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First thing tomorrow, I’m heading back to personnel and my new role will be assisting Mrs Armstrong because I need to trawl through the employee records as a matter of urgency.
CHAPTER7
ROBERT
Mrs Armstrong shrinks into her seat, trying to make herself as small as possible under the frown that I’m directing her way. “What do you mean, you can’t help me?”
The frustration is threatening to unleash my inner beast, and she says in a whisper, “I’m sorry, sir. Miss Taylor no longer works in fairyland. She has been redeployed to another department and I’m afraid I must refer any enquiries to a Detective Inspector Ranauld at Scotland Yard.
I blink in the hope this is just an inconvenient dream and I will wake up back at home ready to start my day. However, when I open my eyes, Mrs Armstrong is looking distinctly uncomfortable and I count to ten and say in a measured tone, “Just so I’m clear. My personnel manager is unwilling to give me, the CEO of the company, a simple explanation concerning the employment of one of my staff.My staff, Mrs Armstrong. Not Detective Inspector Ranauld and so, as your boss and the man in the charge, you had better give me the information I need, or you will be pleading for a job with the man who apparently pulls your strings now.”
She pales and stutters, “P… please, sir. I don’t want to do the wrong thing, but Miss Taylor swore me to secrecy.”
I am holding onto my last nerve and prepare to fire her on the spot, but then something occurs to me that causes me to back down in an instant.
Without another word, I spin on my heels and leave the terrified personnel manager cowering in her chair and head to the sanctuary of my office with a small smile on my face.
It appears that I no longer need to find my fairy because if I’m right, she will find me and when she does, I’ll be waiting and this time I’ll be the one demanding answers and I can’t wait to see the expression on her face when she discovers who’s in charge around here.
* * *
I work lateto make up for my impromptu walkabout and just before she heads home, Sylvia heads into my office.
“Will there be anything else, sir?”
I note how tired she looks and feel responsible for that. Due to the Christmas rush and the endless meetings that are lined up, she has stayed late every night this week for no reward other than keeping her job.
She even works through her lunch, taking bites of the sandwiches she brings from home and if I were human, I would give her a break.
She blinks wearily as I tap my finger lightly on the desk and say abruptly, “Did you take a look at the pile of cards I brought in?”
She nods, looking worried. “I documented them as you asked and emailed the detective who has been assigned to your case.”
“Remind me of his name.”
“Detective Inspector Ranauld, I think. I could double check if you give me a minute.”
“No need. The name seems familiar.” I say as an aside, “Have you heard from him?”
She shakes her head. “Just once when he said he would be in touch. I’m sorry, sir. Would you like me to chase it up again before I go home?”
“No.”
I lean back in my chair and nod dismissively. “|You may go.”
She turns to leave, and I say without looking up from my computer.”
“Oh, and Sylvia…”
She replies anxiously, “Yes, sir.”
“I don’t want to see you here tomorrow.”
For a moment I think she’s gone and then she says in an anxious voice, “Have I done something wrong sir, it’s just…”
“Sylvia.” I fix her with a frown, causing her lower lip to tremble and her skin to turn as white as the winter snow. “I’ve calculated that you’ve worked more than your contracted hours for the past few months. You are here early and leave late and never take your allotted breaks. Tomorrow you will enjoy a day of rest knowing that you’ve earned it. I may be a hard taskmaster, but I am human, despite popular opinion, and so I expect you to enjoy your day and come in refreshed and ready to carry on the excellent job I’ve grown accustomed to from you.”
I’m not sure if it’s my imagination or not, but her lip quivers and her eyes fill with tears as she says gratefully, “Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.”
