Chapter 12

The morning was so busy that Jennie hadn't had time to play back the messages on the answer phone when the call, as she had mentally labelled it, came.

"Sanders IT Security, how can I help you?" Jennie said for God knows what time. She noticed fleetingly from the display that this was a call routed in via George's former cell-phone number. The first time that had happened her heart had leapt, but it had turned out to be one of the really major clients who had George's old personal number.

But this was the one. The connection had a lot of static noise, but the female voice came through clearly enough. "I need to talk to George."

"Sorry, who is this please?" Jennie asked.

"This is Lillian ... Sanders," came the reply. There was a notable pause between the first name and the family name as if Lillian was struggling to say it.

"Oh how do you do Ms. Sanders," Jennie said putting emphasis on 'Ms.' rather than 'Mrs.'. "I am sorry, but the Director is not available."

The Director was actually passing through the front office with Jeff and Neil at that very moment. Jennie made an arresting motion with her hand and switched on the loudspeaker.

"What do you mean he's 'not available'?" came Lillian's petulant voice.

"The Director is in an important meeting with the Operations Manager and the senior support analyst over a complex technical issue," Jennie said - her reply perfectly delivered to show great patience with an unreasonable person.

Jeff grinned silently. The 'complex technical issue' was actually working out the coffee brewer since Jennie - for once - had had no time to do that for them.

"What are you talking about? I thought George said there was next to no activity in that company of his, who are those people?" Lillian asked, "And who are you?"

"I am Jennifer Stewart-O'Brien, business manager in Sanders IT Security and personal secretary to Mr. Sanders," Jennie replied. "I believe you know Mr. McKay quite well. Mr. Heeley, our Operations Manager has joined the company after your time."

Lillian was in shock. If the 'bloody scot' was back with George and he was hiring other people then things must be happening. She struggled to refocus on the purpose of the call. "Well, never mind that. I need to talk to George because there seems to be some difficulties with my credit cards and cell-phone," she said trying to make this catastrophe sound like a minor clerical error that could be fixed.

"As I said, the Director is unavailable," Jennie repeated. "What seems to be the problem?"

"They don't work, do they?" Lillian spat out - all the refinement gone. "We're stuck 5 time zones away on a bloody island with no money and no phone."

"I assume you're referring to the company credit cards and cell phones issued to you and Mr. Brown?" Jennie said. "They were closed end of business on Friday since neither of you have any involvement with the company any more. You can hand back the handsets at your convenience."

"My personal credit card is also blocked," Lillian said - despair now clear in her voice.

"If you are referring to the Visa card issued from Mr. Sander's personal account, yes, that was closed end of business Friday too - once I had received notification from your new bank that the 1.8 million pounds in the divorce settlement had been received," Jennie said.

The three men found it difficult to keep their giggles silent. Tina had joined them and was enjoying the show too.

"What am I to do?" Lillian said. "We're stuck here for 3 weeks with no money!"

"I am not in a position to advise you Ms. Sanders," Jennie said. "But surely your bank can help you - you should have a rather substantial credit with them after the transfer. Why don't you call them?"

"I did!" Lillian said. "Do you consider me a complete idiot? They said they were happy to issue a Credit Card - if I made an application in person. And they will not wire any of the money to me abroad since I am a new customer and they don't know me personally. Anti­-terror laws prohibit it."

George moved two fingers across his throat in a theatrical gesture. Jennie nodded with a huge grin and went for the kill.

"It would inappropriate of me to say what I consider you," Jennie said in a tone that made her position on that subject quite clear. "As to your monetary problems, I sympathize but I cannot help you. I suggest you try to get the airline to change your flight home - downgrading from business class may cover the rebooking fee. And meanwhile, eat well in the mornings. As I recall, the luxury holiday for yourself and your lover that you made your ex-husband pay for includes breakfast. Good afternoon to you, Ms. Sanders. The breakfast buffet opens in only 15 or 16 hours." She broke off the call and mayhem broke out in the front office. They were laughing so hard they had tears streaming down their faces.

"Oh, that was glorious Jennie," Jeff said when he was finally coherent enough to speak.

"Aye, that besom got what she deserved," Neil said, his huge frame still shaking from bouts of chuckles.

"Well," Jennie said, "as my self-defence teacher always said: Don't get angry, get even!"

Tina was studying George who was looking at Jennie with such love and admiration. Tina had also noticed the ring on Jennie's finger. She felt a small twinge of regret. She had more than once toyed with the idea of making a hit on George. It was patently obvious that she was now too late.

Around 1PM Tina, Jeff and Neil gathered in the front office to go out for lunch. "The boss was vara busy just noo, and told us to go ahead. Are ye comin wi us lassie?" Neil asked.

"No, I'll wait for George," Jennie said. "That's OK - on a day like this we need to take turns."

When her colleagues had left, Jennie walked into George's office. He was just finishing a phone call and looked up with a smile. "Did you need anything?"

"Yes," Jennie said, kicked off her shoes and took off her skirt and panties. "Your sperm. I've just felt Mittelschmerz."

George looked puzzled. "Ovulation pain," Jennie explained. "Shoot now and you will be a father-in-the-making within the hour. Guaranteed. Twins even - I feel it in both sides."

"Jennie, we can't - what if one of the others walked in?" George said - at the same time getting highly aroused.

"They won't," Jennie said. "They've just gone out for lunch."

"But they might come back, or someone else might call?" George protested as Jennie started working on his belt.

"You're so conventional," Jennie mock-pouted.

"I am a conventional kind of guy," George replied. "Haven't we had this conversation before?"

"Yes we have, so I predicted your protests," Jennie smiled. "All doors are locked, the access-system is disabled and all lines are being routed to the answer phone. I want you babies and I want them now."

"It's a hard life," George sighed as Jennie liberated his straining dick from his suit pants.