| A TWO-FACED SPADE
By Carol Purves
‘I believe in calling a spade a spade, Amanda Blythe-Smith was speaking
to me, her dark brown eyes boring into mine, as if daring me to contradict
her. I knew she was speaking the truth.
It wasn’t difficult for the rest of the office to hear. The room
was small, cramped, with four computers and the only other occupants being
Trudie West and Sally Morrison. With me as the new member of staff we
were meant to be a close knit team. Trudie and Sally were keeping their
eyes down on their work, but I had the feeling they’d heard this
lecture many times before. The turnover of staff had been quite high.
‘I believe in complete honesty and in telling my staff exactly how
I think they’re performing. I report directly to Mr Paul Nichols
and he expects me to have an efficient team.’
Looking at Amanda Blythe-Smith I knew she would have no difficulty in
saying exactly what she thought of her workers and reporting any shortfalls.
Tall, willowy and glamorous in an angular way, she was dressed extremely
smartly, her pencil slim black skirt discreetly reaching a fraction below
her knees and her crisp white blouse decorated with the latest fashion
of lace frills.
But her discreetness of dress was belied by the low cut of her blouse,
showing a cleavage which left little to the imagination. I thought her
the boss, the Mr Nichols, would often have this cleavage tantalisingly
flashed before him.
Being new to the office it was necessary for me to be shown the ropes.
I knew my computer skills were top class, but I also knew Amanda B. S.
would be a difficult
woman to please. At the end of the first day, she exercised her bluntness
still further. ‘Mrs Kathy Gibbs, I’m not sure if your work
is going to be up to standard. You’ve also been very slow today.
I trust you will soon speed up. Mr. Paul Nichols expects only first class
work.’
I smiled to myself. I found this formality of names very difficult. Surely
the boss would be happy to be called plain Paul, and I couldn’t
go on calling the other two girls Miss West and Miss Morrison.
The open plan office design meant there was no chance to speak to the
others without Amanda overhearing, and in any case conversation was not
encouraged. I felt I’d walked into an office of the last century.
I had no intention of changing my job, but I believed in time I would
be able to change the office.
Fortunately our lunch breaks were staggered. Amanda was out for half an
hour, while we other three remained.
‘What a dragon Amanda is. Is she for real?’ I commented as
soon as she was out of hearing.
‘I wanted to giggle when you had this spade being a spade lecture,’
Trudie confessed. ‘Everyone new person gets it. Actually she’s
a two faced spade. Especially with Paul. She runs him down continually
behind his back and then when he comes into the office she’s oily
sweet with him.’
I smiled at the description of Amanda being a two-faced spade. I knew
that now I’d want to giggle myself every time she spoke to me.
Sally’s information was even more revealing.
‘I think she had designs on him actually. She always tries to flirt
with him, but he seemed completely immune to her advances.’
‘Then he really upset things by going and getting married this summer.
It completely put her nose out of joint.’
‘What’s his wife like then?’ I asked.
‘We’ve never met her, but he’s had a spring in his step
since then, so I think she must be lovely. I think he’s pleased
now to be safeguarded from Amanda.’
‘She talks as if she’s met Paul’s wife, but I’m
not sure whether she has.’
I then tried to continue with my work. I had Amanda’s high standards
to meet and a target to reach before she returned. I didn’t intend
to be sacked for incompetence, ever.
It was on my third day that the boss, Paul came into the office. He ignored
me almost completely, which suited me fine. Amanda started coming on to
him strongly. She presented him with a number of queries, all of which
I was sure she knew the answer to.
As she engaged him in conversation, she edged nearer and nearer to him.
He tried to back slightly; difficult in the confined space. Then Paul
queried some of the results and Amanda insinuated that Sally and Trudie
had made a number of miscalculations. I understood enough of the work
to know this was not the case.
Amanda also made a number of references to the problems of a ‘new
woman’ in the office. I had broad shoulders. I also had patience.
My time would come.
I’d only taken on this job at my husband’s suggestions. He
thought I would be the right person in the right place at the right time.
I was willing to abide by his decisions.
Paul soon left, or maybe I should say, escaped. His office was on the
floor above. No doubt he felt safer in his own domain and Amanda knew
she wasn’t welcome there.
‘It’s a pity that man doesn’t know what he’s doing.
He’d never survive if it wasn’t for me.’ Amanda started
boasting as soon as he’d left the room. She then came over to my
work station. The others had heard before what she was going to say.
‘Of course, since he got married this summer, he’s got even
worse. He can’t concentrate on his work at all. He’s always
making mistakes.’
‘But I thought today’s mistakes had been made in this office.’
After three days I was becoming bolder. The look Amanda gave me wasn’t
friendly.
‘I think Mrs Gibbs you need to be careful. Your work might be accurate,
but far too slow for this go-ahead office. I might find it necessary to
replace you.’
‘But I thought it was Paul who employed me.’
‘Mr. Paul Nichols does exactly what I tell him.’
The atmosphere in the office on this my third day continued to be strained.
I would have to be careful. I was hoping to last for one week at least,
before I started calling my own spade a spade.
I arrived late on my fourth morning. I hadn’t quite got into the
routine of getting out to work each morning and it was necessary for my
husband to leave the house on time. I really would have to watch myself.
I knew why I was here, but I knew I needed to watch my time-keeping.
I walked into a row. Trudie and Sally were keeping their heads very low
over their computers. Paul was in the office with a raised voice.
‘Miss Blythe-Smith, the information you gave me yesterday was incorrect.
I took your figures to a meeting and the mistakes made me look very silly.
You really must check the figures you give me.’
Amanda inched nearer to her boss, her cleavage in full prominence, as
if she could charm her way out of the problem. She rested one delicately
manicured hand on his coat sleeve. Her large brown eyes looked up into
his appealingly. It was obvious to me that she just didn’t know
how to play him. I just caught the end of her reply as I moved towards
my desk.
‘It’s the new woman. She’ll have to go. Shall I arrange
it?’
‘No, just give me accurate work.’ Paul was shouting as he
stormed out of the room. Again he ignored me.
‘What’s the matter?’ I asked innocently.
‘I believe in calling a spade a spade, unless your work improves,
you’re out.’
‘But my figures were accurate and in any case you checked them yourself.’
‘Don’t argue with me. Get on with today’s work.’
I was only too pleased to comply. I was here to work and try to sink into
the background.
‘I blame his wife.’ Amanda had now minced over to Trudie and
Sally, as if to exclude me from any office conversation.
‘Why?’ Sally dared to ask. ‘He did the worst thing he
could marrying her. She’s no good for him. He needs someone clever,
good-looking, accomplished.’
‘Have you met her, then?’
‘She’s just a blonde bimbo who turned his head.’
‘What does she look like then?’ Trudie persisted.
‘She’s a tart, a siren. Trapped him into marriage. Maybe she
went down the pregnant road. And he’s too weak to know he’s
been trapped.’
‘You’ve met her then?’ I could keep silent no longer.
‘More or less. I know she’s a bitch and a calculating minx.’
‘Interesting that.’ I paused, knowing everyone was waiting
for me to continue; Trudie and Sally in anticipation, Amanda in distain.
‘Actually I have met her.’ I paused again, enjoying the effect
I was having on my listeners. ‘She is very intelligent, a couple
of degrees; dresses modestly, no short skirts or low necklines, and it
was Paul who did the chasing. Using an old-fashioned word, he did the
courting. And actually it’s the best thing that could have happened
to him. She looks out for him’
‘You wonder how I know? Well, I came to this office using my maiden
name. Gibbs. I’m now Mrs Paul Nichols. And since you believe in
calling a spade a spade, so do I. Paul arranged for me to work in this
office because he felt the work wasn’t being done properly and he
needed someone to know what was going on behind his back.’
‘Shall I report to him now, or at home over supper?’
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