To Love a Way of Life Read Online Free PDF Page B

there’d be that much work.”
    “I’ve talked to a few of my clients. Some are getting audited, and their finances are in a mess,” he said. “They’re making money, and have a surplus, I’ve made sure of that. But—“
    “But they’ve let their accounts run away from them.”
    “You’re going to be busy. Really busy,” he said. “I’ve even had some people pay up front for your services.”
    “About the pay,” Emma knew she had to bring it up.
    “I’ve looked at the guidelines for the professional institutions,” Patrick said. “I’ve followed their advised rates. It might take a month or two for everyone to pay up but so far they’ve all agreed to 50% up front.”
    Emma was stunned, she really didn’t expect to be getting market rates, or upfront money. And what about Patrick’s cut, it was still his business.
    “What about you?” Emma asked. “You still have to earn your way.”
    “That’s not important,” he said. “What I wanted to ask you about is the travel, you’re going to be here too often to drive every day.”
    “I think I can make it work for market rates. I didn’t really expect to charge small producers that much.”
    “We can negotiate discounts for people who need it, my clients know their pay goes to help others, especially anyone up and coming,” he said. “They’ll appreciate if the region has a vibrant business life. It’s good for everyone.”
    “I fully agree, a small economy can thrive on local producers. If we can get a business co-op together there’s the possibility of tax breaks, even local government grants.”
    “It’s something I’ve been pushing for for a year now. I have a few people on board but I could never handle the tax implications.”
    “I can research it, I’ve never done it but I know people who have.”
    “Consider that my share of the profit. If you can get some work done on that then it’s a handsome reward for me.”
    “I’d do it of my own volition, I really didn’t expect to be paid this much. I’m not a big city accountant,” she said. “I work from my living room, I just don’t have the expenses.”
    “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
    “Expenses?”
    “No, where you’ll be working from,” he said. “I don’t think it’s right to make you drive over 150 miles every day, not when you don’t have to.”
    “I can’t rent a house down here, and the B&Bs are expensive,” she said. “And anyway I couldn’t work in a hotel room.”
    “You don’t need a hotel room, or to rent a house.”
    Emma could feel the confusion take over her face. She couldn’t move down here, she couldn’t afford to buy a place and if she didn’t rent somewhere here...
    “You saw the buildings I have here, one of them is ready for a guest.”
    “You want me to stay with you?”
    “It’d be your own cottage, I wouldn’t need to go into it. You’d have your own bedroom and an office space. The toilets are hooked up and there’s a small kitchen. The only thing not running is the hot water. Apart from that it’s insulated, warm and furnished.”
    “I—“ Emma didn’t know what to say.
    “Think about it,” Patrick said. “If this turns out the way it’s shaping up you’ll have a lot of work, and my clients need your help.”
    Emma tried to come up with arguments against it. She wouldn’t be near her friends but she rarely saw them during the week anyway. The building looked appropriate, even if it was a little smaller than the place she rented in the city. And not driving 150 miles a day would give her a lot more time.
    She realised it was the culture shock, and the abruptness of it that was getting to her.
    “I’m not sure if I’m ready for this.”
    “That’s ok. I know it’s a lot to take in so quickly,” Patrick said. “You could leave a few things in the cottage, a change of clothes, some nightwear, toothbrush, and I can give you some towels and bedclothes. You don’t have to stay but it’s