Bombay Mixx Read Free Page B

technique. I remembered that Ann had given me her office telephone number in case I got lost , so I gave her a call.
     
    I turned away out of sight, so they couldn’t see me talking on the phone and I dialled the number, after three rings she answered, ‘Ann Lough . ’ ‘ H ello Ann , it’s Nita. I’m having a few problems at reception as I’ve been here now for the past 15 minutes (yes I lied but they were really annoying me) and I’m just wondering if you have been notified to my presence yet?’ I asked in the posh telephone accent we all do when we’re phoning someone important . ‘ N o I haven’t and I shall be down in a few moments , ’ she answered in an icy tone which made me think she was about to rain the pain on tw ee ddle dumb and tw ee ddle dumber!
     
    Just as Lucy was about to pick up the phone, Ann came out of the lifts with a thunderous look on her face and approached the reception desk. The pair looked nervous and stopped their conversation.
     
    Ann turned and greeted me and asked me to approach the desk, it f elt like a court room drama, there was so much tension in the air . ‘ C ould you tell me how long you have been waiting here for me?’ she asked . ‘ R oughly about 15 minutes , ’ I continued in my posh accent, ‘and can one of you tell me why a new employee has been waiting this long?’ she enquired.
     
    There was silence and a flush of embarrassment came across both of their faces, ‘I trust this will not happen again as if it does then we will need to think about employing two new people who know how to do this job quickly and effectively. Consider this a warning and it will be mentioned to your superior , do you understand?’ T hey both nodded to show understanding of the caution.
     
    I walked away feeling great but didn’t look back as I thought I’d won this round and didn’t want to spoil the feeling.
     
    There was the usual small talk in the glass lift then a flourish of busy talk, facts and figures and fast walking which filled the lift as the doors opened onto the accounts floor.
     
    ‘Welcome to the accounts department. This is where you will work and Daniel will give you a full tour of the building later on this afternoon as you will communicate closely with the shares department , Research and possibly Human Resources , ’ Ann proudly announced.
     
    I could see it was going to be an eventful day already so I settled into the meet and greet of my new colleagues, got acquainted to my neat but modest wooden Ikea looking desk, which was outside a gargantuan, eminent, glass office and proceeded to the buildings restaurant to make the first of the days moaning calls to Anya . ‘I seriously don’t think I can do this , ’ I whined as soon as she answered the phone . ‘ D aaarling, you need to give it a chance. You have only been there for a few hours!’ she said in a tired voice . ‘ M y boss is a tyrant and everyone in the office looks like they want to kill themselves at any second. I can’t work in this place. I’m going to tell them it’s not for me at the end of the day!’
     
    For a second I thought she got tired of my moaning and hung up on me, as she’s done that before, which is funny afterwards but not at the time when you’re talking to yourself for about 10 minutes, in public, before you realise and have to make up a fake end to the conversation so people don’t think your weird!     
     
    ‘Honey, give it a week and I bet it’ll get better and if not then I could always refer some of my clients to you but I w ould start you with Hassan , better to start small first!’ Anya purred as we both burst out laughing at the thought of me trying to do her job.
     
    As I looked at my watch I realised it was time to go back and do the courteous nods and polite laughs at the office humour and settle into the boredom of people telling me about how to do the job to my best ability.
     
    I got into the lift and as soon as I reached the accounts