Lila wasn’t one for swearing – so unladylike – but again, fuck.
Who would report her? ‘From who?’ Too late she realised her first reaction should have been to deny the allegation.
From his tone, she immediately realised that Fred had picked up on that too.
‘I’m afraid it’s confidential, but as you know, it’s in your terms and conditions of employment that there can be no inappropriate relationships that could be a detriment to our business, or could lead to accusations of… let’s just say, we like to know for sure that we get orders based on the quality of our products and services.’
Oh. For. Fuck’s. Sake. Now, if she was reading between the lines correctly, he was implying that she swapped sex for orders. She pulled her shades off as her head fell forward on to the steering wheel and, for once, she didn’t give a toss that she would have to reapply her foundation.
He couldn’t do this. This was ridiculous. Besides, if anything she should get a bonus for the affair with Ken because it had brought the company extra bloody sales.
‘We’d also like you to bring down a full copy of your schedule for the last three months, together with receipts for all purchases made using the company credit card.’
Her fury and disbelief were now, slowly but surely, being frozen out by a deep chill that was working its way up from her feet, consuming everything in its path. ‘Why?’
‘Again, we have reason to believe there may have been some impropriety in your use of the card.’
No, no, no. This wasn’t how it worked. She smashed targets, the company left her to her own devices. That was the way it had always been. Sure, she knew about the rules, but over the years she’d taken a few chances and nothing had ever been questioned Yes, she’d probably got a bit cavalier, but she hadn’t taken anything she didn’t deserve.
‘I can assure you my card has only been used for legitimate company expenses,’ she replied, going on the offensive. No way was she taking this crap from him.
‘Indeed. So we would very much like to understand the breakdown of the payment to the…’ There was a rustling of papers. ‘The Dorchester, two months ago. And perhaps also the Glasgow River Hotel, today at lunchtime.’
Holy shit, how did they know about that already? They must have full visibility of every transaction. Her mind flew back through everything she’d used the card for in recent times. Flowers for Mum. The new suit she bought for the sales conference. That red dress for the evening reception. Every hotel bill. Why were they questioning it now? Why?
There were thousands of employees in the company so there was very little micro-management, especially when it came to reps who worked their own territory. As long as they were performing well, they didn’t attract any negative attention. However, someone had made an official complaintagainst her, and that had been enough for the bean counters to probe deeper into her actions.
Who? Who the hell…? She racked her brain. There was no one. She’d always made a point of being sweet to everyone that mattered so that she’d get more business. Another thought. Ken’s wife? Had she found out and reported her? No way. Ken would have known about that and stopped it.
Sweet to everyone that mattered. The phrase repeated in her mind.Everyone that mattered. Suddenly, another image, Madge’s disapproving but smug face this morning when Lila had left Ken’s office. Madge knew. Of course she did. She’d known right from the start, and there had never been a shred of love lost between the two women. Had she been the one who’d reported her? How dare she? Rage was now heating up the chill factor. That fat, evil bitch. She was so jealous, she couldn’t stand it. Had probably been in love with Ken all along and now she’d decided to interfere and try to destroy their relationship. Well, the cow wouldn’t win. No way. She might cost her this job, but there was absolutely no chance that she would wreck Lila and Ken’s future. That was theirs and it was going to happen. But in the meantime…
‘I can assure you that I have a perfectly good reason and solid evidence to support every expenditure,’ Lila declared forcefully. She didn’t, but now wasn’t the time to cave. Her mum’s motto. Hair done, lipstick on, face the world. She already had the first two covered, thanks to Rod and Kylie, so now it was up to her. She would buy time to come up with something, and if she didn’t, well it wouldn’t matter. This was the weekend that she was going to make the breakthrough with Ken, so she could go down to head office and tell them that, as the future Mrs Lila Manson, wife of cardiac surgeon Dr Kenneth Manson, they could stufftheir job.
‘I do hope so, Lila. You’ve been one of our best performing account managers for many years. I really hope this can all be explained and we can go on to develop your career with the company. I look forward to hearing what you have to say.’
He rang off and Lila stared straight ahead, unable to move. By the very implication in his last words, if she couldn’t explain everything, there wasn’t going to be a future with the company for her. Argh! The truth was, she realised in hindsight, that she’d crossed a line that she wouldn’t be able to justify. So her job was gone. She was about to be out of work. And while the prospect of that terrified her, it made one thing clearer than ever: the stakes had just got higher. There was now absolutely no room for hesitation with Ken, because she was not going to be the woman with no job, no husband, no chance of gainful employment, because she’d just been fired for misconduct. She could lose everything here. Everything.
She blinked back the tears, determined not to spoil her lashes. Don’t cry. It’s all going to be fine. This was a blip in the road, but she hadn’t crashed and burned yet. Although, petrol bombing that old witch Madge now seemed like a perfectly reasonable proposition.
Across the street, she saw the front door opening. Yes! The cake delivery person must be leaving. This was going to be her chance. A woman stepped out of the doorway carrying bin bags. That was odd, but what did it matter as long as she was going to piss off and let Lila make her move.
Another woman appeared behind her, also carrying black plastic bags. She gasped as she realised it was Bernadette. Okay, still strange, but at least things were moving. Both women then went back inside, only to reappear carrying more bulging black sacks. What the hell was going on?
For fifteen minutes, they carried out bag after bag, then came clothes on hangers, all of it shoved into the back of the van. Lila had a moment of clarity – they were packing for a car boot sale. That was it. Bernadette absolutely struck her as the kind of woman who went to those things, flogging worn jackets and cheap tat ornaments for a few pounds to put petrol in that bloody Fiat. The woman had not an ounce of class.
Still, she waited. The two women were leaning on the side of the van now, deep in conversation and… Oh for God’s sake, they were holding hands. Were they related? Or was this some kind of secret affair? Wouldn’t that be ironic – if Ken and Lila had been meeting in secret for the last seven years, while Bernadette was also sneaking around with an illicit lover. They looked like they could be a couple. Both the same age. Both the same shape. Both in unappealing, decidedly unflattering outfits. Yep, they could easily be a couple. That would be brilliant – a free pass for Ken. Before she even thought through what she was doing, she lifted her phone and shot a couple of pics of the two women embracing. Got you.
Okay, now get in the van and leave, lady. Go on. Clear off.
Lila actually thought the subliminal commands were working when the visitor jumped in the driver’s seat, but her hopes were dashed a few moments later when Bernadette locked the front door and climbed into the van too. Argh! Fuck, fuck, fuck! Where was she going? When would she be back? And why was she completely wrecking Lila’s plans?
Slipping the shades back on, Lila watched, fuming, as they drove past her, the driver staring intently at her. They stopped at the traffic lights behind her, then turned the corner, taking away her opportunity for confrontation with them.
Damn it. What to do? She could wait here for them to come back, but who knew when that would be? She could waitfor Ken to get home, but again, that could be any time. His surgery could run hours late.
As if answering her dilemma, the phone rang again. Cammy. Much as the last thing she wanted to do was answer it, she did it anyway.
‘Babe, is everything okay?’ he asked and she could hear the concern in his voice.
