Read Online Victoria Line, Central Line by Maeve Binchy - Free Book Online

to theirs. It makes you more important. That’s why we need the right furniture. Mr Edwards has an office like an aeroplane hangar, and very well laid out, I’ve inspected it. But yours could have a charm, it could become the place where ideas were discussed say on one particular evening a week, a Thursday, before people left. It would be relaxing, and pleasant, and
you
would be in control.’
    As they talked on, it got darker outside, and they switched on the bright neon overhead light.
    ‘That’ll have to go for a start,’ said Eve. ‘It’s far too harsh, there’s no style, no warmth.’
    A few times the door had been half-opened, butwhenever people saw the two heads bent over the desk and lists, they muttered apologies and backed out.
    ‘I never thought a notice would do that,’ said Sara admiringly.
    ‘Wait till we get things going properly, you’ll be amazed,’ said Eve.
    Eve refused a drink, a girly chat and the offer of a share in a taxi. Instead she took out her notebook again.
    ‘You should have an account with a taxi firm,’ she said briskly. ‘I’ll set that up tomorrow, when I’m organising the flowers and your dress allowance.’
    Sara stared at her in the windy, wet street as if Eve had gone completely mad.
    ‘
What
are you organising . . .?’ she began.
    ‘Plants, flowers for the office, all the male senior executives have them, and they also get a special expense allowance for clothes because they have to travel, it being a travel company, and . . .’
    ‘Eve, I’m not a senior executive, I can’t have free flowers paid for by the office.’
    ‘As assistant manager you are technically a senior executive. The other two assistant managers are elderly men who have been pushed upstairs, so if you equate your title with theirs then you can have flowers, nothing extravagant, about six nice flowering plants. I think we can choose them from a brochure, they’ll arrive tomorrow.’
    For the first time for a long time Sara sat back contentedly in her chair at home and didn’t think about Geoff and wonder when his new obsession would end. Often she felt lonely and sad during his absences, so that she would hide from the feeling by having the television on or listening to music for long hours. But tonight she just sat calmly drinking her tea and looking into the fire. Eve’s arrival meant that a lot of the tension in the office had been eased. It was like someone massaging your shoulders and taking away the stiffness – you didn’t know how tense you had been until the massage was over – Eve was going to make things a lot better, and she was going to force Sara to take herself more seriously too. It was a bit exciting in a way.
    Next morning was a Friday and Eve wanted to know whether Sara had any important plans and engagements for the weekend. Sara shrugged. ‘I was going to sort out those figures for Mr Edwards, you know the ones he wanted on the breakdown of age groups on the coach holidays. We need to know where to direct some of the coach tour promotions this year.’
    ‘Oh, that’s done,’ said Eve. ‘I did it this morning, I saw his note. I’ve two copies here for you to sign, one for Mr Edwards and I thought you should send one to the head of marketing, just to let him know that you are alive and well and working harder than Mr Edwards.’
    ‘Isn’t that a bit sneaky?’ asked Sara looking like a doubtful schoolgirl.
    ‘No, it’s standard office procedure. Mr Edwards is the sneaky party, by not acknowledging your part in all the work that is being done.’
    With a weekend free Sara agreed happily to go to look at second-hand furniture and office fittings. Eve had already organised the office partition, and it began with great hammering and activity after lunch.
    ‘I suggest you go and check out a few new outfits for yourself, Miss Gray,’ said Eve. ‘You can’t possibly work here with all this noise.’
    ‘Could you come with me, I’m not exactly sure what I . . .