Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 George Douglas 04 - (Introducing Veronica Coleman)

   Cathy Douglas was happy as she walked to her school.  Her father and
Sandra Henderson were now engaged and they weren't even angry with either
her or Chris.

   She spotted Trudy Wagner ahead of her.  Trudy had been her friend since
kindergarten when they were in the same class.  Although Trudy had been
deaf since she was 3 she had found Cathy to be supportive of her problems,
even defending her against some of the other, less well-mannered
classmates.

   Cathy ran up to her friend and tapped her on the shoulder, when Trudy
turned round she smiled warmly and, using her fingers, signed 'Hello'.

   Cathy smiled back and replied in the same way.  She had taken it on
herself to learn sign language and was quite proficient in it, able to
spell out words quite quickly - in fact she and Trudy had a short-hand
version which they were comfortable with.

   She quickly brought her friend up to date with her father's life.

   'So he's also got promoted - how cool' signed Trudy, 'Does that mean
you're be moving away?' Cathy shook her head.

   'No, dad says that he's happy where we are now.' She replied, `And
anyway he knows I'm happy at school so why should he change that?'

   'I donno some parents are funny about that.' Trudy said, 'but what about
Chris, how's he going to manage?'

   'Don't know yet.' Cathy replied, 'We're going to have to find out
later.' And they continued walking and signing their way to school.

   Trudy turned at the gateway to enter the special unit - A school
complete in its own rights with several grade teachers and a headmistress;
all the children liked her because she could take a joke without the
loftiness of an adult.  Trudy waved to her friend as she entered the doors.

   ---------------------------

   Cathy walked on to enter the Secondary comprehensive school she mused on
the strangeness of the schools here - she knew that in other towns the
'special' schools were completely segregated, but the two here had been
part of a trial, which had never been finished.  In fact the parents of
both schools had voted to keep the special school open.

   The two schools had grown together and supported each other as such they
were a testament to how the children didn't make a distinction where most
adults did.

   And that was where the problems of the world seemed to occur, but
whatever it was Cathy didn't care as she counted Trudy as one of her best
friends, and felt that their friendship would endure regardless of what
others thought.

   -------------------------------------

   George smiled at the memory of the previous night the look on his mother
and Angela Henderson's faces when he told them that they were going to be
grandparents again.

   They were delighted at the news and also with the fact that he and
Sandra were going to be married, and no doubt they were making plans for
the wedding, so he could expect them to be bustling around and making
suggestions for him and Cathy.

   He was sitting in his office reading the documentation that Helen had
provided for him; they detailed the operation plan for the partnership -
why the junior partners were unaware of the real owners of the partnership.

   Helen was sitting across from him, watching him closely.

   "I didn't realise about any of this!", George told her.

   She nodded her head.  "I know, that was why I decided to be assigned as
your secretary.  I thought that you would need my guidance, my knowledge of
the situation." She smiled at him, "So ask away."

   "Why keep the identity of the real owners from all the partners?" George
asked.

   Helen thought for a moment.  "We had to keep people from knowing about
us!  If it was known about our involvement it might caused problems with
the normal running of the partnership."

   George caught the word 'us'.  He looked at Helen,

   "You mean that you're one of the owners?", he asked her.

   She nodded.  "Well I'm a member of the family so I suppose the answer is
yes I am.  I found that I enjoyed the work as a secretary, plus the ability
to suggest and direct the path of 'my employers', as all secretaries do!",
she said smiling.  "Anyway, you've always done a good job here as a junior
partner it was only right that you'd be offered the position."

   George shook his head, he'd been satisfied with his previous secretary,
Mavis, but then she was moved to another partner and Helen replaced her. 
George had found Helen to be very knowledgeable about his clients and their
'foibles' - the way they preferred to be treated, or addressed, these
little things meant a lot to them - she later admitted that Mavis had kept
notes on these things.

   "So what do the owners expect from me?" George asked her.

   Helen shook her head.  "You want me to be honest?  At the moment
nothing!" At his surprised look she laughed.  "You don't really understand,
this promotion was something you'd deserved.  You've been such a success
for the firm that you would have been promoted anyway, it just that we've
no problems on the business front at the moment, so you're be carrying on
with whatever important cases that can't be passed onto the junior staff."

   George sat back at that and contemplated his position.  There wasn't
anything dishonest about the situation.  Many firms had silent partners so
was there something amiss about this?

   Helen was watching George closely.  She knew that he was very ethical
about matters, if he thought that there was anything going on that
shouldn't he'd soon shout about it, it was for that reason that he'd been
chosen.  His reputation was well known.

   "I understand your hesitation; I can't think of any reason why you
shouldn't be concerned about this." Helen said to him, "The only thing I
can offer is the fact that we supply the backing to ensure that the proper
legal action is taken." George had to smile at that.

   "You mean like that 1970's program Knight Rider - the Foundation for Law
or whatever it was," he said.  It was meant to be funny but Helen nodded
her head.

   "Yes!  Exactly!", she told him and then she sat back.  "The legal system
in England is created by Parliament who creates the major laws, but it's in
the courts themselves that the normal laws are defended and maintained. 
The so-called test cases that create the precedents are the ones that have
to be fought.  That's what we're trying to do here." Her eyes were almost
glowing as she said that, George could see that she was committed to this
cause.

   "So what's going to happen when I marry Sandra Henderson?" He said,
Helen nodded her head,

   "I don't think that would be a problem.  We don't interfere with
people's lives.  I know that Mrs.  Henderson is highly regarded in her firm
as you are with us, so I can't see that there would be any breach of
confidentiality," she told him with a faint smile on her lips - she had
reconciled herself to his feelings.

   "You are aware that if there is any problem I would place my family
above the firm," George told her.

   She smiled again - he was so predictable.  "We all understand that,
George.  And to be honest we agree with that." Then a phone rang.  It was
the third phone.  George picked it up.

   "Mr.  Douglas?  Would you come to the boardroom please?" The elderly
female voice spoke to him, he didn't recognise the voice but acknowledged
the call before hanging up the phone; he looked at Helen.

   "Well, here I go then," He said to her; she smiled back.

   "There's nothing to worry about, Mr.  Douglas.  I don't think my family
has eaten anyone in the past few years."

   George smiled at her as he started to go though the door, "But Helen,"
he said, "There is always a first time.  Isn't there?"

   ----------------------------------

   As he approached the door to the boardroom George was met by Robert
Smythe who shook his hand.

   "Well George, ready to face the dragon?" Robert said.  At George's look
Robert laughed, "I'm sorry George it just came out like that.  No you'll
like Veronica.  She's the liaison between us and our backers." And with
that information George was ushered into the room.

   Already seated was Luke McKendrick and Oona Glover, Luke was in charge
of the family division for the partnership and Oona was Robert's second in
command.  George was shown to his seat and Robert sat opposite him.

   At the head of the table was an elderly woman, not old but giving the
sense of wisdom, George felt that she looked almost familiar - familiar but
different to anyone he knew, she smiled at George as he sat down.

   "Well now that we are complete," Veronica said, "I'm glad to welcome
George Douglas to the senior partners; we all know George and the attention
he brings to his works.  The business section will be greatly improved with
his knowledge and leadership at the helm." There was a polite smattering of
applause from the three other partners before Veronica turned to Robert.

   "Now Robert, I understand that the case against Joey Webb is starting to
hit a few walls?"

   Robert nodded.  "Yes, we have an almost airtight case against him, but
some of the witnesses are starting to change their evidence.  We believe
that his brothers are trying to intimidate them, but I'm glad to say that
the eyewitness is already under police protection and I'm confident that we
will get a conviction with his evidence."

   Veronica inclined her head in agreement.  "Thank you for that, Robert.
However, from what our sources can tell us, the brothers are capable of
more than simple intimidation!  It's been decided to assign a team of
bodyguards to your family to ensure that you are not threatened by them.

   This flustered him slightly.  "I'm sure that I'm in no danger from them.
They know that the truth will always win!" A sentiment that George didn't
agree with, normally it was the people with the biggest sticks that won an
argument, but he didn't want to say that here.

   "Unfortunately the truth is no shield." Veronica said, "You will be
guarded whether you like it or not, you are too important to the
partnership to lose because of some stupidity!" George noticed that she
didn't say whose stupidity.

   The discussions with Luke and Oona were just small talk as they were not
involved in anything major, they talked about the junior partners and which
ones still needed guidance in their work.

   After an hour the meeting broke up.  As George was about to leave,
Veronica called to him.  "George.  If I could have a few words?"

   George nodded and watched the other three leave the room.  He turned to
Veronica.

   "So, how's your relationship with Sandra Henderson going?", she asked
him.

   He felt like asking what concern was it to her, but there was something
in her eyes that caused him to reconsider.  "Very well actually", he said,
"I proposed to her yesterday and she accepted."

   Veronica smiled at him, "I'm so glad.  Since she met up with John I've
been worried about her." She watched his mouth fall open.  "Oh I'm sorry
didn't you know?  She's my daughter."

   George was stunned.  He just looked at Veronica, That was why she looked
so familiar, but then Sandra hadn't told him about this!  Veronica just sat
there watching him; finally she shook her head.

   "I'm sorry George, Sandra wasn't holding anything back.  I've lost touch
with her just after she got married to John.  I didn't think he was the
right man for her.  We argued and she left." There was a tear in Veronica's
eye.  "I . . .  I've never even seen my own grandson!"

   "I . . .  I'm sorry, I don't know what to say." George said to her,
feeling uncomfortable as most men are when women cry.

   She shook her head sadly, "That's okay George.  I think that as far as
Sandra is concerned I'm as dead as her father!"

   "Have you tried to contact her?" George said quietly.  Veronica shook
her head again.

   "No.  I don't think she'd want me to.  We parted with harsh words; she
told me that she never wanted to see me again." Veronica said in a sad
voice.

   "But many things are said in haste." George said, "But then that's how
most of our cases start," he added trying to lighten the mood; it worked
slightly as Veronica smiled.  "What if I had some words with Sandra or
Chris, see what they say."

   "I don't think you'd better," Veronica told him, which surprised him,
"She doesn't think about me anymore and Chris wouldn't even know about me!
No, I'm happy that she's found the right man for her.  She thinks I'm dead;
let her remain unaware of me."

   George didn't want to do that but decided that he would see what Sandra
had to say about her mother.

   As he left the meeting room Robert called him into his office.

   "Well George what do you think of our Mrs.  Coleman?", he asked George,
after inviting him to sit down.

   "Not what I expected at all," George told him, not wanting to mention
anything she'd said about her daughter.

   "No, there's a bit of a steel band within that person, she might look
frail but she can really see through the fog on occasions, but I don't
think she understands everything." Robert said, "I mean what can Joey Webb
do from prison?  That bodyguard thing is going to be a waste of money!", he
added with a smile, which George didn't return.

   "Robert I think you'd better take the threat seriously, I know I'm new
to this position but I think that Veronica is right.  If people are
threatening your witnesses then there no telling what they'll do." George
tried to persuade Robert but without success.

   "I'll be fine, don't worry.  Now what I wanted to say was that this
weekend I'm having a barbecue at my home and would like to invite you and
Sandra to it, oh and the children as well." Robert said smiling at George,

   "Well that sound wonderful Robert.  Is Veronica invited as well?" George
asked, not wanting to rock the boat just yet.

   "I did invite her but she's got other plans for the weekend."

   "Well I'll definitely be there, but I'm not sure about Sandra or Chris,
I'll have to ask them later on today."

   Robert nodded his head and got up from his seat, escorting George to the
door.  "Fine George, we'll see you on Sunday, you've got my address haven't
you?" George assured him that he had.  "Well don't let me keep you George,
I'll see you soon."

   It was a thoughtful George who returned to his office.  After he sat at
his desk Helen entered.

   "How did you get on then?", she asked him

   He looked up slightly in an absent-minded fashion.  "What...  Oh yes,
fine." He noticed Helen watching him closely, "What's up?", he finally
asked.

   Helen shook her head, "I don't know Mr.  Douglas, you seem to have a
problem." She said.

   George said nothing for a moment and then he asked, "What do you know
about Veronica Coleman?"

   Helen blinked for a moment, unsure why George was asking the question,
and then she answered him.  "Veronica Coleman has worked for the families
for ten years now.  she was chosen for her ability to view a problem and
suggest a solution.  She has good management skills and has managed to
direct the board successfully for that time."

   George shook his head.  "No I mean what about her, her children, her
husband?  Do you know anything about them?" George said.

   Helen considered the question, how much did she know about Veronica's
private life.  "Well she's a widow, her husband's been dead for the past 20
years, there was one child but I think he moved away.  Veronica never has
spoken about him at all.  William Coleman was a policeman who was shot by a
burglar when he was disturbed during a robbery, which is why Veronica
decided to work for us." Helen finished and then added, "But why do you
want to know?"

   George decided to tell her.  "Veronica didn't have a son, she had a
daughter!  When the daughter took up with her boyfriend they argued and the
daughter left home, Veronica has never spoken to her since and has never
seen her grandson." Helen was watching George closely, she had no idea
where this was leading and so George continued.  "Veronica daughter's name
is Sandra, she married John Henderson!"

   "Oh my!", Helen said when the penny dropped, "This is your Sandra
Henderson?  The woman you've proposed to!" George nodded.  Helen sat down
in shock.  "Oh!" she finally said.

   "Oh is right!  I don't know what to do!", he told her, "Veronica doesn't
want Sandra to know that she's here, I think she's making a terrible
mistake!  But what can I do?" George looked at Helen, "Just what should I
do about it?"

   Helen shook her head, "I don't know what to suggest either, I mean when
you and Sandra get married she doesn't have to be there does she?"

   George didn't answer.  There was no reason for Veronica to be there, but
George - in a perverse way - wanted her to be at the wedding.

   ----------------------------------

   That evening over dinner, which Cathy had cooked again, George asked his
daughter what Chris had said about his grandmother.

   "You mean Gran Angela?  He thinks the world of her; she's been helping
him as much as Nan's been helping me." Cathy said with a smile on her face.

   "No, not Angela, I meant his other grandmother." George persisted. 
Cathy thought hard before saying.

   "He's never spoken about her, I suppose she's dead, and Gran Angela's
never mentioned her either." Cathy told him.  "Why are you interested in
her anyway?" She added.

   "Oh just interest in everything about Sandra and her family, and
wondered if you had heard anything, that's all," he finished lamely, at
least to his ears, but Cathy didn't notice.

   "No, I suppose they don't want to talk about her for some reason, anyway
when are you seeing Mum, I mean Mrs.  Henderson again." She tried to make
light of her slip but George didn't want to let it go.

   "You like Sandra don't you?", he asked her, although he did know what
her answer would be.

   "Oh yes dad, she's just how mum would have been." Then she hesitated
slightly before asking, "You don't mind when I call her mum, I mean I know
she isn't my real mother or anything.  George smiled at that.

   "I know cabbage; she makes you feel so relaxed that she must be a part
of us." When George said this Cathy was amazed at her fathers' perception
she just stared for a minute before she nodded.

   "I think that's it dad!  She seems to fit in with us and so does Chris!
Oh dad you didn't mind when Chris started to call you dad did you?" She had
to ask as Chris had worried after doing it.

   "Only if he wants to," George said, "I don't want to force Chris to do
anything he isn't comfortable with." He changed the subject.  "By the way,
we've been invited to a barbecue on Sunday.  You haven't anything special
planned for then have you?"

   Cathy thought for a moment before saying, "I haven't but I'm hoping to
go shopping on Saturday with Mum, I mean Sandra . . .  Mrs.  Henderson."
She was starting to get flustered and George said softly,

   "Call her mum if you want to, I won't be angry with you."

   Cathy got out of her seat and went to him; she kissed him on his cheek.
"Thanks dad," she said softly.  "I do miss mum and Michael so much but
mummy Sandra is so nic," she added, her eyes misting up.

   George hugged her.  "I know honey, I know."

   After a few minutes she straightened up and then simply said, "Thanks
Dad." At George's look she added, "For being here when I need you."

   He smiled at her.  "But cabbage, I'll always be here for you, didn't I
tell you that!"

   Cathy didn't comment.  It had been the only thing he'd said to her at
the funeral - although it had taken him long enough before he remembered.
But after that he'd been true to his word.

   "What's happening with Chris?" George asked Cathy shrugged her
shoulders,

   "I think he's got to be with his dad from Friday night until Sunday
Evening." Cathy said, "But I don't think he likes being with him anymore."
This got George thinking.

   "So Sandra will be all alone over the weekend?", he mused and then
noticed the smirk on Cathy's face, "And what's got you so amused?"

   "Oh nothing, daddy!" She said, "But it would be nice to invite her over
on Friday night, wouldn't it?"

   George nodded.  "Well it would be nice to have her over I suppose," he
said with a blank face.

   "Over what daddy?", said Cathy innocently with a smile on hers.

   "Young lady you're not supposed to ask questions in that manner!" George
said in mock severity.  And the two of them dissolved in laughter.

   ---------------------------------

   The next day (Friday) George met up with his team, previously his
co-workers in misery as they had all put it.  Assigning cases to those who
he felt would be able to cope with them and arranging meetings with each of
them to see how they felt about his promotion.

   "Hey Giorgio you've really made it then!" George smiled to himself. 
That was Frank Sterry, or Frankie as he wanted people to call him.  He'd
joined the partnership from university about 5 years beforehand and had
achieved nothing since.  Oh he talked as if he was the next best thing
since sliced bread, and now he was going to be toast.  George had already
checked with the other partners about this and had clearance to go through
`his team' as he now called it.

   "Good morning Frank." George said, "I'm glad to see you first come into
my office." And taking the unsuspecting man by the elbow George walked to
the lift.

   When they arrived at George's office Helen was already typing out a
letter, which George had asked to be prepared.  She smiled at George and
watched as he and Frank entered the office.

   Frank whistled as he walked in, "Weeell.  Nice, I can see that you're
going places Giorgio." And Frank sat in the swivel chair behind the desk,
"Oh yes, you know Giorgio this is the place where I should be!" George was
standing by the desk watching Frank as he spun round on the chair.  "You
know Giorgio; I always knew that you'd get to the top."

   "Thank you Frank, but if you don't mind..." George said, Frank looked up
at him and then down at his seat,

   "Oh, yeah sure Giorgio, sure." And he quickly got up and went round to
the other side of the desk to sit in the seat provided.

   George sat in his seat and picked up a sheet of paper, it was a short
list of Frank's cases and their results, or rather their non-results. 
George shook his head.

   "This is very poor you know Frank." George started.

   "Frankie, Giorgio, Frankie!  You know that's how I like to be called."
Frank said, George looked at him coldly.

   "Frank Sterry!  You've been with the partnership for how long?  Five
years?" He said calmly.  Frank nodded warily, "And in that time how many
cases have you defended successfully?" Frank tried to think and then said,

   "Well yes, I've lost a few cases but then that happens you know Giorg .
. ." George studied Frank as he was speaking causing Frank to change his
words, ". . .  George."

   "Indeed it does Frank!  Indeed it does.  But you seem to be unlucky
don't you?" George watched Frank squirm under his gaze, his demeanour was
changing from his normal happy-go-lucky approach to that of a schoolboy
before the headmaster.  "Out of the last 10 cases you've lost all of them,
mainly for stupid slips that a first year student wouldn't make.  We've got
letters from the Law Society questioning the partnership's competency, and
to be honest I agree with them!" Frank was now getting worried.  He didn't
like the way this was going.

   "Now George, I know it looks bad . . ." Frank started

   "Bad Frank?  It looks like we don't even bother about our clients!"
George was angry with the man but was managing to control his temper;
"We've had to transfer all your clients to others in the department
increasing their workload when they're already stretched to near breaking
point.  Didn't you ever wonder why you had so much spare time?" George's
voice was low at this point; Frank's smile started to broaden.

   "Don't tell me, you've been grooming me to take over your position to
motivate the group?" Franks said, George was amazed at his stupidity.

   "No Frank, I'm afraid not, nobody would accept you as their solicitor.
Now you have two choices: you could go back to university to refresh
yourself on Business Law - we would subsidise your fees.  Or we could let
you go to another partnership!  - That's if anyone would take you!" George
told him bluntly.  Frank's face was a picture.

   "You can't do that!" Frank said his composure now lost completely, "I
spent years at university learning my trade!  You've no right to say
anything like that!" George smiled at him.

   "Really?  I phoned your lecturer and asked about you." George said, "He
couldn't remember you at first.  But when I mention about your skills I was
informed that you spent most of the nights partying, and most of the
lectures sleeping!  However it was due to your written work that you passed
your degree, although he had doubts about whether you actually wrote any of
it!"

   Frank was seriously worried now - it was true that he hadn't spent too
much time actually listening to the lectures, and it was a bonus finding
the previous room's occupants' work - so that all he had to do was copy it
and hand it in.  But that was all university was about, it didn't matter
how you did it as long as it was correct!

   "He must have got me mixed up with someone else!  Anyway he did say the
work was done which is how I got my degree!" Frank tried to reason with
George, but George wasn't having any of it.

   "I'm sorry Frank but that's all we're offering." George told him.

   "But you can't do that!" Frank said getting agitated, "I've just got a
new car how will I be able to pay for it?  This isn't right!" He was almost
shouting out the last bit, George was unmoved.

   "You're right it's not right at all.  You have failed your clients;
you've dragged the name of the partnership in the mud and have refused to
accept your blame in the matter." George told him calmly.  "I would add
that the senior partners have authorised your subsidy in university, and
once you've completed the course, successfully, and with a high pass mark
then we're re-consider your position in the partnership.  And as for your
new car!  Sorry but that's nothing to do with the partnership!" George
added.

   "Yes it is!" Frank said, "When I heard about your promotion I knew I was
next in line and so I got the car to celebrate!" George couldn't believe
his ears, he heard a muffled noise from Helen desk outside but that could
have been a cough.

   "We're not responsible for your thoughts and ideas Frank, now I suggest
that you see if you can send the car back and think about something
smaller. Helen has all the details of the university course on her desk. 
If you hurry you might just get there in time for the admissions!" George
didn't tell him that he'd already been admitted, although the Bursar at the
university wasn't happy with the news of Frank's return.

   George got up and waited for Frank to rise which he did grudgingly.

   "You know you can't make me take the course," Frank was saying, "I could
leave here and walk into any partnership, they'd take me with open arms."

   George nodded his head.  "Of course you could Frank, but just consider
this.  We are going to pay you for attending the course - not for partying
by the way, the course is mainly on attendance and class work this time,
they changed the criteria since you were last there.  When you graduate
again there will be an increase in your salary, depending on your grade of
course." Frank brightened up at that, shook his hand and thanked him he
left the office and went to Helen's desk; George closed the door and went
back to his desk.

   "WHAT!  5 YEARS!" could be heard muffled by the door as Frank found out
the bad news, George chuckled at that, it was just what Frank deserved. 
George just wished that it was hard labour. 
---------------------------------------

   Helen entered the office a few minutes later, she was smiling away.

   "Well that's Frank out of here!  Oh god!  How did he ever think he'd be
promoted?", she said, George joined her smile,

   "I don't know.  I take it you were listening out there?"

   She nodded.  "I wouldn't have missed it for the world!  But you missed
the fun outside."

   "I heard something, I might be wrong but I suppose he didn't like the
length of the course."

   Helen shook her head and they both laughed at that.  George then asked
Helen, "So who's next on the list?"

   She consulted her pad and then said, "Aisha Halque." She looked up at
George, "Are you sure about her?  It's a lot of responsibility for her."

   George nodded his head.  "I'm certain.  I've worked with her on several
occasions, she a dedicated worker and always tries her best.  She deserves
it."

   "I agree, she's been with the company for 8 years and her clients have
nothing but praise for her work." Helen said.

   "So why did you ask?", George enquired.

   Helen smiled.  "Just to make sure you were doing it for the right
reasons." She left the office before he could find something to throw at
her.  He watched the door close and then gave a small laugh.

   ------------------------------------------

   Aisha Halque was worried, she had just watched Frank Jones leave the
lift and start packing up his desk and now she had been summoned to
George's new office.

   She knew that she had two things going against her in any partnership.
She was Asian and also female.  Although there was the Equal Opportunities
Act she had struggled hard to get into the partnership and even harder to
remain.  But now after seeing Frank struggle away she knew that she was
next.

   She didn't want to enter the lift but knew that she had to and, her hand
shaking, she pressed the button for the senior partner's floor.  The lift
arrived all too soon for her and the doors opened invitingly.  She stepped
out and went to the desk where Helen was sitting; Helen looked up at Aisha
and noticed the look on her face.

   "Hello Mrs.  Halque," she said, "Mr.  Douglas is ready for you now, and
please, don't be worried." Aisha nodded and tried to smile at Helen, but
failed.  She knocked on the door and entered.  George was out of his seat
and smiling at her as she entered.

   "Aisha, I'm please to see you," he started but was cut off by Aisha.

   "Mr.  Douglas if you're asking for my resignation I'm sorry but I don't
see why . . ." she started and then began to cry.  George quickly opened
the door and called Helen in to help him.

   When Helen entered she found George holding Aisha as they both sat down
on a settee in the office.

   "Why Mr.  Douglas!  What are you doing?", she exclaimed in mock
surprise, which was quickly wiped away as she handed Aisha a paper tissue
from a box she had brought with her.

   "I'm sorry Mr.  Douglas," Aisha was saying, "I didn't mean to break down
but this is the only job I wanted and it's so hard to . . ."

   "No, I'm sorry Aisha; I shouldn't have called you in like this." George
said, "I want to give you a promotion," he explained.

   "But . . .  But I thought since Frank was sacked that . . ." Aisha
started but George interrupted her.

   "Frank wasn't fired; he's taking some time off to brush up on his
skills." George told her, "But we're all aware of your skills and it was
felt that you need to be in a position that reflects your high standards.
Would you consider being my second in command?" Aisha looked at George as
if he was pulling her leg.  He nodded to her, "It's true Aisha, I would
never joke about something like this would I?"

   Aisha almost smiled at that, George was never a joker about anything at
work, ever since Rachael had died George had been a changed man, but there
was something around his eyes that made her wonder...

   "I didn't think so Mr.  Douglas, but now I don't know," she said to him
smiling now.

   "Well if you're going to accept I think you're be able to call me
George, don't you?", he countered

   She nodded her head.  "If you insist Mr.  Do. . .  I mean George, and
yes, I do accept, but why me why not John or David?"

   George nodded his head at the question, it was an intelligent one in
this case, "I did consider them, but although they are good workers they
still need some guidance.  That's where you're going to hate me, I'm going
to want you to push them at times and you won't be liked for that!"

   She kept her smile.  "If I wanted to be liked I wouldn't have become a
solicitor, would I George?", she said with at twinkle in her eyes.  George
looked at Helen who nodded her head.  Everything was going to be fine now.
She left the office and returned to her desk.

   Some time later the phone rang.

   "Smythe McKendrick solicitors.  Mr.  Douglas's Secretary Helen speaking.
Good morning.  How may I help you" Helen answered the phone in her
professional manner.

   "Good morning Helen this is Sandra Henderson, is George available?"
Helen smiled when she heard the voice.

   "Good morning Mrs.  Henderson and congratulations!" Helen said, "Mr. 
Douglas is in a meeting at the moment, but if you'll hold on I'll see if
he's available."

   "Thank you Helen, but it's not really important, it's just that we've
had an enquiry for employment from a Mr.  Frank Sterry and were wondering
if you knew him?", Sandra asked.  Helen thought for a moment.

   "Mrs.  Henderson would you mind waiting for a moment, this is something
that I think Mr.  Douglas would want to talk about," Helen said barely able
to suppress a giggle.  She knocked on the door to George's office and
opened it.

   George and Aisha were seated at the desk going over the cases and how
they were to be divided now that Frank wasn't with the partnership.  George
looked up.

   "Yes Helen?", he asked knowing that she wouldn't disturb them unless it
was necessary.  And the look on her face was enough to know that the
problem wasn't urgent but needed attention.

   "I've got Mrs.  Henderson on the phone Mr.  Douglas," she said, "It
seems that a Mr.  Frank Sterry has asked about a job at their partnership
and she wants to know what we think of him." George and Aisha looked at
each other and grinned then Aisha said,

   "Do we really want him to remain at large?" This made George laugh out
loud.

   "Please pass Sandra through Helen, I'll talk to her," George said and
Helen went back to her desk to pass the call through.

   "Sandra.  Good morning, I understand you've heard from Calamity Frank!",
he quickly said to Sandra.

   "Oh god!", Sandra said, "That's Calamity Frank?  I thought the name was
familiar but I didn't realise it was him!  So why is he asking for a job
here?" she asked.

   George explained the offer that the partnership had given Frank, and his
apparent acceptance of it, finishing with, "But now it seems that he's had
second thoughts about it.  So what are you going to tell your partners?",
he asked her,

   "I think I'd better not tell them the truth.  I'll just say that we've
already got enough solicitors for the Business group!  No need to let them
know who he is just at the moment, is there?", she said laughter bubbling
in her voice, before she hung up George mentioned about staying for the
weekend, "Well Chris will be with his father, and the house is kind of dead
without him here, and if Cathy doesn't mind?"

   "Mind?" George said his voice showing that he was all for it.  "She was
the one who suggested it.  Do you want me to pick you up?  Or will you
drive round?"

   "I'll drive round, that way if Cathy does object you'll be able to stay
with her." Sandra told him and then broke the connection.

   Aisha looked at George smiling, "She's why you've changed so much, isn't
she?"

   George nodded.  "Yes she is." He s explained how they met and their
children's involvement in the plot Aisha laughed when she heard the story -
George didn't mention how successful the kids had been.

   "Oh how wonderful it must have been," she said.

   "Well after a while, when we worked out what had happened, we were
slightly surprised that they'd been able to do that.  That's when we found
out their grandmothers were involved," he said

   Aisha smiled.  "But George, that is what grandmothers are for!  To
interfere with their children's lives, it's their way of getting back at
them for when they were young!" This set both of them laughing again.  They
were still chuckling as they returned to their deliberations.

   ------------------------

   David James was slightly nervous, the fact that Frank Sterry was no
longer in the office was a cause of celebration, but then who would replace
George?  And it looked like Aisha was for the chop as well.  That surprised
David he thought that she would have remained, but from the way she went
upstairs it didn't look like it.

   He looked to the conference room where John Mills was talking to a
client, this was one of George's old clients who it was felt could be moved
to John's list.  And from the look of it the client didn't appreciate the
change, at least if the shaking of his head was anything to go by.

   David checked his diary and notice that his next client would be
arriving in the afternoon.  This time it was one of his.  A simple case of
defence against a plaintiff who had found a foreign substance in packaging,
although the opposition was quoting the old Donaldson verses Stephenson
case - also known as `the Snail in the Ginger Beer Bottle Case' - David was
sure that it wouldn't apply as the item in the packaging wasn't consumable,
but he was still studying hard on that.

   John's client then walked out of the conference room and walked to the
lift, preparing to descend to the ground floor.  John was closely behind
him.

   "Mr.  Rodgers I understand how you feel about this!  But I assure you
that we do have your company's interest at heart.  I would urge you to
consider before you do anything too rash." John was saying.

   "Young man I've been a client of George Douglas for the past few years,
I've come to trust him.  You haven't yet done anything to earn my trust!"
Rodgers told him and then pausing as John nodded.  "What?  You're agreeing
with me?"

   "Of course Mr.  Rodgers, this is our first meeting, I do understand how
you feel, I also require the backing of my client before I feel comfortable
with him as well.  Shall we give each other a chance before a final
decision is made?" John said cocking his head with the question.

   Rodgers pondered this while waiting for the lift to arrive, finally he
nodded his head.

   "Alright Mr.  Mills, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.  You've
said you know what I require so I'll expect you to carry on," Rodgers told
him, shaking his hand.  John waited until the lift indicator showed that it
was descending before returning to David.

   "Boy that was difficult!" John said to his friend, "How George ever got
on with him I'll never know!"

   "That's easy." David said, "He threatens them with a gun first and then
words later!" he added with a smile.

   "Damn, I didn't think of that!" John said, "Do you think George would
lend me his gun?" David shook his head.

   "I don't think so, he's going to need it now to control us!" and they
both laughed about that, then John asked the question that had been preying
on David's mind

   "Did Aisha leave?  I can still see her stuff on her desk." David shook
his head,

   "I haven't seen her since she went upstairs." David told him, "You saw
Frank leaving did you?"

   "Sure did, I almost blew it then as I almost couldn't stop myself from
laughing out loud.  I don't know what Mr.  Mills would have done," John
said laughing at the memory.

   Their thoughts were disturbed by the arrival of George and Aisha, who
watched the two as they tried to control themselves.

   "David, John, now that you've managed to get yourself together, I would
like to say that Aisha has accepted a promotion." George said, avoiding the
connotations of saying that she was going to work under him - he knew how
David and John would have reacted.

   The two congratulated their new boss and then asked about Frank.  When
they learnt that he wasn't going to be back for some time they cheered
John, who raised his hand to quieten them.

   "There is a down side to this though!  As you all know until I find my
feet upstairs we're actually two people short." At the nods from David and
John, George then continued, "We only have the budget to advertise for one
new person - this means that our workload will increase until we fill that
position.  It's going to be hard work until then, I hope you will both
manage."

   David looked at John before answering, "You know George that even with
Frank we were doing most of his work, so I think we'll be able to do it."
John nodded his agreement.

   George looked at them both and smiled, "Thank you both for that, it is
appreciated.  But may I add that should you have any problems with anything
my door is open for you.  I know many people say that but I hope you trust
me enough to believe me."

   George left the group feeling that he had a good team working for him.

   ------------------------