Free Bittersweet Revenge by Monroe Scott Page A

had not happened.
     
    Charla asked Anna questions that probably sound general but were not really. Where did she live, how did she get back and forth to work, what time did the catch the bus. 
     
    They talked for awhile, then Charla said she would get out of Anna’s way. Charla left her phone number for Anna just in case Rick did want to hire someone.
     
    A week later Rick was on the phone hiring Charla as his assistant.
     

Chapter Fifteen
     
    She watched as Anna approached, talking like crazy on her cell phone, just as she did everywhere. Anna never even saw Charla. It didn’t take much of a push - a jostle really – and Anna was down on the tracks of the trains, fortunately with none coming. Emergency bells rang. It took only a few minutes for paramedics to get her off the tracks and onto a gurney. She clearly had a broken leg and broken arm. Off she went to where she could receive the medical attention she needed. Charla had disappeared from the scene quickly.
     
    The call came within two days. Anna had told her mother of Charla’s search for a job and how perfect the timing seemed to be. Anna put in the call to Richard and let him know she had a temp lined up for him; that they could work out the financial aspect of the job. Anna was grateful to Charla and said she would help her with anything she needed.
     
    Charla was in a bit of a shock. Rick had no idea who she was. None. He was totally engrossed in what he had to be doing in the next few days and put a pile of papers from the trip to New York on Charla’s desk.
     
    He agreed that she was hired for however long it took Anna to get back to work. Charla knew that the salary would be far less than anything paid on the west coast. She agreed to a pay of $600 per week for now. At least there might be an opportunity for more at some point, she thought.
     
    Richard explained that every Friday she should present him with a statement for her work, make a check out to herself, and leave it for Rick to sign. If for some reason, he should not get into the office, he would sign it at some point over the weekend. He never asked if that would cause a problem. People with money don’t think about what may be a grave inconvenience for someone else. 
     
    She checked on Anna, who was still in the hospital and clearly noted that she was going to be laid up for a few months. She was so grateful to Charla for being able to help Rick out for however long it may take. 
     
    Rick was a typical out of control, on the edge litigator. Although he seemed to act calm, he wasn’t. Charla was used to the type. Seemed to be in control but always did things at the last minute, relied on his secretary to know which end was up about a case, and when it was over, boasted and bragged about his organizational skills. A secretary was always left to feel as though she had nothing to be with the success of his court trial and a client’s love for him. Nothing changed whichever coast one was on.
     
    The next morning, Charla got a phone call from Anna’s mother to inform Rick that Anna was dead. How could she be dead with a broken arm and leg? Evidently she had some sort of blood disease that no one was aware of, and it wasn’t until this accident that it presented itself. The police even told Anna’s mother that if they could find the person who may have pushed Anna into the train, they could file charges against that person.
     
    Charla was devastated. She was not someone who would ever hurt anyone, so the fact that she had barely  pushed Anna in the crowd was hard for her to think about. Now that Anna was dead, it was awful. She was stricken with quilt and really had to get a grip on herself. NOW. 
     
    Rick was late getting back but Charla didn’t want to hang around and see him so she left him a note with the phone number for Anna’s mother.
     
    The next morning Rick was there when she got to the office, much to her surprise. He asked if they could talk. Charla almost forgot