The Good, The Bad and The Loaded

6.

Audrey was speechless.

A thousand questions coursed through her mind. What was the salary like, how long were the hours, how many days holiday per year would she be entitled to. Most importantly, would she be running into Carl Jenner any time soon. Why was he there today?

Bringing her out of her thoughts, Benjamin cleared his throat.

'I realise that this is.....unorthodox, meeting you here like this. However, I feel like this could work. A trial run? Starting 8am tomorrow?'. He flashed a winning smile, his teeth white enough to win him a job working in a Colgate commercial.

Still miles away, and barely taking in a word he had said, she nodded, dumbly.

He shook her hand, and left swiftly.

...........................................................................................................................................................................

She had been up late that night. He had left shortly after nine, and after recounting the conversation four or five times, to her incredulous friends and family, Kelly had whisked her off to her salon, insisting that she shouldn't set foot inside that building again, without looking her best, in case she faced not only her ffirst day of a new job - but a run in with her ex.

Applying golden high lights through Audrey's hair, and waxing her eyebrows, Kelly made it her mission to transform her friend into a glamorous New Yorker. 

'I can't believe your luck Aude, but I swear to God if your good for nothing ex rears his ugly cheating head, I'm gonna have to stomp down there in my Louboutins and make it so that dirty rat can never have babies'.

Audrey had laughed, imagining her beautiful friend catching Jenner off guard and kicking him square in he crotch. It was a satisfying image, one that she would recall if she did happen to bump into the slime ball.

June had given her a beautiful leather briefcase, and Mario prepared her a lunch fit for champions. At 7.45am, a chauffeur driven limo arrived. At 6:30am, her new boss had phoned to let her know someone would be arriving to drive her to work. She hadn't expected such a service, but was thankful not to have to rely on public transport.

As she took a deep breath by the front door of the diner, she smoothed out her blouse and looked herself over in the mirror. Ten wardrobe changes later, and this would have to do. She wore her mid length brown-highlighted hair in a tight bun atop her head, her fringe swept to the side. Her make up was natural, but had required nearly forty five minutes of Kellys attention to make sure she looked fresh faced, but professional. She wore a simple blush coloured blouse, tucked into tailored black trousers, and black ballet flats. Not knowing what to expect, or what her colleagues would be wearing, she sighed, feeling as if she should've chosen a suit.

'Get your arse in that car!' June appeared behind her, waving the briefcase at her niece. June looked much younger than her 55 years, in Marios New York Giants training t-shirt, and she blushed as her niece shook her head at Junes choice of clothing. Auntie June, the perennial teenager! She pushed her niece out of the door, for her to almost land on her chauffeur, an amused looking sixty something, holding his arm out to steady Audrey.

'I love you Aude, you go make me proud baby!' June stepped outside the front door. Typical June, she was never the kind to care if she was sighted in her pyjamas. She brought down to Earth to a new level. Audrey felt a burning in her cheeks spread to her ears and neck.

'Sooooo sorry Sir!' she gushed. 'My Aunt can be a real....'

'Pain in your ass?' offered the driver, smiling, his grey blue eyes twinkling.

It was then, that she knew they would be friends. He ushered her into the back seat, and they set off. As they left the street, her comfort zone, she felt the seeds of panic in her stomach. This was really it. Her first proper job in the City. A high rise, big company, full of hundreds of people, if not thousands. The prospect was daunting.

As if on cue, the driver looked at her, through his mirror, his face bright and cheerful.

'The name's Norman, Miss Blake....and you'll be fine! I've seen that face before, on many a young ones face, walking into that building for the first time. You shouldn't worry though, you know?'

'Really?' she said, too quickly, her nerves punctuating her speech, her breathing erratic.

He looked behind him, at those deep blue eyes and he was reminded of his own daughter, before she had died in 2001. She was too fragile for this city, but if anyone could ease her into her new life, it would be Benjamin Lennox. He had paid for his Charlotte's chemotherapy, and when she passed, he had covered all her funeral costs, and the costs of his grandson Patrick's schooling fees. He was a true gentlemen, in a world full of people only looking out for themselves.

'He's a good boss, Miss Blake.'

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Unexpectedly, Mr Lennox met her in the lobby. He wore a welcoming smile that instantly calmed her nerves, as well as the most well fitting suit she had ever seen a man wear. It had a silver sheen to it, and as she walked astride him, she caught sight of his broad muscular chest, rippling underneath his shirt.

'Follow me, Miss Blake, I have someone for you to meet.'

Walking to the reception desk, she was greeted by the same beautiful brunette who had directed her the day before. She held her hand up, gesturing for them to wait a moment, whilst she finished a call, and then she greeted them with the sunniest smile Audrey had ever seen.

'Hi, I'm Lucille.' she stood up, brushed her skirt suit down and stepped to the side of her desk, so that Audrey could shake her hand properly. 'I'll be mentoring you today, I have heard such great things about you from Jeanette over in London'.

Audrey blushed a deep shade of crimson.

'She said you were one of her best, and that she was gutted when you left for America. I think her loss is our gain - what do you think, Ben?'

Mr Lennox raised his eyebrows playfully, 'Mr Lennox to you, Miss Charlton!' they laughed, as if sharing a private joke. Audrey could imagine these two being very well suited. Lucille with her endless legs, dazzling smile, and photogenic looks, and Benjamin Lennox with that bronzed skin, and muscles that would no doubt be perfectly accessorised with Lucille hanging off them.

'Ouch!' the voice of a woman, came from behind the desk that Lucille had just stepped from. 'Jesus Christ Luce, I can't find the printer cable! You're gonna have to call IT support.'

A portly red haired woman stood up from behind the desk, her frizzy curls framing a round, matronly face. 'Honestly, ask a woman of my size to bend down behind there, you're lucky we didn't need a crane to lift me out....' she stopped mid sentence and her jaw fell open, she hadn't realised Mr Blake was standing just feet away.

'Omgosh' she blurted out. 'Sir, ever so sorry!'

Mr Lennox's mouth was drawn shut, but his lips wobbled and then he spluttered with laughter. 'Carla, good morning!'

Carla held out her hand over the desk, and Audrey shook it. 'Miss Blake, this is Carla. She is one of our architects assistants, she's been with the company for a long time. Alongside Lucille here,' he gestured towards the woman, who was now inspecting her perfectly manicured nails.

'Now, Miss Blake, let's go and see your office!'

My office, my very own office, she though excitedly. They got into the elevator, and as they stopped on floor fourteen, she felt dread fill her. What if that arsehole is waiting for me, ready to spoil my first day. As they left the area she had been waiting in, just a day before, and walked the length of the corridor, Mr Lennox opened the door for her into a huge open plan room. There were desks that looked out through windows that ran from floor to ceiling, each desk was made of glass and the computers were so paper thin. A few workers turned to wave hello, and then went back to their jobs.

A sound system overhead played what she recognised to be Coldplay, not loud enough to take away the ambience of a workplace, but it gave the room an informal easy atmosphere. The sort of place where people wanted to work. There were lime green plastic picnic style benches in the middle of the space, and Mr Lennox walked towards one, and to her surprise, mounted the table and stood atop it, clearing his throat loudly.

The employees at the computers didn't seem phased, and each turned in their ergonomic see through plastic swivel chairs, to give their boss their full attention.

'Guys, let me introduce my new PA, Audrey Blake. Make her feel at home! One at a time, your names please and what you do!'

One by one, the employees gave their names, and what they did. There were a few computer artists, who helped draw up blue prints and to give clients an idea of what their homes or businesses would look like with 3D animation, there was a handful of accountants, and the rest of the team were salesmen and women, who visited with new clients to discuss their requirements.

The friendly team, one by one, shook Audreys hand, and then Mr Lennox led her through to her office. It was a large glass panelled room, that looked out into the large work space that her new colleagues worked in. The furniture in here was more sophisticated, black and chrome, and her desk was a kidney shape with an apple mac computer and beside them, an Ipad and Iphone. At the back of her office was another glass wall, with a door in the middle. He pressed a hand shaped pad on the wall, and it began to lift upwards, making her office and his one giant space. This is like working for James Bond she thought, amused and slightly exhilarated. He must have heard the 'Wow' that she tried to stifle, and he turned to her, a playful smile on his lips.

'There's a reason why we are so successful. We bring a touch of the futuristic, to the now, don't you think, Miss Blake?'

She nodded dumbly, admiring the views from his window, over New York City. The whole of floor fourteen, bar the waiting area, was like one giant glass bubble and daylight washed into the space as if they were working outside. She watched the early morning sunshine wash over one of her arms and he gestured to her desk.

'Lucille will be here in just one moment. Let them show begin!' As she sat down in her comfortable chair, she watched in awe, as the glass wall behind her slowly eased down. A moment later, her phone rang. Nervously, she picked it up, and cleared her throat.

'Summers and Gold. How may I help you?'

...............................................................................................................................................................

The rest of the day sped by. Lucille showed her how to use the computer system to write reports, and showed her the directory of all Lennox's clients. Carla then took over, and introduced her to her Ipad, which held his all important diary, so that she could schedule his appointments and make any amendments to notes while she was out on location with her new boss.

The rest of the week was much the same, becoming more and more confident with the computer systems, and attending meetings with Lennox, where she would take notes and type them up for him to read later. She also managed to plan a presentation for a high profile client, which Lennox gratefully recieved, and tweaked to his liking.  She was learning, and he was positive that soon enough she would be completely self sufficient and a valuable asset to him.

Over the weekend, she and Kelly went out for drinks, and then on Sunday, Auntie June and Mario took her to dinner at an expensive French restaurant in celebration of her new role. She looked forward to Monday morning, being that Carl Jenner was nowhere to be seen. She wondered if he might be a client of one of Mr Summers or Mr Gold, the partners of the company. Perhaps he was having a new home built somewhere, and flashing his wealth, he had come to the most respected and reverred company in the city. Either way, she had put him out of her mind, focussing on the role, and hoping that Lennox would keep her on as his PA.

.....................................................................................................................................................................

'Hi sugar!' Carla sang out, as she made her way through the lobby, waving goodbye to Norman. Wearing a turquoise ruffled blouse, and charcoal grey pencil skirt, with stiletto heels, she felt on top of the world. Carla had taken lunch with her every day last week, and was fast becoming a firm friend.

'Hey Carla' she called back. 'How was the date with the guy from the deli?'

Carla gave her the thumbs down sign, and joined her side. 'He was an odd ball.....he asked some really weird questions!'

'Like what?' she enquired, leaning in closer to her friend, as they entered the elevator.

'Like, will I give him some of my socks'. She raised her eyebrows.

Audrey was laughing hysterically as the doors opened on the thirteenth floor, and Carla got out.

'Lunch at the pizza place this time, no more delis'

Audrey sailed through the office, waving to her colleagues. She had brought a fresh apple pie from the diner, and placed it on the break bench. The break bench was one of Lennox's idea, to boost morale. Every day he paid a caterer to bring in a selection of pastries and fruit, so that when the various employees took their break, they would be able to replenish their energy. He also knew some of the workers were parents and didn't get to grab breakfast before they left for work.

'Miss Blake!'

She hurried to her desk, where Lennox stood, holding a briefcase.

'Terry Lim just got in from Hong Kong this morning.'

She had memorised most of his clients, and she knew Mr Lim was one of the most important. He owned two huge electronics companies, and had amassed over a billion dollars by the age of thirty five. Since then, he had turned his hand to another of his passions. Hotels. Becoming a hotelier, had been a seamless transition to Mr Lim, and he now had seven spa hotels around the world to his name. Simply entitled 'Lim', they were the pinnacle of luxury, style and ambience. He hadn't wanted to simply build hotels though, he had sought out Summers and Gold and developed a personal preference for dealing with Benjamin Lennox. Together they created some of the most ostentacious, eco friendly buildings in the world.

'We don't have him pencilled in....' she began.

'Terry Lim doesn't need an appointment' he said, firmly. 'He makes the rules. Let's go, Norman is waiting for us.'

She had hoped for a hot chocolate to start her day, and looked longingly at the machine in the corner. As if on cue, he handed her a cup.