Thirty minutes later, she stepped off the bus in front of the office building. She headed to the glass turn-style doors, pulled down her shirt, made sure she wasn’t wobbling in her shoes and walked inside. Nothing happened. No whistles, no catcalls, no one stopped what they were doing to look at her. That was a good sign.

  When Elizabeth reached the top floor, she began to wonder what the big deal about her old look had been. She was getting less attention now than she had before. When she entered the office, she put her bag down beside her desk, grabbed her pen and paper, and went to Mr. Hampton’s office to get his to-do list for the day. Before entering, she did a soft knock on the door to warn him she’d arrived and was coming in. Waiting for him, Mr. Hampton bade her to enter.

  The first thing she noticed upon entering was that he wasn’t alone. George and Henry were also in attendance. Charles was staring at his desk when he motioned her forward. He lifted his hand and in it was a list. “Here’s what I need you to do today.” That was all he said. Elizabeth took the list and headed back outside to her desk to start on her work.

  ****

  “Did you see that?” asked George.

  Henry asked, “Who was that?”

  “That was Elizabeth, you dolt.”

  “Elizabeth? Are you crazy? That wasn’t Elizabeth. Elizabeth looks like a retro girl from the sixties. That was someone else entirely,” said Henry, with confidence.

  Charles looked up from his desk and stared at his two sons. “What’s wrong with you two? Of course that was Elizabeth. It sounded just like her.”

  “She didn’t speak, Dad,” said George, flicking a piece of lint from his lapel.

  “She didn’t?”

  “Nope, she didn’t. You just handed her a list, and she sashayed out of her in three inch brown pumps.”

  “George, are you sure? Elizabeth was wearing high heels?”

  George pointed toward the door, saying, “Well, I don’t know if Elizabeth was. But that girl sure was.”

  George was silent a moment then said, “Mom isn’t going to like this.”

  “Like what?” asked Henry. He was a little slower on the uptake.

  “She’s not going to like Dad having a hot woman for his secretary.”

  “George, if you don’t stop talking in riddles I’m going to throw you out of this room on your ear. What hot woman are you talking about?” asked Charles.

  “I’m talking about Elizabeth. Haven’t you been listening?”

  “Apparently not. Elizabeth isn’t what you’re saying. And by the way, I don’t like you referring to her as such. She is a very fine lady.”

  “Well, now she is real fine,” said George, lifting one corner of his lip in a sideways grin.

  Charles looked at the ceiling then back at his sons. George and Henry flocked his desk. Henry sat on one of the chairs in front of him with his legs crossed. His foot made tiny circular motions which Charles found quite distracting.

  Then there was George. He had arrogantly sat on the corner of the desk, only moving and standing up straight when Elizabeth had entered the room. Now he paced, his finger tapped his forehead as if he was in deep thought.

  Attempting to ignore his son’s movements, Charles said, “I guess I’ll just have to go and set you boys straight. However, first we have to talk about some other things. Like the Winterbottom account.”

  Henry’s leg stopped moving. The air in the room felt thick with apprehension as he said, “What’s there to talk about?”

  Charles leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. “Henry, I know you’ve been defending them, and you’ve done an excellent job, but they’re leaving the firm.”

  Henry scooted forward in his seat. His voice rose as he spoke, “But how? I mean— Why? I know I’m not exactly in their specialty area, but I’ve saved them millions!”

  “They’ve decided to go with another firm, because somehow, we took a case against them.”

  Henry asked, “Now how could we do that?”

  “I’m not sure. It appears one of our lawyers took a case that’s suing the company, and with your brother being engaged to old man Winterbottom’s daughter, they thought this was for the best.”

  Henry plopped back against the chair. “George, you’ve been quiet. Don’t you have anything to say? We’ve just lost one of our biggest clients.”

  Charles stared at his oldest son. The boy seemed to be deep in thought. A serious expression played across his face. George hadn’t been himself since he’d shared his engagement with Tina Winterbottom.

  Janice and Charles had been genuinely surprised when their thirty-five-year-old playboy son had decided to marry. Yet it was his choice for a bride that came as the real shocker. Why, Tina was still a child herself. If he remembered correctly, the girl couldn’t be more than twenty-two or twenty-three. She was five-three with tiny ears and eyes that reminded Charles of an elf. Her blonde hair was cut close to her head, and from behind her gender was easily mistaken. Tina was opposite from the normal buxom girls George usually dated.

  “George?” Charles said.

  George stared at the closed office door and repeated, “Real fine.”

  That was it? How could he still be thinking about Elizabeth at a time like this? Charles guessed he would just have to show the boys they were wrong or they would never let go of this fantasy about his secretary.

  Charles eased himself up out of his office chair. He walked to the door and opened it, hoping that his boys would stay behind until he resolved this issue. That woman is probably lost, and Elizabeth is going to come in and think that I’ve replaced her.

  Charles opened his door and stepped into his lobby. He looked at the woman behind Elizabeth’s desk. She looked very comfortable there. She was pecking away at the keyboard and kind of humming to herself in a pleasant way. “Excuse me, miss, I think you’re in my personal assistant’s seat.”

  Elizabeth turned and smiled in his direction. “Mr. Hampton, it’s me, Elizabeth.”

  Charles reached for his chest. A shock wave rippled through his body. His breath caught in his throat. Why had he never noticed how pleasant Elizabeth was to look upon? She’d always been nice and sweet, kind of like a daughter of his might have looked. Now she looked classy, professional, and way too attractive.

  Sighing deeply with regret, he knew what he had to do. As much as he hated to, he knew she couldn’t stay as his personal secretary. His wife would feel threatened, even if there was no reason to. Not only would Janice be upset, but there was the issue with her safety.

  When Janice first proposed the prospect of having a secretary who hid her identity, Charles thought the idea was preposterous. Yet as Elizabeth willingly accepted the role, and became an extraordinary and invaluable assistant, he’d almost forgotten that at one time she’d appeared differently. He should have known that it couldn’t last forever.

  Why had she not consulted him? Perhaps they could’ve found a way to move her to another department? Or they could have tried setting up another office in another part of the city just for her. A plan began to formulate in his mind. Was there nothing else he could do?

  Taking a deep breath he went ahead and plunged in. “Elizabeth, you look nice today.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Hampton. Is there something else you needed to add to my list?”

  “No, I have nothing else to add to the list. I’m sorry I have to do this.”

  Elizabeth’s brow creased with concern. “Do what?”

  “I have to let you go.”

  “Let me go where?”

  “Elizabeth, you can’t work here anymore.”

  Elizabeth looked crestfallen, gazing downward he noted the agitated movement of her hands. Charles tried to explain. “Elizabeth, your new look is a wonderful thing. But Janice won’t think so. Go ahead and keep working for now, and I’ll find somewhere in this organization of mine where you can go. Okay?”

  Elizabeth nodded. She appeared on the verge of tears. Placing her fingers to the keyboard, she resumed working while Charles walked back into his office.

  Charles paced, running his hand over his balding head. This wasn’t right. There had to be a solution. “Boys, you were right. It is Elizabeth. She’s changed. Except I can’t fire the girl. She’s an excellent assistant.”

  Henry said, “But Mother…”

  “Yes, you’re correct. Your mother won’t be pleased. What can I do?”

  “I’ll take her,” said Henry, with a grin.

  “I don’t think so, little brother. If anyone is going to have her it should be me. I saw her potential long before either of you,” said George, with his arms crossed upon his chest.

  “Henry, George, giving her to either of you would be almost as bad as keeping her myself. Your mother has specific ideas about our assistants. Besides there’s no way we can protect her. I’m too old, and you two, well you’re too involved in other projects. Now give me something else.”

  George piped up and said, “I did just hire that new criminal lawyer, and I had to give him Nancy as an assistant. Maybe you two could trade. Mom would definitely approve of Nancy.”

  Charles sighed. Nancy was a good assistant except she was loud, obnoxious, and slow. He guessed he would just have to put up with her during the day for peace and harmony at home in the afternoon and to keep Elizabeth safe. “Make it so George. And do it quick before I change my mind.”

  “Sure, Dad. I’ll get Nancy packing right now.”

  Charles waited until the boys left, then went out to Elizabeth’s desk and told her what they were going to do. She wouldn’t take a salary cut, and she would be working for one of the other lawyers in the firm. He tried to assure her that he was not disappointed with her work. The reason for the move was his wife’s jealous streak. Charles loved Janice and didn’t wish to make her unhappy.

  Elizabeth seemed to understand. They said good-bye and Elizabeth left. The drooped line of her shoulders as she shuffled toward the waiting elevator caused feelings of instantaneous guilt. Swallowing a lump of fear, Charles realized it was for the best. She’d seen everything. Even if she wasn’t aware of what was held in her hands at the time, Elizabeth had been exposed to documents that could place her in terrible danger.

  He might not be able to take away her involvement at this point, but at least he could put her somewhere which might keep her protected until this was all over.

  Chapter Four

  Elizabeth moped. All her belongings had been neatly shoved in one box. There was a picture of her family, a couple of special pens she’d brought from home, and her stash of peppermint candies. That was it. The only indication that she owned the desk. That it was her home while at work. It made her sad to realize she hadn’t made it more her own. But it made it easier to pack up and leave.

  When Elizabeth reached her new office, no one was around. Once she was sure Nancy had cleaned out her own things, Elizabeth arranged her picture on the new desk, and placed her pens and peppermints in a drawer. Sitting back, she surveyed her work. No one could even tell she was here. Rejection assailed her. She knew she was a great employee. Hard-working and loyal, the idea that she would be moved for something as simple as a change in style rankled her thoughts. Admittedly, she had agreed in the beginning to the change in attire to mask her identity. After so long a time with no trouble, it had seemed superfluous to keep up the ruse.

  Trepidation flowed through her limbs causing her hands to clench and unclench. The door to the office held no nameplate. Elizabeth had no idea who she would be working for. Deep breaths of air filled her lungs as she tried to calm the nervous feelings at work within.

  She glanced at the clock on the wall, noticing it was noon. There was no one around to tell her what to do, so she decided she would go to lunch. Surely when she returned she would receive more direction. She walked slowly to the promenade, trying to make sure she didn’t fall flat on her face in her new shoes. The shoes that had cost Elizabeth her job.

  When Elizabeth reached her favorite spot none of her friends had arrived. She pulled out a banana, peanut butter, and mayo sandwich, a small bag of cheddar chips and a water bottle from her big bag and began to munch.

  It was nice to be here alone for a little while. She needed to compose herself before the others showed up. What would she tell them about her job? She hadn’t been demoted but moved to another floor. Because she had been on the top floor it would be considered a demotion in their circles. She needed to stop brooding about this situation and look at it in a different way. Surely, there was a reason she’d been moved. Perhaps God had someone she needed to witness to and the only way that could happen was if she were moved into another part of the building. Looking at it from that point of view made her feel better. By the time her friends arrived, Elizabeth was smiling and chewing on grapes.

  Elizabeth heard LuLu’s voice first. “Looks like someone has taken our seat. Can you believe that? I mean, we’ve been sitting here for over a year and no one has dared to touch our seat. But now they just up and take it like we hadn’t been sitting there.”

  It appeared as if Wesley was trying to stop her from embarrassing herself by pulling on her arm in a gentle manner, but LuLu just kept going on and on about the audacity of someone taking their reserved spot. Wesley let go and he and Lisa began smiling at each other while heading over to their normal table anyway.

  “Where are you two going?” LuLu asked.

  “We’re going to sit at our table,” said Wesley.

  “You can’t sit there. Don’t you see that girl sitting there?”

  “Yeah, we see her and we’re going to join her,” answered Wesley.

  “Join her? If you join her, where will Elizabeth sit when she gets here? She’ll think you guys have left her out.”

  Lisa did a light tap to the back of LuLu’s head. “That is Elizabeth, you nit!”

  LuLu stared at Lisa, aggravated at the hit to her head. But as the information sank in and it clicked what Lisa had said, LuLu turned her head like she was studying her. “Elizabeth? Are you serious?”

  “Yup, that’s her. Wesley transformed her. He was like her fairy godmother, or fairy godfather or something like that. He turned her from a dull brown moth into a beautiful butterfly.”

  “Wow. She looks great.”

  Elizabeth smiled and waved at her friends. “Get over here, guys. I’ve been waiting on you guys for the longest. Where have you been?”

  “Working. How come you’re here so early today?”

  Elizabeth tried to keep the melancholy from her voice. She’d felt like a part of Mr. Hampton’s family for so long it hurt to be dismissed to another part of the organization. She was determined to search for the bright side of this situation. “I got out for lunch a little early. I have a new boss.”

  Wesley, Lisa, and LuLu all said at the same time, “New boss?”

  “Yeah. Mr. Hampton is taking Nancy for his assistant, and I’m going to be assisting one of the newer lawyers.”

  Lisa and LuLu murmured their opinions. They seemed to think it was a way to help the new lawyer. Yet when Wesley looked at Elizabeth, there was a moment of understanding there. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to escape the heat of his gaze. He appeared to know why she was dismissed, even sending a knowledgeable look in Lisa’s direction. As if by telepathy the couple spoke. Elizabeth watched in awe as a message was sent.

  Lisa spoke first, “Hey, LuLu, let’s go and powder our noses.”

  LuLu creased her face into a thousand tiny wrinkles. “I don’t powder my nose.”

  “Okay, then. Let’s go wash our hands.”

  “I did that upstairs before I walked down here.”

  “Yeah well, what about those germs from pushing the button on the elevator?”

  “I didn’t push the button on the elevator. You did.”

  “Fine. Come with me so I can wash my hands.”

  LuLu finally conceded and pushed her way out of the seat, walking with Lisa to the restroom, mumbling the entire way. Elizabeth could hear her as she talked about women having to go in groups and how she was hungry and didn’t have an hour like some people to eat.

  Once the restroom door closed on her ravings Wesley spoke, “Now you can tell me, what’s really going on?”

  “Just what I told you. I was moved to another lawyer.”

  “Oh, I have no doubt you told me the truth because I’ve never heard you lie. Not one time since I’ve met you. That being said, I also know you’re omitting some key information to this story. So come on and spill it, sister.”

  Elizabeth sighed. Wesley was a new lawyer and a good one. He had a real way of reading people which sometimes wasn’t a good thing. “Wesley, the whole truth is that my new look caused a problem.”

  Wesley raised one eyebrow. “What kind of problem? You look great.”

  “That is the problem. I believe Mr. Hampton is afraid his wife would feel insecure with me sitting outside his office all the time. Nancy is an elderly woman, who is happily married, with children and grandchildren, and Mr. Hampton thought Janice would feel more comfortable with Nancy working for him instead of me. Looking like I do now, that is.”

  “Oh,” Wesley said, finally seeing the handwriting on the wall. “So who did they put you with?”

  “I’m not sure. Basically, Mr. Hampton just traded my spot for Nancy’s. He isn’t cutting my pay or demoting me. He just thought this would be better for all parties.”

  “Do you want to sue? I know a really good lawyer.” He grinned, and she knew he was speaking of himself.

  “No, I don’t need a lawyer. You know at first I was really upset. I thought, why would this happen? I mean,” here Elizabeth’s speech faltered. She was going to say, I was only trying to be more stylish and I was fired, then decided that didn’t sound right. The fact remained, the choice of her clothing had been hers in the beginning. Janice and Charles had never forced the choice upon her. Deciding she owed them more respect in how she spoke on the issue she finished by saying, “I think God has a purpose in all this. Maybe there is someone I need to speak to that I would never get close to in my current position.”