Chapter 5 Declined

Mark Molt sat comfortably on his black leather chair behind his large dark brown oak desk. It was another long day at the office. He waited for Mrs Blunder, who was his secretary for the last fifteen years, to bring his coffee. She had been bringing him his coffee since the day she started. She was as old as his grandmother, he assumed. Her grey hair and wrinkled face had much warmth and love. He adored her. This year will be her retirement. She decided to stay on until sixty five although sixty was the retirement age. She was as fit as a fiddle.

Never complained, seldom took sick leave or any leave for that matter. He was going to miss her.She was truly a valued member of the law firm family. Mrs Blunder handed him his coffee," extra hot, extra strong, extra milk and no sugar, just how you like it son". His heart melted just hearing the little old lady. Indeed he will miss her. She had three more months until retirement. He wished she didn't have to go. Mark tried to persue her to stay but he knew it was time for her to rest, enjoy her retirement and live her dreams. She wanted to travel the world with her only son. After her husband had passed on, Adam was all she had. He visited her often at work and gelled well with Mark. He was in his early thirties and still unmarried. She wished he had found the love of his life and settled down but he was still enjoying the bachelor life. She didn't quite understand why he would prefer being single over having a family even though he was brought up in a loving close knit family. Was it the passing of his father that made him not want to feel attached to another person? His bond with his father was so strong that he never recovered from the loss. They both did not recover. And although Mrs Blunder seemed alright on the outside, deep within she was facing her own storms.Storms that she hid well behind her broken smile. Mrs Blunder yearned to play with grandchildren in her retirement and Mark understood why she had taken a liking to his children. She was like a grandmother to them. Always knitting them Christmas sweaters, telling them stories when they came to the office and the main grandma trait of all, she handed them sweets that she kept in her top drawer. His kids will really miss her. They always looked forward to coming to the office because of her.

Mark sipped his coffee taking in the flavour and aroma. He smiled looking at the picture of his family on his desk. He did love them to the moon and back. He knew he had to keep his wife happy for him to have his fun on the side. She would never suspect him if he showered her with gifts which she loved. He did what he did best after a wild night. Drink coffee, admire his family and work till late. It was a dull day, the weather did not look too promising. Rain clouds were hanging deep and dark in the sky as if they would burst any moment. He admired the view as he finished the last bit of his coffee and placed the mug on the coaster at the far end of his desk.

Mark Molt, stretched out his hand and cracked his knuckles, it was time to get down to serious work. He had many cases coming up and needed to get his head in the game. His headache from the excessive alcohol last night had finally subsided. Mrs Blunders coffee always did the trick. He knew that probably the little old lady knew about his wild office parties. She definitely wasn't wet behind the ears.

He clicked open his laptop clicking on his emails. There where 30 emails waiting to be read but one caught his attention. JESSICA BROWN, RE : NOTICE OF RESIGNATION.

He clicked on the email, he needed to know why. He could not lose a five star employee. She was a hard worker just like his Mrs Blunder. He saw her working at the firm for a very long time, probably until retirement. Probably until she is Grey and old. Probably until she is unfit. She was not like his other employees. She never goofed around with them and like them.

He read the email in his head. He couldn't make sense of why she would want to resign. He gave her enough paid leave for her to recover from her sprained ankle. The job was not demanding. She worked a straight shift. Her times were flexible. "Regret to inform you" , he couldn't help but say aloud, " due to personal reasons".

What personal reasons! He shouted out loud. He just couldn't help himself. He was confused and annoyed at the same time.

What could be so personal that we can not help her with. He had a feeling it had something to do with last nights incident. He knew just the right person who will tell him. He picked up his desk phone and buzzed Mrs Blunder,"Send Charlie to me now".

"Yes, Mr Molt",Mrs Blunder spoke in her old raggy voice. Her boss didn't sound like he was in a good mood, like he was earlier this morning when she handed him his coffee. " Must be a business related issue", she thought as she woke up from her chair to go to find Charlie. She knew where she would find Charlie. His usual spot, in the kitchen, probably eating a doughnut and sipping his white cappuccino. It was too early for Charlie to be doing anything else Better. He loved his food and no matter how much he ate, he never gained any weight. He was still as thin as a stick as if his food passed through him like a locust.

Mark never mixed business with pleasure.