CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) (22 page)

“Why are you whispering?” Joyce asks. I
glance at her office door defiantly then grit my teeth, my nostrils flaring.

“Ok, let’s have a chat. Come on sit down,
actually don't. Out of that dress first.” Joyce helps me out of the dress and
hangs it on the back of her door while I get back into my blouse and trousers. “Come
on then, out with it.” I stare out the window as I sit opposite Joyce, her big
mahogany desk between us.

“Tristan’s away all week and
she’s
being weird with me. I think she knows we’re um...dating. Tristan doesn’t want
anyone knowing yet, and I agree. It’s just... – I lean forward Joyce mirrors me
– ‘I know
she’s
in love with him.” I whisper.

“With who?” Joyce frowns.

“Tristan,” I hiss.

“Susannah’s in love with Tristan?” Joyce
gapes back at me.

“Yes, he told me last night, that she told
him she liked him, it was years ago. He said he wasn’t interested.” I clench my
teeth and stare down at the desk.

“Well that sounds reasonable,” Joyce
argues. I shake my head in disagreement. “Coral don’t let this come between the
two of you. You do have a tendency to blow things out of proportion.” Joyce
tells me with one eyebrow raised.

“I do?” I frown.

“Yes,” Joyce titters. “It’s who you are
darling,” she adds waving a hand in the air.

“Oh!” I sigh heavily. Maybe I am
over-reacting to Susannah because of what I know?

“Now, if that’s everything I have some
calls to make.” Joyce tells me. I stand from the chair and walk over to my
shopping bags. For some strange reason, I don't want Susannah seeing these.

“Can I leave these in here?” I ask.

“Of course darling, put them in the bottom
of the cupboards over there.” Joyce points to where I need to go.

“Ok.” Carefully stowing my bags away, I
walk over to her door and unlock it, just as I'm about to open it, I hear
Tristan’s voice –
I didn’t put the idea of selling into her head, she asked me…

I turn around slowly. Even if it hurts
Joyce to know that Tristan told me the truth, I have to know why she lied to
me, why she didn’t just tell me.

“Um...Joyce,” I squeak.

“Quickly Coral.”
Ok, maybe now isn’t the
time.

Joyce rolls her eyes at me. “Coral, really
I’ – “Why did you tell me that it was Tristan’s offer that made you think about
leaving? He told me...he told me that
you
approached him, asked if
anyone was looking...” I trail off my voice wobbling.

Joyce doesn’t answer me, she just sits
there, looking shocked.

“I'm not mad at you. I just don't
understand why you weren’t honest with me.” I say. I stare down at the floor,
too afraid to look up. “But maybe it’s the same reason that Gladys didn’t tell
me about Malcolm, and Debs didn’t tell me about their house being up for sale.
Apparently I'm...difficult.” I stare up at the ceiling in a vain attempt to
look anywhere but at Joyce, after all it’s the first time I’ve ever confronted
my boss, my aunty, for lying to me, and she’s way scarier than Gladys or Debs.

“Sit down please Coral.” Joyce puts the
handset back in its cradle and watches me walk over to her, sitting down I
fidget several times until I feel comfortable enough to sit still.

“Firstly I'm sorry I lied to you. Secondly,
I'm extremely annoyed that Tristan shared that with you. Thirdly, I was trying
to protect you. I didn’t want you thinking I didn’t care about you or your
future here in the company. I know how much this job means to you, and
I
have loved working with you all these years. Watching you grow from a shy,
temperamental young girl, to a head strong, very capable woman. It’s almost
been like...like having my own daughter.

“I knew how much this would hurt you by my
leaving and selling up. I wanted you to think that…well I don’t know what I
thought. I just didn’t want to hurt you. Flipping the truth on its back seemed
the most ideal way to go, evidently I was wrong!” Her lips twitch to smile, but
her eyes look so sad.

“It’s ok,” I gush. “I understand you care
about me, I know that, and you feel like another mother to me too. Besides,
Gladys told me about John’s letter, about how he wanted you to move on. I
understand that, it makes sense. I just wish you had been honest that’s all, I
feel like everyone’s hiding something from me lately.” I end in a whisper.

Joyce sniffs, clears her throat and smiles
warmly at me. “I am sorry darling…it’s just everything has seemed so…so
difficult lately’ – “Joyce you don’t have to explain anything to me, I think
you’re doing exceptionally well...considering the circumstances.” I feel
mortified for upsetting Joyce.
I should have kept my mouth shut!

“How about you and Tristan? Is it going
well darling, does he make you happy?” I nod vigorously and try to hide the
love struck smile that’s taking over. “Ah, can’t stop smiling, that’s a sure
sign.” Joyce smiles warmly at me. I can’t help the giggle that bursts from
within me. “It’s about time,” Joyce adds. I roll my eyes and go to argue but
Joyce stops me. “That will be all Coral. Come on, back to work.” I nod silently
and stand.

“Are you going on Saturday?” I ask, hoping
she’ll say yes. I don’t think I’ll get much time with her before she leaves.

“Yes, I spoke with Gladys last night.” I
smile deeply at her. “Well off you go.” She waves her hand at me, I know she’s
busy.

Smiling broadly, I scuttle out of her
office and back to my desk, Susannah moves out of my seat and into her own. I
tried to get hold of Tristan whilst on lunch, three times. He’s a very busy
man, I know that, but I need to talk to him about her.

“Do you always take this long for lunch?” Susannah
snipes. I look up at the clock –
Shit I’ve been gone an hour and forty
minutes.

“No. I do not,” I bark back, enunciating
each word. “I was shopping for the boss!” I hiss at her, she wisely shuts the
hell up.

TWO HOURS INTO THE
afternoon, little miss prissy goes off for her afternoon coffee and I'm left to
take a breather. God, she’s been like a bear with a sore head since I got back.
I wonder what’s eating her?
I still think she’s worked out Tristan and I
are seeing each other, but apparently, according to Tristan, it shouldn’t
bother her. After all, she was just sooo cool with Tristan turning her down –
Yeah
right!

Just as I think that, I wonder what she’s
been up to on my computer. I start checking all my files, they seem normal,
where I left them. Then I check Google history to see what she’s been
searching, nothing comes up
That’s odd!
I click it again and find the
history is empty?

I suddenly remember I have a Google image
page saved to favourites from when I looked Tristan up!
Shit!
How
embarrassing I should have deleted it, I hope she hasn’t seen it.

I click on favourites and scroll down the
small list of sites I have saved, mostly for Joyce, and find that the page I
saved of Tristan is gone. I look up and down the list again, just to make sure
I'm not going completely bonkers –
Nope it’s gone, definitely gone!
–
Ok, that really is weird. If she saw it there; why the hell would she delete
it? Then I think that maybe I deleted it, and I don’t remember doing it? I nod
my head in agreement. It sounds more logical, and I'm all for logic and reason,
just like Spock –
Yes, yes I must have deleted it at some point!
–
Strange though? I don't remember doing that…

AS THE DAY DRAWS TO A CLOSE
, I start to feel a little panicky about going back to my studio. I
contemplate staying at Tristan’s, but I soon realise that I need to be back at
my place. I need distance from his things and his smell and his...well he’s
just all over that house now. And it’s bursting with memories of the two of us.
I think being there will make me feel even more melancholy. With my mind made
up, and the work day over, I wait until Susannah has left before I go into
Joyce’s office to get my bags and say goodnight.

“How’s it going?” She asks as I pull my
bags out of the cupboard.

“Ok.” I answer keeping my eyes on the
floor.

“Coral, I'm here if you need me, you know
that don’t you?” Joyce softly says.

I sigh heavily, walk over to her desk and
slump into the chair. “I have some concerns,” I huff. “But I'm not really sure
you can help Joyce. I think it’s Tristan I need to speak to,” I add.

“Is it about Susannah?” I nod in agreement.
“Yes… well, she certainly comes across as nice and polite but....” Joyce trails
off.

My eyes flick up to meet hers. “But?” I
question.

“Something...” Joyce says her eyes
narrowing.

“That’s what I think. I mean, I know I'm
not easy to get on with, but she just seems...” I wave my hand in the air
unable to put my finger on it.

“Like she’s hiding something?” Joyce
implies.

“Yes!” I squeak in relief. That’s it. It’s
like there’s something there, something I'm not seeing.

“Well you just keep your head down young
lady and don’t get involved. Do your work and don’t tell Tristan.”
What?

“Why?” I frown in confusion.

“Because if she’s playing some sort of
game, do you really want to come across as the one who is whining, the one
who’s being difficult? No, you don’t. Any further concerns bring them to me,
I’ll start a log. She said something odd to me today,” Joyce says drifting off
for a moment. “Anyway forget about her for now. Go home enjoy your evening,
that’s an order, I don’t want you sitting at home fretting about it, ok?”

“What did she say?” I ask with wide eyes.

“That is none of your concern Coral, what’s
important is that you have me as a back-up. Now go home,” she admonishes.

I sigh heavily I wish she would tell me
what she said. “Ok, well goodnight Joyce, see you tomorrow.” I stand and pick
up my bags.

“Goodnight darling.” I wave goodbye as I
head out of her office.

Switching off my computer, I put my
overnight bag from staying at Tristan’s over my shoulder – I really need to get
a second set of toiletries and make-up to leave at his place – pick up my
handbag, my shopping bags and head down the stairs into reception.

“Cori,” I hear a voice whisper. It’s got to
be Joe. I whip my head round, but I can’t see her behind the desk at reception.

“Joe?” I call out. I see her head peek up
from behind the counter. “Joe, what are you doing? Why are you hiding?” I
titter.

“Has she gone?” She whispers.

“Who?” I ask but I have a pretty good idea.

“That woman who’s working with you. Why is
she here anyway?” She questions.

“Um...” Going against everything Tristan
told me about keeping the take-over quiet, I decide to let Joe know. I want her
to keep her job. I want her to get her kids back. “She’s gone Joe. Want to walk
out with me?” Joe sags with relief.

“Thank god!” she exclaims. I watch her pick
up her handbag and walk around the desk to join me. We both wave to Tom as we
head out the building. Once we’re at least ten feet away from the office, I
stop walking and turn to Joe.

“Want to tell me why you’re hiding from
Susannah?” Joe looks nervous and simply shakes her head at me. “Joe,” I whisper.
“You have to tell me,” I add scrutinizing her.

“I just got a call muddled up earlier, she
came down to reception, she...” Joe stares out at the road.

“Tell me Joe!” I scold.

“She made me cry…” Joe whimpers, her voice
trembling with unshed tears.

“What!” My temper immediately fires up.
“Why? What did she say Joe?” She shakes her head at me. “Joe!” I stamp my foot
in annoyance she has to tell me!

“She called me...I don’t know the word. I
think she said icompit, inco – “Incompetent?” I interrupt, Joe nods.
What a
bitch! How dare she!

“She said she didn’t understand how I even
got the job, that I'm useless. But it wasn’t so much what she said, it was how
she looked at me when she said it… she scared me.” Joe starts to cry silent
tears – Blondie has really ruffled her feathers.

Letting my bags drop to the floor, I pull
her into me and let her cry it out, trying my best to comfort her. What the
hell is this woman up to? Who the hell does she think she is going round
upsetting everybody? Joe has to tell Joyce.

“Joe we have to go back inside. You have to
tell Joyce’ – “No!” she barks and jumps back out of my arms.

“Why ever not?” I ask a little shocked.

Joe shakes her head and sniffs loudly.
“Because she said she’ll deny it, she said it’s my word against hers. So I
better keep my mouth shut,” she says her bottom lip wobbling.

“Oh she did, did she? Listen Joe, I'm going
to tell you something. It’s top secret, no-one knows, so if I tell you, you
have to give me your word that you’ll keep it to yourself. If anyone finds out,
we both lose our jobs.” I stare back at her with wide eyes I want her to see I
really mean it.