31 Days of Winter by C. J. Fallowfield Read Free Book Online Page A

fifteen early, well, fifteen by his
standards.
    ‘I need to talk.’
    ‘No time, schedule an appointment in for later.’
    ‘That’s the problem, I won’t be here later.’
    ‘Damn it, Ellie. Another personal day? I don’t
just hand them out, you know,’ he snapped as he looked up at me. I was about to
remind him that for the last four years I’d been way under my holiday
entitlement, but what did it matter? ‘What’s the problem? Why do you need it
and what the hell are you wearing? You know I have a strict no jeans at work
policy.’
    ‘Well if you’d let me talk, you’d know.’
    ‘You can’t have today off, I need you here, I need
notice for you to drop me in it, check with Natasha and she’ll see when I can
squeeze you in.’ He looked back down at his desk and carried on with his scribbling.
    ‘I’m giving my notice John, I’m resigning with
immediate effect and I’ll be gone before Natasha arrives.’ I slid my letter
across the desk and watched as he stopped his scribbling and his index finger
reached out to touch the edge of the envelope, but he didn’t look up.
    ‘Is this your idea of a fucking joke?’ he asked
quietly.
    ‘No, no joke, I’m really sorry to do this to you,
but personal circumstances dictate that I don’t have a choice. I’ve already
composed a letter to my clients, which I’ll email to you later so you can vet
it before sending it out, if that’s what you chose to do. I’ll leave
instructions for Natasha to reassign my meetings until you find a replacement.’
I held my breath as I saw him take a deep one and quickly took a step back, this
was going to be flobber central and the roar would probably knock me flat on my
arse this time. I was surprised when he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his
mouth as he raised his puzzled gaze to study my face.
    ‘You’re serious,’ he stated calmly.
    ‘Yes,’ I nodded nervously. I’d have preferred
Captain Cranky to this guy, at least I knew where I stood with him.
    ‘Personal reasons?’
    ‘Yes, but as I’m leaving I may as well go all in. I’m
not afraid to tell you that you don’t exactly make life easy for people around
here, it’s not a happy working environment. You’re moody and cantankerous and
scare the shit out of everyone.’
    ‘Not you, obviously.’
    ‘Sometimes yes, and quite frankly I’m rather
surprised you haven’t roared at me this morning.’
    ‘I apologise, Ellie. I’ve had some … “personal
stuff” going on at home too, I hadn’t realised that I was letting it get to me
at work. I’ll make an effort to be less shit scaring.’
    ‘And cantankerous?’ I asked hesitantly, wondering
where this version of the Captain had come from.
    ‘Yes, that too,’ he replied with a wry smile. ‘You’re
the best editor I’ve ever had Ellie, can I do nothing to change your mind?’
    ‘Today? No, I’m afraid not. I’m taking a month out
to try something new and I don’t expect you to hold my job open for me if my
plans don’t work out, but I appreciate the faith in my abilities. I’m so sorry
to do this and obviously as I can’t work my month notice I know I won’t be
paid.’
    ‘I’ll make you a deal, Ellie. While you try this “something
new” I’ll start the recruitment process for your successor, but I won’t accept
this letter until you’ve had time to think about it. If in a month you still
want to resign, give it back to me. However, in exchange I’d like you to work
another month, both of which would be paid, while you settle in the new person.
If you end up choosing to stay, well then you’ve just been on an extended holiday.’
    ‘That’s really kind John, but if you recruit
someone there won’t be a job for me to come back to.’
    ‘Not as a Senior Editor, no. I’d make you a Junior
Partner with a substantial pay rise, that’s how much I don’t want to lose you.’
    ‘I don’t know what to say,’ I exclaimed. Junior
Partner? Junior Partner was a serious offer for