you for keeping focused during those incredibly trying times and for continuing on this very delicate investigation."
"But you understand now, Matthew, why knowing that John would partner with him, disillusions me? I am setting aside my right to accuse him so that I can get John out, but he is doing something that shatters me completely, when he knows what that brute has done. I am having a hard time reconciling this in my head, even when the mature, adult, part of me knows John wouldn't do it if there wasn't a good reason. We're not committed to one another, but we have a strong connection with each other and he wouldn't be callus with my feelings. Please tell me what is going on? Please put me out of my misery. Please tell me there is something going on and it is not just John's carelessness?" Anna's face implored him and in the midst of such an impassioned plea, Matthew would not keep it from her; especially since she'd been told by Richard himself. It was not betraying a confidence.
"Now I understand why John is so slow to move on this. He's dragged his feet at making a decision, but he really doesn't have much of a choice." He always wondered why John was taking so long to move this along.
When Matthew explained the terms of the company's very near bankruptcy and John's desperation to find alternatives, Anna comprehended. She was heartbroken for his situation that he should have to resort to partner with a man he now loathed and was devoid of character, just so that his beloved company and its employees could continue. It made her feel better about him. Deep down, she knew he wouldn't just do that to her.
"How much is it?" asked Anna, "The amount he needs?"
"Optimally, $150 thousand, minimally, at least $100 thousand. Robert had 25 thousand and he was going to try and find investors."
"Mmmmm." The difference was $125 thousand. She'd have to think about it. Perhaps she should talk to Robert.
"I have another letter for you."
Matthew's words came out of the blue. They brought her back from where her mind had wandered. When he first arrived, she felt timid to ask for it, preferring to get the business out of the way so that she could concentrate on that first, and then enjoy her letter completely. "I guess I'll just do as we did the last time. I'll see you later." He handed her the letter and left to the bar.
She almost ripped the edges; she was so determined to read it.
My darling,
It is a joy to get any letter from you. Your first message, though short, has helped me survive the last few days. This new letter will help in the coming days.
I fear you are right that I feel bleakness all around me. Every bit of news I get is worse than the last, and the bad news doesn't seem to end. I try not to lose faith, but it is a task I feel I am failing at. I am sure Matthew may have shared some of the worst parts with you. As the owner of Bates Airlift, I have the responsibility of saving the company from these actions Vera had undertaken. I don't have many options that I can seek, sitting behind these bars. I cannot see everything that I built go to pieces, or the staff I employ, deprived of their livelihoods. The only option I am afforded, while saving the company and the team, poisons my soul, for in this action, I feel that I am betraying you. I must take Richard as my partner, as he is the only person that is ready and willing to provide the much needed funds. This is a decision that I have not come to lightly, and one I would not undertake if I had another choice. Please forgive me. The knowledge of what he has done is not forgotten and will never be forgotten.
Your words bring me great comfort that you are working hard to find the evidence that might set me free. Your assertion that you would wait for me also fills me with hope. There is nothing I want more, than to leave this place and run straight into your arms. I am no fool, though, and understand that you may change your mind once you realize that Richard will become a permanent fixture in the company. I understand if this changes things for you. Please don't feel like you need to continue this on my behalf. If any part of this is painful for you, I release you. Your well-being is more important to me than anything else.
Yours,
John.
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She'd not written back. Even Matthew was surprised to not get anything in return from her. She'd said nothing and he didn't ask. He awkwardly put his things away as she said good-bye. Why? She wasn't sure. She was certain that in the limited time afforded, he couldn't employ any further tactics to get his funding in order. Thus, she understood the reason that brought Richard front and center to this issue. She wanted to write him back, had even scribbled a couple of lines, but in the end, it proved too much, under the short amount of time that Matthew usually allotted for such missives between them. She didn't want to say anything that could hurt him, or anything that would hurt her. Her mature side understood it all, but her heart was still in pain. All she needed were a few hours and she'd think of something.
Upon arrival to her home, ready to immerse herself in the neat piles of documents all over the house, she received another tweet from incognitohelper. She'd not heard from him or her in the last couple of days. She sighed when she heard the recognizable pinging and shrugged off the negative feelings that accompanied the notification of the new message. She was annoyed, more than anything. What did this person want now? She remembered something her mother used to say. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Thus far, all these tweets had done, was to make her nervous, and none had provided any really helpful information. So, why were they writing to her at all? She ignored it, while she prepared herself a meal. Half an hour later, she finally gave in to the curiosity and read the missive.
eyeinthesky You should look at TB.
TB? Was that Thomas Barrow? Nothing else came to mind. No other initials matched. She felt a sudden surge of positivity. Aha! she exclaimed to herself. She'd already looked into him and what they'd discovered about his finances was providing promising leads. She felt proud of herself and empowered for being one step ahead. She'd thought of that herself and hadn't needed the help. So much so, that for the first time ever, she decided to write back.
incognitohelper I am looking at TB. Who are you? Why won't you reveal yourself? How do you know about me?
When the send button was pressed, a nervous energy accumulated at the pit of her stomach. Oh…. Please respond….. She laughed at herself. She realized it was no different than sending a text to a prospective beau and waiting for a reaction. In the meantime, she took the opportunity to explore incognitohelper's account. There were no changes. The account had no followers and was following only her. Mmmmm, she murmured. Still reclusive. Then, the response came after only a minute. Anna let out a squeal. She couldn't believe that she was communicating with her troll. She was actually excited.
eyeinthesky If you are good at what you do, you'll figure it out. There is no time to spare. Keep working.
That's it? She would have hoped for more. Whatever, she said to herself. I will figure out who you are!
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Anna's morning had proven successful. She timed her arrival to not be early again, which also proved a benefit when she stayed in bed an additional twenty minutes. Her night had been rough and a minute of additional rest was certainly appreciated. When she parked her vehicle, next to William's, she did not require much effort to extricate the GPS apparatus from the wheel well. She was convinced the young man couldn't have eyes for another, not after the way he was pining after Daisy. Thomas' shiny Audi was only a few cars forward. She performed the transfer efficiently, as she leaned against the car to pick up her own car keys that were "accidentally" dropped as she walked away from her own car. Elsie and Pops would now be able to track Thomas.
Most everybody had already arrived by the time she made it to her desk. Vera was missing, and that was no different than before. Richard, Evelyn and Jack were yet to arrive was what she noted as she did a visual sweep of the carpark. It wasn't that late either.
She set about her day and printed an agenda for Vera. The woman had no appointments. Another full day of pretending to be something she was not. On her desk, she also added a stack of invoices that Phyllis had prepared to send out to their customers. She stuck a post-it with a reminder "For your review and signature" on the pile, just in case she did not know what to do with them. Billing their customers and getting their money was essential right now. She'd have to harass Vera all day for her to get it done.
Once she was at her desk, Evelyn walked through. He'd been absent the last few days, taking holiday.
"Anna! Are you here now?" The pilot looked surprised.
From the corner of her eye, Anna saw her new manager drive in and park.
"I am," she answered sweetly, "Gwen is doing some training for Sales and I'll be taking her place."
She wondered if he knew about Vera. If he was the lover, he would already be aware, even though her GPS and the one placed on his own car, still being tracked by Pops and Elsie, reflected no match for them. They were never in the same vicinity together. Anna had also been surveying their phone records and they hadn't spoken to each other either, not that these records could tell. If he was the lover, they were communicating in some other fashion, or going through a prudent "break" while the legal issues resolved themselves.
"That's so nice for Gwen. How are you finding the work?" He'd never been rude, or overly chatty - just a smiley, friendly bloke, but he was firmly planted in his spot, wanting to chat. For Anna, that was a first.
"It's not hard at all, although I am still fairly new at it. I only did it for a week almost two months ago."
She could see Vera getting close. She was only a few steps away from the door. She appeared upset. Oh golly. That's all she needed, an angry Vera. Evelyn didn't seem to notice, as he had his back to her.
"If you ever need my help, don't be afraid to ask. I'd be more than willing to explain anything flight related. I am sure I'd be useless to you for accounting questions." Was he being nice, or flirty? Anna smiled back, as a courtesy. She looked at his body language, his smile, the candor in his eyes. She made up her mind. Nice. He was being polite and a good colleague. Not flirty.
"Astrid!" Vera called to her as she opened the door and walked in. There was purpose in her stride and the tone of voice suggested suppressed irritation.
That was a new name. During her tenure, she'd been called Angie, Alice and Amy, but never Anna. Did Vera actually spend time every morning figuring out what different name to call her?
"Yes, Mrs. Bates?" Anna answered sweetly, determined that Vera should not get the pleasure of seeing her lose control. She swiveled her chair to face her directly.
Evelyn stayed put, confused as to what he should do. He was standing straight, as if he'd been caught in the middle of something illicit. He looked caught off guard by Vera's presence. Maybe he didn't know about her return at all.
"This is the second time this week I have caught you flirting with the staff and I will not stand for it."
At that precise moment, Anthony stepped out of his office, as if he were on his way to the kitchen. Giving Anna no time to react to the ludicrous statement, Vera called to him. "Anthony, come here."
Anna was left startled, just as much as Evelyn. He looked like he wanted to hide under a desk, or disappear completely. Anna was embarrassed for him that he should have to witness one of Vera's tirades against her. He appeared ashamed to have caused her harm. She wished this was an episode of Star Trek and that she could teleport herself and Evelyn out of there. Anywhere was better.
"She wasn't flirting with me, Vera. I've been away. I asked her what she was doing up here and she explained her new role." God bless him for defending her. He was a true gentleman, and a decent human being.
"Don't defend her Evvie. I saw it with my own eyes - not once, but twice. First Richard, now you."
Anna rolled her eyes. Oh Lord. What was it with this woman? Anna was burning with repressed rage now, trying to be a lady in the midst of a very appalling show of command. She was sure she was as red as a beet. Her blood was boiling. Stay calm, she told herself.
"I was not flirting with him," she added in as neutral a voice as she could. It was laced with frustration and incredulity. "As Evelyn states, we were just chatting."
Anthony made it to where they were. He looked mortified, since he'd heard the last words. Vera's high pitched accusation had bellowed through the office and it brought out Thomas and Phyllis to peak out from the Accounting enclosure. Gwen and Sarah also turned from where they were sitting. Vera had the audience she wanted.
"Yes, Vera?" he asked. He shot Anna an apologetic look.
"She's fired as of this moment." She turned to Anna. "Get your things and go."
Gasps were heard everywhere. Anna was sure her blood sugar dropped at hearing those words.
Anthony stepped in. "Vera, you can't. Remember what I said?" His words reflected stress beyond belief.
Anna didn't move.
"I can. She is not an employee, is she? She is an intern. That policy you told me about? That I have to wait to make any changes? Well, I spoke to my lawyer and it doesn't apply to her." She turned to Anna again.
"I said, take your things and go."
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A/N: What a bitch, that Vera, right? The last chapter and this one have been somewhat "fillers" as I start to move the story to the final stretch. Thank you to those reviewed when there was not as much action. I appreciate your comments, even when the chapters may not have been as glamorous. Anna will visit John next chapter, so Banna will be back. The lover will be discovered by Chapter 20.
We are about 5 chapters away from the end. I may not post for a while because I am at a point where there are a lot of details and plots to resolve and I feel I need to write the whole thing out, before posting individually, to make sure my timelines work out and that I don't miss anything. I want to make sure I can go back and edit a chapter if I need too. I don't know how long it will be, but number 19 is already written, and 20 is 75% done, so, its just21-23. Rest assured, I've not abandoned the story. I'll post updates regarding my progress in my profile. Hopefully, you'll all still be around to read it when I start posting.