Wags To Riches, page 16
I don’t say anything for a moment; I just look at him and smile. What did I do to deserve you in a past life? I think to myself. Must have been something bloody brilliant. What – not work and still have more money? Fantastic!
“Okay” I reply.
“Great!” Adam says beaming at me. “Just think - four weeks and then you will be out of there. No more stress! You can sit and write out your notice while I go and put these plates in the dishwasher. I’ll get you some paper and an envelope”. He disappears for a moment then comes back with a sheet of thick creamy coloured paper, a matching envelope and beautiful fountain pen.
“There you go Gail. I’ll just go and take these plates away” and he goes into the kitchen as I pick up the pen. My hands are shaking slightly. Oh my gosh – I can’t believe I am going to leave my job! And have all that money to spend each month! Yesss!!!! Now – what to put in this letter? I can’t really put:
Dear Personnel
I am handing my notice in because:
I have met a wonderful gorgeous man who has changed my life.
He also earns shed loads and needs someone to spend it for him.
Yours sincerely
Gail Auden
Hmmm. Can’t put that, even though it’s kind of the truth. What about:
Dear Personnel
I am leaving this job because it’s crap.
Yours sincerely
Gail Auden
No. Tempting though. I know what to put and I sit and write my letter out:
Dear Personnel
I am writing to give four weeks notice of my intention to leave the employment of Delightful Plastics as of the date of this letter.
Yours sincerely
Gail Auden
Yes that’s fine. I’ll just write the envelope then I think the champagne beckons. I’m leaving! I’m leaving my job! Hurray!
Chapter 16
Adam gives me a lift to work early on Monday morning. I unfasten my seatbelt and put my bag over my shoulder, my letter of resignation clutched tightly in my hand.
“Have a good day and good luck with handing that in,” Adam says as he kisses me goodbye.
“Thanks,” I reply, “I’ll give you a ring later if you like, to let you know how it went”.
“Yeah – please do” Adam says and kisses me again.
“Adam – I’m going to have to go otherwise I will be late for work” I say reluctantly.
“I know, I know,” he says grinning and I move to get out of the car. “Anyway – just think Gail – only a few more weeks and then it will all be over”. I smile as I close the car door and wave as Adam drives off.
I hurry to the entrance and go straight into the Ladies loo. There’s no one in and I stand near the washbasins for a moment, looking at the envelope I’m holding in my hands. Suddenly I feel very nervous. Am I doing the right thing by leaving? I know it’s only a job and it’s not a job that I like very much. I know also though, that my job isn’t the worst job in the world and there are a lot worse jobs you could do for a living – I know all that. But it isn’t for me. This is just something I fell into as I needed to earn some money and it seemed the right thing to do at the time. But, I think as I tap the envelope against my palm, it is a job I can do and have done well for the last four years. It is my own money I’m earning and spending. To not work at all? To depend on a guy giving me money to spend? Is that really what I want? Will I like having to depend on Adam I wonder? What happens if he gets fed up with me? What about being independent, earning your own money and not having to rely on a man like women have had to for hundreds of years? I suppose the difference is, is that I can always get another job if things didn’t work out – in the past women simply didn’t have that choice. “That’s right Gail – think positive!” I say aloud to myself.
My mobile phone bleeps and I rest my letter on the very edge of the washbasin unit while I take my mobile out of my bag. It’s a text from Adam:
Good luck today and can’t wait to see you tonight! Love You AX
I look at the text message and then out of the corner of my eye see the diamonds in my bracelet sparkle prettily under the hideous strip lighting. What the hell am I doing? I can’t believe I am even having this debate with myself – am I mad??!! What – not having to go to work at all? Sharing my life with a lovely bloke like Adam? Who said he would look after you? And I even have to think about handing my notice in? I must be bloody crackers! I put my mobile phone back in my bag, pick up my letter of resignation and stride out into the corridor. I’m going to tell Alex first – before I hand my resignation in. I shall miss her. God knows what she will say when I tell her.
“You’re leaving?” Alex says, aghast. “Oh no! Why? Have you got another job? You never said you were applying for other jobs!”
“No I’ve not got another job” I say uncomfortably, “Adam – well – he’s – he...” I fumble for the right words, “Well, he said he would look after me”.
“Adam is going to look after you?” Alex repeats, “How do you mean? Are you not going to work at all?”
“Well – no as he earns loads - enough to look after us both”.
Alex gapes at me. “Oh my God! So this is it then? You’re gonna leave! Oh no! I can’t blame you really, I mean who wouldn’t leave? Not have to get up for work every day? No money worries? Oh my God!” She comes round to my desk and hugs me. “You are so lucky!” she says, “What am I going to do without you to talk to every day?”
“Stop it Alex!” I say smiling, yet I can feel my eyes prickling with tears, “I’m going to miss you as well – we’ll still meet up though and go out and stuff” I add, “And I’ve got to work my notice, so I will be here for a few weeks more yet!”
“What’s that?” a voice says from across the room and we look round to see Jill who works with us coming over. “Are you leaving us Gail?” she asks. “You’ve just come back!”
“I know!” I reply smiling as Mark and Brenda walk in.
“Guess what guys? Gail is leaving us!” Jill calls across to them and they also come over to my desk.
“You aren’t are you?” Mark says, looking surprised.
“’Fraid so!” I say and nod.
“Yes – she’s going to be a lady of leisure aren’t you Gail?” Alex says, beaming at me.
“Well - yes” I say and blush.
“How do you mean?” Brenda asks sharply.
“Well she’s got Adam now hasn’t she?” Alex says.
“Oh it must be marvellous to have a super rich fabulous boyfriend” Brenda says, “Bet you think you are above the rest of us now don’t you Gail?” she adds in a sneering tone.
I stare at her. “What?” I say.
“Joke” Brenda says hastily as the supervisor walks in and she, Mark and Jill quickly go back to their desks.
“Good morning” the supervisor says to everyone and goes into the little kitchen to make a drink.
Alex looks at me and then at Brenda’s retreating back with raised eyebrows. “She’s jealous” she says quietly. “You know she likes him and now you’re leaving as well - I think she’s a bit envious”.
“She was probably just a bit surprised that’s all, that I’m leaving,” I say casually. I’m not really bothered what Brenda thinks anyway.
“Hmmm” Alex murmurs a sceptical look on her face.
“Speaking of which, I’d better go and speak to the supervisor” I say and, picking up my mug go into the kitchen. “Can I speak to you for a moment?” I ask him.
“Yes - let me just make a drink and then I will be right with you,” he says. “Anything wrong?” he asks.
“No not at all” I say and smile.
After I have spoken to my supervisor who was very nice about it and said that he would be sorry to see me go, I go and see Personnel. I’ve never really got on with Michelle, the Personnel Officer. She isn’t the sort of person to invite confidences and she has this annoying singsong voice, which she obviously thinks makes her sound quite friendly and helpful but is quite irritating really. I still walk down the corridor to her office with a broad smile on my face though. I can’t quite believe I am doing this. I am actually going to leave Delightful.
I knock on the door of Michelle’s office. “Come in!” she calls. I go in and Michelle looks up from her desk. “Hello Gail, take a seat. So you are leaving us are you?”
“I am” I say and give her my letter of resignation.
“Right – well there are just a few questions I need to ask you – as part of your exit interview,” Michelle says.
“Fire away” I say cheerfully.
“So where are you going to?” she asks. “Have you got another job or are you going to study…?” she trails off and looks at me expectantly.
“Neither” I say, “I’m going to be a lady of leisure”.
Michelle raises her eyebrows. “A lady of leisure?” she repeats, puzzled. “But how will you manage?” Then her face clears. “Oh yes. The footballer” she says slowly - like Adam is some kind of hideous disease - and takes a sheet of paper out of a file. “But Gail, what will you do all day?” she asks.
“I daresay I’ll find something,” I say brightly.
“Oh I think I’d be quite bored, just sat about all day. I like to work” Michelle murmurs and smiles at me, but the smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Well – it’s lucky that I’m the one that’s leaving then and not you” I reply softly, smiling more widely.
Michelle doesn’t answer, but makes some calculations on a piece of paper. After a moment she looks up. “It looks from your leave sheet” Michelle says, “that you have taken one day’s leave more than you are entitled to as it is accrued throughout the year so that will be deducted from your final pay. Not that a slight pay deduction matters to you of course!” she adds with a stiff little laugh.
You cow I think furiously to myself. I won’t let her annoy me. “Well – absolutely” I say smoothly, “I mean Adam earns so much money, I will be struggling to spend it all each week really”. Michelle looks at me and doesn’t reply.
“Is that everything?” I ask.
“Yes I think so,” Michelle says and I go to the door. “Gail?” she calls and I turn round to face her. “I do hope it works out for you,” she says in a tone of utmost insincerity. “When – sorry I mean – if it ends, you can always come back”.
“Thank you!” I say and look at her sat behind her desk in a cheap blue polyester suit. “You know what Michelle?” I say, “Blue isn’t really your colour. I’d say it was more green” and go out the door. Damn – that felt good I think to myself and grin as I go back downstairs.
It is surprising how fast the last few weeks at work go. One minute I’d got three weeks left at work, and then suddenly it’s my last day. I don’t do any real work – just bequeath my spider plant off my desk to Alex, give my pencil pot to Jill, empty my desk drawers of rubbish and that’s about it. I go out to the shops about eleven o’clock and buy a cake for everyone, which is warmly received and sort out what time to meet everyone for a drink later. I’m going to get ready at Alex’s so I’m going straight to hers from work.
“We’ll have a quick bite to eat before getting ready to hit the town” Alex says.
“Great” I reply, as I read a text message from Adam. “Adam has sent me a text to say he’ll pick me up later. Will you need a lift home?” I ask Alex.
“No – I’ll get a taxi back with Dave thanks” Alex says. “Can’t believe this is your last day Gail!”
“I know” I reply smiling. “I can’t believe it either!”
At five o’clock, everyone starts putting coats on, shutting windows, clicking on voicemails and switching off computers and I switched mine off for the last time. “That’s it then- my work here is done!” I announce to the office at large as I stand up and push my chair under the desk.
“See you later!” Jill calls as she goes out.
“Yeah – see you later!” I say.
“Come on Gail!” Alex calls from the door.
“Alright I’m coming!” I reply and look round the office once more before following Alex out of the door. I go to reception and hand in my keys and security pass before walking across the car park to where Dave is waiting for us both in the car.
“Well that’s it then Gail!” Alex says, grinning at Gail. “As of now you are officially a lady of leisure! You don’t work at Delightful anymore! How does it feel?”
“It feels great,” I say grinning back. “I can’t quite believe it”. No more invoices to add up! No more orders to sort out! Yessss!
“Are you looking forward to your leaving do tonight?” Dave asks as we get into the car.
“Oh yes!” I reply as he drives us home, “Adam’s bought me a new dress to wear as well”.
Alex turns in the front seat so she can see me in the back. “I thought we would have fish and chips for tea if that’s okay” she says, “I know it’s not the Ivy restaurant or wherever you and Adam eat, but it’s the best I can do I’m afraid”.
“That’s fine Alex honestly,” I say laughing, “I have never eaten at the Ivy restaurant – what are you on about?”
“Is Adam going to pick you up later Gail?” Dave asks as we turn into the street where he and Alex live.
“Yes – I’ll just ring him when I’m ready to go home”.
“What sort of car does he drive?” Dave asks.
“It’s a Bentley Continental GT,” I say almost apologetically and Dave lets out a long whistle.
“Should have guessed really shouldn’t I?” he says and laughs.
****
“You look really nice Gail,” Alex says smiling as I sit on the edge of her bed, fastening my gold strappy shoes that I wore to Gina and Tim’s wedding and which I think go really well with my new dress. It is strapless and kind of a rusty colour with little specks of gold in the fabric that shimmer in the light.
“Thanks” I reply, “I know this colour is a bit of a departure for me, but I just really liked it when I saw it the other day”. And how great is it to just walk into a clothes shop and buy something without having to worry about the cost! “Pass me my drink would you?” I ask Alex and she hands me a large glass of white wine.
“Where are we meeting everyone again?” I ask.
“That new bar in town, Nougat, about 7.30” Alex replies, quickly applying some mascara before taking a big gulp of wine.
“This is nice isn’t it?” I say happily, after drinking most of my wine, “It’s just like old times – getting ready to go out on a Friday night!”
“Yeah it is, it’s nice” Alex replies.
“And we will - as always - be the two best dressed people in there!” I add.
“Oh of course!” Alex asserts and has a final look at her reflection in the mirror. “Do you think these boots look alright with these jeans?” she asks. Alex is all in black - as she usually is when we go out - black skinny jeans, black high heeled boots and fitted black T-shirt.
“You look great” I say reassuringly.
“I know, but you’ve got your designer frock on!” Alex says, looking troubled as I roll my eyes.
“Alex – you look great honestly!” I say firmly. “Now get that wine down your neck before the taxi gets here!”
“Speaking of which” Alex says, going to the bedroom window, “I think it’s here. I just heard a car pull up”.
Sure enough, a few seconds later Dave called up the stairs “Alex sweetheart! Taxi’s here!”
“Coming!” Alex shouts back and hastily gulps down the rest of her wine before we head down the stairs to where Dave is waiting at the front door and go out to the taxi.
We arrive at Nougat and push open the door. The bar’s packed and one of my favourite dance tracks is playing at an extremely loud volume. “I can see Mark, Simon and Brenda – they’re at the bar,” I shout over the song to Alex and Dave.
“Right – lets get some drinks in” Alex says and we make our way through the crowd to the bar. When I get near to where Mark, Simon and Brenda are, I can also see Jill talking to a few people I’d asked along from marketing - Sophie, Rachel and Rob.
“Hey Gail – do you want a drink?” Jill asks.
“I’m okay thanks – Alex is getting this one,” I explain.
“So how does it feel then Gail - being a lady of leisure?” Jill shouts.
“Oh great thanks. Yes – it’s fantastic,” I say, whilst taking my glass of wine off Alex. “Thanks Alex” I say. “No more Delightful – I mean, how delightful is that?” I joke and Jill laughs.
“You are so lucky Gail – I’m soooo jealous!” Sophie says.
“I know – I mean fancy meeting someone like that in a supermarket?” Rachel says, as she makes her way through the crowd at the bar to join us. “What are the odds on that?”
“I know!” Sophie says in disbelief. “I mean he’s not just gorgeous…” At this I blush.
“And he’s absolutely loaded…” Rachel chips in.
“But most importantly he’s a thoroughly nice guy!” Alex says firmly. “No point being gorgeous and wealthy, but an absolute arsehole is there?”
“Well – no” Rachel says laughing.
“Have you met him then Alex?” Sophie asks wide-eyed.
“Yes and he seemed really nice and unassuming – I did wonder when Gail first told me she was seeing him” Alex says before taking a gulp of wine, “if he was going to be an arrogant dickhead!” and everyone laughs as I gape at her in disbelief.
“Well I did!” Alex says smiling at me apologetically, “You know what some footballers are like Gail – you’ve read the stories! But he was really nice and really easy to talk to”.
“Oh I’m glad you approve!” I reply dryly.
“So has he just bought a house then Gail?” Jill asks. “I thought you said he had been busy doing it up?”
“Oh yes!” I say and tell them all about Adam’s new house with frequent interjections of ‘Wow!’ and ‘Gosh!’ from Sophie and Rachel. Brenda is stood listening to it all. She smiles, but didn’t say anything.
