Chapter Nine
The days following Lucy's visit were quiet. And made me realise that I was kind of hiding at home in Marsdon. I couldn't remember the last time I'd gone out with friends in Manchester. I'd never been much of a partier, but I was kind of a hermit these days.
But I spent all day Wednesday making a cake for a christening. An order had come in the day following my return from Malta. It was an easy request. A two-tier cake covered in white icing and decorated with blue and green bunting flags. On the top, three blue dice to spell out the name Sam. It was cute and fun to make.
Then I'd seen a video clip online where a woman made flowerpots from cake and decorated the top into the shape of a cactus. Lost most of the following day trying to recreate them, but it had been enjoyable trying something new. Pushing myself to learn new skills. Although I doubted I would be getting any orders for anything like that anytime soon.
Fun until I missed an email from the agency about an interview, which was how I'd ended up being woken up by a phone interview I hadn't known about. I needed to spend more time in the real world. Totally winged the call, but I must have convinced them I was a fully functioning adult worth hiring. I didn't remember most of what I had said on the call, but there I was Monday morning the first day of a new job. For a law firm based in Marsdon.
It had been a quiet commute compared to the cramped train rides into the centre of Manchester I was used to. Instead, a peaceful walk along the canal gazing across to the hills in the distance. Through the streets of terraced housing as I got closer to the town centre. Until I was standing outside an old imposing building.
And I wasn't nervous in the slightest. Not at all. Totally ignored the slight shake to my fingers as I reached for the door handle. I'd never worked for a law firm before. They probably just needed someone to do the filing and photocopying. Dullsville. But having food in the cupboards was always a bonus. Even though the position was only for a couple of weeks to cover someone on sick leave, that much I remembered.
I was greeted by a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a tailored blue suit that fit him like a second skin who introduced himself as Mr Benson.
“Ms Hardwick. I'm so glad you could start at such short notice. This way.”
He held out his arm and proceeded to show me to my desk where he dumped a pile of audio files that needed typing up and a list of clients who needed their court documents prepared. Prepared for what, I had no idea. He hurried off as soon as I sat down and left me to figure it out for myself.
He'd already logged me on to the computer so I opened a Word document. I'd start on the audio files because that seemed relatively easy.
Two hours later, I found out they weren't. It was frustrating having to keep stopping and rewinding the file because I couldn't type fast enough and the language was dry and confusing.
“How are you getting on? Nearly done?”
At Mr Benson's question, I looked up my eyebrows raised. He expected me to have finished all this already? “Er, not quite. The audio files are taking longer than I thought.” His eyes narrowed as he pretty much glared at me.
“But you can touch type, right?”
I couldn't help but squirm in my seat under his accusatory look. Especially as my CV did not say I could. I shook my head.
“But you've finished preparing the court documents, yes?”
My cheeks burned at the tone of his voice, whole body flushing. It was like being back in high school when my Year Nine Geography teacher would ask me a question I didn't know the answer to. And then would tell me a student in Year Seven could answer it. Just once, I wished I'd had the nerve to tell him to go ask a Year Seven student instead. Of course I hadn't. “I haven't started on them yet. I was going to ask you how I should prepare them.”
His lips pressed together until they formed a thin white line.
“You do have experience in Family Law, don't you?”
Now why would he think that? “Erm…no?”
“Are you asking me or telling me you don't?”
Oh, I so wanted to be anywhere else right then. “I'm telling you I don't.” Then I threaded my fingers together in my lap, nails digging into the backs of my hands. Mr Benson threw his hands up in the air.
“I knew it was too good to be true that we could get someone on such short notice. You're no good to me if you don't have Family Law experience.”
Wow, tell it like it is, don't spare my feelings or anything.
“I'm going to have to contact the agency and complain.”
Yeah and I'd bet he'd enjoy doing it too. “I'm sorry, Mr Benson, I don't know why they sent me for this job, but I'll be contacting them too.” All I got was a curt nod.
“We won't be paying for the hours you've done. You might as well go home.”
He swivelled on his heel and stalked off. Arsehole. It wasn't my fault, and he didn't have to be such a dick about it. I grabbed my handbag from under the desk and hurried out of the office.
Just wait until I got home. Belinda at the agency was going to get an earful. Because that wasn't mortifying or anything.
By the time I'd reached my house, I'd calmed down some. But I was still calling the agency to find out what the hell had happened.
But a half hour later—still on the sofa where I'd thrown myself when I got in—my mobile rang. Belinda.
“Kimberly, I'm so sorry. I've just got off the phone with Mr Benson.”
“What happened, Belinda? That was humiliating, and he was a complete ass about it.”
“It was our fault. I'm so sorry. Somehow the CVs got mixed up. The front page of yours went out with the page of someone else's that had the relevant experience for the job as far as I can tell from going through our records. The phone interview was a formality to see how you would deal with clients over the phone, but it wasn't you they should have called. I explained the mix-up to Mr Benson.”
The sound of my deep exhale echoed through the phone. Shame they couldn't have spotted the mix-up before I'd shown up. Although I guess it was partly my fault. Should have been prepared for the phone interview and maybe I would have realised. “It's okay.” Well, it wasn't, but there was nothing that could change what had happened.
“It's not okay. It should never have happened. But the good news is I have a job offer for you. It's for an accounting firm in Manchester.”
That sounded almost as bad as working at a law firm. Maybe it was time to put aside the dream of baking for a living and find a full-time office job again. Or a full-time job baking somewhere. But most places wanted someone with real experience.
Or I could get a job at the bottom and work my way up. Except that was one of the main reasons I wanted my own business. I'd have artistic freedom. At least within the client's requirements. I chewed on the inside of my cheek as my thoughts went back and forth.
“Kimberly?”
Oops, Belinda was expecting some kind of response from me. “I'm not sure. Do they know I have no experience working for an accounting firm?”
“Yes, I spoke to them myself. They need someone with experience working with spreadsheets and basic maths skills. They only need someone for a month to clear a backlog left behind from two people leaving the team.”
Excel and maths I could do. Still, after the debacle earlier I was hesitant. “Why did they leave?”
“Who?”
“You said two people left, why?”
“Oh. Erm…”
I could hear the shuffle of papers over the line.
“One left the firm and the other was promoted. It's a good firm. Small, with only two senior accountants. Plus, they really need someone to start straight away.”
A small firm was good. The idea of working in a big corporate company made me shudder. The money I could definitely do with. Maybe it could be my last job. That would give me a month to figure out what I was going to do. “And what? They just need someone to do what?”
“Some basic number crunching, they said. Entering data into their systems which they'd show you how to use and then running some reports. Nothing too complicated.”
Okay, that sounded like something I could handle. “And they'd want me to start when?”
“Next week if possible for a month. I suggested you might be available on Monday. It's similar to the last job you had in Manchester. Just for an accountancy firm this time. You can do this, Kimberly.”
I still wasn't convinced. “And you're sure they're okay with someone who's never worked in an accounting firm before?”
“I know we don't normally send you to these kinds of firms, but Louise is still off sick. And I know now isn't a great time to ask you for a favour but this is a new firm to us, and I'd really like to be able to fill the position for them. I spoke to the man who you would report to, Tony. He seems really nice, and he's okay with you having no experience. Plus, it's in Manchester so the pay is more than what you would have got working in Marsdon.”
More pay was always a bonus. And Manchester would be a relatively short commute on the train. Belinda had never asked me for a favour before, and it was only a month.
“Okay, fine. I'll start next Monday.”