Love
Actually
by Mallory Quinn
Story number 1
“My Beloved Prime Minister”
I feel it in my fingers
I feel it in my toes
Love is
all around me
And so the feeling grows
Its written on the wind
Its
everywhere I go, oh yes it is
So if you really love me
Come on and let it
show
After losing her previous job and having to move back
in with her parents and brothers and sister. She had sent her résumé to a lot of
agencies and she was till waiting to be contacted. When she finally was, she
went to a lot of interviews, but none of them panned out at first. Then she
finally got a call back. She got a job as the Prime Minister’s assistant! She
had seen him on television, he was very young and very attractive and… a
bachelor!!!! Her interview happened with an agency, all she had to do is show up
for the job at 10 Downing Street, the second most popular London address after
Buckingham Palace. Candy was very nervous, she had the proper attire, and the
proper skills too. She just hope she would be able to do her job properly. Her
mother was encouraging her.
- You’re going to be fine sweetie, she
said
- What if I make a mistake?
- Everybody makes mistakes,
you’re human and him too, for that matter said her dad, you’re going to be fine
baby
- Thanks guys.
So she was on her way to 10 Downing Street in
London. She got to the office and she met an older woman, Mrs. Davis who trained
her and told her about the Prime Minister’s schedule, what he likes, what he
wants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since his residence was in the same
building, she would have access to the kitchen to prepare the coffee or any meal
she ordered for him.
- He likes his coffee black, no sugar, no milk when
gets to his office. When he gets guest you serve coffee, tea or juice. No
alcohol, we want those politicians to be lucid when they make decisions on the
world’s fate…
- Of course, said Candy
- You give him his dinner at
1 pm and unless he says it’s fine, don’t make any appointment for lunch time…
sometimes he goes back home, but he would let you know, because when he does,
his home staff takes over. And for dinner he’s almost always with someone
important, whether it’s a foreign politician or his girlfriend, Susanna
Marlowe
- Girlfriend, said Candy
- Yes, he’s taken, said Mrs.
Davis, you can kiss your hopes goodbye…
- But I wasn’t…, started
Candy
- They all say that, you know why the last one left, she made a
move on him and he wasn’t interested… she just didn’t show up the next day and
she email her resignation letter…
- You have nothing to worry about with
me Mrs. Davis, I would never make a pass at a man, let alone my boss who happens
to be the Prime Minister of Britain!
- Let’s hope you’re right, said Mrs.
Davis.
She continued showing Candy what to do, when to make appointments
who she should avoid, how to send the mail , how does the computer program they
were using works, etc… Candy was learning and remembering everything. The Prime
Minister was in his office and that day he was having lunch in his office,
alone. Mrs. Davis, showed her what to bring to him and Candy took the tray with
the food and knocked on the door.
- Come in, she heard
Candy
opened the door and she entered the big office. She put the tray on a little
coffee that was there in a little living room, that was in a corner of the
office.
- Your lunch sir, she said
- Thank you Miss…?
-
White, Candice White… I’m your new assistant…
- Really? I thought I had
asked for 50 year old menopausal woman, for my new assistant! Not a 15 year old
puberty girl!
- Perhaps they heard you wrong, sir…, said Candy calmly,
but I’m older than I look and I can assure you that I’m going to be professional
in my work. The incident with my predecessor is not going to repeat itself with
me.
- That’s good to know.
- Enjoy, your meal sir, said Candy
after taking a bottle of water in the little fridge that was in the office, and
put it on the table.
- Thank you Miss White
Candy left the
office.
“That went well she thought, oh, who am I kidding? I fell in
love with him, he’s even more charming in person! And those eyes! But I have to
stay professional, if the situation gets out of hands and he finds out how I
feel about him, I will just have to find another job.”
**********
Terrence Grandchester was sitting at
his desk when he saw, what he thought was an angel, enter his office with a tray
of food for his lunch. She has blond hair, held in a bun in the lower part of
her head. She was mesmerising. He has heard of love at first sight, but never in
a million years, he would’ve thought that it would happen to him. He saw her for
five minutes and he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
“This is nuts!”
He thought
His previous assistant had almost jumped on him and of
course, he pushed her away. He was the Prime Minister, he couldn’t risk getting
involve with one of his employee and that one was unstable… Thank God she left
and the whole incident was over. But this Candice White… No, he had to be
professional, so no romance with the new assistant. He would have to play the
indifferent boss…
**********
Candy feels like home might as well be
the local zoo because of the lack of peace, quiet and privacy there is. Helping
the Prime Minister organize himself and bringing him his breakfast, lunch and
dinner every day made it almost impossible for Candy not to notice how
attractive her new boss was. Being shy and ashamed about her feelings, she
always avoided any eye contact with him, in fear of smiling while melting upon
his gaze and blowing her cover.
- Thank you Miss White, he would say
with a voice he wanted neutral
But sometimes, it sounded a little too
nice for his taste.
- You’re welcome sir, she said with a cold
voice
Terry wished her voice was nicer, so he would get a little hint of
her feelings for her. But was so cold and brittle…
“Why are you
complaining, he thought, isn’t that what you wanted?”
As time goes
by, the Prime Minister starts talking to her a lot more, and complimenting what
she wears. Candy is ecstatic, even if she knows it can never be between them,
she is flattered that he even notices her, remembers her name and cares about
her opinion when he asks her what shirt goes better with his eyes, one
evening.
- The blue one is bringing out your eyes, she said
- What
about the pink one? Not too girlie
- No, light pink is actually quite in
vogue lately, but are you going to dare wearing it?
- You must know by
now that I’m a daring person… I didn’t become the Prime Minister of England by
being afraid…
- Light pink it is!
Terry smiled, he chose the light
pink with his Armani suit and he looked like a million bucks. Candy smiled.
- Have a nice evening.
“I wish I was going with you, he
thought, but I have to go pick up Susanna…”
Candy looked at him go
and she went back to her desk to finish her work.
Terrence spent the
evening thinking about Candy, wishing his girlfriend was Candy it wasn’t even
funny!
“This is getting ridiculous, she’s with me all day and I’m
suffering when I’m away from her…” He thought
- Honey, said Susanna,
are you all right, you seem distracted…
- What? Said Terry, now I’m
fine…
But he still looked distracted for the rest of the evening and
Susanna was wondering what was going on…
- Honey, did you get a new
assistant?
- Yes, I did
- Is she was you wanted?
- She’s
perfect, said Terry
- She’s 50 and menopausal like you wanted?
-
Actually, no, she’s young and pretty…
- What? But you said the last
time…
- I know what I said, but the agency sent me a young
assistant…
- Why didn’t you send her away?
- Because she’s
competent…
- Honey, they always end up falling for you….
- Well I
guess I’ll have to change her if she does fall for me, said Terry
Susanna
was not happy. She had managed to get rid of the other assistant by making her
believe that Terry had a thing for her… and the stupid girl practically jumped
on Terry who of course rejected her… the humiliation was too big, she left with
her tail between her legs. Looks like she would to get rid of this new one
too…
**********
After an awful evening and even a more
horrible night, Terry decided to start flirting with Candy. He was with Susanna
and he had to play the tired card, so he wouldn’t make love to her. Susanna knew
that this new assistant was more dangerous than the previous one. Terry was
distracted in bed and couldn’t concentrate, when she, Susanna his girlfriend was
there!!!!
“This is so humiliating! Thought Susanna, I have to act
fast”
She tried to get herself invited to lunch.
- Do you want
to do lunch?
- Sorry, honey, I have to meet with the American Ambassador,
their president is coming soon for an official visit…
- Oh… what about
dinner
Terry knew he was free for dinner, but he said:
- Well the
meeting might take longer since we have a lot things to talk about…
- I
get it honey… I’ll call you tonight after dinner then
- Do
that…
Susanna was blown off and she didn’t like it one bit. Terry was not
in the mood to see Susanna, all he could think about was his
assistant.
He started to throw some hints to Candy.
- Miss White,
do you have a boyfriend?
Candy looked at him surprised by the
question.
- No, sir. I’m single…
- How could a beautiful woman
like you still be single?
- It’s just that I don’t really have time to
socialise…
- Are you saying that I’m making you work too much?
- I
didn’t mean that, said Candy fast, I love working…
- But you have to have
fun too
- Maybe I haven’t found the right guy yet…
- Keep looking,
the right guy might me right in front of you, you just need to open your eyes
and see him…
Candy was being completely oblivious to his attempts to
flirt with her, because she refuses to accept it could ever be. Terry started
being more and mores subtle with Candy and asked her about her day. As nervous
as she is, she swears a few times and keeps trying to stop but the words just
keep piling up! This makes her very embarrassed, and she quickly turns red and
looks at her feet. He finds that she is the cutest thing ever, especially after
seeing how nervous she got.
Terry gets hope for a potential future with
his beautiful assistant. He purposely takes his time doing absolutely nothing,
knowing the exact times she will be at his door with one of his meals, or
messages from the secretary. He even go rid of her telephone, so instead of
calling his office, she now had to go see him in his office every time something
had to be said. He was caught dancing in his office one night by Mrs. Davis and
he didn’t care, he was in love and felt like dancing.
Candy thought,
something was up with her boss. Like he wanted to spend time with her. But she
thought about what happened to the previous assistant, so she was on her guard.
But she loved every single moment she spent with him.
It was not the
holiday seasons, and things seemed to be looking up for both Candy and Terry,
until a meeting with the president of the U.S. Susanna, tired of being blown off
by Terry, had come to the office in the morning in a attempt to get an
invitation for either lunch or dinner. But she really came to talk to Candy. She
arrived at Candy’s office.
- May I see the Prime Minister,
please?
- Do you have an appointment? Said Candy
- I don’t need an
appointment to see my boyfriend! Said Susanna upset
- Actually, unless
you talk to him privately, when you come to see him during work hours, you need
an appointment, said Candy
- You think you’re really smart, aren’t
you?
- Miss Marlowe…
- You know my name?
- I’m his
assistant, of course I know your name
- You’re not fooling me for one
second
- What do you mean?
- You’ve got the biggest crush on him…
like he has one on you…
Candy blushed, but she remained
professional.
- I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you don’t have
anything else to tell me, please let me go back to work, we’re receiving the
American President today, so we’re really busy
- I’m leaving, said
Susanna, tell him I came to see him… don’t forget what I said…
Candy felt
like Susanna only came to tell her that Terry had a thing for her to intimidate
her… But she didn’t have time to think about all that; they had the American
President’s visit to take care of…
“Terry likes me? Was Susanna
telling the truth…? If that’s the case, I can’t work for him
anymore...”
The American President arrived with the secret services
making sure everything was fine. He got in front of Candy’s office and they had
to wait a little, since Terry was talking to the queen.
So prior to his
meeting with Terry, the American President quickly notices Candy’s beauty and
comes on to her…
- You know, you’re a very pretty assistant, he said and
very young
Candy was standing in front of him waiting for Terry to open
the door to let them in.
- Thank you, said Candy smiling
- Would
you be free for dinner tonight?
Candy looked at him with big eyes… well
nothing in this world surprised her anymore.
- I’m sorry, Mr. President,
but I have other plans…
- Pity, he said with an ironic smile
Then
was staring at Candy intensely. Candy was wearing a gold necklace which seemed
to be undone…
- You necklace is open, said the president, let me fic it
for you…
- No, said Candy, it’s fine I can do it myself…
- No,
you can’t see it, I can… come on…
The president put his hands around
Candy’s neck to close the claps, but it was a little trickier than he thought
since the necklace was short, he had to move closer to look behind the
neck…Candy was looking down had the American President was hugging her to close
the claps…
When Terry opens the door of his office, he sees red.
Surprising what looks like a make out session. He remains silent, as the
president is done and Candy takes him and his delegation inside Terry’s office.
Candy could feel that Terry was upset with her and she didn’t know
why.
Terry could believe what he had just seen. She was making out with
the American President? How could she? Maybe she likes them richer; after all he
was only the Prime Minister…He was dying of jealousy.
Candy knew she had
to do something. She couldn’t talk to Terry that day, but she could write him a
note so he could read, where she explained what happened. Because she was sure
that he loved her, he was jealous!!!
My Dear Terry,
From the
day I got here and saw you, I had fallen in love with you. Love at first sight,
that’s what it is. Working with you was heaven for me and when you started
showing interest in me, you just made me the happiest woman in the world. I
didn’t want to have those feelings, but we both know that in matters of the
hearts, it’s out of our control.
The incident with the American President
was not what it seemed, he was just helping me close the claps of my necklace
when you walked in… I felt your cold eyes on me and it gave me the chills. I
waited all day for an opportunity to talk you, but you were so busy. So I’m
writing this note to apologise for what happened, I shouldn’t have let him touch
me that way.
Giving the circumstances, my feelings for you, I cannot
continue working with you. What happened yesterday showed that we cannot behave
professionally when feelings are involved. I enjoyed every minute working with
you, but I have to quit, for my feelings for you are getting stronger day after
day.
Good luck,
Candy.
She left the letter at her office
and went back home.
The next day, Candy was packing her stuff when Terry
arrived and fired her in rage. Even if she had already quit, Candy is surprised
by his coldness.
- But I don’t understand, said Candy
- You
behaved unprofessionally with our foreign guests
- What? But…
- No
need to beg, my decision is final, you’re fired, Miss White…
- Fine, she
said, Happy Christmas, Mr. Prime Minister!
Candy took her stuff and she
left. She went back home to her parents for the holidays.
- What
happened? Said her mom
- I quit my job, said Candy
- Why?Said her
father
- I fell in love with the boss…
- Oh Candy! Said her
mother
- I couldn’t continue working with him…
- I’m sorry baby,
said her mother hugging her.
Candy was crying, over her love for Terry,
and because he was so cold to her.
**********
Terry was hurt devastated. He wanted
to run after her, yet he felt humiliated that she would just let the American
President… He wanted to scream… He went to her desk, at the end of the day, to
see if she forgot something so he could keep a souvenir from her, when he saw
the letter. He took it and read it, and he felt bad, really bad!
“I
have to find her…,” He thought
He looked in her file and he saw her
home address, where her parents lived. He made a first stop at at Susanna's
place;
- Susanna, he said
- Terry, are you coming to apologise for
neglecting me?
- Actually I came to break up with you
- Come
again? Said Susanna stunned
- It's not going to work out, I'm in love
with someone else...
- I bet it's that little assistant of yours! She
made her move! I told her you liked her so she would make her move... but you
like it this time around
Terry looked at her astonished.
- Did you
have something to do with my former assistant's attitude?
-
Well...
- Oh my God! Susanna! Are you that insecure? You're a beautiful
woman, you don't need to do that...
- Apparently my beauty was not
enought for you...You'd rather have your assistant
- She quit her job
because she was in love with me, that's what you wanted right? But I'm going
after her
- Did you ever love me... I love you Terry...
- I'm in
love with someone else, that's all. I'm sorry. Good bye Susanna
Susanna
didn't respond, she went to her room to cry.
**********
Terry was on his way to Candy's
hometown. It took him a while to get there. When he finally gets to her house:
He goes at the door… Children opened the door;
- Hey, said the little
girl, I know you, I saw you on television! You’re aunt Candy’s boss
- Old
boss, said a little boy, he fired her…
- Hello, said Terry, where is your
aunt Candy
- We’re not suppose to talk to strangers, said the little
boy
- He’s the Prime Minister, said the girl
- He’s still a
stranger
- Aunt Candy used to work for him, she knows him
- Can
you tell me where she is?
- What are you going to give us in return, said
the little boy
- What do you want? Asked Terry
- I want a
Christmas song! Said the little girl
Terry looked at the
kids.
“I’m the bloody Prime Minister! And these children are …well
it’s Christmas!!!”
So he started signing:
- ♪♪Jingle Bells,
Jingle bells, jingle all the way…♪♪
The children where laughing and
dancing to the song. When it was over they say.
- She at the school
Christmas show, to watch our sister
- Why aren’t you there?
-
Because se saw it earlier at school, said the girl
- Yes, this is the
parents’ turn to watch, said the boy
- Where’s the school?
They
gave him the address and Terry gave the address to his driver and he got to the
school. He goes to the auditorium and realises that she’s not in the audience.
So he goes to look for her in the washroom and … he enters the women’s
room!!!!
- AAAH! Said a woman in there
Despite his Armani suit and
his luxury coat, he goes:
- I’m sorry, I’m just an inspector controlling
the washrooms
The woman looked at him stunned.
“Was that the
Prime Minister? She thought? Naaa! What would he be doing
here?!”
Terry finally went back stage to look for her. So he sees her
watching her niece and whispering her the words so she won’t mess up the play.
He didn’t want to disturb her so he stood there looking at her until the play
was over. When the curtains finally closed, Candy notices Terry on the other
side of the stage and she can’t believe her eyes. She runs to him, he walked
towards her, and she jumped to his neck, in the middle of the stage.
- Oh
Mr. Prime Minister! About what you saw, it’s not what you’re thinking, it was an
accident and…, said Candy
- It’s okay, I understand, said Terry
-
But it’s my fault, I tried to tell him that…
- It’s okay I understand…he
tried again
- But he wouldn’t listen, he insisted and he’s the president
of…
Terry finally put his lips on hers to make her shut up with a
breathtaking kiss. Sometimes, actions speaks louder than words! Candy put her
arms around his neck and responded to the kiss passionately. While they are
kissing they are completely unaware that the curtains had opened and the whole
audience was seeing them kissing, in the spotlight, during the final singing
performance of the night, the Prime Minister waved and smiled to the people who
gave a standing ovation because of the surprise guest appearance of the
night.
Later in the car, they were still kissing.
- I love you, he
said
- I love you too, she said
- I know, I saw your
note…
- Oh… so you know I was going to quit anyway?
- Yes, but
you’re still fired, because you’re going to be my wife
- Oh Mr. Prime
Minister!
- You can call me Terry now, I think…
- I know, I’m just
teasing you!
- Will you marry me?
- Yes, yes, yes!!!!! She said
hugging him
- I want to meet your parents, he said
- They can’t
wait to meet you, she said
- Your niece and nephew made me sing a
Christmas song…
- So they can tell you where I was? They’re terrible!!!
She said laughing
- I think they were cute, said Terry, I want children
like them
- Anything you want honey, this is the best Christmas present
ever! Happy Christmas
- Happy Christmas, my love!!
And they
live happily ever after!
The End