She laughs. “It sure is boring without you here.” Her tone is sulky.
“Really?”
“Yes. How is your first day going?”
“You know what? Better now you’ve called. Hey, you know the Asher here is not as nice as you.”
“There’s no Asher who works there.” Her voice lifts on the words.
“Well, yes. I mean you, but here you.”
“I’m confused.”
“The uppity front desk chick.”
“Trinity.”
“Yeah, her.”
“Trin’s lovely, you just have to get to know her.”
“Everybody is uppity here.” I sigh.
“That’s Sydney for you.”
“Really?”
“Well, yeah, sometimes, but they are nice when you spend some time with them.”
“I see.”
“So what were you in the middle of?”
“I’m thinking payback. You might be able to help actually.”
“This sounds interesting.” Her tone is filled with curiosity.
“It is.”
“Spill.”
“Hang on, I just thought of something.” Tucking the phone between my shoulder and ear, I begin typing.
From: Abigail McMillian
Subject: What checklist?
Date: 8th of November 2012 12:38pm
To: Mr Klein
Dear Mr Klein,
Good day to you, sir. I hope your day has been productive in preparation for this very difficult case. I’ve activated the account as ordered. I’m still not sure why it’s taken this long to get an email account activated for me—someone is clearly not doing their job right. And as a boss man, you might want to look into that. Anyway, my reply has been very prompt, given I’m still on my lunch break. Unfortunately, I am not privy to this checklist you speak of. Can you please instruct where I might locate it?
Regards,
Miss McMillian
Assistant
“Now I’ll wait for a reply,” I scoff, pleased.
“Reply?”
“Let’s just say a certain someone has ignored me and made me feel really unwelcome here.”
“Who?”
“Well, everybody. But this certain someone I’m not particularly happy with.”
“I’m so confused.” Asher’s voice is rattled.
“Hey, Asher?”
“Yes.”
“You know I had no idea Marcus was Mr Klein?”
“Really? How did you not? You were talking to him in the copy room and you seemed to get along well.”
“Yeah, we did, but I thought he was an assistant.”
“Oh Lord, hope you didn’t tell him that. Big-shot lawyers probably don’t take too kindly to being demoted.”
I awkwardly laugh.
“You did tell him, didn’t you?”
“I suffer from foot in mouth, Asher. The problem is real.”
Fits of laughter barrel down the line. “See, this is what I’m missing by not having you here. You’re a breath of fresh air.”
The sound of dinging alerts me to a reply.
“Can I call you back? I have something I need to do.”
“Sure thing. Be good, Abigail.”
“Trying.”
Dropping the receiver onto the console, I immediately open the email.
“Well, well, Marcus, what says you?”
From: Marcus Klein
Subject: Please tell me you are joking?
Date: 8th of November 2012 12:40pm
To: Abigail McMillian
Abigail,
This is not funny. I assume you are joking. Am I right to do so?
Marcus Klein
Partner
Sims, General, and Klein.
From: Abigail McMillian
Subject: I’ve not the foggiest idea what you are talking about
Date: 8th of November 2012 12:41pm
To: Mr Klein
Dear Mr Klein,
I have no checklist. Please instruct.
Regards,
Miss McMillian
Assistant
From: Marcus Klein
Subject: Care to explain?
Date: 8th of November 2012 12:43pm
To: Abigail McMillian
Abigail,
Well, what have you been doing all morning then?
Marcus Klein
Partner
Sims, General, and Klein.
A small giggle escapes my lips. Oh, wouldn’t you like to know. I think hard about what to answer and, before long, I have a ‘ding, ding’ moment.
From: Abigail McMillian
Subject: Explanation?
Date: 8th of November 2012 12:45pm
To: Mr Klein
Dear Mr Klein,
Playing Solitaire.
Regards,
Miss McMillian
Assistant
Giggling to myself for the second time in a matter of minutes, I’m pleased with my efforts. I’ll give it a moment and let him finish shitting himself before clearing the matter at hand by confirming I indeed know what he’s referring to. The morning has been so lonely, and a little humour never hurt anyone.
Picking the pen up from the table, I go back to the checklist and see what the next task is: blue folder, read through statements. Locating said blue folder, I open to the first page, but just as I’m about to settle in and begin reading, the door almost bursts off its hinges.
Marcus’s eyes burn through me. He’s pissed. His jacket is missing, and his nostrils flare as he huffs.
Oh shit!
“Fucking Solitaire? You’ve been playing fucking Solitaire!” His eyes narrow as he slams the door behind him.
“Um.”
“What, Abigail? You think this is funny?” His voice rises to another level of anger.
“No.” I swallow hard. I’ve never seen him like this, but I’ve also only known him for a week, and even then, I’ve spent limited time in his company.
“I wasn’t playing Solitaire, I … I have the list.”
He stalks towards the desk. My breath hitches in my throat. He places his hands heavily onto the table. He towers over me. I pull my body backwards. Marcus must see the fear on my face because he quickly stands upright, running his hands through his hair while puffing out his cheeks.
“So you’ve got the checklist?” He calms, but I hear tension still present in his voice.
“Yes.”
“Where are you up to, please?” His eyes close.
“Halfway,” I whisper.
“Which half?”
“I’ve done all the copying and lodgements, the eight different sets. I sent through the information about the work you want done to the Sunshine Coast office. Faxed over the folder’s worth of information to the lawyer for the accused, and now I’m up to the researching stuff.”
“Good. Don’t bait me again.”
I have no idea what to say.
He doesn’t even look at me. “Abigail—” He stops, placing his hands to his forehead “—let me know when you’re finished or if I can help you with anything during this process. These statements can be … well, it’s not going to be fun, so if you need me, I’m here.” With that, he leaves, and I’m left with legs that tremble and a heart thrumming so loudly I can hear the blood passing through it.
Holy crap!
Looking back at the blue folder, I’ve learnt a valuable lesson—don’t bait Marcus because he bites. In hindsight, I can understand his reaction, but still, wow, that was intense.