Free The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella Page A

day, of course! But since you werent feeling well last
     night... She taps her watch. Now youd better get dressed. Well expect you down in ten
     minutes. We only have a light breakfast as a rule. Toast and coffee. Then we can discuss
     the menu for the week.
    Er... OK, I say feebly.
    She closes the door and I put the tea down. Oh, fuck. What am I going to do?
    OK. Prioritize. I need to call the office. Find out exactly how bad the situation is. With
     a spasm of apprehension I reach inside my bag for my mobile phone.
    The display is blank. I tap it in frustration, but the battery must have run out. I must
     have been so spaced out
    yesterday I forgot to charge it. I pull out my charger, plug it into the wall, and attach
     the phone. At once it starts charging up.
    I wait for the signal to appear... but theres no bloody signal. How am I going to call the
     office? How am I going to do anything ? I cannot exist without my mobile phone.
    Suddenly I remember passing a telephone on the landing. It was on a table in a little
     window bay. Maybe I could use that. I open my bedroom door and look up and down the
     corridor. No ones about. Cautiously I creep into the bay and lift the receiver. The dial
     tone rings in my ear. I take a deep breaththen dial the direct line forArnold . It isnt
     nine yet, but hell be in.
    Arnold Savilles office, comes the cheerful voice of Lara, his secretary.
    Lara, I say nervously. Its Samantha. Samantha Sweeting.
    Samantha ? Lara sounds so gobsmacked, I wince. Oh my God! What happened? Where are you? Everyones been She draws herself up.
    I... Im out ofLondon right now. May I speak withArnold ?
    Of course. Hes right here... She disappears briefly into chirpy Vivaldi, before the line
     clears again.
    Samantha.Arnold s friendly, assured voice booms down the line. My dear girl. Youve got
     yourself in a pickle, havent you?
    OnlyArnold could describe the loss of a clients £50 mil lion as a pickle. In spite of
     everything, I feel the beginnings of a smile. I can just picture him, in his waistcoat,
     his woolly eyebrows knitting together.
    I know, I say, trying to match his understated tones now.
    Its... not great.
    Im obliged to point out that your hasty departure yesterday did not help matters.
    I know. Im so sorry. I just... panicked.
    Understandable. However, you left a bit of a mess behind.
    BeneathArnold s jolly veneer I can hear unfamiliar levels of stress.Arnold never gets
     stressed. Things must be really bad...
    I want to fall to the floor in a groveling heap, crying, Im so sorry! But that wouldnt
     help. Ive already been unprofessional enough.
    Sowhats the latest situation? Im trying to sound matter-of-fact. Is there anything the
     receivers can do?
    I think it unlikely. They say their hands are tied.
    Right. His response is like a hammer blow to the stomach. So thats it. The fifty million
     is gone for good. And...the insurers?
    That is the next step, of course. The money will be recovered eventually, Im sure. But not
     without complications. As I think you will appreciate.
    I know, I whisper.
    Theres no good news. Theres no silver lining. Ive fucked up.
    Arnold... I say, my voice quivering. I have no idea how I could have made such a... a stupid mistake. I dont under stand how it happened. I dont even remember seeing the memo on my
     desk
    Where are you now?Arnold breaks in.
    Im... I look helplessly out the window at the Geigers gravel drive. To be honest, I dont
     even know exactly where I am.
    You dont know?
    Im in the country somewhere. But I can come back right now! My words tumble out. Ill get
     on the first train... Ill only be a few hours...
    I dont think thats a good idea. Theres a new edge toArnold s voice, which pulls me up
     short.
    Have I... have I been fired?
    There have been slightly more pressing matters to consider, Samantha. He sounds testy.
    Of course. I feel the blood rush back into my head. Im sorry. I just... Ive been with
     Carter Spink all my