No Chelsie in this chapter. Anna proves herself as Manager! There is a trigger warning for the last section, though. Richard is back.
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Anna stood at the head of the meeting room table as she peered at the faces around her. Just what she expected – there was tension laced with fear. Not all of the team was present, as it was already well into the morning and several pilots would have already initiated their journeys. It was mostly the administrative staff, plus Alfred and Daisy. Gwen, who always sat at the front, focused her eyes in a silent plea, imploring to know what was going on. Anna smiled with appreciation; the only response that could be provided under the circumstances. She could only share her news if they were alone, yet it was not likely that if she'd have the opportunity to do a sidebar conversation and hoped her eyes conveyed that she was sorry she couldn't provide more information.
Only twenty or so minutes ago, they were still in this very room, talking to Vera about the contract. Vera had underestimated John. The issue of the management had not come up when Richard was purchasing the share, as Mr. Bates still held the majority under that hypothetical sale. Had Vera been able to dissolve the partnership, before the sale, management would have fallen to her, given that she would have held the rights to buy his share. But, without the dissolution request actually having been processed by a judge, John could still legally sell his share, and the management of the company with it. Matthew showed her the most important documents, including the wording that sealed her fate. Matthew reiterated that Robert Crawley was the Managing Owner now, and in his place, Anna was the General Manager. After Vera had used some expletives and other unkind remarks, she agreed, reluctantly, that they would call a meeting to explain the change of Leadership within the firm.
At the last minute, Vera decided not to stay for the reunion. Richard was also nowhere to be found, and Gwen did search for him, but she gave up, not wanting to be late herself. She'd summoned the troops, without asking any questions.
Matthew was still there, and when all were settled, he addressed those in attendance.
"For those of you who don't know me, I am Matthew Crawley. I am Mr. Bates' lawyer, as well as the legal representative of this firm. I'm here at the request of Mr. Bates. There is no proper way to say this, except to say it quickly. Mr. Bates has sold his interest in Bates Airlift."
Daisy and Gwen gasped, while the others were left speechless. Even Sarah had a shocked face.
"After much heartache, and due to the situation he is facing, he was forced to make the tough decision of relinquishing this company. He loved it, and built it from the ground up. He loved all of you, but in the end, he thought it best for the company if he was separated from it. With him, and his uncertain situation, he was sure the company would face negative fallout."
Anna was touched by what she saw. Daisy, Phyllis and Gwen had tears in their eyes. Alfred's face reflected shock, like he'd woken up in the middle of a really bad dream and still couldn't place where he was. Thomas was just as surprised, but there were machinations going on in his brain. No doubt, Anna thought, he was experiencing similar reactions to those that Vera had. Only, Thomas was much better than Vera at hiding his disgust.
Brave Daisy was the first to speak. "I can't believe it. Mr. Bates….gone?"
Robert and Anna bit their tongues. They wouldn't say anything until Matthew introduced them.
"All I can tell you is that this was not easy for him, and he had all of you in his mind when he made the decision. He only agreed to sell when he found a buyer that he could trust, somebody who would keep the company on the same track and who would love it just as much as he did." He turned to face Robert, and stretched out his hand, pointing at him so that all of their attendee's attention was redirected towards him. "This is Robert Crawley, the new owner."
Robert stared at a sea of blank faces. They weren't very welcoming, the whole topic having left them bewildered, but they weren't threatening. He could tell that most of them were at different stages of the thought process surrounding the changes.
"Thank you Matthew." He gathered his wits about him. "Yes, I am Robert Crawley, and John Bates is a good friend of mine. I know what this company means to him, and I know what all of you mean to him too. He's asked me to make sure I take good care of you and the choppers, which I intend to do. I don't know anything about them, as I've owned a pub for years, but I intend to soak up as much as I can."
He turned towards Anna. "Besides retaining Mr. Bates' services as a consultant, I've hired Miss Anna Smith, whom you all know, to be my General Manager. Although she was only here a few months, she knows much more that I do, and she will be the one to lead us through the next difficult months."
The result of his words was more confusion amongst the attendees.
"I'm Sarah O'Brien, Mr. Crawley. What do you mean by General Manager? Vera is our General Manager, is she not?"
Robert did not want to belittle Vera in public, although she had no discernible contributions in the last weeks, or even in the last years. He didn't want his introduction to the team to be remembered as controversial.
"Nice to meet you, Sarah. Vera is an important part of this company and she is one of the founding partners. She will always play an instrumental role in the continued success of this company. She has graciously stepped down from that post, having taken over in Mr. Bates' absence. I have nothing but praise for her contributions during her tenure, but, as of this moment, Vera will report to Anna, and Anna holds the title of General Manager. Is that clear?"
"Blimey!" somebody whispered, and it was a sentiment shared by all.
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"Mr. Bates no longer an owner? I just can't make sense of it," Gwen commented to her colleagues when Anna, Mr. Crawley and Matthew had retreated to Anna's new office. Everybody had sauntered to the kitchen, as they always did, post meeting. The women were there, including Tom who didn't want to go back to the maintenance bay just yet.
"I can't either. He loved this company. He wouldn't have let it go so easily. Something must be up." Deep in thought, Phyllis added her opinion. "Did he do this to best Vera?"
"We can only guess. Robert Crawley seems nice, but I am just befuddled about Anna." All the women perked up. Nobody had wanted to say anything, lest their comments be considered negative, but Tom voiced the concern they all shared. Anna was a friend, but they all had their doubts. "I mean, she's smart, and caring, has a great work ethic and is very dedicated…..but she was the intern. How does one go from that to General Manager? After being sacked, no less?"
"I am shocked, to be honest. I didn't see it coming. She is my friend, but she didn't tell me anything. Or at least, we were friends. I just don't know how I am supposed to act with her anymore." Gwen flailed her hands upwards in a questioning stance. "Am I her administrative assistant now? Or am I Vera's?" The tone was light, but there was real consternation.
"She is smart. She can't replace Mr. Bates, but, she is a marked improvement over Vera. I am sure she is just as nervous as we are. We should give her a chance." Phyllis' calm logic prevailed.
"Definitely," muttered Tom. "There's no reason not to. Mr. Bates is gone, but I still need to keep my job. I wasn't too sure I would with Vera in charge."
Daisy had been quiet, taking in all the comments. "What do we call her now? Is it Ms. Smith or Anna?"
"It's Anna. There is no need to call me anything other than what you've called me before." Anna decided to enter, having heard most of the exchange from outside. She had settled Robert and Matthew in her new office. Knowing that the others would have questions and doubts, and would certainly be congregating in the kitchen, she decided to seek them out. Her assertion regarding their confusion was confirmed as she heard them voice their thoughts. Phyllis was right. She was very anxious. Going against Vera did not make her as nervous as being accepted by her colleagues did. They had a right to be uneasy about her leadership.
Caught off guard, they were all visibly embarrassed. If she were to succeed at this new position, she needed their support and cooperation. It was not her intention to make them suffer and proceeded to speak to them with heartfelt words.
"Listen, I know that my reappearance is a surprise to all of you. It is a surprise to me too. If anybody would have asked me, six months ago, what I would be doing with my life, I would not have guessed this. Destiny has conspired against us all. When Robert Crawley, the new owner and the father of a friend of mine, approached me with the offer, I couldn't believe it. He was aware that I had interned here. He felt more comfortable coming to me than finding somebody new. Am I the best option? I don't know, but I do know that anybody else that might have come to replace Mr. Bates would not have had the love for this company that I do. I saw Mr. Bates' devotion to you and to this business and I intend to do all I can to see it prosper."
Their tense bodies relaxed as she spoke. She was getting through to them.
"Do I know everything I need to know about this company? Certainly not. Anthony has agreed to help me, but, if I am going to succeed in keeping us afloat, I am going to need help from all of you…..So, will you walk with me, down this new road? Can I count on you?"
Admitting to them that she was nowhere near perfect was key. She'd read that in one of her management books. Taking over a department where there was other more knowledgeable employees required an exercise in humility. If she were to get them on her side, she'd have to admit she needed their help.
Her strategy was spot on.
"Of course, Anna." Daisy was first to concede. "I'm not sure what I could do, but I'll help in whatever way I can."
Anna smiled at her and reached out to touch her forearm. "Thank you Daisy." She turned to the others with the same sweet disposition that she had always demonstrated to them.
"You can count on me. Sorry about what I said." Tom was still embarrassed, but his words were genuine.
Always bashful, Phyllis nodded her assent. Given Phyllis' history of non-involvement and social evasion, Anna reckoned this was as good as she would get. She would take it positively.
Gwen wasn't too forthcoming in her acceptance. She whispered "Yes," and didn't say much else. Anna realized that Gwen might require more intimate a session. They had been friends and not telling her she was coming back surely hurt her. Knowing Gwen's impeccable integrity and work ethic, though, she worried least about getting her aboard.
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"Anthony, can I have a word?" Anna went to him instead of doing what Vera had always done, summoning him by yelling from her desk. She closed the door behind her.
"Of course," came his polite response. He'd been dreading this meeting. This woman was a real enigma to him. Finding out she was a private investigator left him riddled with self-doubt. How much did she know about him?
"I can't imagine what you must be thinking." Anna took a seat. They needed to clear the air between them if they were going to work closer.
Who was he kidding? Anna's presence here was a source of real worry for him. Besides having his life on display to her, she was the new Manager. He hoped John Bates and Robert Crawley knew what they were doing.
"I'd be lying if I told you I didn't have any questions." He just came out and said it.
"Ask me what whatever you want. I'll answer as truthfully as I can." She was sincere.
Anthony let out a deep breath. He had a lot of unanswered questions. Her openness was a good start.
"All this time that you have been working here, you've just been investigating each one of us?"
He was direct. She had expected him to half muddle through the questions.
"Mr. Bates hired me to pose as an intern. During this time, I was expected to provide the proof of Mrs. Bates' affair. Providing that proof did involve investigating every member of this staff. It also included learning every aspect of this company's operation to maintain the deception. My acquired knowledge is genuine."
"Your background, the one Mr. Bates told us about when you first arrived here, how much of it is true?" She may have learned the areas through her rotation, but he wasn't aware if she had the educational qualifications for the job.
"It's all true. I did graduate from Warwick University with a degree in Business Management. I don't have extensive experience, but I have been working on different aspects of investigations on and off since I was 14. I expected to come back as an analyst to continue with the investigation and help the firm, but Mr. Bates' change of plans was unexpected. I am just as surprised to be here as you are, but now that I am, I intend to make a go of it. I will not let him down. Managing the company is just as important to me as finding the evidence to get him out."
"Mmmm," he responded. Her words and enthusiasm made him feel better about her having been chosen to lead the firm. Not so much about her knowledge of his private life. "So, I take it you are aware of Edna's allegations and the child?"
Anna nodded in agreement. To reassure him, she added, "Anything I have learned is private. My associates and I do not use that information other than to provide answers to the party that hires us. We also follow an ethical code. Finding out about Edna and her involvement with you was part of our services to Mr. Bates. Investigating her and the child's paternity, were performed after Mr. Bates asked your permission. We have more information, when and if you are ready to proceed."
What a quandary. Without John here to egg him on, he wasn't sure he wanted to go any further. He never wanted to know the truth to begin with. And what would Anna think of him? A bona fide git -bamboozled by a con artist. That didn't speak highly of his intellect or common sense.
Anna perceived this was a difficult subject for him. It likely hadn't been simple to begin with, but with John as a go-between, the matter was easier to digest. With John gone, and having to deal with her, he couldn't be comfortable at all.
"Anthony, there is no judgement on my part and this has no influence on our working relationship. It's just information that I am helping you acquire."
Her matter-of-fact, but compassionate delivery helped him make a decision.
"Fine. Tell me. What else do you know?"
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"That was unexpected. Were you aware?" Thomas made his way into Vera's office with caution. They were friends, but after the events of the morning, he didn't expect her to be friendly. She had kept herself hidden away, avoiding answering any questions regarding the new management. She'd not been seen by anybody from the staff, except possibly Gwen, who'd come to retrieve some documents. Her eyes, indicative of her foul mood were not welcoming, but she didn't kick him out.
"No, I didn't," she answered gruffly, the thought of John winning infuriating her. "I admit I didn't anticipate that John could sell his part." With an aggressive voice, she added, "That bastard!" She threw the pen she had in her hand towards the cupboard. It ricocheted upon impact and hurtled toward Thomas, but it landed a few inches away. Vera then put her hand on her temple, rubbing at her skin.
"What will you do?" Thomas inched forward and put his hands on the back of the seat in front of him. Even with the menace of flying objects, he felt secure Vera wouldn't attack him.
"I don't know yet. My other investment has garnered a tidy sum, but I was counting on taking over the entire company to liquidate all of my assets. If I cannot liquidate, I don't have as much money as I thought." After a pause, she continued. "It's unlikely, with blonde bitch in charge, that Bates Airlift will default as quickly as I expected. She'll try to make things work, but, It'll default, sooner or later, as the dimwit has no real skill in management."
"You're right. She's pretty smart, but that doesn't mean she can succeed. While we are still here, we can make things challenging for her – make the inevitable, happen sooner?" His sneaky intonation garnered a discreet smile from her.
"Good boy," she responded with gusto. His words gave her hope. "We'll take things one day at a time. First, we need to get John locked away permanently. When that is all done, I'll decide when to make my move. For now, we go on as normal."
"What about Richard?" Thomas asked. "What'll happen to him now?"
"He's not told me what he plans to do. He's not been back to the office since he stormed out of the meeting room. I can't imagine it will be good."
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She'd been at the helm two full days and it already felt like a decade had passed. In the bathroom, on the third day, she'd found a gray hair and she swore she didn't have it when this new arrangement started. Just three days in and it was already wearing down on her. She sighed as she tucked it out of sight. If need be, she'd start dying her hair like her godmother did. It wouldn't suit her well to age prematurely.
After Robert and Matthew had left her, the first day had been strange - Not that she expected everything to go smoothly. It was life altering for her, and she supposed it was odd for the others. They inched along, awkwardly, trying to make sense of it all. Sarah, Thomas and Vera kept to their spaces, hardly making their presence known. Sarah's reactions were the one she garnered the most enjoyment from. When Anna walked by, she could feel the woman tense up and cower. She was going to meet with Sarah soon, just as she was meeting with the others, but she relished making her suffer. Maybe tomorrow she would put her out of her misery.
Even those that had pledged support were peculiar around her. She guessed they were just waiting to see what her management style would be like. She couldn't blame them. They'd had too many things happen to them in such a short time. When they realized she wasn't there to make any massive changes, they'd relax.
That same day, she'd set up another afternoon meeting, specifically for those pilots who'd been out, to explain the situation. The news had traveled quickly, and all of them were aware of the management change upon their arrival. No doubt Daisy and Alfred had gotten the word out. Michael pledged his support warily and she understood his hesitation. She wasn't offended. He'd been an ally of Mr. Bates from the beginning. It would take a while for him to warm up to her new role. She looked forward to proving to him that she could do this. After Mr. Bates himself, Michael was whom she wanted to impress the most. John had such a high regard for him and his professionalism, that earning his stamp of approval meant the world to her.
The sweetest reaction of all came from Evelyn. He lamented Mr. Bates' departure, but after retaining much guilt for the part he played in Vera's decision to fire Anna, he was beaming with joy. His burdens lifted off of his shoulders, he went as far as hugging her, after asking permission, and when others were out of earshot, he pledged his full support. "Absolutely anything you require, work-related and/or not work-related, I am your man." He was adorable, really, and as always, a real gentleman. His enthusiasm was infectious, and at the end of her shift, albeit weary from such an intense day, she felt good about herself.
The second day was no better; with everyone still tip-toeing around her. Gwen had brought her some invoices to review, and Anna felt a smile come over her, but no sooner she had come, Gwen had left. Richard had been a no-show. Part of her was grateful for that, for in all of this, she didn't know how to proceed with him. She was his boss now, but the memories of his harassment were fresh in her mind. Would he cruise on in and pretend it never happened? Not likely. He'd be angry, of course. Cheated out of his partnership, there was no way to tell how he would react.
On the third day, though, she knew that she had to call him. Whether he liked it or not, he was still an employee. If he didn't want to come back to work, and was perhaps, quitting, they would have to know sooner or later. The earlier they knew, the quicker they could replace him and get on with their lives.
By mid-morning, when she was at her desk, ready to make the dreadful call, Gwen came into her office. The frown lines etched on her otherwise smooth skin were indicative of angst. The redhead was worried and her coloring was starting to alter.
"Anna, I've had a most disturbing call from Mr. Wiggleton." Her tone was fraught with anxiety.
Ah, the one customer they had bungled in the past, one of their top executive clients. She silently prayed they hadn't made any mistakes with him again. Losing him would not happen on her watch. "What is it Gwen? What is the matter?"
"He says…" Her voice broke down and she flailed her arms to gain her composure again. "He says that he received a call from Richard Carlisle, of Helicopters UK, advising him that Bates Airlift was going out of business within six months and that he should transfer all of his services to them now and that they could even give him a 10% discount to make the transition sooner."
"What?" Anna's face contorted with indignation. That slimy bastard! That narcissistic, treacherous imbecile! This was her failure, not calling him until the third day. He'd defected to the competition, a classic revenge move. No doubt he was out to steal all of their business. It was a smart move, attacking them when they were not expecting it. She was going to have to scramble to avert further disaster.
"Are we really going bankrupt, Anna? Is that why he left?" Gwen asked timorously.
She couldn't get into the details, not now, but she couldn't disregard Gwen's concern.
"Mr. Bates' incarceration has put us under financial duress, but that is not why Richard Carlisle left and we are not going bankrupt in six months." Gwen's face did not alter after the explanation and it was essential to their success for Gwen to calm down. As little as their staff assistant knew about Sales, she was the only one with any experience in that area at all. Bates Airlift needed Gwen. Anna took the phone in her hand and started to dial. "Gwen, listen to me. Is Mr. Wiggleton still on the line?"
Gwen nodded, as Anna spoke into the phone. "Please come immediately, we have an emergency."
"He said it appeared strange to him, to receive that call out of the blue, and it would be difficult for him to leave us, since he likes Daisy, you, Alfred, Mr. Bates and me so much. He wanted to get to the bottom of it. He wanted to know if it were really true. I didn't know what to say." Gwen started to sniffle as tears pooled in her eyes. She couldn't tell who Anna had called, but Anthony popped up into the office as soon as she finished her statement.
"Anthony, what is the profitability margin, on average, for each flight?" Anna was not polite with her request. She raised her voice to get his attention.
Anthony was caught off guard, not understanding what emergency he was called for.
"It ranges from 15% to 30%. It all depends on the type of trip and distance."
Anna turned to Gwen. "Gwen. Calm down and snap out of it. This is the most defining moment of your career at Bates Airlift." Anthony's eyes bulged when he heard Anna's strong and determined tone. He'd never heard her to be anything but sweet. This was no nonsense and her words cut through like a sharp knife. Gwen looked up, startled as well. "From what you just told me, we no longer have a Sales Manager. We only have you. This is in your hands. John Bates believed in you and I believe in you." Anna reached out to touch Gwen. Enunciating every word with emphasis, she added, "Gather - yourself - now, go - back - there, and - apply - every - ounce - of - Gwen – Dawson - charm - that - you - can – muster. Your job is to revert this situation." As the courage came back into Gwen's eyes, fueled by Anna's strong words, additional advice was given. "Match the 10% discount if you must or increase it to 15%, but don't offer it immediately. We need all the revenue we can get. Explain to Mr. Wiggleton that Richard left the company because he did not agree with the new management. He is a good client. Don't over-explain, but If he asks for details, tell him about the divorce and Mr. Bates selling his part. I think, with him, we need to be upfront. He'll value that. After you've secured back his business, come back to the conference room. I suspect this is not the end of our emergency."
"Yes, Anna." Fueled with instructions and a renewed energy, Gwen went back to deal with the situation.
"Anthony, you get Sarah and your team, and I will get Vera and any spare pilots we have. Bring them to the conference room immediately. We need an emergency team meeting." She stood to leave.
"What happened to Richard?" he managed to say before she walked out the door. He'd only heard they no longer had a Sales Manager. He'd not been privy to the entire situation.
"He's now working for the Helicopters UK and attempting to steal all of our customers."
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Anna was on fire. Vera came, grudgingly, as did the rest of the staff. She could tell by everybody's appearance that they were surprised to see her in such a confident state, giving orders. She didn't know where it had come from either. Even Sarah was shocked into submission.
Vera laughed, when she discovered Richard's treacherous actions. Anna speculated that she must have known what her lover was up to and that Vera was too good an actress, pretending to be surprised. If she didn't really know, then, Anna was sorry for her. If she had any love or affection for Richard at all, how sad that they seemed to have no allegiance to each other. What a sorry excuse for a relationship. In the end, she didn't really care. She only summoned Vera to this meeting because as part owner, it was her right to know. Vera distanced herself, leaving after five minutes. Anna breathed a sigh of relief. If Vera had wanted to be vindictive, she should have stayed and contradicted every order Anna gave. Vera must have thought that Anna would flounder and that by distancing herself from the meeting, she was accelerating the company's demise. How wrong she was. Without her, Anna could work freely.
"Team, we are under attack. Unfortunately, Mr. Carlisle will attempt to convert every single one of our customers to the company that now employs him."
"Can he do that?" asked Jack Ross. He and Evelyn had been detained from their daily platform run because of a low ceiling of visibility that was currently hovering above the platform they were scheduled to visit. They had been reviewing alternate flight plans, and discussing the fuel impact with William when Anna rounded them up. Tom could not come, when William called him, as they were expecting James to return with an inbound flight at any minute.
"He can leave the company, and our market based capitalist economy dictates that he can compete for our business. He cannot; however, utilize insider information to woo them. He has, unfortunately, broken the law in this respect. Confidentiality agreements between employee and company are covered under Intellectual property laws. Our solicitors, Crawley and Blake have been advised. They are preparing a cease and desist order for Helicopters UK. We will sue him and his firm before this is all done."
The candor and frankness in her voice left them all surprised.
"Now, we have a short window of time to revert the situation. Gwen is on the phone right now. She's already convinced Mr. Wiggleton to stay with us. Thanks to this loyal and important customer, we were given insight regarding the situation as soon as the attack started. She's now on the phone, preempting the loss of CONOCO EXPLORATIONS. We've not started our trips with them yet, but, they represent the biggest contract we have. Richard knows who the top guns are. He'll be going for the big fish. When she's finished with Vinoth Patel, she'll talk to Dennis Humboldt of ENERGYBURST. We need to retain all of our customers, but these two and Henri Leplat of PERENCO, if we can keep them, we'll be able to continue operating. If we lose any of these three, we'll be in a difficult situation."
"What can we do to help?" asked a concerned Phyllis.
"Anthony, we'll need a profitability report by customer. We'll need to call them in order of importance. Gwen can't possibly call every customer herself. She'll take the top customers and Phyllis, and I, will take the rest. You go back to the phone Sarah and do not allow any cancellations. Anybody that calls in with one, ask them why and we'll triage them case by case."
Sarah rolled her eyes, but didn't argue. Sarah was sour, and a friend of Vera and Thomas', but her bank statements revealed that she lived paycheck to paycheck. With a fear of losing her job, she might be inclined to help and Anna knew she needed all the resources within the company to pitch in.
Thomas asked, "What about me?" He didn't look too concerned, but he was there and offering help. She would never put him anywhere near the phones, not when she knew he was at the root of Mr. Bates' problems and still a strong ally to Vera.
"Help Anthony put together the customer profitability report." He would be safer under the supervision of someone else.
Gwen burst in, just at that moment. "I've spoken to Vinoth Patel. He confirms that Richard was trying to reach him, but he was in a meeting and couldn't take the call." She breathed out loud, agitated from running to the conference room. "He says he understands and that he will not make any rash decisions. He will need to review our position again, to determine if we are still on track for a winter launch on our contract." She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good job Gwen. That's two down. What do you need? What can we help you with?"
The redhead put her hands on her head to think. "I need copies of the contracts. I don't have all of them. It would help if I could read them before I started the calls."
Anna turned to the remaining team members – Evelyn, Jack and William.
"Well, judging by the meteorology maps, I'm not going anywhere within the next couple of hours. Show me what to do and I'll help you." Jack was up and following Gwen out the door to Richard's office where she had set up camp.
Evelyn smiled, "You know, there is a fair share of family acquaintances on our customer list. I can call some of them and make your and Phyllis' job easier." He tilted his head, hoping Anna would accept his offer to help.
"Bless you. That would lessen the burden," she responded gratefully. He left with a spring in his step, eager to do his part.
"That just leaves me Anna. What would you have me and Tom do?"
She wanted them to have a part in this too, but what could they help with? Neither of the men had much experience with the actual customers beyond greeting them and providing occasional safety instructions. They weren't well versed on the administrative side of the business either. After a minute of thinking, she had an idea.
"This is an emergency situation and we'll be working late and through lunch. You'll be in charge of team comfort. After you've dealt with the arrivals and departures of our scheduled flights, can you always make sure there is enough coffee and tea for everyone? Bring it to them directly, offer any amenities needed? I don't want anybody wanting for lack of food or beverage. Take my credit card. Order food. Lots of it… I don't care what or where from. Just make sure everybody is taken care of."
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What a nightmare Thursday and Friday had been. Anna owed the retention of 90% of their accounts to the hard work of the staff. When they could afford it, she would suggest they be compensated with a moderate bonus. Everybody who could manage it, agreed to work late, which really meant that only Vera and Thomas had gone home. Some of the pilots didn't stay either, not knowing how to help, but they all came and offered suggestions and advice. Nobody knew the clients better than they did and some of their contributions were helpful. What surprised Anna the most was that Sarah stayed and she even worked without complaining.
When Robert was sure he had adequate cover at the pub, he came too. Nobody would believe that as the owner, he wouldn't come at the sign of the first crisis and he did, but he allowed Anna to make the decisions. As far as he could tell, she was doing superbly. She commanded the team well and they were responding to her leadership.
It had been an intense week, more than she could have ever imagined. Many extra hours were employed to keep everything running smoothly. While that was definitely a win for her managerial role, it was a most definite loss as a private investigator. She attempted to review the case files at night, but she could not accomplish much and she felt defeated. On Thursday, Joe had sent over the lists of funds managed by Eagle investments and she'd fallen asleep with the information surrounding her.
Matthew had called her on Friday morning and had urged her to give up the investigation. He could utilize the firm's resources to continue where she left off. He didn't say this to spite her, she knew that much, he was as concerned with her mental wellbeing at having such a load on her shoulders as he was with getting John out of jail. He explained that it was not a defeat, that neither of them anticipated that her partnership offering would come to this. She begged him to give her the weekend, that if she couldn't make heads or tails with the information, she would be the first to ask for the help. He grudgingly agreed, even though she knew he wished for a different outcome. After the weekend, they only had one more week to prepare. Time for John was running out.
That same evening, after another long day at work, she messaged incognitohelper. She didn't know why. Well, she did. It was her desperation speaking. Maybe her troll had new information that could help. Her tweeter had been silent too, leading Anna to wonder. Everybody in the office had been so busy lately; could it really be somebody from within? Somebody who had just as little time as she did?
She tweeted, incognitohelper I went back to work. I've been busy. Anything new?
She took the case files Joe had sent, ready to take a crack at them again when she received a response. This person was nothing, if not fast. They must have their phone attached to their hip.
eyeinthesky I have been busy too. If you concentrate on TB, you will have all your answers. Time is running out. Complete the network path.
That wasn't too helpful, she thought, but what could she expect from a troll? Certainly not detailed instructions or a roadmap. She sighed. She was being unfair. Joe had mentioned that receiving a partial network map had reduced his work time. It appeared to be legitimate, when he'd audited what he had received and he was now working feverishly on the missing network links. When she spoke to him last on Wednesday, he confirmed that he'd added one more network connection to the IP map and that his logarithm had picked up speed after some adjustments. He said he was close to breaking the password of the tweeter's account and that maybe even by this weekend he would know the identity. He also mentioned that he had found a bank account in Switzerland under Thomas' name, but the funds in that account were meager. There was a paltry $3,000 Swiss francs in it. It wasn't the kind of money they were expecting him to have. Anna urged him to look for an account in other countries that were considered tax shelters. Anna offered Grand Cayman as an option, as it too was known to have a highly developed international banking scheme. He scoffed, adding that it had the reputation, but it was not the most secretive country. He muttered something about Vanuatu and Brunei, but by then, she couldn't concentrate and was falling asleep.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Today was Saturday and she had a full day planned. It would start with a visit to see her man. She was so excited, she couldn't contain her nerves. Matthew had not been pleased when he discovered her covert visit, the first time she'd seen him, and neither was he happy to know that Anthony had been let into her secret when she'd visited a second time. She just pursed her lip, never intending to apologize for doing what she thought needed to done. Thankfully, the fact that she was the General Manager of Bates Airlift now, and the fact that they'd explained that Mr. Bates would be hired on as a consultant, was the perfect ruse for them to see each other. Nobody could question these motives in court if anybody suspected a relationship between them, and the prior two times could be alleged as preparatory meetings for the partnership transfer. This meant that they could see each other on a continual basis. To say that she was happy was an understatement. She was full of joy, giddiness seeping through every pore.
Dressing smarter this time, she hoped he wouldn't remember the ratty clothes she'd donned the last visit. Her hair was loose and perfectly coiffed, and her make-up was natural, but beautiful. She had found an empty table, the room somewhat full of other prisoners with their visitors. It was in a corner, far from the guard's observation post. She sat and waited, tapping the table incessantly with her fingers until she heard his voice from behind.
"Hello beautiful," was what he said and she melted. They were just two words, but his sexy voice, with just a hint of Irish intonation, had her fighting to control the warm feeling that invaded her body. Her arousal was instantaneous. Oh God, she thought. How am I not able to touch him?
She stood. "Hello" was her meager response, but John looked into her eyes and could see that she was affected.
"I've missed you," she added with sincerity.
"Not as much as I missed you," he responded and they both smiled as they took their seats.
They grinned for another few seconds, bashfully. It was a moment they both wanted, to see each other, but now that it was here, they knew not how to start a conversation. It was a different sensation, this one, of being allowed to be in each other's presence and not feel guilty.
"The stubble look suits you," Anna finally started. His scraggly beard was very becoming.
He instinctively rubbed his chin with his hand. His expression was of disbelief. "Well, I am glad you like it. It's a look I'll be sporting quite often, as we're only allowed a shave, once a week." Since his arrival at Whetherby, his grooming had improved, now being allowed to shower every day. He still lacked confidence in his appearance, as he could not maintain the same rituals, or the use of his preferred products. Anna's appreciation made him feel better about himself.
"Well, I do. You are handsome either way, but I like this gruff, manly look too." She could tell she convinced him, as there was a tiny sparkle that was added to his smile.
No sooner had she noticed that sparkle, when she felt a jolt at her feet. His gaze upon her also changed. There was mischief and desire in his eyes. His leg was brushed up against hers and the realization that he was doing this on purpose, dawned on her. They couldn't touch, but the guard station's inhabitants could not see under the table, with them positioned in the farthest corner, and he was taking advantage of that.
"Mr. Bates, how devious of you," she whispered. She managed to slightly part her legs, so that his other leg could rest between hers, and all four of their legs were intertwined. This was done, slowly, so as not to arouse any attention to them. Already feeling warm since her arrival, the sensation of touching each other, even through their clothing, felt wonderful.
"Let's play a game, Anna." John smirked and Anna wondered what this game was about. Touching each other was already a high risk endeavor.
"A game? Here?" she asked with a giggle in her voice. "What type of game?"
"We have so much to talk about, but please indulge me for just a moment." He nodded, his head waiting for her acceptance before proceeding. "You'll like it."
How could she refuse such a face? "Anything for you, love," she responded and waited for instructions.
"Close your eyes. I will close my eyes too. Lean in just a little, as I don't want others to hear."
She did as he asked, and moved forward.
"We're alone, together, back at Galloway. You've laid out the blanket, under the night sky, like the first time we were there." He paused for a second. "Are you there, love? Can you see it?"
He waited for Anna to respond.
"I can see it," she responded. He didn't give her further instructions, but she provided additional imagery herself. "There are a million stars, just as beautiful as the first time."
"Good, Good," he added. What he said next surprised Anna, but she didn't open her eyes. "Keep your eyes closed no matter what." He took advantage of the moment to rub his leg against hers and that feeling was heightened by her eyes being closed. "We are lying on the blanket, very close together. The mood is romantic, and I cannot resist your ethereal beauty. You are mesmerizing me and I shift to lean over you. You look into my eyes and our lips meet."
He breathed in, emphasizing his next question. "Can you feel them? My lips on yours? Can you feel how much I love you?"
Anna felt a shiver, just then. She could feel him just as he described the scene. The feeling was overwhelming her now. She wanted to scream.
Mr. Bates continued. "Your mouth is open and inviting. You taste as sweet as nectar to me. Propped up by one elbow, I am able to run my hand across your cheek and on occasion through your hair. Your golden mane is wonderful to my touch and I cannot get enough of it. I continue to kiss you as I stroke it and feel the silk strands fall across my fingers. You're lovely Anna and I can't get enough of you."
Oh God, thought Anna. This delicious torture was more than a game. He intended to seduce her, right here in the dingy prison visitation room. They could not touch with their hands, could not do what he was walking them through, but it wasn't necessary and he was doing a damn good job of his descriptions. So far, he'd only kissed her, but she was feeling a longing in the pit of her stomach. He was keening her need for him. It was unfair and wonderful at the same time. If that was what he wanted to do, virtual reenactment, she could play the game too. She would give him the same sensations.
"Your kiss feels wonderful, Mr. Bates. Your lips scorch me. As you massage my scalp and play with my hair, my hands are busy with your shirt. It's cool out, but we can't feel it. We are radiating heat, intense, passionate heat." Mimicking his actions of a moment earlier, and gaining benefit from her shorter legs, she dropped her shoe and reached as high as the limited space under the table allowed. Her toes reached the inside of his thighs, at mid-level. She rubbed him there and his audible reaction to her touch spurred her on. "You make me hot and I need to touch you. I reciprocate with my lips and tongue and I can tell our blanket tryst has moved away from being an innocent interlude. I've managed to open the first few buttons and your chest is opened to me. My fingers graze what is revealed and you shudder under my touch. I pull away from your ardent mouth, desperate to run my lips across the open expanse….and when I do… touch your chest….. I can feel you react beneath me. You write with pleasure and moan as I continue making my way down."
Anna was feeling wet. She was talking about what she would do to him, but she felt the reaction keenly on herself. She removed her leg, settling it to the original placement between his own big ones. Before she could say anything else, Mr. Bates took over.
"Your lips are heaven Anna. They burn my skin, everywhere they touch, and I cannot get enough of you. While you are busy with this, my hands surround you and they move upwards, underneath your jumper and shirt. You are warm, the heat of our encounter making our clothing unnecessary. I push your shirt upwards as I find the clasp of your bra. The position you are in, it's left your neck exposed, and as I unhook your bra and start to massage your breasts, I start to kiss your neck. You are moaning Anna, I can hear you and as I touch you, you begin to breath raggedly."
John was excited this was working, and was not really aware of himself. Her words did have an effect on him, more than he thought was possible. He felt himself get hard, and that was when he realized his mistake. He wouldn't be able to leave the room without embarrassing himself, or without waiting for the reaction to subside. They didn't have forever. They didn't usually have a time limit, but, this being a Saturday, visitation was popular for families. He cheated and opened his eyes briefly and he was so glad he did, as he was gifted the most beautiful sight. Anna still had her eyes closed, and her grin was that of someone experiencing the throes of passion. She was so receptive to this virtual experience in public. God, how could he have gotten so lucky?
He snapped out of his own passionate feelings when he noticed an inmate eyeing them. He was so close to making noises himself, the way she was making him feel, and thus, he could imagine that she might be close enough herself. He worried that she might actually moan and he wouldn't want her tainted, mentioned by other inmates who were currently in the room with them. The thought of Sally's faux orgasm, in a New York diner, from the movie 'When Sally Met Harry' filled his mind. God he wished they could do that and that it were for real, but for now, he would end it.
"Anna, my love, being with you is amazing, and sharing in these pleasures with you would bring me no greater happiness." He paused when he realized his words were causing him to become emotional. He almost choked on his words, but after a second, he spoke with more conviction. "Anna, darling, open your eyes. I love you so much."
He didn't know where it came from and it was certainly not the most appropriate reaction in a prison, but a tear burst forth and slipped down his cheek. He witnessed Anna open her eye and become as emotional as he was. The reality surrounding their situation hit her hard. She matched his tear with one of her own, and then exceeded his, as several escaped down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry darling. I didn't think we would get like this." He looked down, sorrow for making her sad, gnawing at his insides.
"Don't be sorry love," she added with fervor. "That was amazing, and incredible. I love you so much too."
He looked up and they both shared another grin as they both rubbed their eyes to shoo the tears away.
"I'm afraid I made the situation bad for myself," he added. "I cannot possibly stand up or move away from here." When Anna didn't catch on, he tilted his head in a downward motion. "My friend is excited to see you. We are going to need to coax him into going away."
Anna finally understood, and her immediate reaction was to laugh. She was loud and she was having fun. "My Lord, Mr. Bates…..how unfortunate." She continued to chuckle, and her enthusiasm was infectious. Mr. Bates had no alternative but to join her. She tried to stop, but couldn't. It was just too funny.
"Prisoner Bates and visitor, please keep quiet," boomed the microphone above them.
They toned down the laughter, but the tears flowed freely now. They were generated by their good mood, and by the amount of fun they were having. Who would have thought it was possible to laugh and enjoy themselves in a prison visitation room?
"I'll have to say something to make it go away," she added. "We've had such an eventful week on the compound that I am sure I can find the right words to make it happen."
"Alright Love, as much as I hate to turn our conversation into serious matters, I feel we must move ahead. We've not got much time left. In no time at all, they'll be giving us a five minute warning."
Anna knew just the thing to make his blood boil. "Richard Carlisle."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
John had received a visit from Robert the day before and he was aware of just what an excellent job Anna was doing. Robert had communicated with him about Richard's exploits and Anna was right. The mention of this man did the trick. She saw his mood change rather quickly as he tried to contain his blood from boiling.
"I hear you did an amazing job, saving the situation. Rob tells me that you led the team brilliantly and the result was better than expected. Thank you." His words were sincere.
Part of her was relieved that John already knew, but she was slightly annoyed at Rob for stealing her thunder. She'd wanted to explain the situation her way, not making her sound like the knight in shining armor that had come to rescue them all. Still, knowing that Rob had given such a glowing review and that John was calm, given what could have happened, she allowed herself to bask in his praises.
Her skin flushed and she smiled bashfully. "Thank you. It was all down to Gwen, though. She saved the most important accounts. You were right about her."
She explained the entirety of the situation and breathed a sigh of relief when he agreed with her course of action. Gwen should be promoted immediately to Sales Representative, and that they needed to find a new administrative assistant. Anna confirmed that Edith had agreed to come in as a temporary worker, given that she was still out of school, and working evenings at the pub. She could manage to work several hours during the day, and Cora would be helping Robert as well to compensate for her absence. All of the Crawley sisters were willing to pitch in, and the family agreed Edith might be the best choice among them. She was studying journalism and it would do her good to hone her administrative skills. Sybil was doing work experience at the local hospital with a very inconsistent shift and Mary was spending more and more time at Highclere. He liked the idea, knowing that Edith was a steady girl. She was prone to emotion and melodrama some times, but she was smart. He also urged her to seek Daphne's help in finding a replacement. She hadn't thought of that before, and it made sense. Daphne had candidates in need of a new opportunity and they needed somebody. It might work out.
"Anna," John asked with a curious voice, heralding the start of a more serious topic.
"Yes," she answered carefully.
"With what's happened to Richard and that we've already discovered him to be the lover, I don't think there is any reason for you to wait any longer in accusing him. Think about it."
Anna breathed slowly as she reflected. Could she? What was stopping her now? Her prior reason, not wanting to botch the investigation, no longer existed. She was now the General Manager of Bates Airlift. Her association with Carson's Private Investigators, when discovered, could pose less of a risk to Mr. Bates while he was in jail. Richard was now at Helicopters UK. Gwen had asserted herself as the responsible party for Sales at Bates Airlift. There was more of an impact at the other company than with theirs, even if it would make her notorious. She'd have to think about it for a couple of days. She still needed to work on John's evidence and manage the company. Coping with the rigors of a Police investigation might be too much to handle with everything else she was doing.
"I'll think about it. I promise."
"Bates party. Five minutes," boomed the microphone.
They shared a look of desperation, knowing that their time was going to be up. It prompted her to enquire regarding the status of his 'friend'. John responded that mentioning Richard had indeed done the trick and there was no longer any concern. They filled their last five minutes amid words of hope and perseverance.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Anna punched the code to access the office and as she did, she took note to have the security of the offices reset. She knew too well, having breached the compound in an unauthorized fashion herself, that anybody who wanted to, could pose harm to the company. She thought specifically of Richard, who'd left several of his items in his office, having stormed out without a thought to his belongings. She'd do it today if she could, but this was a Saturday and the security system's vendor charged double for service calls on weekends. She would manage it on Monday.
Tom was there today, fiddling with the choppers. She didn't see his car, but she knew he was on the premises. They normally worked Monday to Friday, as the majority of their Executive clients and the platform operators preferred a standard weekday operation. Yet, every now and then, they booked a non-standard trip and both a pilot and a mechanic were assigned to the day operation. James was scheduled to fly the seven members of a wedding party on to the top of Scafell Pike, the highest peak in England, as the bride and groom, mountain enthusiasts, hiked up the hillside in full wedding regalia to join the minister and their witnesses on the plateau. The other members of the party were not sport enthusiasts and they were to be flown in, including a few decorations. It was rather sweet, thought Anna, when she heard of this creative and rustic venue. She and Tom chatted for a few minutes, learning that he had decided to ride his bicycle to work, on account of his training for a charity ride in the coming months. He'd hidden it out of sight, not having remembered to bring his bicycle lock. After reviewing some maintenance issues, she went back to the office to work.
She was here to catch up on a few emails, but mainly, away from prying eyes, she wanted to go through Thomas' desk and belonging and perhaps audit his work files. The fact that he had paid off his car and flat so fast, without a trace of an additional revenue source did not sit well with her. It would make her feel more at ease if she could confirm that his worry-free lifestyle was not being subsidized by their revenue. She'd have to work discreetly, since Tom could walk in at any moment. James wasn't due back for another two hours either, but knowing that he was in a physical relationship with Thomas meant that she also had to be on her guard.
Anna was no auditor, but she thought the best way to start was by tracking a couple of invoices from start to finish. Having worked a week with both Phyllis and Thomas during her rotation was extremely helpful, since she knew exactly where the files and documents were kept. Phyllis was in charge of creating the invoices for the customers, and did so every month, keeping a paper copy which she later stored. As far as Anna remembered from her time with the woman, she had 5 years of storage boxes stored in the cupboards beside her desk, and everything else in a little room next to the maintenance hangar where they kept all sorts of files, training and maintenance records, among other documents. At random, she opened a box of Phyllis' invoice copies and pulled out a sheet of paper. She opened a box further back in Phyllis' cupboard and sourced a second document.
Let's see. The first invoice was from two years ago and it was from small account, based out of Sheffield. It was an Executive service from Sheffield to Liverpool, and they had charged 400 pounds for five occupants. The second document was for a service from one of their top clients, PERENCO, from last year, for 7 platform runs in the month of May. This invoice was for the more substantial amount of slightly less than 62,000 pounds. These examples were as good as any. She made photocopies, noticing that this particular copier was running out of ink. The quality of the reproductions could have been better, but they would do. The original documents were replaced in their appropriate boxes and the boxes stored where they were found. She then took them to her office to investigate further.
Once the invoice was sent to the customer, Thomas tracked the bill to make sure they had been paid, and he made sure the payment was either bank wire transfer or a check that they received in the mail. He had access to the account and would reconcile all of the bank deposits.
Now, as General Manager, Anna also had access to those accounts. This would be her first time logging in, having received the credentials the afternoon before. Even though transactions were forbidden because of the freeze, she could still access the records. She was very pleased to see that she could generate historical reports for transactions for several years. That could come in handy. She looked up the first account, for the smaller amount, and after minimal searching, the amount matched, as did the invoice number that was referenced in the information section. The second search took a little longer. After a few minutes, she found the corresponding deposit, but the amount did not match entirely. She was able to find it because the invoice number was referenced in the notes, but the amount was off by small amount. The numbers, it seemed, had been transposed. It should have been $61,977 and they deposited $61,799. It was an odd mistake, and a deficit of $178 pounds. That was most intriguing. She guessed the protocol, when one received less money for payment from a company, was that the difference was billed in the next month. Wanting to make sure that this was what happened, Anna went back to the box to find the invoices for the three months after. Thomas would have to alert Phyllis to include that amount in the invoice, but as Anna perused the additional months for PERENCO, she could see that this had not been done. She made photocopies again, just for her reference and went back to her office.
Was this a find? The proverbial needle in a haystack? Anna couldn't be sure. Just to ease her mind, she reviewed the additional copied invoices against the bank accounts and was relieved to discover that those matched perfectly. She tapped her fingers against her desk. Was this just a careless mistake that Thomas did not follow up on, or did it have real relevance? She picked up the copy of the invoice to go over the document again and something caught her attention. The copier was running out of ink, and it had produced interesting striations that were more pronounced with every document that was copied. This last version reminded her of something. It had been a while since she thought back about the warning letters Mr. Bates had received. He'd received one before she came to work for him, then, he had received another after she'd been hired. If she remembered correctly, the first iteration, the one sent almost a year before, had similar poor quality. Anna pulled out her mobile phone to access her dropbox account. She had the document scanned and uploaded, as she did almost all the other pieces of evidence. Her mind was always working, always wanting to find links and connections between documents. She never knew when she would need to access them or when inspiration would strike. The file was found and she immediately compared the two. They were near identical, the misprinted areas generated by the low toner ink cartridge. Jumping to conclusions wouldn't help, but she strongly suspected that the warning letter was printed to the same machine.
A warm tingly sensation came over her. Pops and Elsie would ask her about the relevance of this finding. Unless she employed an electrostatic detection device, which Carson Investigators did not own, she couldn't be certain. That machine, similar to what ballistics technology does for firearms, could pinpoint whether a specific machine was the one to print or copy a document. It wouldn't solve the case, but knowing that the warning letters potentially came from the printer/copier in the Accounting enclosure would mean that she could narrow down who might have wanted to warn Mr. Bates. If the tweeter troll was also from inside, it could very well be the same person.
Just to be sure, she finagled with the copier until she could extract the cartridge. There were three copy/printers for public use, besides the one in Mr. Bates, now Vera's office. Out of the remaining two, the one in the crew room was the same model as the one in accounting, while the one used by the rest of the Managers, Gwen and Sarah was slightly different and the cartridge would not be compatible. She diligently installed the new 'old' cartridge and copied another sheet of paper she found lying around. The low ink was also visible on this printed copy, but the pattern was different. She printed a third random sheet and the pattern was similar to the copy that had been printed before it, but still different than the pattern on the warning letter/invoice copy combination. This led her to believe, without a doubt, that the document came from the Accounting printer.
Anybody could have used the printer, however, most people are creatures of habit and she didn't believe the person who sent the warning would have gone out of their way to print elsewhere. The average person was not aware of printer/copier striations and it was not likely that the perpetrator would have been in the select group that did know. Anna sighed as she came to a conclusion. She would never believe that Thomas would want to warn Mr. Bates about any treachery he was setting up, and that belief easily eliminated him. That left Anthony and Phyllis. Anthony was kind, if a bit absent-minded, and he seemed to be naïve in certain things, as proved by his recent gullibility with Edna. If he did know anything about the whole embezzlement scheme, his role as Manager would have made it imperious to relay it to Mr. Bates. That left only Phyllis. Could it really be the mild-mannered, socially awkward employee? Anna wondered. She was smart, quick-thinking, and efficient, but had not demonstrated any defining tech savvy expertise. Not at the level she would need to be at to breach Joe's own security and deposit the network map, and not at the level to have an encrypted password that their own expert could not hack. The fact that the investigation into her past yielded no information, that a web search returned almost no cyber footprint, made it possible in Anna's mind. What if she were at the same, or a superior level to Joe? Then it would make sense that she could erase everything on the web about herself. But why? IF she had those skills, why was she working at Bates Airlift? And if she did know what was going on, why, if she were as loyal to Mr. Bates as she apparently was, go through the charade? Regardless of the answers to those questions, Phyllis was now her prime suspect for informant/tweeter.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
(TRIGGER WARNING SECTION)
"Good bye, Anna. You should go home," James offered as he came upon her office.
The rumbling helicopter had landed just a few minutes earlier and it had jolted her into an awareness of how much time had passed. It had been five hours, and besides doing her email, reading communications from the Civil Aviation Authority and trying to understand the safety declarations that she needed to send them every month, she'd done the invoice investigation and the printer comparison. It had been a full day. She was nowhere near finished, though. She still had tons of things she wanted to do, to find the evidence for Mr. Bates. It didn't matter if she was here or at home, the time spent was the same.
"I will James," she answered back. "I am almost wrapping up." He stood at the door and before he turned to leave, she wondered where Tom was. "Is Tom with you? Is he leaving also?"
"He said something about finishing the quarterly spare parts inventory. I understood he was almost finished, but wanted to get it done before leaving."
"Alright, then. Good bye."
He walked away and she returned to her files. Coincidentally, she had received James' complete information from Joe. She was reading about his background, and his expenses, when she heard the door to the compound open again, no more than ten minutes since James had left. Tom had not passed by and wouldn't have left without saying goodbye, and thus, she suspected James had come back.
"Did you forget something, James?" she called out.
There was no answer. He had to have heard her, as there was no other noise and this office was not too far from the entrance.
How odd, she thought to herself. "James, is that you?" she called out again, and stood to investigate.
A shadow loomed at the door and before she made it around her desk, she could see who it was.
"Fancy running into you here, Anna. And you're all alone….."
Richard. Fear invaded all her senses. She may have even stopped breathing. How did he get in? The code for the door - she should have had it changed earlier. Damn the crisis that averted her attention.
"You are trespassing private property. You no longer work here. Leave now," she had the clarity to say. Dread filled her as she remembered she didn't have her voice activated recorder. Working alone most of the day, she'd left it in the car, not thinking she'd need it. "And I am not alone. Tom is here too," she added.
He invited himself into her office and she didn't step back. No fear, she told herself. Let him not see how afraid you are. Weapons, she remembered. What can I use to defend myself if need be? A quick scan of her desk resulted in a heavy stapler and several pens. Damn her tidiness. Nothing there could incapacitate him if he were keen on attacking her.
"Am I unwelcome already?" He snickered. "I came to get my things." He planted a hand on his hip. "And you are alone, sweetheart. There are no cars out there but yours. You can't bullshit me."
She breathed in. Calm Anna, be calm. "Your things are boxed and on the desk of your ex-office. Take them and go," she responded firmly and with a strong voice. Lord, please let him leave. He was blocking the exit and she had no hope of getting out unless he left.
"Oh, I'll go. But not before we discuss how you ruined me." He took another step forward. "Your 'cease and desist' order? Well, my new employer didn't like it and they didn't like the lawsuit you've levied against them. They fired me on the spot, on the second day of work, no less. That, after your new employer, Robert Crawley, whom you've probably fucked to get the position of General Manager, cut me out of what was due to me. I earned that partnership. I worked for it. And now, you little whore, you are going to pay for all of them."
S-I-N-G, thought Anna. Hadn't she seen Miss Congeniality over a dozen times since that movie came out? Solar Plexus – Instep – Nose – Groin. Bless Sandra Bullock for being so funny that she remembered this little gem of advice. She wouldn't be able to deliver any blow at all from the position she was in. She'd have to get closer, not wait for him to charge her. She would have to get him to keep talking, to distract him until she could act.
She took a step forward and willed her inner Rita Hayworth to shine forth. Sultry and secure, Anna, she told herself. You'll only get one chance.
"Richard, I am so sorry. You are right. The lawsuit was excessive. I shouldn't have gone that route, but, Robert insisted. He's the one who cut you out. I had nothing to do with it." She took yet another step forward. She had him at arm's length. "We were supposed to get together, weren't we?" She forced down the bile that came up when she spoke those words.
The shape his eyes took indicated that her actions were not expected. He hesitated to answer as he tried to determine if her eagerness was legitimate. "We were, but you avoided me when you had the chance," he muttered.
"I couldn't very well approach you, now could I? What about Vera? It was obvious you were with her."
He rolled his eyes.
"That witch? She only needed me to get back at her husband and I let her. She's a good shag, but nothing more."
"Well then, there's no reason to delay us, is there?" The ruse was complete, as Anna touched his arm. Now, Anna, hit him now. This distracted him enough for her to swerve like Gracie Lou Freebush did in the film. She veered slowly, and with all her might, she recoiled and dug her elbow into his torso. It couldn't have been that hard, what with her petite stature, but he clutched his chest, and she took the opportunity to step forcibly on his foot. Without thinking further, as he was bending, she elbowed his groin. She had skipped a step, forgetting his nose. He fell to the floor in agony. She didn't bother with his nose anymore, as the way he fell, left her enough space so that she could run through.
She squeezed by him and ducked when he reacted to her movement. "You bitch, come back here," he yelled. He grazed her wrist as he reached out, but just barely. Anna had never won any sports medals, she wasn't an athlete, but she ran as fast as her short legs could carry her. Thankfully, she wasn't wearing any of her signature heels. Her best opportunity was to head towards the maintenance bay, where Tom, still working, could aid her. If she ran for the entrance, he could catch up and there was nowhere to go. She didn't even have her car keys on her.
Unfortunately, she could tell that Richard was getting up and starting to follow her. Her attack had only subdued him momentarily. Maybe if she'd hit his nose too, she could have bought more time. She was still ahead of him, though, and she managed to make it to the crew room. She reached for the door and because of her nerves; she couldn't manage it on the first try. It stalled. "Open, dammit", she yelled, and as she did, the door latch released. Richard was right behind her. She wouldn't make it to the hangar. Not even across the threshold. "Heeeeeelp," she yelled, and she managed it again, "Help!" before she felt her head being yanked back. He'd gotten ahold of her hair, and dragged her back in. The pain from the force was overwhelming.
"You bloody whore. Nobody can hear you. And now you are going to get it."
She didn't see his fist until it reached her face and she felt her eye would explode from the impact. The force of his strike threw her to the ground. She fell to the floor without any support, head first. Although the area had a carpet, there was hardly any cushioning. Her skull impacted and a dull thud ensued. Then it happened again. Another blow caught her lip. He was hitting her and she couldn't react. She had lost all power, had angered him even more. Had Tom even heard her? Would her voice have carried across the tarmac to the maintenance bay? Into the spare parts room where he was likely focused on finishing his job? She thrashed her arms and legs, but it was no use. He was too strong, too large. Pops would be angry. He told her to be careful and she had failed. Elsie would cry. Hug her and cry. His hands, they were on her. He was pulling her shirt open. She felt numb. John, would he still love her, after Richard was finished with her?
She felt like she was fading out, losing consciousness when she heard a woman's voice.
"Leave her alone, you animal." Things were being tossed. Something fell next to her head. There was yelling. The door opened. Everything went black.
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A/N: Anna will be fine and piece of shit Richard will get his comeuppance. I debated a lot on how to write this scene. I am so against 4X03 and the stupid Mr. Greene murder arc, that I would never want to recreate it. My hands took over and we ended up with this. If I owned DA, 4X03 would have had John beating the crap out of Green and rescuing his lovely wife in time.
I admit this was a hard chapter to write. Getting into mood for every section was challenging - Badass-at-work Anna, then Prison love, followed by Anna at the office again. The invoice stuff is tedious, I know… but, it holds the key to what is going on. Then Richard… Oh, my… The next chapters are easier to read. I promise!
Thank you for your wonderful support of this story. I was giddy last chapter when I reached 200 reviews. I appreciate every word, and love to read the guesses regarding the direction of the next chapters. I apologize for not responding, but I will try harder in the future.