by Sorell Oates
”Tell everyone I'm not a complete cow when I chase them for up-to-date accounts on all our contracts. Geoff needs them before lunch, I can't start collating and reporting until everyone has emailed them over to me.”
”What about James?”
”What about him? I can't force him to love me. I can't force him to like me. It feels futile at the moment. I'm best off locking my heart and throwing away the key.”
”Who's being melodramatic now? Heart, locks and keys; talk about clichés.”
Helen saw Maddy's eyes well up.
”I was only trying to be funny.”
Maddy stared at the ceiling. Something was wrong and she couldn't pinpoint exactly what. Her entire life was spiralling in directions she'd never envisaged. She'd spent so much time creating manageable conditions that one variable thrown into the mix had her feeling useless to regain control over her life. Having successfully managed to prevent the tears, she met Helen's concerned face.
”How can I work on getting James back, when everything is kicking off in the office? This is going to sound weird but I feel like there's something going on that we know nothing about.”
”They're probably making a new director or getting in a partner.”
”Yeah, and James is stuck in the hospital with his very sick mother after his car and wallet were stolen,” she said sardonically.
Helen returned to her work, leaving Maddy to her mood. The tension in the office was palpable. Maddy dropped the reports in Geoff's office without saying a word to him. She chewed on a pen, studying the piece of paper containing James' incomplete phone number.
When the hands of the wall clock reached 5.30pm she heard people shifting in their seats. Helen grabbed her handbag to leave.
”I've got it!” proclaimed Maddy.
”Got what? A good mood?”
”A better temper.”
Relieved Helen sat back down.
”What have you got?”
”This.”
Maddy pushed the paper over to Helen's desk.
”What am I missing here?”
”The logo,” stated Maddy, leaning back in her black leather chair, folding her arms.
”Maddy, we've got a third of a logo. It doesn't have a phone number. If anything..,” Helen picked the paper up to examine it closely - it looks to be an international company. It's definitely got more than one office.”
”It's a clue.”
'What are you, Nancy Drew?” asked Helen incredulously. ”How is that a clue?”
”Logos are invented to promote instantly recognisable companies. They're unique; singular. We can trace the logo to find where he works.”
”We've only got a third of it.”
”Hear me out. I know it's a long shot but I know he's a business lawyer and I know he works in the City of London. How hard can it be to track an acquisition and merger firm of lawyers in that area?”
”Maddy, that area's full of legal firms.”
”But they won't all be commercial law.”
”But what if mergers and acquisitions is one department of the firm. They probably have all kinds of departments and areas of law covered if it's an international company with hundreds of branches.”
”If we get a list, they'll have a presence on the internet. We click on the website, the logo will be on the front page; if it doesn't match we scratch it from the list, if it looks similar we can tick it and check them in detail later.”
Maddy's eyes were alive with possibility.
”It'll take ages,” moaned Helen.
”The course of true love never did run smoothly.”
”I thought you hated clichés Maddison Bridie.”
”Only when I'm bad tempered. I'll stay back to prepare the list tonight. I can get to work on it straight away. You could, if you wanted to help your best friend find the man of her dreams, come in early tomorrow to help me check the rest of the websites on the list.”
Helen assessed her. Maddy was so excited and full of hope, she didn't want to rain on her parade, but she didn't want Maddy crushed if it all went horribly wrong. This James wasn't treating her friend well. She feared the effort would lead to serious heartache for Maddy. Still, best friends supported each other and picked up the pieces when they fell apart.
”Do the list. I'll come in early tomorrow and we'll trawl through, see if we can find a match. Tonight though, I need to catch up on the soaps.”
Maddy leapt up, throwing her arms around Helen.
”You're the best. Thank you so much.”
“Just,” Helen paused, ”be careful Maddy.”
Maddy stayed in the office compiling a list of all the business law firms in the City of London, including non-specialist companies claiming to cover all areas of law. Thanks to the online phone directory and law society, it didn't take long for her to copy and paste the information into a spreadsheet. Pleased with her efforts, she highlighted Helen's allocation, then emailed it so it'd be waiting for her the next day. With time to kill before her train, she started to make a start on the list.
Geoff stood silently behind Maddy watching her type in web addresses for law firms. He saw her peer closely at the screen, open a spreadsheet and highlight a row in red.
”You looking for a new job Maddy?”
Maddy straightened up, minimizing the screen.
”You frightened me Geoff.”
”Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.”
”I wasn't searching for a new job. Researching something else as it goes.”
”I'd understand if you were looking to move on,” he said seriously.
”Don't be daft. Okay, we fell out this morning. My private life is a disaster, that's why I over-reacted to your tone of voice.”
”I was snappy with you, for that I apologise,” said Geoff affably. ”There's a fair bit going on with me too.”
”I was guessing that. Sorry I haven't been more attentive.”
”It's fine. You weren't scouting new jobs then?”
”Hand on heart, no. I love it here. We've fallen out occasionally but you know how committed I am to Yearwood, Angus and Port. I love my work,” explained Maddy sincerely.
”I don't doubt your loyalty Maddy, not for a second, but you've been here eight years. You've gone as far as you can go, until I leave. It's only natural for you to want to continue up the career ladder. Yes, you'll take over when I go, but it's fine to want to spread your wings, move to a bigger company, take on different challenges.'
”I'm still learning from you and I know there's loads more you can teach me. I don't think I'd benefit from moving on. I don't think I'd have the opportunity to have such closely involved hands on mentoring. We're just the right sized company for someone like me to grow in. I find my work rewarding. Why risk losing a cushy job if I'm happy?”
”I want you to be happy here. You're bright and determined. All I'm saying is I might be upset if you left, but I wouldn’t be offended. I'd back you to make sure you got the right position with the right company. It's got to be the best for my protégée.”
”You're lovely but I'm not going anywhere any time soon Geoff.”
”The offer's there Maddy. I'll always support your career.”
”Thanks Geoff.”
Maddy gave a wave before returning to her computer screen.
CHAPTER 10
”This was a lot more fun on Monday, when I thought I'd get to advise you with great techniques of becoming a stalker and you'd do it all without actively involving me, Maddy,” said Helen biting into a baguette.
”Can you not use my name in the same sentence as the word 'stalker'?” replied Maddy without looking up from her screen.
Like Helen, Maddison was eating her lunch in the office as she meticulously entered in web addresses, holding up an enlarged version of the partial logo from James' workplace up to the computer monitor.
”We're sitting in the office while the sun is shining for probably the last time this summer, eating
sandwiches and indulging in psycho-woman antics.”
”It's not psychotic, it's research,” chimed Maddy, a smile dancing on her lips.
”It's research to help you be a more effective stalker.”
”You say stalker, I say lovelorn.”
”Not sure that's how the police will see it. You've clearly been reading too many trashy romance novels and watching silly romantic movies.”
”Helen, you were the one who suggested it was feasible to track down one man in a city of eight million,” reminded Maddy, catching her eye.
”I said it because you were nearly crying.”
”I'll be crying if you don't help me with this.”
Helen spun around in her chair.
”When you watch crime shows and stuff, how much time does the camera actually spend in the office while they do the admin work?”
”Minimal Helen. Do you know why?”
”Why?” she asked, pleased to have distracted Maddy from the task.
”Because they don't waste time talking to each other about how boring the admin work is. They get their heads down, do it swiftly so they can go in the field to get involved in the action.”
”Alright I can take a hint,” said Helen, returning to work.
Maddy tirelessly continued exercising diligence and care.
”Got you,” shouted Helen.
Maddy sprung out of her chair to race round to Helen's desk.
”That's it, isn't it?” said Helen, holding her photocopy of the logo, next to her computer screen.
Maddy carefully examined the screen, comparing it to the logo.
”That's it. I can't believe you found it!” she exclaimed, kissing Helen on the cheek.
”I can't believe your theory was right,” said Helen, as excited as her friend.
Maddy went back to her desk, sinking onto her chair; dazed and confused.
”What's next?” queried Helen.
”I phone up I suppose. How many offices do I have to ring through to?”
”As I predicted, it's a global law firm. Do you know they've actually got locations in every continent?”
”We can narrow the field down to the United Kingdom.”
”Offices in most major business centres,” read Maggie out loud from her screen.
”Try London,” said Maddy impatiently.
”There's two.”
”That's not so bad. Where are they?”
”One's near Temple station.”
”That's the legal district. That's got to be the main office.”
”It's like you have the 'Company Information' page open in front of you.”
”The other one?” her voice urgent.
”Canary Wharf.”
Maddy was thoughtful, going over the two locations.
”Do you want the switchboard for the main office?”
She shook her head slowly.
”No. If James worked at the Temple office, he'd travel through with me to Charing Cross because it'd be easier to get through, he could probably even walk it from there. It would make sense if he was based at Canary Wharf. London Bridge runs a tube direct to Canary Wharf, it's only two stops.”
”I am seriously blown away by your powers of deduction. Sherlock Holmes couldn't have done better.”
Maddy remained in her seat, eating her sandwich.
”Aren't you going to call?” asked Helen.
”I don't know. Maybe it's not a good idea. He's clearly avoiding me. I don't want to be a psycho. It might seem kind of 'Fatal Attraction'.”
”Maddy, we've been working on this all week. You can't give up at the last hurdle. He owes you an explanation.”
”He doesn't owe me anything. He barely even knows me.”
Even as she said the words Maddy knew she was paying lip-service. James did know her. She'd opened up to him, trusted him, been herself with him. If he didn't want to be with her when she'd been so emotionally raw and honest with him, then he clearly wasn't right for her. What hurt the most was that she felt he'd been right for her. The rejection was crippling; making her remember why she'd stopped trusting her heart. Rick had made a fool of her. Given the rocky start, would James be any different?
”I'll call if you want,” proposed Helen.
”No. I thought it was worth pursuing but I feel different now. I wasn't thinking straight. It was all emotion; no rationale, no logic.”
”Is love ever about rationale or logic?”
”Never,” answered Geoff.
They both looked at him.
”I'm out for lunch,” he informed them.
”Who's paying?” quizzed Maddy.
”They are.”
”I expect we won't see you till tomorrow if someone else is paying for the drinks.”
”Cheek of it!” growled Geoff in mock anger.
He put on his jacket, grabbed his briefcase, then headed for the door.
”Call him Maddy. Men like a woman who knows what she wants. A woman who chases her heart's desire.”
”Just because I want James, it doesn't mean he wants me,” whispered Maddy, dejectedly.
”There's only one way to find out. Seeing as I found the company, the least you can do is call,” chided Helen, passing Maddy a yellow post-it note with the phone number on it.
”I don't even know his last name.”
”How many men called James can be working in 'Acquisitions and Mergers'?”
”It's a global company, as you rightly pointed out. There could be loads.”
”Maddy, you're making excuses. We found the needle in the haystack. Describe him if you have to but make the call.”
Maddy closed her eyes remembering the previous week; from James offering help with her bag, taking her for a drink, wining and dining with her at the best restaurant in London then being the perfect gentleman by cuddling her all night without complaint, visiting for dinner, making love to her all night and in the morning, his honesty with respect to his over-reaction triggered by jealousy and insecurity when her ex-fiancé called, and the way he'd kissed her on the train when he apologised. Fearing she'd change her mind, she dialled the number.
”SGR Nowe International, How may I help?”
”Could you put me through to Acquisitions and Mergers please?” asked Maddy, her voice squeaky.
”Certainly, can I direct your call to a particular member of the team?”
”I was after James.”
”Do you have his surname at all?”
”I'm sorry, I don't. I only know his first name is James and he works in Acquisitions and Mergers.”
”One moment please.”
Maddy felt as if her heart would burst out of her chest. The classical 'on-hold' music did nothing to steady her nerves.
”Sorry for the wait.”
”I should've mentioned he's tall, lean build - like a tennis player - very short blonde hair, blue eyes, sharp smart suits and a rich deep voice.”
”I know who you're referring to. He's certainly one of a kind,” said the receptionist mockingly. ”There's only one James in Acquisitions and Mergers, but he's currently unavailable. Can I take a message?”
”Do you have a mobile number for me to contact him on?”
”I'm sorry, we aren't allowed to give that information out. I do have an email address.”
”I was hoping to speak to him personally.”
”Perhaps I could put you through to his secretary?”
”That'd be great.”
”May I ask who's calling?”
”It's Maddison Bridie.”
”One moment Ms. Bridie.”
Maddy felt as though she might vomit. Had Helen not been transfixed by the one-sided conversation, she'd have informed Maddy how pale she'd gone.
”Mr. Nowe's secretary, how may I help, Ms. Bridie?”
The conversation was beginning to feel repetitive to Maddy. Although friendly, the formal, professional tones were grating.
”I was hoping to speak to Ja
mes.”
”Unfortunately James has been in our Beijing office this week. He flew in last night. I spoke to him earlier this morning and he's due back in the office tomorrow. Can I pass on a message or put you through to his voice-mail?”