A short story to read on your way to work.
“What time will you be home?”
Alex looked up absently, as he placed some documents in his briefcase.
“Not sure,” he answered.
“The partners are meeting with a new client later this afternoon. Why?”
“Just wondered,” his wife Alyssa said.
“I’ll probably not be home until late. Going to see Bronwyn after tennis. We might go out to dinner, so don’t wait up.”
“Ok, I’ll just make myself something if you’re not here.”
“Will Kylie be at the meeting?”
“No idea. Why?”
Alyssa shrugged.
“Just wondered. She’s the newest junior partner. I hear she’s very good.”
“Really? From whom?”
“Oh, I don’t remember. Craig maybe.”
Craig was one of the senior partners. Alex wondered idly just when they had had this particular conversation.
“Don’t know if she’ll be there or not. I haven’t had much to do with her. Anyway, got to go. Enjoy your day.”
He kissed her briefly on the cheek and walked to the front door, and down the front steps to his car which he had left in the driveway the previous night.
As he drove through the early morning traffic, he replayed the conversation he had just had in his head. Alyssa, as he learnt from the many years they had been married, never made idle conversation. There was a reason Kylie’s name came up. He wondered what it was. It was true he had not had much to do with her. He remembered being impressed at her interview, but had been sidetracked by another matter and left the decision of her appointment to others. She was certainly a very attractive, competent young woman, at least, so she appeared. The others on the panel must have agreed. But when had Alyssa obtained that information from Craig?
He had an idea that he knew. Of course. He was a bit slow this morning. Too many hours at work. He needed to take a break. He had long held a suspicion Alyssa and Craig were having an affair. After all, he was a good looking man, several years younger than he was, and, truth be told, sex between Alyssa and himself had become infrequent and perfunctory.
Strangely, the thought didn’t upset him anywhere near as much as he expected it to. He was quite fond of Alyssa, but really, his interest in her had waned considerably over the years. She was vain and quite self-centred. Never wanted children. Enjoyed the status being his wife gave her, the tennis and golf at the best clubs with her coterie of snobby friends and the charity work that apparently consumed much of her time.
When she announced, shortly after he made senior partner, that she had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, necessitating in her having to stop work, he had not questioned her. On reflection, her condition did not seem to have affected her other activities, which probably now included bonking Craig, he thought sourly.
But back to Kylie, was Alyssa a little concerned that she might have a rival for Craig’s affection? He resolved to keep a closer eye on things at work. A little bit of awareness might not go amiss.
That idea went out the window when a mini-crisis with an influential client raised its ugly head soon after he arrived in the office. The rest of the day was spent working on various strategies to minimise the fallout from the obdurate and quite frankly, the bizarre behaviour of said client who had a meltdown when he discovered his boyfriend in bed with a despised enemy. As they owned considerable assets in joint names, he turned up demanding that they find a way to strip the cheating boyfriend of his share, after admitting he had chased both men out of his luxury penthouse with a large and very sharp butchers knife.
And Craig had rung in sick earlier. According to his PA, he sounded terrible.
Alex was skeptical. Craig and the PA had history until both had been informed, discreetly but forcefully, that if they did not desist, both would be dismissed. That had been a few years ago, but still.
The crisis was eventually averted, just in time for the meeting with a new client. By that time, Alex was worn out. By mutual consent, Kylie was invited to join the meeting, and given all the briefing notes. Considering the short notice, he was impressed with her quiet efficiency, and competency, as were the other senior partners. It didn’t hurt that she was an extremely attractive woman, elegantly dressed, with flawless features, short black hair and dark eyes. He noted what he assumed was an engagement ring on her finger. ‘Lucky man, or woman,’ he silently reflected.
The client left satisfied, Alex escorting him out. He wearily made his way to his office, then detoured to the staff room. He needed coffee. To his surprise, Kylie was sitting at a table, also sipping a coffee. He smiled warmly at her.
“You did very well in there. and at such short notice too.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“Would you like me to get you a coffee?”
“Oh no, I’ll get it.”
He programmed the machine, and soon joined her at the table.
“Long day?” she asked sympathetically.
He nodded.
“I’m thinking of taking a break.”
He smiled slightly.
“And now I know the place will be in good hands.”
Red coloured her cheeks.
“Yes, you have a very efficient and professional team of people working here.”
She looked at him for a minute, then said abruptly, “May I be honest with you?”
Surprised, he said,”Of course.”
“I only applied to work here because of you.”
At his raised eyebrows, she hurried on.
“You have a reputation in the business world as a person of honesty and integrity. And you demand the same of the company. This is one of the few companies in the city that has such an unblemished record. You must be very proud of that.”
“I’m only one of a very good team,” he pointed out.
“I know, and I’m sure everyone is deserving of the same respect that you command.”
“But?”
“No buts. I just thought I’d tell you. But also, I want you to know that I don’t want to work here for very long.”
“Why not?” he said in a puzzled voice.
She said slowly, “Alex, we service some of the richest people in the country. Our clients are mostly millionaires, businessmen and people with inherited wealth. There are many people who need the same kind of services we provide here, but obviously can’t afford our fees.”
She stopped, took a breath, then said, “Those are the kind of people I want to work with.”
Alex put down his mug, and looked at her thoughtfully.
“And how do you propose to do that?” he asked in a neutral voice.
She said defensively, “I want to get as much experience as I can, then start up my own business.”
“That’s very admirable, but do you realise how much that would cost?”
She nodded, determinedly.
“Yes, I’ve done all the costings. I would have to work for a few years at my current salary, but I think I can do it.”
“I see. Well, it’s good to have a goal. Thank you for telling me.”
“Do you think I’m being foolish and naive?”
“Not at all. As I said, I think it’s very admirable to have a goal, especially such an altruistic one. I may even be able to be of some help.”
Her eyes lit up.
“Really?”
He nodded.
“Let me think about it. I’ve been around a while. I know people.”
He got to his feet.
“Let’s call it a day shall we?”
After rinsing their mugs, they left the building. A few of the staff and one of the partners were still finishing off some work. He bade Kylie farewell and watched her walk to her car, then slowly made his way to his. As he drove out of the car park, a thought occurred to him. Craig had called in sick. Maybe he should call in to see how he was faring. At least, that was what he told himself.
About thirty minutes later, he drove down the quiet suburban street where Craig lived in an expensive townhouse. He drew up outside and noted, without surprise, that Alyssa’s car was parked in a side street just around the corner. He sat for a minute, then slowly continued on his way. He had some thinking to do. Some serious thinking. Basically, what to do with the rest of his life.
He needed to extricate himself from Alyssa, it would be discreet, without fanfare. His suspicions now confirmed, he would simply activate the plans he had previously made in the event of just such an occurrence. Alyssa would be amply compensated. But now, he had something else to think about. Perhaps a complete change. He wondered if Kylie would be interested in a partner in her venture. A venture that might come to fruition sooner than she expected. The company would survive. After all, it employed a team of very competent people.
So there was only one thing left to do. He stopped the car at the side of the road and pulled out his phone. Luckily, he had programmed her number into it before he left the office. As he listened to it ring, he thought with a slight smile, when Alyssa had told him not to wait up, neither had realised that it might equally have applied to her.
Kylie said, “Hello?” and he started to talk.
©️Cesmo