Breakfast in the Montgomery-Tasker-Chandler household had been fun this morning; with the kids… especially AJ… excited for Marissa's new job. Now she was stepping up to the doors of Courtland Legal division Marissa's nerves were returning. This had been her job… this had been her place of work! But it felt like a lifetime ago. So much had changed for her and for her family.

She walked up to the front desk. She didn't recognise the receptionist; it had been a girl called Kathy in her day, always juggling telephone calls and appointment schedules with a permanent air of disorder. The new woman looked very professional and very organised.

"Can I help you?" the woman asked as Marissa approached; her smile bright and practiced.

"Marissa Tasker to see Caleb Courtland." said Marissa peering over the top of the desk to try and see her name on the computer screen.

"I have a Marissa Chandler." said the woman looking at her records.

"It's Tasker." said Marissa firmly. "I don't use my married name any more!"

"Okay, I shall have to phone through to verify." said the woman, still a consummate professional. "If you could sign the visitor's book?"

"Of course." said Marissa stepping back from the desk and picking up a pen to sign in.

Marissa hid her smile at the sight of the woman's professional veneer cracking as she spoke on the phone to someone who could only be Caleb himself. The receptionist clearly had soft spot for her boss.

She put down the phone and cleared her throat.

"Mr Courtland said to go right through." said the woman, her professionalism returning. "Do you know where you are going?"

"I think I remember." said Marissa and then she gave the woman a wider smile and held out her hand in introduction. "And as we shall be working together in the future I think we should start on the right foot. I'm Marissa."

The woman smiled back but didn't shake her hand.

"Victoria." said the woman, "And if you want to stay on my good side you don't call me Vicky!"

"Understood." said Marissa with a grin.

…

Caleb's office was exactly where she remembered. He was sitting at his desk when she knocked at his door and he called for her to come in.

"I hope Vicky didn't give you any trouble." said Caleb getting up and signalling for Marissa to take a seat. "She's a ruthless receptionist; just what we needed to sharpen this place up!"

Marissa took the proffered seat and smiled at the way Caleb had clearly taken to teasing his new receptionist, a clear sign he had a soft spot for her too.

Caleb took a perch on the end of his desk.

"I took the liberty of drawing up an employment contract along similar lines as before but I want to give you special responsibility for corporate business practice."

"What happened to the easing in you promised me?" said Marissa, "I'm probably a little rusty and I've missed a lot over the last couple of years."

"Which is why you will be working alongside me and Liza for the first few months until you are back into the swing of things." said Caleb, returning to his seat behind the desk. "Not that I think you need that long to settle, you were always a quick study."

"…But you want me to start right away on this Chandler business!" concluded Marissa.

Caleb smiled at her instant understanding of the situation.

"We have the proposal documents and the portfolios for Chandler from our last offer. Scott and Brooke have agreed to another meeting to have a new look at our proposal but I think Adam is going to be the biggest hurdle when it comes to making a deal that benefits us both."

"He will be out of hospital in a few days' time. Maybe when he is back in the board room he will recognise the amount of work that will be needed to save his business."

"That is the hope." said Caleb, "But there is still a lot of work to do to make this offer acceptable for him. He's the one we have to win over. I think Scott would sell tomorrow if he could, that lad is starting to look desperate!"

"So what do you need me to do?" Marissa asked.

Caleb patted a stack of documents in his in tray.

"We will sort out Chandler later. I think if you could first familiarise yourself with the routine; that would be best. Liza has taken your old office. I want you to spend the morning with her going over your areas of responsibility and she can update you on a couple of recent changes. You'll eventually be in Gladys' office by the coffee machine but for now just get comfortable; get reading. Liza will also sort out the HR side of things and then we shall have a full briefing tomorrow."

"Okay." said Marissa, picking up the copy of her new contract and giving it a quick perusal.

Caleb then gave her one of his rare wide smiles.

"And Marissa," he exclaimed, "Can I just say, it's great to have you back!"

…