A Business
Affair
“What time are you interviewing
today?” Fiona watched as her husband finished
his breakfast.
“The first applicant is due in at
eleven,” Andrew replied. “There are only
three, Simon shortlisted them from the pile of hopefuls.”
Andrew and his best friend Simon set
up their I.T. Consultancy business five years ago and since then had worked
hard moulding it into one of the most successful companies in their field. Fiona was proud of Andrew, from the moment he
and Simon decided to form their partnership she was in no doubt it would be a
success. Andrew was a very determined man,
it was one of the things that attracted her to him in the first place.
“I’m conducting all the interviews
myself as Simon is busy supervising one of our contracts. It will probably mean staying late to catch
up on lost time.”
Fiona got up from where she was sitting and
wrapped her arms lovingly around his neck.
“Don’t stay too late,” she whispered
before kissing him passionately.
They had been married for almost
seven years and despite the myth about seven year itches she loved him dearly.
Driving to work, Andrew thought about
what they should do to celebrate their wedding anniversary, he’d heard
somewhere that seven years was copper.
He knew of a restaurant called Copperfields perhaps that was where he
could take her for a romantic meal.
Leaving his car in his allotted
parking space, Andrew pushed open the door to AnSi I.T. Consultants Ltd.
“Morning Angela,” he said.
“Andrew, hello. Would you like some coffee? I’ve just brewed a fresh pot.”
Angela, their heavily pregnant
secretary come receptionist was the reason for him having to conduct
interviews. She would soon be taking
maternity leave and he had to find a temporary replacement.
“Yes please,” he replied as he paused
at his office door. Turning to face her,
he continued. “It’s my wedding anniversary
on the twenty third of this month. Could
you arrange something, a meal at Copperfields perhaps? Better order some flowers too, have them
delivered to the table, I’ll leave the details to you.”
She made a note on her pad. It wasn’t unusual for Andrew to make such a
request, It was often left to her to choose his wife’s birthday and Christmas
gifts. She wondered how her replacement
would cope with such unorthodox demands.
Waiting on his desk was a pile of
documents that had arrived in the morning post.
On top was an unopened letter marked Private and Confidential. Reaching for it Andrew slipped his thumb
under the flap and tore open the envelope, it was from his solicitor. Andrew had been adopted as a child and had no
knowledge of his biological parents so he’d engaged the services of a solicitor
to carry out an investigation. The
letter told him very little, but he was to attend a meeting in ten days
time. Slipping the letter into his desk
drawer, he began to prepare for his first interview.
Although sufficiently qualified, the
first applicant lacked the enthusiasm that he expected. The second interview did not go any better
and with his mood in a downward spiral, he met Megan Griffiths.
“Good afternoon,” Andrew greeted her
warmly. Maybe all was not lost after
all.
It wasn’t long before Andrew sensed
that she was perfect for the job. She
was more than qualified, but it was everything else about her that excited
him. Megan was a very attractive young
woman who had obviously made an effort with her appearance. Her Welsh accent delighted him, he just loved
the way she spoke.
“I moved up from Cardiff recently,”
she told him more about herself. “I’m
only a few minutes away in a little bedsit, but once I’m sorted I would like to
get a flat or little house.” Her smile
was devastating and Andrew was hopelessly smitten. It was as if he had been waiting for her of
his life and he was convinced that theirs would go far beyond a working
relationship.
“Have you had any lunch?” he asked
suddenly.
“No, not yet,” she hesitated before
going on. “I was going to grab a
sandwich or something after we have finished here.”
“We can do better than that. What say we continue our interview in a pub,
grab a drink and have a bite to eat?”
Megan stared at him before making up
her mind. It was not in her nature to
flirt with strange men and certainly not a prospective employer, but Andrew was
a very handsome man. If it secured her a
much needed job then what harm could it do?
“Could you start on Monday?” Andrew asked as they finished their lunch. He had heard enough, she was the woman for
the job.
Angela was due to leave in four weeks
time and it was Simon’s intention to ask her replacement to start the week
before she left. That way the new
secretary could be eased in gently with Angela on hand to help. Andrew would have to come up with a very good
reason for wanting Megan to start immediately.
Monday couldn’t come quickly
enough. Andrew was at his desk early, he
told Fiona that he would probably have to work late.
Megan kept him supplied with coffee
throughout the morning and Angela went through the basics, introducing her to
the company before going into the specifics of the job.
“Right,” Andrew said as he appeared
suddenly at their desk. “I’m off to
survey the new office block.”
Angela was familiar with this
contract, Andrew or Simon would have to do a site visit, but what surprised her
most was what he said next.
“Megan can accompany me. It will be the perfect opportunity for her to
see firsthand what we are about.”
The new clients office block was
deserted, having been recently refurbished the next step was for the I.T. to be
installed.
“Wow,” Megan said as they entered the
first office. “How will they ever get
any work done, the view is simply stunning.”
Andrew admired her profile as she
stared out of the huge picture window.
She looked the part, immaculately turned out in a stylish trouser
suit. She smelt wonderful, her perfume
was driving him wild and unable to resist any longer he pushed up against
her. She offered no resistance and
turning to face him their lips met.
At first, their lovemaking was urgent
and moving from office to office, they giggled like naughty children.
“Let’s christen them all,” he
whispered as he eased her gently against a desk.
By the end of the afternoon, they
were exhausted. Megan sighed contentedly
as they watched the sky turn crimson, the sun moving slowly behind the tall
buildings. Andrew had never done
anything like this before but he had no regrets. It felt so right being here with Megan.
Over the next two weeks they saw each
other every day and managed to sneak away to make love either during the
afternoons or Andrew would make some excuse to work late.
Angela could see what was going on,
but it was not her place to question her boss.
She reminded Andrew about the arrangements for his wedding anniversary
celebration and he acted out his part faultlessly. He accompanied his wife to Copperfields where
they spent a delightful evening. Andrew
was passionate and attentive and his wife did not suspect a thing. He decided that it was hardly the moment to
announce his intention to leave her.
The day arrived for him to keep his
appointment with his solicitor. Luckily
it was not busy in the office, Simon was going over some papers with Angela and
Megan had the day off attending to some personal issues.
Going up the steps to the entrance of
the solicitor’s chambers, Andrew was directed towards an office by the
receptionist.
William Hardcastle met him at the
door before ushering him into his office.
Already seated was a woman, she had her back to him but when she stood
up he was astonished to see that it was Megan.
“Hello,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I see that you already know each
other.” William raised his eyebrows. “In
that case I suppose you are already aware that you related, you are in fact
brother and sister.”
© 2018 Kevin Marsh
Questions to debate:-
I was going to call this story A Family Affair. Would this title have given away the plot?
If you found yourself in this situation, would knowing that your lover was a long lost sibling matter?
Would it be the end of your affair?
