Jane? — She Never Expected to See Her Ex-Husband’s Sister at the Door, Drenched from the Rain, Water Dripping from Her Long Hair.

“Lucy?” Emily was startled to see her ex-husbands sister standing on her doorstep. The girl was drenched, rainwater dripping from her tangled blonde hair.

“It started bucketing down on my way over. My stuffs soakedI need to dry it off. Can I come in?”

“Fine. Come in.” Emily knew Lucy had trekked a fair distanceher house sat in a gated estate, a good fifteen-minute walk from the main entrance. How Lucy had even found the place was a mystery.

“Fancy a cuppa?” Lucy wiped smudged mascara from under her eyes, shaking water from her sleeve.

“Dry yourself first.” Emily handed her a roll of kitchen towels. The hardwood floors couldnt handle moisture, and Lucys sodden trainers threatened the fresh renovation.

“Ta.”

“Now, why are you here?”

“Im skint. Desperate, really.”

“And thats my problem? I dont lend money.”

“I know, Im not asking. I need help finding work. Anything! Just so it pays. Your new husband owns that hotel chain, right? Pull some strings for me?”

“Any experience?”

“Loads!” Lucy nodded eagerly. “Worked in cafés.”

“Doing what?”

“Well, managerwell, supposed to be. Started as a waitress, but I was almost promoted!”

“How long?”

“Two months. Fortnight here, a week there quit the last one yesterday. Clashed with the boss.”

Emily stared.

“You realise that CV makes you unemployable?”

“How? Three different places! Ive got bags of experience!”

“Job-hopping doesnt impress anyone.”

“What am I supposed to do, then? I need cash!” Lucys eyes welled up.

“Why? And why here?”

“Where else? Our village has three houses and a pub!”

“Londons pricey. Where are you staying?”

“First with a mate, then my brother booted me out. His new bird didnt want me there.”

“Did she now?” Emilys face darkened at the mention of her ex.

“Hes turned proper nasty with her around! I begged to stay, but that cow chucked me out! Em, pleaseyoure my only hope.”

“I cant promise anything. I dont workits up to my husband.”

“But youre his wife! Just ask himconnections, yeah?”

“Ill see. Hes away till the weekend.”

“Cheers! Knew you werent like that witch. Em, love, can I kip here tonight? Look at the rainIve no fare back.”

“Howd you get here?”

“Hitched a lift.”

“Christ.” Emily couldnt send her out alone at night. Pity won. “Fine. But youre gone by morning. No freeloading.”

“Sound.” Lucy perked up, flopping onto the guest bed, eyeing the posh wallpaper and chandelier.

“Nobody back home has this Lucky cow, bagging a rich bloke. I need one of thoseproblems solved!”

She fantasised about landing a glamorous job, snaring some wealthy bachelor, and living like a romance novel. But Lucy didnt grasp that successful men ignored girls like heror that a 19-year-old with no skills wouldnt waltz into management.

Emilys husband, James, confirmed it when he returned.

“Only one spot for her.”

“What?”

“One she wont fancy.”

“Shell take anything.”

“Really? Tell her to come at half-six tomorrow. If shes that keen, shes hired.”

Lucy found the hotel chains sleek office easilythough she rocked up at 9 a.m., blaming a broken-down bus. The place dazzled her.

Climbing the stairs, she daydreamedimagining herself swanning in as the bosss wife, or at least his PA.

Shed dressed to impress: stilettos, a skirt barely covering her backside, and a top sheer enough to see through.

The heels were a nightmaresnagging on every step. Nearly toppling twice, she finally reached the door and collided with security.

“Where dyou think youre going?” The guard eyed her.

“Work!”

“Got a pass?”

“Nope.”

“Wrong door. Staff only.”

“People like me dont need passes.” Lucy sniffed. “And youll be sacked tomorrow. Learn to recognise your betters!”

The guard laughed. He nearly said she belonged on a street corner, but James walked in.

“Morning, sir.”

“Alright, Dave?” James glanced at Lucy and winced. He was about to have her removed when she chirped:

“Im Lucy! Your wifes mate. Here for the job!”

James flushed. He hadnt expected this disaster linked to Emily.

“Three hours late! Right, come on.” He dragged her aside. “And never say you know my wife. Dress like a professional, not a”

“Too posh, eh?”

“No! You look like a” He lowered his voice. “A working girl. Act like one, and youre out.”

“Keeping it hush-hush, yeah? Dont want gossip about nepotism.”

“Who said anything about a good job?”

“Emily did. Got a company flat? Thought Id crash there.”

“Dream on. Best youll get is a bunk in staff quarters.”

“Come off it! Youre the bossstick me in HR or something.”

“My HR director has two masters degrees. Whatve you got?”

Lucy pondered.

“Pig Latin?”

“Youre joking.”

“Fine. When do I start?”

“Now. Ground floor, ask for Sarah. Shell sort your uniform.”

“Brill!” Lucy pictured a power suit.

“Pays weekly. Commission-based.”

“How much?”

“Depends.” James scribbled a number. Lucys face fell.

“Thats peanuts!”

“Work hard, earn a bonus.”

Grudgingly, Lucy decided to stick it out. Rub shoulders with the rich, snag a sugar daddythen no more work.

Downstairs, a woman in a hairnet handed her a mop.

“Lucy?”

“Er wrong Lucy?”

“No. Youre on floors today. Ground to fifth. And the stairs.”

“I didnt sign up for this!” Lucy dropped the mop and stormed off to find Jamesbut hed vanished.

Fuming, she rang Emily.

“Are you taking the piss?!”

“What?”

“Your husbands got me scrubbing loos!”

“You said any job.”

“Not this! Im not some skivvy!”

“Your choice.” Emily hung up.

Lucy kicked a doorsnapping her heel. Barefoot, she limped outside.

Wolf-whistles followed her from builders vans, but no millionaires offered rides. Defeated, she trudged back to her brothers.

“Changed your mind about that job?” she snapped.

“Nope. Learn a skill first, then try London.” He shut the door in her face.

Lucy slunk back to her parents cottage, dreams of a fairytale wedding dashed.

“No one gets me in that city,” she muttered to her mate, spitting sunflower shells onto the pavement.

“People there are proper rotten,” her friend agreed.

“Snobs, the lot.”

They nattered a while longer before parting, hoping their luck would turn.