Jigsaw Lovers by William Shenton Read Free Book Online Page A

employment.’
    ‘Another offer? Who from?’ The false smile had completely vanished from her face.
    ‘I’m not prepared to tell you that, but suffice to say it is a very tempting offer, with substantially more remuneration than I get at present.’ He watched her wince.
    ‘How much more?’ she almost shouted, finding it very difficult to control herself.
    ‘More money and ,’ he played his trump card, ‘a car.’
    ‘Only managers are allowed cars.’
    ‘In that case I suppose this is my last day then.’ Now this was a gamble.
    ‘You must consider that money isn’t everything. This is a secure working environment. We’re part of a big multi-national.’ She was clutching at straws. ‘I thought you seemed very happy here. That you enjoyed the work, and the atmosphere of the department.’
    ‘I’m aware of that but I take the view that if you have to work you might as well work for the most amount of money.’
    He resisted the temptation to tell her that he thought the department bore a close resemblance to a mausoleum, and that most of the people in it were bordering on fossilisation.
    She was clearly very flustered. This was not the outcome she had expected when she walked in five minutes previously.
    ‘I think I should discuss this with Roger. Maybe we can come up with something. Will you wait?’ she asked.
    ‘Sure. I’ve got plenty of time. So long as its sorted out today.’ He smiled as she scuttled off. He could see his horse heading for the winning post with the rest of the field way off behind in the distance.
    They obviously needed him more than he needed them, for they came back to him with more money and a car, which they were able to justify by inserting the word senior in his job title. Ian felt very satisfied by the whole episode, especially since the offer he’d received from the other firm was actually for less than he’d been getting originally.
    Diana telephoned Knight three days after their encounter at the races. He was a little surprised and considerably flattered that she had actually called him, and delighted that she was happy to take him up on his offer of dinner. He arranged to pick her up at her hotel that evening.
    Later they had dined very well at a little French restaurant just off Sloane Square. The conversation had been very general; the usual questions that two people who don’t know each other ask. Diana told him that she was working abroad in Canada, doing historical research for a publisher, about Quebec, and that she was only in London for another day or two. He told her about his company and was pleased that she seemed so interested in it.
    ‘My sister also started a market research company a few years ago.’
    ‘Really. What’s her name? Maybe I know her.’ he asked.
    ‘I doubt it. The company didn’t last very long.’
    ‘Why was that? Did she have problems?’
    ‘Yes. One big problem. Apparently she found it virtually impossible to secure any worthwhile contracts because, she said, it seemed that she was expected to pay incentives.’ Diana sipped the excellent Burgundy that Peter had chosen.
    ‘I found it hard to believe that what she said was the case. But she was quite insistent that it was, and was worried that her company would go under as a consequence. I told her she might as well pay a few bribes if that meant her business would work. I know its wrong, but sometimes you have to be a little flexible.’
    ‘And did she pay these bribes?’ he asked.
    ‘No. She went on about how she had a certain sense of business ethics that wouldn’t allow her to countenance such things. I think she was rather stupid and just deluding herself. Unfortunately I was proven right. Her company folded after six months.’
    ‘Yes, I agree with you. Sometimes it can be very costly to have too strict a sense of ethics, as your sister learnt.’
    ‘What do you think, Peter? You’re big in market research.’ She paused as if considering the next part of what she was