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

looks up and glares at me, halting her conversation on the phone. I quickly
place the tray down on her large mahogany desk, and dash back out. What the
hell is going on?
    I decide the best thing to do is
get to the tasks in hand, take my mind off it all. I check the company diary
and see the meeting room is free, so I block it off for the rest of the day.
Then I call up the catering company and place my lunch order.
    “Coral.” Joyce’s voice booms
through the intercom system on my phone making me jump.
    I sigh inwardly, like it or not,
I’m going to have to face the music. I stand, quickly brushing down my light
blue suit trousers, trying to look as presentable as possible and knock on her
door.
    “Come.” I enter her large office,
which is five times the size of mine and sit in the chair opposite her. Joyce
is still typing, her fingers making quick work on the keyboard.
    I take a deep breath trying to
slow down my erratic heart, repeating the same mantra over and over in my head. Please say I have my job! Please say I have my job!
    “Coral.” I look up at Joyce, her
glasses are perched on the end of her nose, and her shiny, short blonde hair is
immaculately styled, her suit a silver grey, her makeup impeccable. You would
not think she had recently lost her husband of thirty years.
    “Coral, I have some sad news.” Holy
Fuck! No, no, no please don’t say it!
    I swallow hard.
    “I’m selling the company.” Selling
the company? No, you can’t! What the fuck does this mean?
    Joyce sighs heavily, leans back
on her chair and stares out of the window for a moment. Then she looks back at
me, takes off her glasses and leans forward onto her desk, I stare back at her
my eyes wide with fear. “Coral, I want you to know that your job is safe. One
of the conditions when I sell will be that they keep you on. You have worked
here for a long time, and you’re an extremely valued member of staff,” she
tells me. “My most valued,” she adds.
    I am silent, dumbstruck. I feel
all the chemical reactions one might feel to cry, but no tears come to the
surface – I'm very good at blocking it out.
    “I’m sorry Joyce.” I offer, not
knowing what else to say. She finally smiles at me but it doesn’t reach her
eyes.
    “Coral, I am sorry I hadn’t
warned you earlier, but in all honesty….well the offer has only just been put
to me. I hadn’t even thought about it until Mr Freeman made the suggestion,
then I spent a few nights thinking about it. John and I built this company from
scratch and….well he’s everywhere I look…,” she says choking back tears, and
takes a handkerchief out of her clutch bag. “I’m sorry,” she trembles.
    For a moment I feel lost, I don’t
quite know what to say or do, she is my boss after all. Then I remember her
singing and laughing with me on the karaoke machine last Christmas, we were all
so happy. I launch myself out of my chair and place my arms around her
shoulders.
    “Oh Joyce, I’m so sorry.” I
offer. I can feel her pain and hurt rolling over me like waves hitting the
shore. She squeezes my hand and closes her eyes, trying to gather herself
together.
    “It’s for the best,” she sighs.
“My sister wants me to join her in Florida,” she adds.
    I smile back at her. “Maybe it’s
a good move.” I say, but inwardly I’m reeling. Joyce knows me; she knows what
I’m like, what if my new boss isn’t happy with the way I am?
    “Yes, well that’s what Gladys
said, a new chapter in my life.” Shit! Gladys knows and she didn’t tell me. I feel my jaw tense and my teeth clamp together. “Now don’t get that look in
your eye,” she scolds.
    I frown in return. “Sorry,” I
mutter sitting back down in the chair.
    “I only discussed it with Gladys
this morning. She wanted to tell you, but I said I would.” She leans back in
her chair, and runs a hand through her hair. “Coral, the deal hasn’t been made
yet. But that doesn’t mean it won’t go ahead. Mr Freeman is