Chapter 30

Toby I’m sorry I’m late I was stuck on a bloody conference call and there was one of those people who can’t let the call end. Always one last bloody thing.

Charles thanks so much for coming. I feel so bad putting all this on you but the truth is I felt like we had noone else to ask.

Don’t worry about all that Toby. Now first things first and then we can get on to this horrible legal business. How would you like a job?

Toby looked as confused as he felt. ‘I’m not really doing the law anymore Charles, I mean that was the whole point of throwing away the paralegal career to make coffee if you remember.’

‘No no that’s not what I meant. Sorry, I´m rushing a little aren’t I. Where’s that damned waiter when you need him. No I was out with some friends on the weekend Toby and I hope you don’t mind but I got chatting about your and Selia’s situation. I didn’t name names of course and the person I was speaking with was a very dear friend so it won’t go anywhere I promise you.’

‘No that’s perfectly fine Charles.’

‘Anyway I was chatting to Richard, who is my friend about your situation. I still think it’s remarkable what you did Toby, chucking in the job and rushing off to become a writer.’

Toby breathed deeply and took a sip from his pint. ‘The thing is Charles, if you don’t mind me saying you’ve caught me in rather a bad patch about all that. The truth is I’ve been fairly low the past couple of weeks and I sometimes wonder if I´ve made some bloody huge mistake.’

‘How so?’

‘I just seem to have lost my momentum. I don’t want to waste your time complaining though Charles. I’m taking up enough of your time with this bloody situation of Selia’s.

‘Waste away Toby. I would like to think that we have become friends through all this haven’t we? I haven’t tried making any moves in recent weeks have I?’ Charles asked with a cheeky grin.

‘No you’ve been very well behaved thank you Charles. The problem is that when I decided to leave the job it was exciting and there was momentum which swept me along. I had just met Saffron and started working in the café and writing in the afternoons and that was exciting. I really believed that having no money and doing exactly what I wanted or should be doing was more important.’

‘Well isn’t it?’ Charles asked like a well trained listener.

‘I guess objectively it is but you know, I look at a guy like you and you have the security and the income and while what I’m doing probably seems romantic or idyllic it really is bloody hard. I seem to become really worried the last few weeks and I just can’t seem to shake it. In away this business with Selia has been as much for distraction as anything else but I’m just quite worried as to whether I have made the right decision. And I don’t want to dump this on Saffron who’s been great. Oh woe is me’ Toby said laughing.

‘Those are perfectly natural feelings Toby and I can’t pretend to know exactly how you feel regarding money and security because in a way I’ve always had that. I came straight into this job and have been pretty stable ever since. But on the other hand I look at someone like you and feel like a fool trapped in a system which is too cushy to give up and in which I know I will stay shamelessly until the day I retire.

‘Isn’t life fun’

‘Well it might just be a little more fun for you Toby if you would stop interrupting me with your miserable tale. Getting back to my friend Richard, what I didn’t mention to you when I saw you last time, mainly because I didn’t want to get your hopes up was that Richard is an editor. He’s a very successful editor actually and I was discussing your situation and telling him all about your throwing in the towel in the law and taking up coffee making.

‘Anyway Tobe he told me he receives hundreds of applications from exactly the same sort of people who have slipped off the end of the Oxbridge conveyer belt and he said if you would be interested he would like to meet you in person. He said he was hugely impressed by your ambition and courage in throwing away your career like that. Now I don’t know the details of the job or what you would do but, and I’m sure you won’t mind Toby, but I told him I knew you would be interested and so I have arranged for you to meet him for lunch next Thursday.

Toby sat paralysed and said nothing for a moment. He gave Charles a look of ‘are you serious’ before taking a sip from his pint to steady his nerves. He couldn’t believe it. He was too nervous to imagine that he might possibly get the job.

A blue folder slapped the bar in front of him which brought his attention back to the present.

‘Now Toby, while you let that mull over in that sweet little head of yours, I have had a good look through this file over the past couple of weeks and I’m afraid you’re friend Selia is absolutely right. This is a very serious fraud. All I can suggest at this stage is that she call in sick on Monday and come and see me at the office. I will see what we can arrange.

Toby felt stunned. He didn’t quite know what to say and his mind slipped between the file in front of him and the meeting on Thursday. Charles was grinning broadly. ‘I believe the next round is yours Toby.’