At last ‘A life’
By Julie D Cole
Chapter 41 Sorting out my mind

‘Well how can she get that position without help. It seems like she has no qualifications so somebody must be helping her. Who else can it be?’

I said ‘That’s just guesswork with no facts or evidence ‘

‘Mary Jo told me that Jessica had been very happy after she found her real family and told her that she was secure for life as her real mother came from a rich family and that her grandfather owned a big business. She’d been told she would be looked after but that her grandfather could never find out about her.’

‘So if this is true are you suggesting Kate Harper knows and has been told to look after her?’

‘Well she might know and you never know there maybe a family connection and.Kate Harper is young to have a job in such an important position’

‘Come on we are just guessing now. But I might have to take care what I say to Kate tomorrow.’

We snuggled deeper under the bed covers and Sally put her arms around me. ‘Sometimes I wish you were my man to make love to me but mostly I like you to be my girlfriend and I want to make love with you Any chance or shall I read my book?’

I laughed at her since she had changed a lot and I liked that she could tease me back. Perhaps she was safe with me because I lacked male aggression and then maybe she preferred me as a woman.’ ‘Why was I so easily accepted as Chrissy by Sally, Julie, mum and Kate. Even by the other girls in the office? Why didn’t they hate me or make fun of me? Can women accept this more than men. But James accepts me and what about Gary? What about Jason did he know? What about Dave Roberts at work?’

‘Come on Chrissy ‘Are you in space?’

I smiled and kissed her warm lips and couldn’t resist to let her know that I liked her by giving her a Chrissy kiss.

It must have been an hour before we finally fell to sleep and I could feel some dampness on my panties so I was pretty sure that Sally was completely contented.
The next morning mum was up early and I heard her in the bathroom so I got up to make her some tea as a nice surprise.

I opened the curtains and it was a beautiful spring morning with a bright sky and birds busy in the garden feeding from the bird table and the nuts that mum hung out to attract them. I liked this part of the year and I felt really soft and warm in my dressing gown.

As mum came into the kitchen she saw the tea and smiled as she said good morning. ‘You look like the mouse that got the cheese this morning Chrissy so what’s happened.
‘Nothing mum, nothing much anyway but I was just thinking how nice it is and of the changes that have been taking place this last week’. ‘Do you mind?’

Mum looked at me and said’ Not at all, not at all.’

I don’t suppose I needed her to say anything else since I could tell by her eyes that she loved me whatever. She busied herself to make some toast and so I asked her if she minded to remain as mum even though I’d found out that her sister was my real mum.

She seemed very pleased that I’d said that and just said ‘Now I feel very happy that I’m released of a big burden that I’ve carried and I’ve seen my mum open up like a spring flower and most of all that I’ve found a new daughter and my sister. But mostly I’m happy that my son smiles and is more outgoing and whether he is boy or girl he seems happy too.’
‘Wow mum we are mushy this morning aren’t we’ “I’ll be crying on my toast soon and I need to be in an aggressive mood today as well to sort out about Jessica.’

It was nice to have those ten or fifteen minutes together before I eventually kissed her and said ‘Thanks mum for treating me as your son all my life and for taking care of me so well. I will make you proud of me.’

I had to wake Julie since the weather was nice and I needed advice and her help to dress for work. In the end I chose a black skirt and white top that accentuated the bosom that we’d created. I wished it could be a real bosom even though my man boobs seemed to be more sensitive and were easily stimulated these days. I guess I wanted them to grow and I was sure that they were a little bigger.

As I arrived to the office I was complemented by Shirley on reception. She said I looked lovely today ‘Who is the lucky person?’
I just smiled and said ‘Thank you Shirl I feel nice today. it must be because it’s spring.’

When I got to my office I had a nice surprise. I found some daffodils on my desk with a note attached. ‘Have a nice day’. There was no signature or other message attached.
I put them in a vase and made a pot of coffee for Kate and then got a text message from her to say she was running late so the flowers weren’t from her. She asked me to check my inbox to change some appointments around for her. She’d left me quite a few other tasks so I wasn’t going to get much spare time today.

I sorted out her diary and contacted our departmental managers to re-schedule some sales and Buying Strategy meetings. She had a slot in her diary for me that I left as was. That would be my chance I hoped.

When I rang the garage to arrange a service on Kates car I introduced myself and was then chatted up for ten minutes by the service manager. He was funny and a little bit rude and I couldn’t imagine being so suggestive if I’d called a girl. I must have been too shy.

I wanted to talk to Jessica but I felt I was better to see Kate first so I decided to ring Anne to see if she was free for lunch so I could have a chat about things and update her about my weekend that never was. She was happy to meet me. Then she said she’d seen Jessica disappear upstairs with a bunch of daffodils as she passed in the office.
That did it they went into the waste bin.

Then Kate arrived looking smart in a pin striped trouser suit that looked like it was a designer label. She looked tall and slim and I could see that she would turn heads. I wished I was as slim as her. She put down her briefcase and bag and tossed back her hair and I just was speechless for a few moments. Then she asked if I’d sorted things out and after I confirmed I’d done everything she was clearly pleased and asked if I’d take her a coffee through.

I nervously asked if I could speak to her about something at our meeting that afternoon and she just said. ‘Sure, no problem’ and took another sip of coffee whilst her computer started up.

I felt that I should talk to Dave Roberts in HR first to ensure that I was doing things properly but in view of what Jessica had told me I wanted to talk to Kate since now she was my direct boss as far as I was concerned even though the appointment was temporary.
Kate sat back in her chair as the computer loaded up and asked me how my weekend had been and had I enjoyed meeting up with James.

I told her that the arrangements had to change and he had been to see me the day before because Gran had been taken ill suddenly so I’d had to cancel. I chose not to mention the credit card problem and mentioned about the visit to see Gran with mum and that she was recovering. I wanted to tell her everything about the weekend but I could tell that it wasn’t the right time or place but I could see that she cared. Then she said ‘look after your mum, she needs you more than ever at a time like this.’

She said it with such genuine feeling that I was touched. Then she asked if I was OK and I smiled and said ‘Thanks Ms Harper.’ She laughed and said ‘Go on back to your desk, Ms Harper indeed.’

I busied myself with some reports that Kate asked me to review for her and organize into her filing system. She seemed to know everything about each stores performance in the country as well as looking at the Area Managers reports and making comments. She was young but she was very astute and quick with numbers.

Then she came to my desk and told me that now had to go to Manchester the next day so to try to get the car service done that afternoon and cancel her appointments but more than that she said she wanted me to go with her. I wondered who she had been talking to that caused this change in her plans. She said it would have to be an early start.

I rang my Service Manager friend and tried to use my charm. It seemed to work and he said he’d manage it just for me but I owed him a favor. I said we appreciated it and that I’d leave the keys at reception. Then he said ‘You bring them down please and I’ll be there myself in 15 minutes.’

He put the phone down before I had chance to speak.

Kate was pleased as I told her the arrangements and told me to use the spare keys in the safe. I arrived at Shirleys desk just as the Service Manager arrived. He smiled and said ‘Ms Harpers assistant I presume. Sorry I don’t know your name I’m Mark Legard, Special Service Agent double zero five and a half.’ I laughed and said l was hoping for agent double zero seven but realized there was a recession.

He seemed nice and he was very chirpy and confident. I could imagine he was married though he didn’t wear a wedding ring. He shook hands with me and said ‘to whom do I have the pleasure of meeting.’ I blushed from head to toe and said ‘Chrissy, Chrissy Taylor.’ Then he said he was doing this specially for me so that I’d get on the good side of Ms Harper. ‘if you are in her good books I think you’ll go far.’

Then he shook hands and said he’d be back at 5-30pm and he’d call me to confirm or if anything was needed.

Shirley was looking on and she just smiled and said. He’s a charmer so be careful.’
I laughed and said he was a funny guy ‘but not my type.’

A bit later I met Anne in reception and we decided to walk around the corner to a coffee shop since I liked their tuna wraps.

We managed to get a quiet table in the corner and I told Anne about what happened with my credit card and bank card and about the train journey and Grans illness. She couldn’t believe it and was very caring. However she didn’t believe that Jessica would be so stupid so I told her what she’d said about deserving everything that came to me.

That changed her opinion a bit and then she agreed that I’d be better to talk to Kate rather than put in a formal complaint. When I told her what Sally had said about Jessica’s possible connection with Kate she was even more intrigued and said that the girls in the office had suspected something too.

They couldn’t understand how she had survived with Kate being so astute and demanding and that Jessica didn’t seem to be concerned about her image or her performance appraisal that was coming up soon. Other managers had been quickly moved on if they didn’t perform. They’d said that I should have been offered the job.

I just said that now I had no complaints since really this had worked out well for me but the problem was that it is temporary and I don’t know how the Company will react in the long term since I’d changed my appearance. I was relying heavily on the support of Kate and I didn’t feel that I could risk making accusations against Jessica if there was some relationship.

My mind wasn’t made up but Anne made a good suggestion to talk to my bank and let them investigate it with the Company and just tell Kate that they had asked where I’d used the card and where I worked. I did agree but I said that I would also tell Kate that Jessica had acted strangely and made the comment to me so I wanted to discuss if the job I was doing was satisfactory and could be permanent. I thought I’d let the bank and credit card Companies do the investigation and see what happened.

So when I got back to the office I called my bank and explained my feelings and also reconfirmed about using my credit card in Birmingham in the nightclub. They said they’d contact the credit card company that was linked to my bank and not to worry about the money that should be recoverable. A new bank card would be issued later in the week.

I did wonder about telling them about my change in circumstances since Ms C Taylor might be better than C Taylor on my card. But it wasn’t the right time and I still couldn’t be certain if this would carry on until I’d talked to Kate and mum and Julie and of course Sally as well.

Later at around 3pm I took some tea for Kate and she asked me to sit down for our little chat.

First she asked if the car would be ready tonight and that she’d pick me up from home tomorrow at 7-30am. I asked if we were going to a meeting and how I should dress.

She said ‘Yes we have a meeting at 10 am so you should be smart but after that we are having lunch with someone that I want you to meet.’

To be continued……………..