Written with help from Milly


The grandfather clock ticked steadily. The clockwork echoed within the finely polished walnut case, pendulum swinging beneath the pale face. It was late, last meeting of the day. Beyond the double doors to the left of the clock, Level One had wound down for the evening. Desks were empty, lamps extinguished.

“Well, this is our last.” His visitor sighed. Her eyebrows raised suggestively. “She will be back next week. Unless you can persuade her to change her mind.” There was a wistful quality to the delivery, but the presentation didn’t match.

“Drop a little something in their tea.” Edwin remarked with good humour. “Persuade them to have another.”
“Now there’s a plan.”

Hester Iravani appeared delighted at the thought. Her senior shared it briefly, more at the prospect of imagining the father’s reaction to such an announcement. She tipped her head back, arms splayed open, as if relishing the thought of continuing her leadership.

“Edwin if not, I expect a first class reference from you when I take my talents elsewhere.” She wagged a finger fleetingly at him across the desk.

“Nothing less.” He assured her. Admiring her ambition. “That’s what I like about you, Hester. Straight to the point.”

Their eyes made contact. Not for the first time. She nodded appreciatively, caught her lip between her teeth. A pause of just a second, but enough to convey his words were more than a throwaway comment.
“Thank you Edwin,” she replied, in their privacy she used his name. Spoke it carefully, as if it held power. “Is there anything else about me you like?” Further to the point. She folded one leg over the other. Lifted an eyebrow.

He pressed his broad palms together, rubbed them gently, and blinked twice. He enjoyed the line of her skirt, tight against her thigh while her long, outer cloak draped down the side of her hips. Hester Iravani caught him looking, not that he hid his gaze. She let her head drop a little to one side. Watched him make up his mind.

“Time shows me more.”
“Expensive commodity in your life.” She didn’t miss a beat.

“I don’t intend to waste it.”
“Neither do I.”

He wanted to ignore the knock at the door. An interruption so badly timed it could have been staged. The moment was broken in an instant. Iravani gathered her papers, the Minister his thoughts. No time to waste.