Chapter 6: Phoebe Brought Down

David was rather surprised to get a ‘phone call from Gillian a couple of weeks later to say that Phoebe had just rung her and hinted that another dinner date with David and herself making up the foursome would be very welcome.

“What did you say to her?” he asked.

“I didn’t know what to say, so I told her I’d think about it. I didn’t tell her we were meeting several times each week in case you wanted her as well as having me, Master.”

“Ring her back and tell her you don’t know how you would arrange a meal as you don’t have my number. Explain that Chris works in a different building from me so he can’t just ask me in passing. Can you do that?”

“Of course Master.”

Then David added, “Oh, and by the way I have no desire for Phoebe’s company or her body. That would be true even if I didn’t have yours.”

“You have mine any time and anywhere, Master, just say.”

At the office that Friday morning Phoebe received an internal memo setting up a meeting with David which read:

An appointment has been made for you to attend a meeting with Mr. Ransome at 10am on Monday next, or immediately after the Monday Meeting whichever is the later.

As had been intended, this worried her so she went along to his office and said, “You wanted to see me?”

David’s reply was short and to the point, “Monday at ten o’clock,” and he went back to reading the papers on his desk.

“But...” was all Phoebe managed before he said, “Out!”

Naturally Phoebe worried all weekend what this meeting was about. Does he want to sack me? Is it promotion? Am I being moved to some other job? She found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on anything, or even to sleep, which was precisely the effect David had been aiming for by the timing.

Monday came and the regular Monday Meeting where any problems were aired and the previous week’s progress reviewed, leading to any necessary plan changes for the coming week. This week there was nothing out of the ordinary and so the meeting ended at twenty past nine.