Christmas Kiss by Chrissie Loveday Read Free Book Online

should tell him about it, she thought.
    ‘Trying to impress, are we?’
    ‘Not at all.’ He was on a fishing trip, trying to find out if there was anything going on between her and Alex. Perhaps Poppy had been talking out of place.
    ‘Look, can I have a word?’ He came into the office and closed the door. ‘I was wondering if his majesty had given you his idea of what targets are possible?’
    ‘Well, yes.’
    ‘And?’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘And are your remotely achievable?’
    ‘Actually, no. At least most of your work is property based. Mine is all the family stuff that simply doesn’t pay because nobody can afford it.’
    ‘You must know what the property market is like these days. Everything’s seizing up. I don’t have a hope of getting even half way there.’
    ‘Well, at least I know it isn’t just me he’s singled out for a boost in keeping the company afloat.’
    ‘So what are we going to do about it?’
    ‘He told me to see how it goes for a few weeks and then we can meet again to discuss it.’
    ‘I’m not happy about it. Not one bit.’
    ‘Nor me, but there’s nothing else to do. We can’t be responsible for half the staff being sacked. Now, you must excuse me. I have a client coming in half an hour and I need to refresh myself on his notes.’
    ‘Fancy a drink after work? Friday night treat?’
    ‘Sorry, no. I can’t.’
    ‘Shame. So, who’s the new guy in your life?’
    ‘There’s no new guy,’ she snapped, blushing.
    ‘Don’t give me that. Someone’s putting a blush on your cheeks and a spring in your step.’
    ‘There’s nobody, I assure you.’
    ‘Great. That means there might still be hope for yours truly. And if you change your mind about that drink ... give me a buzz.’ She shook her head as she pulled out her notes and settled to work.
    It was a difficult morning. She felt so sorry for her first client and did what she could to comfort him. She agreed to speak to his ex-wife’s solicitor and see what could be arranged. The worst part came when she informed of their increased charges. His face fell and he looked distraught.
    ‘But I can’t afford that much. Does that mean I can’t have you working for me anymore?’
    ‘I’ll do whatever I can, I promise you. It’s all out of my hands. You must understand the economic climate is a problem for all of us. Leave it with me. I’m sure I can find ways to prune what I have to charge.’ She crossed her fingers as she spoke, knowing it was a bit of a fib. She showed him out. Along with the wretched targets, there was a time sheet where she was supposed to write down pretty much every bit of work she was doing for every minute of her day. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, so the powers that be could have more idea of how time was being managed. None of it took account of the fact that she often spent her lunch times at her desk, working while she munched her sandwiches. getting in early and leaving late were also a part of her usual routine and none of this was being taken into consideration, it seemed to her. She had been tempted to write in even her toilet breaks to make a point. Speaking to the other juniors, over coffee, she sensed a feeling of rebellion brewing. Alex was not making himself popular right from the start of his tenure.
    Charles was leading the debate.
    ‘I mean to say, how can we actually charge extra when the clients aren’t coming into the office in the first place. We can hardly go and drag them in off the street. I was even thinking of going round to the estate agents and getting them to recommend me, assuming they ever manage to make a sale in the first place.’
    ‘You can’t do that. It isn’t legal.’
    ‘I know. But desperate times ...’
    There was a great sense of unrest in what had previously been a happy practice. Sarah felt embarrassed about seeing Alex outside work, largely because he was taking the brunt of everyone’s dissatisfaction. She returned to her office and