A Change for the Better? Read Online Free
Author: Stephanie Drury
produced from another cupboard Katie felt more at ease and calm than she had for many weeks. Cliona eyed her curiously,
“ So what ’ s the story then Katie, what ’ s really bringing you to Laxley Heath? ”
Katie smiled “ Well, I really am looking after Tolpuddle House as Mo ’ s in hospital, but you ’ re right I needed somewhere to be and something to be for a while. ”
Cliona raised a quizzical eyebrow, prompting Katie to continue, not that she needed much prompting Katie needed to tell someone about what had happened.
Katie had wanted a job in London ever since she could remember, she was dazzled by the glamour of the idea, working for important people, living in penthouse apartments, earning good money and being secure for the rest of her life. Her chosen plan was to be an indispensable assistant to these important people initially and then become important in her own right later. It sounded ridiculous when you said it out loud but it was important to have a plan and know where you were going and why. Katie ’ s plan was to be financially secure and held in high esteem by all those around her. She had gained her degree in English at Bristol University and had then done a crammer course in secretarial skills at a private college, then she had applied for every PA position at a city firm she could find. Four years later having gained valuable experience at two solicitors firms in the centre of London, when a top PA position came up at Dawson, Philips & Chamberlain Barristers, considered to be among the top three firms in London and who had many glamorous, famous and extremely rich clients on their books, Katie had put everything into her interview and secured the job as personal assistant to Marcus Chamberlain. Marcus, at 44, was a brilliant lawyer but he was also devastatingly handsome in the tall, dark tradition, a sharp thinker, extremely charming with a wicked sense of humour that made him approachable and down to earth despite all his ‘ god-like ’ qualities. He also looked after his staff in many thoughtful ways, small presents to say thanks for a job well done, always treating successes as a team effort or remembering personal details that were important to them. It took Katie all of about three months to fall in love with her new job, her new lifestyle and her new boss! It took a further six months for Marcus to reciprocate. Katie had shut out the fact that Marcus was married with two children and had planned a precise campaign to win him over which she executed to perfection. This involved being the ultimate PA, loyal, unobtrusive, one step ahead of all his needs, always on hand, never complaining and with a ready smile for him. To this she added personal touches. His favourite biscuit with coffee, a drink ready mixed at the end of a tough day in court, an ear available to listen to all his woes but never imposing any of her own and most importantly she made him laugh. Katie always tried to leave Marcus with a smile on his face, that way she figured he would associate her with good times.
Katie ’ s plan worked like a charm, soon Marcus was relying on Katie, not only to keep his working day as trouble free as possible, but also he needed her to relax and enjoy himself in a way he couldn’t ’ t at home with his wife and children making all the everyday demands on him that families do.
It was soon a full blown affair; Marcus secured Katie an apartment in the docklands. It was exactly the sort of place she had dreamt of, a New York style loft space with polished floors, windows on two full sides, a balcony to relax on and it didn ’ t cost her a penny. Actually it cost Dawson, Philips & Chamberlain, as Marcus put it through the firm as a place for visiting experts and witnesses to stay, not that they ever did!
Life continued in this way for three years, Katie didn ’ t really have any friends as she made sure she was always available for Marcus whenever he was free,
“ So what ’ s the story then Katie, what ’ s really bringing you to Laxley Heath? ”
Katie smiled “ Well, I really am looking after Tolpuddle House as Mo ’ s in hospital, but you ’ re right I needed somewhere to be and something to be for a while. ”
Cliona raised a quizzical eyebrow, prompting Katie to continue, not that she needed much prompting Katie needed to tell someone about what had happened.
Katie had wanted a job in London ever since she could remember, she was dazzled by the glamour of the idea, working for important people, living in penthouse apartments, earning good money and being secure for the rest of her life. Her chosen plan was to be an indispensable assistant to these important people initially and then become important in her own right later. It sounded ridiculous when you said it out loud but it was important to have a plan and know where you were going and why. Katie ’ s plan was to be financially secure and held in high esteem by all those around her. She had gained her degree in English at Bristol University and had then done a crammer course in secretarial skills at a private college, then she had applied for every PA position at a city firm she could find. Four years later having gained valuable experience at two solicitors firms in the centre of London, when a top PA position came up at Dawson, Philips & Chamberlain Barristers, considered to be among the top three firms in London and who had many glamorous, famous and extremely rich clients on their books, Katie had put everything into her interview and secured the job as personal assistant to Marcus Chamberlain. Marcus, at 44, was a brilliant lawyer but he was also devastatingly handsome in the tall, dark tradition, a sharp thinker, extremely charming with a wicked sense of humour that made him approachable and down to earth despite all his ‘ god-like ’ qualities. He also looked after his staff in many thoughtful ways, small presents to say thanks for a job well done, always treating successes as a team effort or remembering personal details that were important to them. It took Katie all of about three months to fall in love with her new job, her new lifestyle and her new boss! It took a further six months for Marcus to reciprocate. Katie had shut out the fact that Marcus was married with two children and had planned a precise campaign to win him over which she executed to perfection. This involved being the ultimate PA, loyal, unobtrusive, one step ahead of all his needs, always on hand, never complaining and with a ready smile for him. To this she added personal touches. His favourite biscuit with coffee, a drink ready mixed at the end of a tough day in court, an ear available to listen to all his woes but never imposing any of her own and most importantly she made him laugh. Katie always tried to leave Marcus with a smile on his face, that way she figured he would associate her with good times.
Katie ’ s plan worked like a charm, soon Marcus was relying on Katie, not only to keep his working day as trouble free as possible, but also he needed her to relax and enjoy himself in a way he couldn’t ’ t at home with his wife and children making all the everyday demands on him that families do.
It was soon a full blown affair; Marcus secured Katie an apartment in the docklands. It was exactly the sort of place she had dreamt of, a New York style loft space with polished floors, windows on two full sides, a balcony to relax on and it didn ’ t cost her a penny. Actually it cost Dawson, Philips & Chamberlain, as Marcus put it through the firm as a place for visiting experts and witnesses to stay, not that they ever did!
Life continued in this way for three years, Katie didn ’ t really have any friends as she made sure she was always available for Marcus whenever he was free,
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