The feud, p.20
The Feud, page 20
‘Maybe he’ll treat you? As a Christmas present?’ I countered.
We talked for another ten minutes, as Claire griped that she’d struggle to get a bikini anywhere this time of year, not to mention the extra poundage of mince pies she’d allocated to the season. It was obvious she didn’t want to go and was making excuses. Was she tiring of Owen now the novelty had worn off?
When we said goodbye, I yawned, snuggling in bed, and found a crime show to put on the iPad, removing one of my earphones so I could rest my head on the pillow comfortably. I wanted something to fill the void in my head, so I wouldn’t think about Jonathan, Simon or Tim. It didn’t take long to drift off, but I woke with a start to a tinkling sound, and something was illuminated in the room. The iPad battery had died, and I reached for my phone, seeing the glow through the covers.
As I looked at the screen, the chime of bells rang out again, startling me, and I dropped the phone like it had burnt my hand. Someone was at the front of the house. There was a chime that was a motion-sensor which was separate to the noise that came through the app when someone rang the doorbell.
Scrambling out of bed, I pulled the curtain aside and tilted the blind, peering out into the darkness, just in time to see a figure dressed in black jogging down the road. I fought the rising panic in my chest as I backed away from the window. My entire body shaking. Had Simon tried to break in?
With fumbling fingers, I grabbed the phone, clicking into the app and waiting for the video of recent activity to load. I gasped as the figure rounded the hedge, moving quickly onto the driveway and towards the front door. A few steps away, he froze, staring at the door. He was dressed in black and wearing a beanie hat pulled right down, the perfect cat burglar outfit. It might not be recognisable to anyone if they saw it, but I knew the figure was Simon.
He paused for a few seconds, midway down the drive, before turning to jog away. Was he coming to attack me? Or break in to put the recording device back? Either way, the camera doorbell had stopped him in his tracks.
My bladder loosened and I rushed to the toilet. Washing my hands with hot water which I splashed on my face before returning to the window, I shivered violently. What was the time anyway? Disorientated, I found the phone I’d dropped; it was one o’clock in the morning, the street sleeping. The only sound as I opened the window to peer onto the driveway was the rustling of trees in the wind.
I owed George much more than a curry. I had to thank him for his helpful intervention. Whatever Simon had planned tonight, he’d decided against breaking in, knowing he’d be filmed. I imagined him livid, cursing as he ran back to his double-fronted house. I’d seen him. I had proof. What I didn’t know was what he intended to do once he’d got inside, although he wouldn’t have been able to get to the lounge as I’d locked the internal door. However, he would have been able to come upstairs.
The thought made me shudder, especially as it was just Rachel and I alone in the house. It was time to call the police, I couldn’t pretend I was safe any more and had to protect my family. Once I’d dialled 999, the police came quickly, two male uniformed officers rang the doorbell and I hurried down to greet them. Inviting them in, I asked if they wouldn’t mind keeping their voices down as my daughter was asleep upstairs. They could see I was shaken, one of them insisting on making me a hot, sugary tea. I wanted a glass of red wine, but I’d wait for them to leave.
Wrapped in my robe, we sat at the kitchen table as I explained what had gone on with Simon Fox. How I was sure he was behind the photo of me that was briefly on the internet, the one I’d reported, and how I was convinced he’d been inside my house. There was little point in me mentioning the bugging device. Most of what I said was my word against his.
The two officers listened intently, one had a kindly face with big brown eyes, and he was reassuring, saying, once he’d seen the footage from the camera doorbell, he could understand why I was so upset.
‘It does look suspicious, definitely. However the issue is we haven’t got a crime in the act. First of all, we can’t be certain from the video who that person is. And even if we could determine it is Mr Fox, we wouldn’t be able to arrest him for coming onto your driveway. He didn’t try the door or attempt access.’
My face crumpled, fresh tears springing to my eyes. Simon would evade the police yet again.
‘However, we will go and see him. Ask him to confirm his whereabouts this evening and politely suggest to him to stay away from you. I know that’s difficult as he’s buying your house, you said, but we’ll request everything is arranged through the solicitors and estate agents.’
I wrapped my fingers tightly around the mug, the heat burning my skin. ‘What if he comes back?’
‘Then you’ll call us. I’m Police Constable Michael Ferron and this is my colleague Police Constable Jeff Covell. Are you able to email the footage to us for our report?’
I shook my head. ‘I don’t know how.’
‘Here, let me show you. I have one of these at home. They are a good deterrent.’ PC Covell held out his hand and I gave him my phone. He opened the app and showed me how to share the video to an email address or text message. ‘I’ll send this to the station so I can attach it to the report,’ he said, handing me back the phone.
I yawned, lids heavy, the time on the oven was almost quarter to two. I wanted to crawl into bed and stay there.
‘Would you like us to make sure the house is secure, Mrs Massingham?’ PC Ferron asked, standing and hooking his thumb into the shoulder of his vest.
‘No, it’s fine. I’ve done that already. I don’t think he’ll be back tonight.’
‘We’ll warn him to stay away,’ he replied.
‘I think one of your colleagues did when I called before, he hasn’t paid much notice,’ I said, frustration rippling beneath my skin.
‘Please don’t hesitate to call us again if you feel under any threat.’ The kindly faced officer said as I bid him goodnight at the door.
‘Don’t worry, I won’t,’ I said, trying to muster a smile. I’d already decided, as I closed the door and bolted it, if Simon Fox came back again, I’d be ready for him.
40
Thankfully, Rachel slept through the entire police visit and was clueless in the morning as to why I was so tired. I’d sacrificed breakfast for an extra ten minutes in bed, eyes stinging when I rubbed them. I’d woken to a sweary message from Claire as I’d sent her the video of Simon on my driveway last night, after the officer showed me how, before I went to sleep. Stupidly I’d turned my phone off, thinking she’d get it in the morning, but of course she’d got up earlier than me and tried to ring. Worried as she couldn’t get hold of me, she left a garbled voicemail. I quickly sent her a placating message. I was fine, we were all fine, yet the saga of Simon Fox continued.
The guy was relentless, and I asked myself if Jonathan could be involved. Rage boiled in the pit of my stomach, surely he wouldn’t deliberately put me and the children in danger by getting mixed up with a psycho like Simon Fox.
I had to focus; work needed my concentration. Perhaps it was one element of my life I could fix today. I’d push Tim for a figure; I couldn’t go on in limbo any longer. I knew Head Office were dragging their heels, of course they were. They didn’t want to pay me off. Maybe they didn’t believe I was a threat? Well, I’d show them how much of a liability I could be. I was sick and tired of being pushed around by the opposite sex, overlooked, dismissed and taken advantage of.
‘Mum, you’ll be late,’ Rachel shouted from the kitchen as I cleaned my teeth.
Washing away the toothpaste and hurrying downstairs, I fixed the onyx necklace around my neck. A glance in the mirror showed me I was presentable enough and I promised myself a strong coffee when I got into the building.
‘What are you doing with your day?’ I asked, watching a bleary-eyed Rachel eat her breakfast. It was likely she’d go back to bed until lunchtime.
‘I’m going to Casey’s for a bit, but I’ll be home for dinner.’
‘Okay, well have fun,’ I said as I slipped out of the front door, remembering I hadn’t confirmed a time for the Goddard Close viewing I was hoping to get that afternoon. It was on my list to call Louise at the estate agents and book an appointment. I could always ring Rachel later and let her know when I needed her to be around.
When I got to the office, it was bedlam, despite it being before nine. In the kitchen, I made myself a strong sweet coffee where Sarge enlightened me as to what was going on.
‘Management meeting here today, so everyone is panicking as usual.’ He rolled his eyes.
I couldn’t help but feel the same way, although a prickle of trepidation stabbed at me. Would I have to defend myself and my actions in front of the board? With them at Tunbridge Wells, the only one I had to handle here was Tim, and I knew him so well, he didn’t faze me. I couldn’t say the same about the other men at the top.
My pulse accelerated as I headed back to my office, closing the door, hoping I could hide out in there. As I struggled to concentrate on what needed doing, my eyes flitted through the frosted glass to Liam. He was gathering folders, clutching them against his chest and rushing out of his office. He’d been summoned to the meeting I’d deliberately been left out of.
Checking my email, to ensure I wasn’t supposed to be somewhere, I jumped when Tim opened my door, poking his head in. There was no friendly gesture, no good morning. We’d run out of pleasantries, although I wasn’t surprised. I’d been a pain in his rear for the last couple of weeks and he was likely looking forward to getting shot of me.
‘We’ve got a meeting at eleven, I’ve just sent you an invite.’
‘Okay,’ I said, trying to hide the wobble in my voice.
Tim didn’t hang around, nor did he mention his emails or the information he was trying to source at the weekend.
I refreshed my email, and the meeting request came through. It had nothing in the subject line or in the body of the message, which was most irregular. How could I prepare for a meeting I knew nothing about? Checking the participants, I felt my heart sink, Peter Franks, the Chief Operating Officer, Tim and Liam were attending.
Knowing instantly it was about my presentation and threat to Winston’s, anxiety struck, a lead bowling ball weighing down my stomach. They’d brought Peter in to bully me, although at least it was only him and not the entire board of directors I’d be facing. I’d heard he was a no-nonsense man. Old-school and knocking on sixty with an abrupt manner, he didn’t suffer fools gladly. I was glad I’d remembered to put the camera necklace on.
I’d only met him once, at a Christmas party, the only one I’d attended. It had got rowdier as the night went on and the team had left the plush London hotel in favour of a strip club near chucking-out time. I’d made my excuses and left but I’d heard the gory details from Ed, who’d gone home to his wife after one drink while the rest of them waved tenners at girls young enough to be their daughters. I never attended another function.
Underarms damp, my office was suddenly claustrophobic, and I stepped outside to get some air, absorbing the chill in my blouse. One of the HGV drivers, Ted, gave me a roll-up and I smoked it in the car park while I rang Claire to get some advice.
‘Jesus, it’s all going on for you at the moment, isn’t it!’ she said, whistling down the line.
‘I know, I’m stressed to the max. What do you think the meeting will be about?’
‘Well, it’s one of two things, they are either going to pay you off, or if they are really shady, try to force you out.’
‘Sack me?’ I said, incredulous at the idea.
‘They might try.’
I gritted my teeth, turning one way and then another, embracing the cold. ‘How can they? It would be illegal,’ I said.
‘Yes, but it’s only an issue if they think you’ll challenge it.’
‘I’m not walking away from this fight,’ I spat, tossing my roll-up, and grinding it into the concrete until it was nothing but dust.
‘Good for you. Remember, you have proof of harassment, actual videos, and emails. You can prove the mistake on the contract wasn’t yours, can’t you?’
‘Yep,’ I replied. A surge of adrenaline rocketed through me. I could prove it; I could also prove I was excellent at my job. If I had to take them to court to demonstrate unfair dismissal, I wouldn’t hesitate.
‘Just keep calm, be clear, concise and don’t get emotional, okay. You need to be level-headed. Call me after and let me know how it goes.’
‘I will, thanks, Claire. I don’t know what I’d do without you sometimes,’ I said, a rush of love for my best friend threatening to bring me to tears. I hung up, standing tall. Every muscle flexed, I rolled my shoulders back, the adrenaline pumping around my body as though I was going into battle.
41
‘Kay, thank you for joining us.’ Peter slid from his seat as I entered the room. Tim and Liam did not stand, but smiled awkwardly at me, their darting eyes giving the game away. This wasn’t a meeting; it was an execution.
‘Thank you,’ I replied, slipping into the seat across from Peter and placing my closed laptop in front of me, USB stick at the ready. I didn’t know if I needed to show the presentation again, whether they fully realised what was at stake if they didn’t give me what I wanted.
Tim cleared his throat, spinning that bloody gold pen in his fingers. ‘Would you like a representative to attend?’
‘Do I need one?’ I frowned, looking about the room, but no one volunteered an answer. ‘Is Ed available?’ I knew Ed to be the union rep at Winston’s, and although I wasn’t in the union, his knowledge might be helpful. Plus if I was going to choose anyone to be on my side, he would be the only one.
‘I’m afraid Ed is not in the office today, he’s in Birmingham,’ Tim said flatly, and I knew Ed’s absence had been a calculated decision. He’d probably been sent to Birmingham to deliberately keep him away from this meeting.
‘Well, I guess I’ll take my chances,’ I replied, smiling tightly. I didn’t trust anyone else. I considered momentarily asking to officially record the meeting, but I knew the answer would be negative. I was wearing my necklace so at least I’d have a personal account of what was said.
‘Peter thought it would be a good opportunity to resolve this today, Kay, as he is in Gatwick for the Management Meeting.’
‘Yes, I noticed I didn’t receive an invite,’ I said coldly, realising the gloves were off whether I liked it or not.
‘No, well, it seems there’s little point in having you attend the meeting when you’re so keen to leave us,’ Peter said, his voice prickly.
‘I’m afraid that’s incorrect, Peter. I was told my role was going to be consolidated with Liam’s and I was no longer required at Winston’s.’
‘Yes, and you were offered a decent redundancy package, which you declined. I understand you threatened Tim for more money.’
‘Threatened,’ I scoffed, unable to keep the laughter from my voice, ‘hardly.’
Peter looked from me to Tim and back again, Tim gave him a look that said, ‘see, I told you,’ as though I’d been pegged as a troublemaker.
‘I didn’t threaten Tim. I told him – in fact, I showed him evidence I’d collected over the past few weeks of harassment, sexual innuendo and bias from him and his staff. I offered him a chance to recalculate his figures.’ I spoke slowly, the heat emanating from my skin. I had to be crimson, but I didn’t let it faze me. I was in control, and I was not to be undermined, I didn’t care whose boardroom we sat in.
‘Well, unfortunately that figure isn’t up for negotiation and I’m afraid it’s been taken off the table now. The long and short of it, Kay, is you’ve cost the company in excess of twenty thousand pounds by messing up the Allegra contract. It should have been a three-month secondment instead of six months, as you well know.’
My mouth dropped open momentarily and I stared from Peter to Liam, whose face was ghostly. He resembled a child, shrunken in his seat wishing he was anywhere else. Still, he remained quiet, willing to throw me under the bus again, so he wouldn’t have to take culpability.
‘Now we’ll pay your notice period, but you must leave today,’ Peter continued, folding his arms across his chest and pushing himself away from the table. His last word on the matter.
My eyes blazed across at him. Keep it together, Kay.
I leaned forward in my seat calmly, maintaining eye contact with Peter. ‘I am aware of the error in the Allegra contract, but it was not my mistake. Liam returned the contract they supplied us with initially, not the one I renegotiated. In fact, if I hadn’t managed to talk Damien round, you would have been paying for pension contributions and private medical for those seconded staff too. You should be thanking me.’ My leg jiggled under the table as I tried to control the outrage threatening to explode from my body like a devil possessed.
Peter blinked, obviously unaware of the error not being mine, and glared at Tim, who came to life and began to splutter.
‘I don’t believe that’s right, as the Contract Manager, it’s down to you to ensure the correct contract goes out for signing.’ Tim’s ears tinged pink, and I could sense the atmosphere in the room shift.
‘As you know, Tim, I gave Liam the correct paper copy. I also emailed him the correct contract. Despite that, he still made the mistake of printing off the old one, signing and sending it across. I didn’t see the contract again until Damien had already signed it. By then, it was damage limitation.’
‘It’s he said, she said,’ Peter commented dismissively, waving his hand as if he could make me disappear with a flick of the wrist.
I clenched my jaw, my hand beginning to tremor. ‘I assure you it’s not. I have copies of the email, which is dated and timed.’
