Page 15 of Only You

He counted and had a list of ten potential candidates waiting to be reviewed.

“Excellent. They did promise they’d send them straight across. I let them know it was urgent.”

Suzie got up and made her way to the door.

“If you want a second opinion on any, fire them through,” she said before leaving the room.

Andrew sat back in his chair. After talking to Sally and now to Suzie, he felt better about himself. His mind wandered back to Santana. No, Ana. He wondered what she was doing.

Andrew sat forward and pulled up details of his ex-father-in-law. Seeing her made him wonder whether something had happened to her father.

No, he was still going strong, publishing papers, and giving lectures.

Andrew huffed out a sigh. He had more pressing concerns to attend to. Luckily, his diary had been empty because of his weekly TV spot. The night before, he phoned his boss and presented him with an ultimatum. He could either complete his rounds or take the day off. His boss had given him the day outside rounds to do what he needed. That was not to reminisce about a past life.

Chapter Nine

Ana

Ana woke with a grin on her face. She stared at the ceiling, her hand resting on her chest as she enjoyed the warm feeling spreading throughout her body. What a night! She had a job waitressing at Mount Crystals, of all places.

Before she had left, Robin, the owner, had caught up with her again, handing her all the paperwork she needed to complete. New staff were paid weekly for the first month unless they requested otherwise. He understood finding and getting a new job, especially in London, often left people out of pocket. Ana had wanted to hug him, the shock alone stopping her. She did not know where her touchy-feely persona was coming from. It wasn’t something she had experienced before.

Ana rolled over on the bed, burying her face in her pillow and letting her arms and legs flail excitedly. If Robin paid her for her work, she could pay her rent and eat. It might even stretch to the supplies she needed for her course.

Life was looking up, and she would do nothing to jeopardise it.

∞∞∞

She walked into the lecture hall carrying a large bag from the local bakery. Millie and George were sitting in the same place as yesterday, so she dropped into the row behind them. They both looked up in unison.

“So?” George asked, grinning.

“It was amazing!” Ana responded breathlessly. She raised the bag she was carrying. “Treats to say a huge thank you. Your uncle was amazing. The waitress they partnered me with was amazing, and the restaurant... wow!”

Ana opened the bag and pulled out three coffees and three muffins. “Thank you.”

She didn’t have any money in her account yet, but Robin had offered her several shifts. With the pay rise she was getting, life would soon be much easier. If life continued that way, she might even move to a better area and away from James the Creep.

“You didn’t need to do this,” Millie said, looking concerned, but George nudged her, and she grinned. “But coffee and munchies are never unwelcome.”

Ana smiled back. “Well, if it wasn’t for you both being so kind, I’d still be in a bind. Coffee and cake is the least I can do.”

They all fell into a comfortable silence as they drank their coffee and finished their muffins.

Their lecturer entered before they had finished, so they all had to face the front and listen. Ana looked forward to the lecture ending and hoped George and Millie would be free to meet up. She wanted to tell someone about how amazing last night had been in more detail.

Millie and George insisted she joined them and filled them in on the previous evening. Ana was answering their questions before they had even left the lecture hall.

“What did you think of Julie?” Millie nudged her shoulder as they set off towards the cafeteria.

Ana smiled. “She is lovely. She really helped me last night.”

Realising she hadn’t mentioned Julie’s name. Ana spun on Millie, head tilting, as she gave her a quizzical look.

“Oops,” was Millie’s response, clearly not sorry at all, as she turned to George, who simply nodded.

“Julie is George’s girlfriend. George asked her to keep an eye on you last night and give you all the support you needed.”

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