‘Alice, you are no doubt a phenomenal asset to this company. I’ve never met anyone with a work ethic and ability to deliver like yours. But you know that’s not all we value here at the firm. If you want to make it all the way to the top seat, you have to start taking people with you.’
Taking people with you.
Another stupid HR phrase, she thought.What does that even really mean, Henry?She wanted to bite back, but instead she took a deep breath and smiled.
‘I do take people with me, Henry. Look at the stats. I’ve promoted five members of my team this year alone and have the highest staff retention of anyone on the floor.’
‘I know.’ He shook his head in exasperation.
Alice knew she wasn’t exactly easy to manage, but she also knew you couldn’t argue with facts. So facts she always gave him.
‘But that’s not the point.’
‘Well, Henry, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve got a hell of a lot to do today, so I’d be grateful if you could get to your point quite quickly …’
She knew her comments wouldn’t surprise him. They’d worked together for over ten years now, and Alice’s ruthless commitment to her job had remained very much the same.
‘Thepointis, there’s more to life than this office. I just worry sometimes that you don’t see that. You’re here all hours of the day and night, and I’m not sure it’s particularly healthy. Plus, you rarely attend social events here, and I hardly ever see you interact with anyone other than to talk about deadlines.’
Alice frowned. Was he having some sort of emotional breakdown on her? She began to laugh.
‘I see what this is. It’s some new HR policy about employee health and wellbeing, isn’t it? Look, you don’t have to worry about me at all. I sleep, I eat, and I have some friends I see from time to time. Plus, Idotalk to people here.’
His eyebrow shot up. ‘Oh, really?’
‘I talk to Lyla.’
‘She’s your PA. You have to talk to her.’
‘Fine. I talk to Arnold.’
Ha. She’d got him with this one.
‘Arnold? Who the hell is Arnold?’ His eyes narrowed. He always squinted when he was thinking. It was a habit Alice couldn’t stand.
Suddenly the penny dropped. ‘Oh Jesus, Alice. Not the old guy on reception?’
‘The very same one.’ She smiled smugly.
Henry rolled his eyes; she could tell his frustration was hitting new limits. ‘Right. Well, if you’re really telling me that you have deep and meaningful conversations with Arnold, then who am I to judge.’
‘Exactly.’ Alice stood up. ‘Are we done?’
Henry shrugged his shoulders; the man had all but given up. ‘Apparently so.’
‘Thanks, Henry.’ She didn’t even bother to look at him as she left the room.
How odd, she thought. Why on earth was he so concerned about what she did with her life outside work all of a sudden? Surely all he cared about was getting the best possible value for money out of her. And so what if Arnold wasn’t exactly afriend– as her role got progressively bigger, he was the person she’d found herself seeing more than any other human being in her life. For five days a week, Arnold Frank Bertram manned the reception desk during the night shift at Alice’s office. It was common for Alice to be the only remaining employee in the building after 9 p.m., meaning she and Arnold were the only breathing souls in the entire forty-floor office tower. Every night when she finally found the discipline to tear herself away and leave for home, there he’d be, waiting patiently at the front desk, eyes fixed on the door to the street. As soon as he saw Alice, his face would break into a smile.
‘Another late one tonight, Miss? Not worth doing if it’s not done properly, ain’t that right?’
For a long time, Alice would simply placate the man with a smile. It was a genuine, grateful smile but nothing more. She could sense he was the talking type, in a wonderful, grandfatherly story-telling kind of way, but at 11 p.m. on a Wednesday night with a 7 a.m. start the next day, Alice would challenge anyone to be up for a chat. A smile would have to do.
But as time passed and her late nights often turned into early mornings, Alice found it harder and harder to ignore the old man and his continuous attempts at conversation. During one particularly hellish week when Alice had decided, at the godforsaken hour of 2 a.m., that she needed some fresh air, Arnold had been waiting for her on her return with a cup of hot chocolate.
‘Got to keep your sugar levels up, Miss.’ He smiled and nodded.
‘Thank you.’ She didn’t have any energy to protest and simply took the gift, realizing she hadn’t eaten since lunchtime. ‘How much do I owe you?’
