Court Out - By Elle Wynne Page 0,95
a stick thin redhead in her early twenties wearing a navy suit and is looking at me with an expression of suspicion and annoyance. I get the impression that this isn’t going to be easy.
“No, but it’s really important,” I persist, looking at her and smiling. She doesn’t look impressed.
“I’m very sorry, but without an appointment I’m unable to let you see Mr. Reid,” she says in a singsong voice. She doesn’t look at all sorry.
“Can you please call him and tell him that Lauren needs to see him as a matter of urgency?” I try, a tiny note of desperation seeping into my voice. She shows no flicker of recognition at the mention of my name.
“No. Mr. Reid has explicitly asked not to be disturbed until his next meeting.” She turns to a pile of papers and begins to flick through them in an attempt to make me go away. Well, I’m sorry but that’s simply not going to happen. I take out my phone and try Sebastian’s mobile. To my dismay it goes straight to answer phone. I call his work number and the phone in front of me rings. Damn. Right, lets try again with Miss Bitch then.
“Look, I’m Sebastian’s girlfriend. I really need to speak to him. I’ve ran up fourteen flights of stairs and I’m not going anywhere until you’ve at least told him I’m here.”
She fixes me with an icy glare, a small smile forming on her lips.
“For future reference, we have a lift.” She lowers her voice and leans in conspiratorially, “But between us girls, I don’t think the exercise would have done you any harm.”
Sitting up straight she continues as if she hadn’t just made a supremely rude comment. “If you refuse to leave then I’ll have no other option than to call security.”
Her attitude renders me temporarily speechless, which for me is virtually unheard of. My mind desperately races for a way to try and convince her to help me. As I draw a blank, something strikes me. Why am I standing for this? I spend, or rather spent, the entire of my working life being assertive, cross-examining seasoned criminals until they cracked, so why am I putting up with this from her? I stand up straighter and fix her with a stare I normally reserve for lying witnesses.
“You have two choices,” I say carefully and deliberately, “One, you call Sebastian and tell him I’m here. If you do that, you’ll hear no more about this. Two, I walk in to his office right now and tell him how you’ve treated me. If that happens then I expect you and your copy of Heat which you’re reading whilst pretending to work will find yourself at the job centre tomorrow. Your choice.” I pause, tempted to leave it there. I don’t. “And in future, keep your delusions of adequacy to yourself.”
To my supreme satisfaction, the receptionist has gone rather pale and I’m about to give myself a mental pat on the back when I hear a low laugh coming from behind me. I swivel on my heels and could weep in relief when I realise that Sebastian is standing behind me. He steps past me to stand at the desk. In a voice that sounds wholly unfamiliar to me he addresses my tormentor.
“I think you need to apologise Carly,” he says, his voice laden with authority.
She scowls and narrows her eyes at me.
“Sorry,” she spits in a tone that indicates she is not at all apologetic.
I turn to walk away and Sebastian puts his hand gently on my shoulder.
“One moment Lauren,” he instructs before turning back to Carly. “Please collect your belongings and leave. You may return tomorrow when I have decided what your future at my company is.” Sebastian winks at me and strides to the nearby water cooler to grab me a drink.
Carly gasps and looks at me with an odd expression I can’t immediately place.
“I thought I recognised you. Aren’t you supposed to be in prison?” she hisses in a barely audible voice.
I step back, shocked at her the hatred in her voice and the reminder of my current status. Behind me is something large, solid and human.
“Out!” a loud voice booms.
I jump in fright. I turn to see who I’ve stepped on and why they are shouting at me then realise that it’s Sebastian. He looks very angry and is pointing at bitch face.
“You have one minute before security will be here to escort you out. After I’ve