Page 40 of Samuel

“Where’s Denny?” I asked, placing a mug in front of Angela.

“Don’t mention her name to me,” she growled, picking up her mug. “The little bitch has dropped me right in it.”

“Why, what’s happened?” I asked, turning on my PC.

“Left me a message to say she’s not coming back. She’s got a job with Turner Rentals.”

“She can’t just go like that, surely?”

“Well any normal person would give notice, but not her. No, that little madam thinks it’s perfectly okay to leave via a sodding voicemail.”

Angela sighed and punched at the keyboard.

“Any idea what her password is?” she asked.

“Try Jason Momoa without a space.”

Angela screwed up her brow.

“He’s this month’s sexy hottie on her calendar.” I nodded at the small desk calendar in front of Angela.

She tapped at the keys. “Bingo. Right, let’s see where she’s up to with the rental collections.”

“Do you need me to do anything specific?”

Angela carried on typing. “Yep, you can call Temploy Recruitment and see if they can find me someone permanent and maybe a temp in the meantime.”

The air rushed from my lungs. “Temploy? Not A1 like we normally do?”

“No, those bastards tried to rip me off last time, so let’s try Temploy.” Angela flashed me a smile and then carried on typing.

I coughed nervously, wondering if I could somehow persuade her to do it herself, because Temploy was Sam’s agency. It was the one he’d taken over a few years before, the one that had been more important to him than becoming a father.

I hadn’t spoken to him in two days and suddenly the thought of hearing his voice made me feel nervous and excited and like a teenage girl with a crush.

I clicked on my PC to our contact list to find the number and then tentatively picked up the receiver of my desk phone. I stared at the computer screen for a few seconds before reaching out a finger to dial the number. When a female voice answered after a few rings, I visibly relaxed back in my chair, relieved but a little disappointed that Sam hadn’t answered. My relief was short lived though when she took the details and told me either Sam or Eve would call me back because I knew that when Sam saw my name on the enquiry I’d be getting my call back from him.

Almost half an hour later, I was proved right.

“Hey, it’s Sam,” he said when I answered the call. “I hear you’re looking for a new member of staff.”

“Hi Sam,” I replied, feeling a heat creep up my neck and hoping Angela hadn’t noticed. “Our other admin girl just up and left, so we need someone pretty quickly.” I’d offered to do some extra hours, but I couldn’t do the two late nights or the Saturday, not without putting on my parents for extra childcare time with Frankie and they already picked him up from school three nights a week.

“Why didn’t you call my mobile,” he replied. “You didn’t have to call the office.”

“Well, I didn’t want to bother you. I didn’t think, to be honest.”

“Next time just call me, it’s fine. Anyway, I think we have someone suitable. She could pretty much start straight away if Angela likes her. I think she will though, she’s really good and I wouldn’t have any problems placing her.”

“Really? That would be amazing, thank you.”

“That’s the perks of knowing me,” he said, laughing softly. “I’ll send her round at nine tomorrow. Just call me if that doesn’t suit Angela, okay?”

“Yes will do, thanks Sam.”

The line went silent for a few seconds and I wondered if he’d ended the call. I was just about to say his name, when he spoke.

“How have things been since Saturday? I take it you haven’t heard anything from Josh.”