Secretary on Demand Read Free

he would interpret that as a gesture of shame instead of an insane desire to stifle her mirth.
    â€˜What,’ snarled Eric, ‘do you think the problem is? This…this… so-called waitress of yours has dumped a plate of food all over me and let me tell you right now that unless she’s sacked immediately, I’ll sue you for everything you possess! I’ll personally make sure that this restaurant is out of business!’
    â€˜It sort of fell, the plate,’ Shannon said, her green eyes wide and luminous. If he could pretend not to know who the hell she was, then she could pretend that it had all been an unfortunate accident. ‘Sorry.’ She grabbed a serviette and made a flicking motion, which was venomously brushed aside. ‘I think some of the carrots oozed into your pocket, sir …and there are a few mange-tout on your left shoe…’
    Eric seemed incapable of responding to the helpful observations and stared at her murderously as Alfredo launched into a profuse apology, ending with assurances that any dry-cleaning costs would be covered.
    â€˜Oh, dear, your lovely patent leather shoes seem to be ruined,’ Shannon observed with extravagant seriousness.
    â€˜Please, allow me to offer you a full replacement for your suit and your shoes.’ All eyes followed a path down the soaked trousers to the ruined shoes under discussion. Someone burst out laughing a few tables away.
    â€˜You sack this creature immediately, my man, or you won’t be able to afford your next loaf of bread, never mind my clothes. And let me tell you something, I happen to know quite a number of people in high places!’
    â€˜I think it’s time you took yourself off to the bathroom and cleaned up,’ drawled a familiar voice. ‘You’re making a spectacle of yourself.’
    For a minute, Eric looked as though, now in his stride and regardless of the state of his clothes, he was more than prepared to stand his ground and continue his litany of threats, but after a few seconds he nodded and walked off, watched by everyone in the restaurant. Someone yelled for an encore and Shannon felt a rush of appreciation for the bawdy clientele who frequented their establishment.
    â€˜I hope your friend will calm down,’ Alfredo began worriedly. ‘Of course, it was a dreadful accident, but all these threats of closing down my restaurant…well, I have a family to support! Perhaps I better go see what is happening in the bathroom, hope he listens to reason…’ He extracted a handkerchief from a pocket to wipe his brow and then hurried off towards the direction of the bathroom.
    â€˜Sit down.’
    Shannon slowly turned to look at the man, who seemed to be the only person in the restaurant unaffected by what had just taken place.
    She slumped into a free chair and rested her head against her hands.
    â€˜Feel better?’
    She looked at him for a while in silence. ‘Not really, no, but thank you for asking.’
    â€˜What was that all about?’
    â€˜I’m very, very sorry that I ruined your lunch.’ She stared at the congealing halibut on his plate. There was nothing funny about what had just happened, she realised. Alfredo had had nothing to do with anything, but he had taken the brunt of it and it had all been her fault.
    â€˜Forget the lunch,’ he said drily.
    â€˜Poor Alfredo,’ she said miserably to herself. ‘I shouldn’t have dropped the plate of food all over your friend. It was wrong of me.’
    â€˜He’s not my friend. You certainly know how to create a scene, don’t you?’
    â€˜Were you very embarrassed? I’m very, very sorry.’
    â€˜Will you stop apologising? And, no, I wasn’t embarrassed. It would take rather more than that little incident to embarrass me. Tell me what you’re going to do now.’
    â€˜Resign, of course.’ She stood up and his eyes followed her