CORAL (A Romance Trilogy, Book 1) Read Free Page A

WORKING week after a quiet, restful - if I'm honest; boring weekend. As
usual, I am sat at my desk eating my bowl of muesli after my early morning
swim. It’s hard to imagine that I have been working here for so long. It’s
fifteen years today since I first started here, and I can’t believe how fast
the time has flown by, but I love my job. It’s all thanks to Gladys of course;
she stood by everything she said to me all those years ago.
    After being expelled from school,
I studied at home, took my exams, then Gladys got me a position here as a legal
secretary at Garland & Associates, one of the most prestigious Solicitors
in Brighton, which just happens to be run by her best friend since school days
- Joyce Garland.
    She is an awesome boss and I have
come to regard her as more of an Aunty, but that probably comes down to the
fact that I see her on weekends as much as I do Gladys. They are firm friends
and partners in crime, and are so funny to be around. They are like two naughty
school girls when they get together, drinking cocktails and joking about all
the silly things they used to get up to in school.
    I sigh inwardly. The last few
months have been so hard, Joyce recently lost her husband. One day he’s sitting
in the garden with her eating his Chicken Caesar Salad, the next he’s as dead
as a doornail on the floor, heart attack wiped him out. I don’t think it’s
really hit her yet, she was straight back into work the day after the funeral,
said she didn’t want to be rattling around at home, it’s understandable I
guess.
    I suddenly feel my throat tighten
up on me, the very thought of one day losing Gladys which I know is inevitable
grips me, and panic takes over. I close my eyes to try and push the feeling
away, Gladys is fit and healthy I tell myself. Ever since that scare four years
ago, she went crazy on exercise. She takes water aerobics at the local leisure
centre three times a week, and has joined a local rambling club, and is trying
to get Joyce to start golfing with her - so now she’s always out and about.
Gone is the big, cuddly woman I used to know – who looks and acts just like Ma
Larkin from The Darling Buds of May - now there’s a slimmer version, but
everything else about her has stayed the same. I hope I’ve made her proud.
    Joyce walks into the office;
she’s been coming in earlier and earlier since John died.
    “Morning Joyce.” I smile up at
her.
    “Morning Coral.” She looks tired.
“Any messages?”
    “Yes, on your desk. Just a
couple, a Mr Freeman seems desperate to get hold of you?”
    “Oh…good, that’s…..yes...” Joyce
frowns deeply, smiles awkwardly at me, and then walks into her office, closing
the door behind her.
    Well that was odd?
    I jump up from my desk and knock
on her door.
    “Come.” I tentatively walk in.
    Joyce has been a little sharper
with me lately, but I’m letting it all go, considering the circumstances.
    “Can I get you anything Joyce?” I
ask softly.
    “Tea please, Coral, and get the
board room ready. We need to cater lunch for five, they’ll be here at 12noon.” She
orders. Five? Who the hell is coming today? There’s nothing in the diary.
    “And when you’ve done that I need
to speak to you,” she adds.
    Panic washes over me – Fuck! What if I’m losing my job or something? I mean I know the economy is shaky and
everything, but…I can’t lose this job, I like working on my own, I like the
peace and quiet and I love working for Joyce. And it still feels like I just
bought my very own apartment, my first place, even though I’ve had it a couple
of years. If I lose this job I’m fucked!
    “Of course,” I answer and scuttle
as quickly as I can out of her office.
    I wander into the staff kitchen
in a daze and prepare her pot of tea, trying my best not to let my worst
thoughts go racing around my head. When I’m done I wonder back into her office
without knocking - this is normally ok, considering I’m holding a tray - but
she