Read Heller for Free Online Page A

my reaction to his disfigurement. Fortunately for me, I
can on occasion muster a poker face that rivals the Sphinx. I
smiled at him and he relaxed perceptibly.
    “I had no
problem finding the building at all,” I replied in what I hoped was
a suitably business-like tone. “Your instructions were very
precise. And please, call me Tilly.”
    “Tilly? Short
for . . .?”
    “Matilda,” I
admitted ruefully. “But I never answer to that. It’s an old family
name and before you even dare ask, no, I do not want to come
a-waltzing with you.”
    He laughed and
peered at me more closely. “Have we met before? You seem
familiar.”
    “No,” I
replied quickly, cursing that bran ad for the millionth time. I
stupidly added, “I’d remember if I’d met you before.”
    “Oh. Of course
you would,” he said, losing his smile, his fingers fleetingly
rising to touch his scar. He spun away and I felt like a heel. I
could not believe how thoughtless I was sometimes.
    Briskly, he
instructed Niq to put some ice in a clean cloth. He led me over to
twin plush black leather armchairs, arranged together near a small
kitchenette that was situated along the wall adjoining Heller’s
office. I sat down in the closest armchair and took the chance to
look around while Daniel and Niq fussed with the icepack.
    I was sitting
in a light-infused, open-plan office. It was furnished with three
modern timber workstations, one near the kitchenette and the other
two opposite Heller’s office, all with a computer sitting on top. A
row of filing cabinets and cupboards filled the side wall. On the
back wall was a very discreet brass sign with Heller’s Security
& Surveillance etched out in black script writing, the
stylised H underneath, identical to the
monograms on the men’s shirt pockets. The office walls were plain
redbrick, similar to the ground floor, but the room itself was
marginally less austere with a generous number of tall
white-trimmed sash windows. The floor was lushly carpeted in beige,
now unfortunately stained over near the lift with my blood. There
were no decorations that I could see in the office, but everything
was neat and orderly. It was very quiet, the ticking of the wall
clock audible over Daniel’s soft instructions to Niq.
    He handed me
the icepack and I placed it gently on the bridge of my nose while
continuing to hold the hankie to my nostrils. He sat in the other
chair next to me and Niq hovered anxiously at my side.
    “Niq,” Daniel
glared, noticing the little Goth standing around. “Don’t you have
some schoolwork to do?” Niq pulled a face at him and slouched off
to the workstation next to us.
    “I can’t
apologise enough about your nose. Niq should never have taken you
in the lift. It’s been malfunctioning for months and I’ve been
trying to find someone with the expertise to fix it. Unfortunately
I’ve not had any luck. It’s over a hundred years old.” I opened my
mouth to protest again that it was my fault that we used the lift,
when Daniel raised his hand. “Please Tilly. A fan of antique lifts?
Come on!”
    I laughed
self-consciously. “Sorry. It was the first thing I could think of
at the time. Niq looked so forlorn at getting into trouble. I
couldn’t stand by.” My reward for that tiny act of compassion was a
beautiful lop-sided smile from Daniel, the terrible scar tissue on
the left side of his face preventing him from smiling fully.
    The blood
stopped flowing from my nose after a few minutes. I handed back the
icepack and stood up to survey the wreckage. My precious (my only)
suit was smeared with engine grease and blood, my stockings were
shredded, my hair escaping wildly from its chignon and I didn’t
want to put my shoes back on because of the blisters they’d given
me.
    “I can’t do an
interview dressed like this,” I sighed, shaking my head sadly. “I’m
going home. Please apologise to Mr Heller for me.”
    “No! I don’t
want you to go, Tilly. You deserve a chance after what