Chapter Eleven
The following morning Nick headed into work. She wasn’t used to coming in so late and found the rush-hour crowds annoying. If work was that important to you, get up earlier and don’t waste time standing around in large crowds of people . Then it struck her that maybe some of these people didn’t actually consider work that important. She shrugged her shoulders and joined the queue for the lift.
Stepping into the office she was pleased to see that Daisy was already in ahead of her. She still hadn’t replied to her text but now Nick would be able to explain her visit to Ireland directly.
Daisy was standing by her desk. A large wicker box tied with a bow sat on top of the desk and in her hand she held a white envelope. She appeared to be crying.
Nick stopped dead, was she resigning? She couldn’t blame Daisy although she’d be sorry to lose her.
‘What’s wrong?’
The assistant held the letter out to Nick. She wasn’t actually crying, but it was clear from her red-rimmed eyes she had only just stopped.
‘I’m sorry. I’m just so sorry.’
Nick took the letter but didn’t open it.
‘Is this your resignation? If it is, don’t be upset, you’ve been fabulous. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.’
Now Daisy started to cry in earnest which honestly annoyed Nick – crying just got in the way, but she tried not to let her exasperation show .
‘I will write you the very best reference, if my word is worth anything after this.’ Nick tried to make light of the situation and was alarmed when Daisy let out a small wail.
‘No, stop,’ she sobbed, wiping her face, ‘you’re making it worse. It’s not my resignation letter. I’m so sorry. And I got you a present. I thought you might need something to fill the time.’
Now she started crying again in earnest. She gave Nick a quick hug, then almost ran out of the office, leaving Nick standing in silence again. She looked at the envelope in her hand; the address was handwritten and there was no postmark so someone had clearly dropped it off in person. It was already open so Daisy must have read the contents. Nick pulled out the letter and started to read. As she made her way to the bottom of the letter her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She was being evicted. The owners of the office space said that they were terminating the lease immediately. Poor Daisy must have been mortified, seeing as how she had found these offices for Nick in the first place.
How dare they? And how did they know she was being investigated? It was still supposed to be undisclosed. Nick was tempted to call them out and threaten them with legal action but all that would achieve would be to draw attention to her current predicament.
Daisy had pinned a little note to the letter saying she would come in tomorrow and arrange for the staff to come in and collect any belongings.
Nick realised her hands were shaking as the letter fluttered in front of her. No wonder her assistant had been crying, she felt like bawling her head off as well. She scanned the letter again – in a manner unbecoming , the nerve of it; Lehman Brothers had offices running right up until the minute they collapsed half the world’s currencies. It was all part of the old boys’ network. She had seen it for years but here it was up front and sneering at her. The first step out of line and the City elite were going to eviscerate her.
Nick sat down at the table and wondered what the hell to do. Finding new office space would be easy enough, but what could she do about the fact that people were clearly talking about her and waiting to attack her. But why? This felt personal.
She wanted to know exactly why she was being evicted. It wasn’t for higher rent, there were two other office suites on this floor that were vacant, so they’d be mad to get rid of a paying tenant. And she certainly didn’t believe the manner unbecoming twaddle. For some reason they wanted to hurt their tenant badly enough that they were prepared to take a financial hit. Exactly whose toes had she trodden on?
The box barked.