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.However, if you have nothing but free days they start to drag.Trust me I would love to have something to do and I believe I have things to say that others may want to read about.”“But I am never here.Maybe in a week’s time or two I will be back flying all over the world.You need to find someone local,” Hanna said,“I am offering you a full time position.You would not have to fly any more.You would be living somewhere near here or with your mother,” Fariba suggested.“That is very generous of you but I can’t give up my job like that for a short term project.I have a career and my life in London.I don’t think you thought this through from my perspective,” Hanna said.“There you are wrong.I have thought about you a lot.I can see right through you and your mask.You are stuck in a golden cage.You have not once spoken about how much you love your job.You are talking about the side effects that it brings with it but you are not fooling me for one minute that it is worth the less fortunate aspects of your profession.”Hanna stood aghast as Fariba reeled all this off so casually.That was her professional life in a nutshell, summarised by a complete stranger, with startling precision.How could this old lady have nailed it so completely after meeting her only twice?“Now let me explain the offer a bit more,” Fariba said, with a business like tone.“I would match your current salary and private pension contributions.You would be coming here every day but we would arrange your hours so you can also be with your mother and have spare time to yourself.I realise you are used to luxurious free moments in hotels all over the world.We will make sure that you get some of that.While you are here we will work on the book, but if you agreed you might be called upon to help with my care so that Karim and Shahnaz are free during those times.”“Where would you get the money for my salary? If you have savings like that you should get professional help for both positions, instead of hiring someone as unqualified as myself?” Hanna said astonished.“You have all the qualifications that I want, Hanna.Did you not hear me? I could have hired help a long time ago but the problem was that I did not want to rob my children of the opportunity to care for me.That may sound silly but family means a lot to us.Over the last year things have become tougher for Shahnaz but she would never let me hire a nurse, or let me go into a home,” Fariba explained.“Then how is she going to accept me?” Hanna wondered.“She trusts you: she has already agreed to the plan,” Fariba said proudly.“If this is about your son then you are hiring the wrong girl,” Hanna warned her.“Karim and I are only friends.”“Darling, I have long given up on match making; it only works in fairy tales and cheap novels.You young people always do what you want to do,” Fariba said rather convincingly.“Just like I always did what I wanted.If I could manipulate you as easily as that my life would be very easy, but I know better than to even try.The reason I chose you is that your personality fits us so perfectly.You are a great listener but have a mind of your own.I don’t want a repressed book worm of a secretary who has great short hand and typing qualifications but has no idea of the life you and I have led.I want a foxy young woman with a sharp brain, and someone who is stubborn and honest enough to tell me when she thinks I am rambling on too much.You have guts but you are also warm and kind.”“Your offer is a short term project and I would have to give up my long term job.You must realise I can’t do that,” Hanna pointed out.“Yes, I can’t guarantee you life-long employment.That is true.I am helping you to find a way out of your current situation; I can tell that you have lived this flying life for far too long.You worry about your mother, you would like to be more grounded, but you are trapped in that glamorous and exciting life [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]