Somewhere in Sevenoakes by Sorell Oates Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sorell Oates
free standing structure made 'The Shard' the tallest building in the European Union, indelibly stabbing the London skyline.
”Did they ever finish that building? It doesn't look closed in. Where's the roof?” asked Maddy.
”It's supposed to look like that,” said James. ”It resembles a shard of glass.”
”Do you work in there?”
”Maybe. Come with me.”
Maddy was in awe of the building. Up close it was amazing; almost futuristic.
”I'm trying not to be impressed,” she confessed.
”I'll make a city girl of you yet,” promised James.
James ushered her in the elevator, taking her to the thirty-second floor. The door opened to a dark corridor.
”Is it a nightclub or a theme ride?” she asked with a hint of light sarcasm.
”I'm not sure. It's a first for both of us.”
Holding hands they walked down the corridor together into a posh restaurant. It was loud and vibrant. They were greeted by waiters and taken to a table with a stunning view of London.
”Alright, I'm already won over. The views are spectacular. This place is fantastic. I wasn't even aware it existed.”
”I only heard about it recently. I managed to wrangle a table for us tonight. I feel awful about this morning.”
”It's fine,” assured Maddy. ”Work has a habit of dominating everything in my mind at times. It can be hard to shake off.”
Her face was full of empathy. James wished he could share his dilemma with her. She had a wise head on her young shoulders and would probably offer sound advice – until she found out he'd be the reason for her losing her job in the very near future.
”It is a tough one. Sadly I can't discuss it out of the office.”
”I hope you have someone at work you can talk about it with.”
”I always thought with commercial law I'd be able to avoid moral and ethical dilemmas. I figured you would only ever encounter that kind of drama in criminal law. Acquisitions and mergers, business in general; I've always found it secure and practical. I acted for a client to ensure they got a fair deal and helped businesses prosper where I could.”
”Is it ever really that cut and dry? Businesses can only operate with the involvement of people. Where people are concerned, you're always bound to run into emotional conflict. It's natural. People work to provide themselves a particular lifestyle, if that's threatened it's natural that people will react. Who wouldn't? If your job was on the line wouldn't you be disturbed?”
”I would be,” admitted James.
His mood was glummer than ever. The entire situation was hopeless. James was starting to wish he could walk away from the job.
”I've said the wrong thing. I'm sorry,” apologised Maddy.
”No, you haven't at all. You read all this madness about women and their hormones preventing them from being effective leaders in business, but your grasp of human nature and how it can never truly be separate from business is beneficially insightful.”
”So basically, despite our monthly madness we have a competitive place with men in business.”
”Probably because of your monthly madness you definitely compete with male leaders in business.”
They laughed, toasted each other's genders and work drifted further and further from James' mind.
The restaurant didn't allow for intimacy. It was noisy but the concept of shared dishes gave them the opportunity to play with their food over the table. James was enthralled with Maddy, which made work seem a million miles away. Troubles aside, they both relaxed; Maddy in ignorant bliss, James on the verge of falling in love.
”We'll miss the last train if we're not careful,” said James regretfully.
”That would never do. I barely got a scrap of work done today. If I had a long line in tomorrow my boss would go nuts!”
”I thought you had a good work ethic, Maddison,” teased
”Did they ever finish that building? It doesn't look closed in. Where's the roof?” asked Maddy.
”It's supposed to look like that,” said James. ”It resembles a shard of glass.”
”Do you work in there?”
”Maybe. Come with me.”
Maddy was in awe of the building. Up close it was amazing; almost futuristic.
”I'm trying not to be impressed,” she confessed.
”I'll make a city girl of you yet,” promised James.
James ushered her in the elevator, taking her to the thirty-second floor. The door opened to a dark corridor.
”Is it a nightclub or a theme ride?” she asked with a hint of light sarcasm.
”I'm not sure. It's a first for both of us.”
Holding hands they walked down the corridor together into a posh restaurant. It was loud and vibrant. They were greeted by waiters and taken to a table with a stunning view of London.
”Alright, I'm already won over. The views are spectacular. This place is fantastic. I wasn't even aware it existed.”
”I only heard about it recently. I managed to wrangle a table for us tonight. I feel awful about this morning.”
”It's fine,” assured Maddy. ”Work has a habit of dominating everything in my mind at times. It can be hard to shake off.”
Her face was full of empathy. James wished he could share his dilemma with her. She had a wise head on her young shoulders and would probably offer sound advice – until she found out he'd be the reason for her losing her job in the very near future.
”It is a tough one. Sadly I can't discuss it out of the office.”
”I hope you have someone at work you can talk about it with.”
”I always thought with commercial law I'd be able to avoid moral and ethical dilemmas. I figured you would only ever encounter that kind of drama in criminal law. Acquisitions and mergers, business in general; I've always found it secure and practical. I acted for a client to ensure they got a fair deal and helped businesses prosper where I could.”
”Is it ever really that cut and dry? Businesses can only operate with the involvement of people. Where people are concerned, you're always bound to run into emotional conflict. It's natural. People work to provide themselves a particular lifestyle, if that's threatened it's natural that people will react. Who wouldn't? If your job was on the line wouldn't you be disturbed?”
”I would be,” admitted James.
His mood was glummer than ever. The entire situation was hopeless. James was starting to wish he could walk away from the job.
”I've said the wrong thing. I'm sorry,” apologised Maddy.
”No, you haven't at all. You read all this madness about women and their hormones preventing them from being effective leaders in business, but your grasp of human nature and how it can never truly be separate from business is beneficially insightful.”
”So basically, despite our monthly madness we have a competitive place with men in business.”
”Probably because of your monthly madness you definitely compete with male leaders in business.”
They laughed, toasted each other's genders and work drifted further and further from James' mind.
The restaurant didn't allow for intimacy. It was noisy but the concept of shared dishes gave them the opportunity to play with their food over the table. James was enthralled with Maddy, which made work seem a million miles away. Troubles aside, they both relaxed; Maddy in ignorant bliss, James on the verge of falling in love.
”We'll miss the last train if we're not careful,” said James regretfully.
”That would never do. I barely got a scrap of work done today. If I had a long line in tomorrow my boss would go nuts!”
”I thought you had a good work ethic, Maddison,” teased
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