Mrs R (Mrs R & Mr V #1) (24 page)

Benjamin Pierce had invited her in
to primarily clear Nate’s office. Apparently, this is where Joe Mason wanted to
situate himself and he had a refurbishment plan ready for when Rachel had
finished. She suspected he was getting a bit impatient as she’d successfully
managed to delay this task for as long as possible. However, Ben had been quite
insistent she visit as she also needed to discuss and sign off on Nate’s last
project. Ben was a senior partner in the firm a few years shy of retirement and
always very pleasant. He was a brilliant lawyer and added status and prestige
by reputation. He was exceedingly influential and Rachel was grateful to have
him on her side – however, she feared even he would be reticent when he
heard her suggested objectives for the future.

Reaching London Bridge and exiting
the tube station Rachel was greeted with a close up view of the stunning Shard.
She took a few moments to appreciate the clever glass architecture and general
hustle and bustle of City workers dispersing to their various office buildings
and felt quite buzzed by the atmosphere. However, as each step took her closer
to her destination and quite possibly her fate, nerves threatened to get the
better of her. Pausing to gather herself, Rachel sat on a bench for a moment to
try and curb the anxiety coursing through her body. Just then she felt
 
her phone beep alerting her to an
incoming message.

“Hey Mum – love you and good
luck – mwah, Jess & Lucy xxx”

The words displayed across her
screen and fortified her enough to get on with her journey. Her girls knew how
much she was dreading today and it warmed her heart to receive their support
just when she needed it the most.

Rachel reached the glass fronted
edifice of Nate’s Law Firm. There was a massive revolving entry door that
seemed to rotate automatically. She stepped into it from the outside just as
someone was exiting from inside the building, she couldn’t hear him but the man
through the glass was certainly furious at whoever it was on the other end of
his phone. She couldn’t see his face as his back was turned to her but she was
frightened for the person if he ever caught up with them – he was huge!
Her eyes widened at the muscles rigid under his long sleeved t-shirt, and the
thickness of his thighs hugging his jeans was ridiculous. Rachel couldn’t help
compare him to Luc as they were about the same height but this guy was full on
hulk in comparison and that was saying something.

Before he distracted her
completely, Rachel entered into the quiet foyer where she was instantly
overwhelmed as her mind flooded with memories of having met Nate here on many
occasions in the past.
 
Nothing had
changed which seemed bizarre to her when such a monumental part of her life was
altered forever. She wasn’t sure why she was expecting to see any change
– it was all just too shockingly normal.

“You can do this Rachel,” she
repeated over and over like a mantra all the way up in the lift to the 17
^th
floor. In fact she rode the lift several times up and down until she felt ready
to get out and face the tragedy that was her life.

**********

“Mrs Renton; welcome” smiled the
friendly receptionist, a lovely girl named Angela who she remembered had
attended the funeral. “How are you today?”

“Angela – it’s so lovely to
see you again. I’m well thank you.” Rachel was impressed with herself so far
– no wavering voice to match her nerves.

“Anything you need, please don’t
hesitate to ask. And Mrs Renton, we all miss Nate so very much.”

“Breathe in; breathe out” Rachel’s
mind commanded her body to comply. “No one more than me, Angela” she smiled
weakly in response.

“Please take a seat and I’ll call
Mr Pierce for you.”

Rachel sat in Reception, her
stomach flipping violently and her pulse racing. She was pretty sure she
maintained an outwardly calm composure but a storm was brewing inside of her
threatening to erupt through her throat in a torrent of sobbing. Preparing to
bolt, Rachel was prevented from doing so by the lovely Benjamin Pierce who
appeared just in the nick of time.

“Rachel – it’s so good to
see you. You’re looking just beautiful as always.” Ben enveloped her in a warm
hug, kissing her cheek at the same time. It felt safe and familiar and the
storm settled a little until Ben took her hand and started to walk towards
Nate’s office.

“Rachel – I’m sorry. There’s
going to be no easy way for you to do this. You might as well get it over and
done with as soon as possible. We haven’t touched anything just as you
instructed. Take all the time you need and let Angela know if you require
anything at all.”

Halting outside the door of her
husband’s office, Rachel thanked Ben then swiftly entered closing the door
behind her. Leaning back against it she was engulfed by the overwhelming sense
of Nate. Closing her eyes, Rachel inhaled deeply drawing his scent into her. He
was everywhere and nowhere and a jolt of grief so fierce gripped her as she
slid down to the floor clasping her arms across her stomach rocking back and
forward. She was aware of a strange noise in the room and soon realised it was
her keening for her loss.

“This is too hard; too fucking
hard,” she mumbled over and over fighting to keep the panic at bay. After
several long minutes, Rachel gathered herself off the floor and on shaky legs
went to sit in Nate’s chair. No one could help her now; not Nate, not Luc and
certainly not Joe Mason whoever and wherever he was. Punching the intercom for
reception she asked Angela to organise several large boxes for storage.

While she was waiting for the
boxes to arrive, Rachel took some time to look around Nate’s room. It was very
masculine but in an old fashioned way. Nate was a man who liked tradition and
his office was decorated accordingly. His desk was massive and terribly elegant
– all carved legs and leather topping. There were drawers and gilt locks
suggestive of a much earlier age. The desk matched much of the furniture in the
room making it seem like an antique store rather than a lawyer’s office. Photos
of her and the girls were dotted around the room so that whichever way Nate was
facing he could always see his family. A tear ran down Rachel’s face when she
realised this but she refused to break down altogether having cried enough
tears in the past eight months. Now was a time to be strong and attend to the
task at hand.

A knock on the door startled
Rachel momentarily until Angela entered with several fold out storage boxes.

“Do you want me to help you
construct some of these boxes Mrs Renton?” she asked politely.

“Call me Rachel, please Angela
– I keep looking for my mother in law every time I hear Mrs Renton! And
yes I’d love some help, I have no idea how to build these things!”

“No problem at all.” Angela
removed her suit jacket and hung it on Nate’s coat stand then proceeded to show
Rachel how the box came together. It was a very simple process and Rachel felt
quite foolish. Noticing her discomfort Angela reassured Rachel that no question
was too stupid and she should never worry about asking her anything at all.

“You are a gem Angela –but
you are so going to regret telling me that; I fear I’m going to drive you
nuts!”

Angela and Rachel laughed at that
and it calmed Rachel down a bit for the job that lay ahead. She found she
really liked Angela and clearly the receptionist had been very fond of Nate.
She spoke about him with genuine affection and seemed determined to take Rachel
under her wing.

Rachel guessed Angela was a few
years older than her but her smooth ebony skin and perfect size 10 figure made
for one very attractive woman. No wonder the partners stationed her at the
front line to meet and greet visitors – she had a smile that lit up the
whole room and deep brown eyes full of warmth and concern. She reminded Rachel
a little bit of a younger version of David Bowie’s wife Iman; sleek, stylish
and sexy.

“There” proclaimed Angela
gesturing at several empty boxes “you take all the time you need and call me
for anything.” Grabbing her jacket off the hook she disappeared out the door
leaving a waft of expensive perfume in her wake.

Rachel began by collecting all the
photos; pictures and certificates – she would be taking them home for
sure. Then she set about collecting other personal items from Nate’s desk
drawers. She found little notes from Jess and Lucy and pictures they had drawn
for him when they were little. Rachel’s heart tightened at the thought of him
keeping them all these years. Nate adored his family especially his precious
girls. There wasn’t much else she was interested in keeping but was totally
floored when she discovered a pair of her panties tucked away in his bottom
drawer. Rachel laughed at the thought of her prim and proper husband rooting
around the laundry basket for them but her train of thought was interrupted by a
knock on the door. Shoving her panties into the box for home, she called for
the person to come in.

“Rachel – how are you
getting on?” asked Ben as he approached the desk, his voice full of concern.

“Fine Ben, thanks. I‘ve taken what
I want to keep and would appreciate Angela arranging to have it delivered to my
home. I thought I’d spend this afternoon catching up on Nate’s latest project
– do you have the files?”

Ben had the good grace to look a
little uncomfortable before continuing, “Umm about that. This is the something
I wanted to talk about with you face to face. Joe has decided we probably won’t
be pursuing that line of business going forward. He just needs you to sign off
on the termination agreement.”

Rachel sat up straighter in Nate’s
chair. “What do you mean? I thought this new venture was fully supported by the
board? Good for the reputation to have a humanitarian side and all that?”

“Well – it seems our new CEO
has a dislike for pro bono work. He’s not big on working for no profit. He doesn’t
want to give up resources for a line of work that won’t pay for itself.”

“But that’s not right Ben,” Rachel
was quite indignant. Joe Mason was clearly all about the money but bollocks to
that, this was Nate’s passion and she was determined to see it continue.

“I’m sorry Ben – I’m not
signing any papers. Nate made sure that in the event of his death, I was to
take over his work to the best of my ability and that is what I fully intend to
do. I’m not sure if I’m capable but I can certainly oversee a team that is. If
Mr Mason has a problem, have him call me. “

“With all due respect Rachel
– you have no idea how much work this will entail. Are you sure you are
up to it?” Rachel knew Ben was aware of her credentials and suspected he meant
emotionally rather than practically.

Rachel was mad. Any doubts she had
harboured about returning to work had dissipated the moment she heard about Joe
Mason’s objections. All it had done was fire up a desire to ensure Nate’s
dreams were not obliterated at the first hurdle. Narrowing her eyes at Ben with
a steely expression on her face, Rachel held his gaze.

“Do not under estimate me Ben. I
will work as hard as I need to make this a success. I fervently believe we have
a duty to donate a percentage of our time to worthier causes than Joe Mason’s
pocket. Where is he anyway?”

Ben told her that their new CEO
was not due to start until next week but would undoubtedly be popping in and
out before then. “He’s keen to move in here and redecorate,” Ben told her as he
waved his arms around Nate’s office.

“I bloody bet he is. I’ll also
need an office, but I have no desire to be in here – it’s too painful. I
do however, wish to keep Nate’s desk. I’ll leave it to you to move me anywhere
you think is suitable. I’ll need an associate to assist me but I don’t mind if
you rotate them every 6 months or so. I’m also open to any students who need
work experience.”

Ben smiled at her then; a big grin
that made his eyes crinkle with glee. “Oh I am so glad you have risen to this
challenge my dear. I was rather hoping for a bit of excitement. Since Nate’s
been gone it’s been entirely too dull.”

Rachel stared at him; not quite
sure she had heard him right. She was convinced he’d switched his allegiance
but now she realised he just needed to be sure she was properly committed. “I
won’t let you or Nate down Ben. I promise.”

“Then let the games begin,” he
chortled as he flipped the intercom button. “Angela – please can you
bring Mrs Renton the Genesis files. Thank you dear.”

“Genesis?” Rachel asked.