“Really? After they fired me, refused to give me a reference…nowthey want me back when they’re in the shit?” Now she didn’t need to analyse her feelings. A white-hot flame burned in her mind, and she swallowed the acid in her throat.Fuck them.
“Your voice tells me it’s a hard no. Am I right?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry, Leila. If I came back, it would make your life easier until Markovic makes the offer—which they will.”
“I’d do exactly the same. But now you’re primed, you can think about what to say if you get that call. I’m sure you will.”
“I’d love to tell them to stuff their crappy job right up their pompous arse, but that will certainly kill any chance they might give me a reference. I’ll have to think about it.”
“Do. And let me know what happens. Shit! I’ve just seen the time—I have to gallop. Our lunch hours are down to about twenty minutes, if we’re lucky.”
“Girlfriend, you need that job. And you haven’t even told me about Hammie or Lewis.”
“They’re both good. Except Hammie is now Muhammad and won’t answer to anything else.” She sighed. “It had to happen. I just wish I had my cutie-pants sweet-cheeks baby boy for a bit longer. Lewis is fine. He’s hoping I get the other job.” A pause and the sound of chewing came over the line. “We have to catch up properly soon. I haven’t heard about your life, and I want to. Once I’m no longer doing seventy-hour weeks, you must come around and we’ll drink wine and eat ourselves stupid. Hammie will sit on your lap and make you read him a story, and Lewis will cook while we catch up.”
“That will be great. Take care, Leila.”
The line went dead. Allie slipped her phone back into her pocket. So Kirkland were in desperate need of accountants. Desperate enough to want her back. Well, they could eat shit and die before that happened—but maybe there was a way she could turn this to her advantage. Mind humming, she resumed stacking the banners and stands in Sophie’s shed.
She had some decisions to make, and maybe Quandong had helped her with a couple of those. Organising the festival had renewed her confidence in her professional abilities—of all sorts. That was what she needed right now.
And, of course, being in Quandong had helped her acknowledge her sexuality, maybe even who she’d love.
No. She wouldn’t think about that. That was the path of no return. She didn’t love Tarryn. It had been an awakening, an exploration, a joyful positive experience. Until it wasn’t. She would remember the good things, not how it ended. And she would remind herself no one fell in love in that short a time. She sighed. It wasn’t love, but it could have been. Maybe. If they’d allowed it to develop.
But right now, she was going to take her new-found confidence and flaunt it.
* * *
The reception area at Kirkland & Partners was the same black-and-silver décor she remembered. The same curved reception desk with the firm name and logo on the black panel behind the desk. Only the receptionist was new.
Allie gave her a professional smile that gave no hint of her twanging nerves. “Good afternoon. I’m Allison Lane. I’m here to see Ramona in HR.”
“Is she expecting you?” The receptionist seemed flustered. No doubt she’d dealt with angry clients and journalists in the last few days.
“I think she might be.” Allie nodded and took a seat on the black leather couch where she could see the door to the back office.
The receptionist spoke to someone in muted tones, flicking glances at Allie as she did so.
Allie crossed her legs and brushed an imaginary speck of lint from her wine-coloured jacket.
A few minutes later, the inner door clicked open and a stout, middle-aged woman advanced across the polished tiles. “MsLane? I’m Ramona Trayner. How can I help?”
Allie stood and held out her hand. “Thank you for meeting with me, MsTrayner. Can we talk somewhere more private?”
“Sure.” Ramona went across to the receptionist and spoke for a moment before returning with a visitor tag. ‘If you could put this on, then follow me.”
Two minutes later, Allie was seated in a small office. The sign on the desk proclaimed Ramona to be the HRManager. She, too, was new.
Ramona studied her curiously. “How can I help you, MsLane? May I call you Allison?”
Allie suppressed a smile. Ramona no doubt knew that Allie had been fired and was now on the rehire list and was wondering how best to approach the conversation. “Of course…Ramona.” She sat back in her chair, hoping she appeared relaxed. “As I’m sure you’re aware, I resigned from Kirkland&Partners some weeks ago. I’m also sure you know Kirkland are hesitant to give me a reference. In light of recent developments, and the departure of Craig Stockton, I’m here for your assurance that there will be no problem with a favourable response to future reference requests.”
Ramona’s eyes widened briefly before her face took on a blank mask. “Of course. You can ask prospective employers to contact me directly.” She handed over a business card.
“Thank you. I’d also appreciate a written reference be mailed to me.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Ramona lined up her pens in a neat row on her desk. “Allison, it’s very coincidental that you appeared today. I intended on calling you in the next day or two with a job offer. Craig’s departure and those of two other accountants has left a gap in the team for a skilled accountant. You are familiar with the accounts they worked on. Kirkland would like to offer you an intermediate role working on those files. We can offer you a substantial raise over your previous position.” She named a salary that was higher than any position Allie had applied for.
