In The Name Of Love Read Free Page A

secretary to bring her to your office,
    please."
    "Yes, of course," he said, picking up his intercom phone.
    "Are you suggesting that I…" Beryl started to say, standing
    up to face Joyce.
    "Not at all, Beryl, I am just being fair to my husband. You
    have made the accusation, but we've not heard anything from the person you say
    is the victim of my husband's behaviour."
    "Ladies, sit down please, and let's sort this matter in an
    amicable way."
    "There is nothing amicable about a third party suggesting
    Cyril is guilty of lewd behaviour," said Joyce, sitting down and folding her
    arms while glaring at Beryl in an aggressive manner.
    The door opened and the secretary announced, "Miss Mary
    Hughes, sir." And a tall, graceful young teenager in a tight fitting blouse and
    navy skirt entered the office, and stood before the desk.
    "You wished to see me, sir?"
    "Yes, Mary. It's a serious matter, and I wish you to be
    frank with your replies to my questions. They are of a personal nature,
    involving the people in this room, but I can assure you that nothing said here
    today will ever be repeated outside of this room." He gave all present his most
    serious look before continuing."
    "Mary; has your manager, Mr. Cyril Worthington here, ever
    behaved towards you in an improper manner?" he asked in a soft, but encouraging
    voice.
    "Oh no, sir, he's a fair manager," she said, turning to
    smile at Cyril, who nodded back.
    "But I saw him put his hand up your leg beneath your skirt,"
    said Beryl, raising her voice and going red in her scrawny neck.
    "Good Lord! Mr. Worthington would never behave like that,
    miss."
    "But you said…"
    "That's enough Miss Bainbridge," said Graham, glaring at
    her. Then turning to Mary Hughes again, he said, "You are sure that Cyril never
    accosted you in a familiar manner."
    "He's always been the proper gentleman, and it is a pleasure
    working for him."
    "Thank you Mary, it seems there has been a misunderstanding.
    Please return to your desk, and remember, this meeting is in confidence."
    "Of course, sir," she said, giving a little bob of her head
    before leaving the room.
    Graham stood up, pulling his jacket together over his
    tight-fitting waistcoat and said, "The matter is now closed, once and for all.
    I will have no more mention of it from anybody. I'm sorry you've all been
    troubled to attend."
    He held his hand out to Joyce, and shaking it he said,
    "Thank you for attending, and being so understanding. Good afternoon."
    Joyce and Cyril left Graham's office together, and she was
    pleased to see Graham gesture to Miss Bainbridge to take her seat again. She
    hoped the witch was in deep trouble, but she also knew there was no smoke
    without fire. Cyril did have a tendency to fondle young women, and it was
    getting worse. Next time, his assistant may not be as loyal as young Mary had
    been this afternoon, and that would be the end of his career, and his pension.
    She looked at Cyril and said, "I guess I'll see you when you
    come home this evening."
    "Yes, goodbye for now, and thanks for everything."
    She watched as his ungainly body stumbled across the hall as
    he fumbled his way into his office, wondering how on earth he'd got this far in
    the Civil Service, even though he was brilliant at his job. She also wondered
    if he had any idea of her own involvement in the matter just concluded.

CHAPTER 3
     
    The previous afternoon she took a phone call from Graham,
    who outlined the complaint against her husband and asked her to attend the
    meeting. When Cyril came home for dinner, she took up the matter with him.
    "When do you plan on telling me why you fondled a young girl
    in your office?"
    Cyril put down the evening newspaper, dropping his reading
    glasses on top, while he gathered his wits. "Oh, that's just a storm in a
    teacup."
    "It's a big enough storm for Graham to ask me to attend his
    office tomorrow."
    "Ah, the Witch of the North has been at it again."
    "Look Cyril, I dislike that Beryl Bainbridge as