Executive Affair Read Online Free PDF Page A

‘Really?’
    â€˜Yes, really! I’m so excited ! I’m going to Sydney !’ Claire did a little dance around the kitchen.
    â€˜Wow! All this since last week? This is so unlike you!’
    Susan was right; Claire wasn’t the type to be impulsive. But playing safe had got her nowhere and she was left with nothing but the urge to be reckless. This move was tossing everything in the air: her job, her apartment, everything that was ‘routine’. She had no idea how it would pan out in the end, but right now she couldn’t care less about outcomes.
    Susan hadn’t taken off her heavy winter coat. She still hung onto the bottle of wine. She was more than surprised, she was stunned. ‘I’m really happy for you but I’m going to be so lonely without you here. And I’ll be so jealous of you and Fiona having fun in the sun while I’m stuck at home in the miserable cold …’
    â€˜Let me open that,’ Claire reached for the bottle in Susan’s hand, ‘You look like you need a drink to get over the shock.’
    â€˜What did Mark have to say about it?’ Susan asked, moving cushions to make herself comfortable on the sofa.
    â€˜Mark’s been great. It’s his connections that got me the job. He’s pretty close to Robert Pozos and it seems that Robert gave Harry all the assurances he needed. There was very little for me to do.’
    The wine was an Australian chardonnay, from the Hunter Valley. Claire smiled as she pulled the cork and poured it into two glasses.
    â€˜Are they going to pay your relocation costs?’
    â€˜They’ll pay my airfare and my living expenses for the first four weeks.’
    â€˜That’s a pretty good deal.’ Susan was looking thoughtful as Claire handed her the glass. ‘You know, I get the impression that Mark might be extending his responsibility outside Ireland and he’ll be happy to have you to rely on in Australia.’
    â€˜What do you mean? Do you know something I don’t?’
    â€˜Mark’s been on a lot of calls with the US lately and he’s more involved in the upgrade project than you would expect. It wouldn’t surprise me if they made Ireland some kind of international headquarters for IT and Finance with Mark at the helm. The upgrade will bring a lot of synergies – it would make sense to centralise some of the functions. Hey, wouldn’t it be great if I could somehow wangle a business trip to Sydney?’
    Claire couldn’t resist teasing her. ‘Dream on, Susan.’
    â€˜Don’t be mean.’ Susan pouted. ‘I bet you and Fiona have been making all sorts of plans for the fun you’re going to have without me.’
    â€˜Actually, I haven’t had the chance to tell her yet. I wanted to wait until after the interview. Let’s call her now!’
    Claire jumped up to get the phone. She dialled the number from her address book. It rang and then she heard a muffled ‘Hello?’.
    â€˜Fi, it’s me, Claire!’
    â€˜Claire?’ Fiona sounded disorientated and Claire remembered the time difference. It was early morning in Sydney.
    â€˜Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to get you out of bed. Guess what?’ she squealed.
    â€˜What?’ Fiona asked with a loud yawn.
    â€˜I’m coming to Sydney! I’m getting a transfer with Amtech! Isn’t it great?’
    â€˜Hey, that’s really great news … even worth waking me up for.’
    â€˜Can I stay with you when I get there?’
    â€˜Of course you can. When are you coming?’ Fiona asked, sounding more sprightly.
    â€˜January, provided my business visa comes through by then.’
    â€˜That’s only a few weeks away!’
    â€˜As far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better! I can’t wait to get out of here,’ Claire said, a hint of despair seeping into her tone.
    â€˜Why? Has something happened?’ Fiona asked