Free Law of Attraction by Patricia Keyson Page B

I’m sure we can get through this and build the business.”
    “Good morning.” A man had walked into the office without knocking. “I hope you don’t mind me calling unexpectedly. I was just passing so thought I’d see how things are going,” he said, holding out his hand to a puzzled Michael. “Alastair Barnes from Twigge and Moore.”
    Kay and Michael exchanged a private look, then Kay shook hands with Alastair. His clasp was weak and his touch damp; she didn’t take to him at all.
    “How about a cup of tea for one of our potential new partners?” Michael suggested.
    Kay left the room and, having taken the two men tea and biscuits, started her day’s work. She thought that Michael must have taken leave of his senses to contemplate having someone from Twigge and Moore as a partner. She really couldn’t understand him at times. But it wasn’t long before Michael was ushering his visitor into the outer office.
    “Father and I will arrange a formal meeting with you, but it was good to meet you informally after such a long time even though we’ve spoken on the telephone a few times recently.” Having shaken hands Michael retreated back to his room.
    “So this is where all the real action’s going to take place,” Alastair said, sitting on Kay’s desk and staring down at her.
    “Whatever you say, but I’m very busy at the moment and don’t have time for idle chat.” Kay continued with her typing. She’d taken an irrational dislike to anything or anyone connected with Twigge and Moore.
    “You should be nice to me. My father plays golf with Michael’s dad.”
    That explains it, thought Kay crossly. The old boy network. She believed that people should get jobs on merit, not by who they knew. She’d thought better of Michael. Maybe she should look for a job working for someone with more integrity. Furious that her annoyance was spilling over from this man to Michael in her thoughts, she took a deep breath. Alastair would be out of the office building very soon.
    “No ring on your finger. Are you spoken for?”
    “That’s none of your business.” The deep breath hadn’t worked at all.
    “Fiery aren’t you?”
    “Not especially, but I do have work to do. Now please would you go back to your work and leave me to get on with mine.”
    “You might regret your attitude when I’m a partner here.” He chuckled. “So how about going out for lunch today? Maybe we could get to know each other better.”
    “Thank you, but I’m working through lunch. Now I have to take these letters in to Michael to be signed.” She picked up the papers and left him gaping after her.
    “He’s insufferable!” Kay slammed the papers down in front of Michael who grabbed her wrist.
    “Hey, calm down.”
    She pulled away and stood looking out of the window. He immediately joined her. “What’s wrong? What did he say?”
    “Just that his father knows yours and would I go out with him. What an awful man.”
    “That doesn’t sound so bad. His father does know my father and what single man wouldn’t ask you out?”
    Kay answered ‘you’ in her head, but said nothing.
    Michael stroked her arm. “Oh, Kay, the more I get to know you the more I like you. If only…”
    Kay was still cross and pulled away. “I don’t understand how you can even consider someone from Twigge and Moore. I’ll tell you something. If he becomes one of the partners I’m leaving.” She flounced out of the room.
    The day didn’t improve and by the time she went back to Olive’s in the evening she was wondering if she’d made a huge mistake moving to Blayton.
    Olive had made cottage pie for their evening meal, but Kay found she couldn’t do justice to it or face the jam roly poly for afters.
    “What’s wrong? Was it a bad day?”
    “Dreadful.” Kay explained what had happened and how she wasn’t sure Michael was quite the man she’d thought. “If that awful Alastair is taken on I’m leaving.”
    “I’m sure Michael will choose