Upside Down Inside Out Read Free Page A

wonderful building, but then there was all sorts of bother, years of delays, you see, the costs blew out. Well, we know that scenario ourselves of course, but we’re talking in the millions here …’
    As his accountant kept talking, Joseph Wheeler began to regret mentioning that he was going to a conference in Sydney. He’d barely named the city before Maurice had launched into a history lecture. In the past five minutes Joseph had heard enough to set up his own tourist-guide business.
    Maurice was the human equivalent of an Internet
    search engine, Joseph decided. You just needed to give him a key word and off he’d go. Sometimes it was fascinating. But not today, not when there was this pile of paperwork in front of him. Joseph looked down at it. On top was the contract offer from the Canadian company. Maurice had checked through all the financial details. All it needed now was one more read-through and Joseph’s final signature. All he needed was the time to do it.
    What had the head lecturer at his university said when he recommended Joseph hire Maurice as his accountant? ‘He can be a bit of a chatterbox, but if he’s just working as a consultant you’ll only see him occasionally. And he is fully qualified. Very experienced. It’ll leave you free to get on with your designs.’
    A bit of a chatterbox? Yes, and Bill Gates had just a bit of money. And The Beatles had been just a bit successful.
    Joseph tuned back in just as Maurice moved on to another subject.
    ‘Do you know, the Sydney Harbour Bridge set quite a few records when it was first constructed, as one of the world’s first single-span bridges. There’s actually rather an amusing story attached to the opening ceremony. You see, there it was, all planned, pomp and ceremony, when the whole event was hijacked …’
    Joseph didn’t have time to hear this today. Perhaps he could ask Maurice to speak into a tape recorder and he could listen to it later. He stood
    up. ‘Sorry, Maurice, but I’ll have to stop you there. I’ve a room full of work to get through before I go.’ He walked over to his office door and opened it, standing expectantly. Maurice didn’t seem to mind in the least. He pulled himself out of the chair with a groan. ‘In a bit of a rush today myself, actually, Joseph. That’s the drawback of being a consultant such as me, lots of different clients. Like a family of children, baby birds, all calling to be fed, you lot are.’ Joseph kept moving, drawing Maurice toward the lift. His PA Rosemary looked up from her desk as they walked past. ‘Goodbye, Maurice. Will I see you in two weeks as usual, even while Joseph’s away? I’ll need your help to prepare for the auditor.’ ‘Of course, Rosemary, of course. And you’ll have some more of those lovely biscuits for me, I hope.’ ‘Oh, indeed, Maurice. If I have to stay up all night to bake them myself.’ He finally left, the lift making a satisfying ding as it carried him away. Joseph waited a minute to be absolutely sure he’d gone, then turned to Rosemary. ‘I don’t suppose it’s too late for me to do an accounting course?’ She smiled, pleased to see a glint of humour in his eyes. The first one in days. ‘Would a coffee help?’ ‘More than you know. I’ll be back in a moment. I just need to have a word with one of the designers.’
    IS
    Rosemary carried the coffee and a bulging folder of paperwork into Joseph’s glass-walled office and settled herself in one of the comfortable chairs. Wheeler Design took up a whole floor of this converted Hoxton warehouse these days. The computers in the middle of the open-plan room were all in operation, the designers working on the latest updates to Joseph’s creations. The office itself was furnished with his prototypes stylish chairs and sofas, desks, computer keyboards, all ergonomically sound. His most recent and successful design, the innovative backpack, was on display just beside the reception desk.
    Rosemary took a sip of