Ending
Ending
‘WELL, I’M DISAPPOINTED, BUT I CAN’T SAY I’M surprised,’ Tim said. ‘I knew you’d head for bigger and better things, and I’m happy for you. Our loss.’
‘Second that,’ Alf added. ‘We’re gutted to lose you.’
‘I hope my new bosses will be as good as my old ones,’ Ellen replied. ‘I’ve learnt so much here. Thank you for taking a chance on me.’
Tim smiled. ‘No chance was taken, Ellen. I could see you had what it took when I interviewed you.’
Word spread. ‘Sorry you’re going,’ Geoff said. ‘You’re great to work with.’
‘You too.’
‘How could you leave me alone with all these men?’ Kit demanded. ‘Not fair.’
Ellen laughed. ‘You managed fine before I arrived – and maybe they’ll find a woman to replace me.’
‘I’ll live in hope. Excited about the new job?’
‘Very – although I’ll miss everyone here.’
‘We’ll miss you too.’
She’d had a note from Lucinda a few days after she’d accepted the job.
Ellen,
Justin and I are delighted you’re coming on board – and I’d like you and me to be a creative team, if you’re agreeable. I think we’d work well together. See you at 9.00 a.m. on November fourth. Dress how you want – we’re casual here.
My best,
Lucinda
She wrote to Danny with the news. He wrote back.
Hey, that’s fantastic – and you’re going in at the start, just like I did in Dublin. Delighted for you, pal – won’t feel it till you’re a big shot on the London advertising scene.
On her last day at Marketing Solutions they threw a surprise party for her in the reception area. She was presented with a giant card that everyone had signed, and a cake was brought out with Best of Luck Ellen on top, and they washed down the cake with champagne – the proper stuff, which she’d never tasted. ‘Keep the cork,’ Alf said when she told him it was her first, so she did.
Her first champagne. Even at the ripe old age of twenty-four, she was still having firsts.