LIZZIE'S WORLD: Time for Chris to leave

Monday morning rolls around quite fast, considering how little sleep I have gotten. Last night, after our conversation, Chris and I continued talking up until midnight when he left for his house. This morning I am feeling the effects of this sleep deficit as I roll over and reach for my phone to look at the time and discover that it is half past eight and I am 30 minutes late for work!

I rush through my morning ablutions and as I jump out of the shower, I notice my reflection in the mirror. My bloodshot eyes stare back at me, making me look like I have been drinking all night, but there’s no time to sort that out now; I must get to work, stat!

When I finally roll in at about 9.30am, it is to a flurry of activity. And the first sign that something big is going on is Ciru walking into my office and shutting the door behind her. “Do you know Chris has resigned?” she says, giving me an odd look. I’m not sure whether she is accusing me of something or whether she is just enquiring.

“Um… no,” I say, and then I remember that in the face of such news, one should look surprised. So I raise my eyebrows and lean forward as if waiting for the news on the grapevine and hope to the heavens that I look convincing.

“Yea,” she nods. “He just asked me to proofread his letter and send it to the honchos at head office.”

“Did he say why he is leaving?” Of course I know why – I just want to know if Ciru knows.

She shakes her head. “He was vague – said it had to do with a pressing personal matter that will require his full commitment,” I have to do everything I can to stop myself from smiling when she says ‘commitment’, “but he didn’t go into any details,” she says. “Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

“Why would I?” I feign as much surprise as I can.

YOU ARE DATING

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” she says. “I know you two are dating. I see how you look at each other.”

“Eh?” I give her a pointed look. I now realise she is here to mine for gossip from me, and I am not having it. “You know, that is such an unsavoury accusation. Let’s not forget that I am the boss and you are the PA,” I say sternly, hoping to put her in her place. From the way that she reacts, leaning back and seemingly closing up, I would say my ploy has worked.

Ciru stands up from her chair. “Ok then,” she straightens her back. “I’m sorry I temporarily forgot where I was.”

Knowing Ciru, I know this is the beginning of another episode of enmity between us, and I must brace myself for whatever underhand games she will play. But this time, I will know better than to give her the satisfaction of seeing me squirm.

“Your first meeting this morning is with the ad agency at 11am,” she says stiffly. “I’ll let you know when they arrive.” And then she walks out of my office.

I let Ciru walk far enough away to be out of earshot before picking up my cell phone and calling Chris – I know he’s in his office but I don’t want to use our extensions in case Ciru has figured out a way to tap his phone calls.

“So I just heard the big news,” I tell him when he picks up.

“Yes, I did it,” he confirms. “I promised you I would.”

“I didn’t expect it to be this sudden,” I say. “Do they have a replacement yet?”

“I just told them,” he laughs. “It’s too soon for that, don’t you think?”

I chew my lip. “I can’t imagine life around here without you,” I say.

“You’ll be fine. And I’ll still be in your life. Feel like dinner tonight? My place, around 7pm?” he asks. I confirm my availability and hang up, looking forward to another easy, quiet day at the office with zero drama. But little do I know what’s about to happen next.