Chapter Three

“Sorry Jo, my mind was elsewhere. I’ve got a few things going on right now.” Cat folded her letter, putting it into an envelope also found in Eric’s top drawer before sealing it.  

“So I noticed.” Jo smiled 

“Jo, can you give this to Eric when he comes back?” Joanne frowned at her request, because Jo would know after an extended time away the first person to see Eric would be Cat.  

Cat stopped any questions now by saying quickly, “I will explain later, ok.” but that didn’t stop Jo as she hoped. 

“Cat, what’s going on? Has something happened between Eric and you?” 

Cat frowned. She had set herself on this path. There was no hiding it and she didn’t want to... it’s just how much was she ready to talk about. “It’s over between us, Jo. He doesn’t love me, he takes our relationship for granted... well, what relationship really, he told me at the onset what it was to him when we started this. So this affair isn’t going anywhere and I find that now I need more than I have with Eric.” 

“Cat, you’re wrong. Eric does love you... I see the way he looks at you.”  

Cat gave a humourless laugh. “Has he told you that....” Cat waited for Jo’s reply, when none came she went on “No! no I didn’t think so... He treats me as a mistress, he just doesn’t pay my bills because I will not let him, I do have some pride,” getting up from Eric’s chair she added “the only good thing that came out of our affair was the friendship I have with you.”

Jo looked like she wanted to say more, but reframed, what could she say? Eric didn’t love her, and she was wasting her life. 

“Ok friend, I’ll give Eric the letter but I think..” 

Cat interrupted Joanna before she could finish. “Please Jo, let’s have a nice lunch and not talk about Eric.... well, at least until after we have eaten, I really don’t want indigestion.” Trying to lighten the mood. Jo looked miffed, but agreed. 

“So, are you going to tell me about what’s going on? We have finished lunch now Cat, you did say in the office that you would tell me later.” Cat put down her coffee cup before saying anything. She wasn’t exactly sure what to say. Jo got on so well with her boss, and she really didn’t want to be the one to complicate things between them. 

Joanna had talked about some of the women Eric had dated before she came along, and they did share a lot. 

“Cat...” Jo’s voice made her look up.

“Sorry Jo, listen, I have to run. Mrs Logan gave me this week off and this being my last day, I still have so much to do, and I’m sure you really need to get back to the office.” Cat stood quickly and picking up her handbag, pulling out the money for their meals. It was her turn.

“Please give the letter to Eric the day he gets back!” Cat gave Jo a quick hug, then left before her friend said anything else on the subject.

Back at her rented townhouse, Cat went straight for her bedroom. She changed the sheets on the bed they had shared last night, so there wasn’t any scent of Eric. Then she picked up a small box and put the few things in he kept here, which really wasn’t much.

After she was done, Cat sat down on the coverlet to wait for the locksmith. Eric damn him! If only she had known from the beginning she was going to feel so empty, she would never have got involved. 

Nine months ago, Cat had started to look for a new job. Jobs at this time hadn’t been easy to come by. Even with her great secretarial skills, she was just one of many and you had to have something extraordinary to set yourself apart, like speaking multiple languages. For every job available, there would be a staggering number of applicants.

She had only been in her current position for six months but had made the decision to leave when her boss couldn’t keep his hands to himself... oh she could have put him up for sexual harassment charges and gone to HR but she was well aware how that would go and both outcomes worried her... 

One, she would be out of a job because she had no witnesses, and it was her word against his! or two, if HR did believe her and it was taken further it could end up in the papers and she had no wish to be known as a troublemaker... it could end her career. 

So she had given her sleaze-bag boss notice that she was leaving. During this time, she had made sure he never caught her alone again. Cat still felt sick about the times he had. 

Luckily, Cat had found out from a friend about an upcoming position so that she wouldn’t have to go without work, if she was lucky enough to secure the role. 

Even better, the friend was willing to recommend her for the job, of course not guaranteeing her the position, but it would help towards getting an interview at least. Cat still didn’t like her chances of securing the job with so many people applying with better qualifications than she herself had. She only had 3 days until her notice period was up and she wouldn’t have a job at all. 

One thing she was sure of was that she would not be asking her current low life sleaze-bag of a boss for any extra work until she could find a job. The thought alone made her shudder with revulsion because then she would owe him and she could just imagine his idea of a thank you. 

Since moving to the city, her bills had increased to a level that she couldn’t be without work for long. Yes, she had savings, but with rent and utility bills plus food shopping, it wouldn’t be long before she was broke. 

Security was important to Cat, having come from a foster home and never having much money growing up. Money in the bank was like a safety blanket to her and she would feel very uncomfortable touching her savings. 

So after receiving a call from Logan holdings Inc, HR department for a job interview with Mrs Logan the next day, she jumped at the chance, even taking a personal day to make the interview. Mrs Logan, or Allison as she liked to be called, turned out to be a very nice elegant lady in her late fifties, who took to Cat straight away, enough for a probation period at least. Which started first thing Monday morning. 

Cat finished work for her current low life married sleaze-bag on Friday but before she left, she said a few choice words to her boss. Telling him exactly what she thought of him and also expressing how she hoped his wife was enjoying the same freedom he believed he had. 

Which in her opinion was only fair. She left him with his mouth hanging open as she slammed his office door closed...... yelling through the door at him. “I won’t be needing a letter of recommendation from you, because I don’t think I want everyone to know I work for a low life like you to begin with.” 

Cat picked up her handbag and a small box of personal stuff from her desk and walked out with her head held high and a huge grin on her face. 

She was free, and it was like a big weight had been lifted off her shoulders. The weekend was bliss, not having the same dread looming over her, thinking about having to return to work that coming Monday. 

Working for a woman was so much better not to say that a woman could not be predatory, but Mrs Logan was an older woman with children and she had been married to a man, so Cat really didn’t think she was Mrs Logan’s type.