I was working as a motorcycle courier in and around London a few years ago, it was the beginning of June and bloody hot. Nice weather for riding a bike if it's for pleasure but working on a bike in this weather was murder no chance to stop and refresh with your controller on your back constantly to pick up another package.
I had just made a drop at canary wharf (not as exciting as it sounds, couriers aren't allowed in to the building and just drop their packages in the basement), and then had a drop in the city at a large private bank before finishing for the day and heading south of the river again.
My bike a Kawasaki GT550 wasn't very happy in the heat and kept misfiring (air cooling in hot weather makes for an unhappy bike). I stopped for a short while in an underpass just to let myself and the bike cool a bit, taking a quick swig of water to ease my thirst. I checked the address of my final drop and headed off along the A13 into the city.
Eventually located my destination a small office block off the main routes parked up and locked the bike and called into the reception. The desk was empty I dropped my lid on the counter and rung the buzzer for attention, after a few minutes a young girl not more than 20 came out from a back office, pretty long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail wearing a short pinstripe skirt and white blouse with open toed sandals on her feet.
She almost scowled at me and said "Yes what do you want I'm supposed to be closing up!"
"Sorry," I replied. I was quite used to this sort of reception, these girls always thought they were above us bike couriers, "got a package here for a Miss Henshaw, if you would just like to sign here I will be on my way." I offered her my clipboard and pen and indicated where to sign,
"Oh she's been waiting for that for hours, we were told it was on its way this morning."
It wasn't uncommon for us to pick up several packages when we were out of town before heading back in to save on petrol and boost our profits, but it did mean that some customers got upset about how long it took.
"You'll have to take it up to her yourself, I'm the only one here now and I can't leave the desk. It's the fourth floor third door on the left." She pointed to a set of lifts just off to the side of the reception desk.
I thought about replying and indicating it wasn't my job but decided it would be quicker and easier to take it myself. I entered the lift and pressed the button for floor 4, the lift doors closed silently and it started to move. It was quite pleasant in the building, the air conditioning was on fairly high and was certainly making me feel a little more comfortable in my dusty old leathers.
The lift stopped and I walked out into the corridor, I quickly located the correct door and knocked. A female called out for me to enter, I opened the door and walked into the room, the room was large with a large window giving a good view of the city. In front of the window was a mahogany desk with a blonde woman sitting at it making some notes on some files.
I assumed this was the Miss Henshaw I was looking for; she was in her mid thirties, again very pretty, her blonde hair hanging freely over her shoulders. She was slim but obviously had a large chest, her breast straining against her creamy silk blouse.
She looked up and frowned "Who are you? It's supposed to be employees only in the building."
"Oh I see, well the girl on reception told me to come up I've got this package for you." I held out the package starting to feel a little annoyed.
"She did, did she, was it that Chantelle? She's so bloody lazy." She clicked a switch on the intercom on her desk "Chantelle would you come up to my office please."
There was a reply over the intercom but I couldn't make it out. Miss Henshaw replied tersely "I don't care that you are on your own, you should be shutting up now anyway so close up and make your way up here as soon as you can." She shut the switch on the intercom and looked up at me again "Sorry about that Mr...?"
"Oh just call me Dominic, if you would just like to sign here and I will be on my way." I handed her the package and the clipboard and pen indicating where to sign.
"Sorry, would just mind hanging on for a moment, I would like to speak to you and Chantelle together. Would you like a seat, a drink?" She indicated one of the large leather chairs opposite her desk.
At this point I realised my quick sip of water earlier was probably not a good idea and my bladder was indicating its need for release. "Actually if you wouldn't mind I really could do with using the loo."
She raised her well manicured eyebrows and indicated a door in the corner of the room. I quickly made my exit and headed into the door indicated, the room beyond was a large luxurious bathroom with toilet, bidet, a pair of sinks and a shower cubicle, whoever this Miss Henshaw was she was obviously doing very well for herself in the company.
Once I had relieved myself and started to wash my hands I heard raised voices from the room next door. Not wanting to feel too much of an eavesdropper I placed my ear against the door so I could hear what was being said.
"..... letting a stranger walk around this building, I assume you have had the training about the security arrangements for the company." This was Miss Henshaw speaking and she was obviously quite irate.
The other person replied I assumed this was Chantelle, the girl who I had met at reception, her voice was quieter and more difficult to make out "But on.... own,.............. a scum........ courier. What.......... to......... ing do?"
"I don't care who he is, you do not speak like that about anyone who enters this building!" Miss Henshaw was nearly screaming by this point, "I have had words with you before about your attitude, I really feel this time we will have to let you go."
I decided at this point that I should make my entrance before it got too heated. As I entered the room Chantelle turned to face me tears were just starting to run down her cheeks, she almost broke down into sobs realising I was still there. She turned back to her boss "I didn't realise he was still here, this is so unfair."
Miss Henshaw stood from her desk and made her way around to Chantelle handing her a tissue as she did so. I could now see her legs, they were long and well shaped clad in black nylon, she was wearing 3inch black stilettos and a short grey skirt that came only down to her mid thigh.
"Now Chantelle I feel that you owe Dominic here a full apology for your behaviour and then we may be able to reconsider your position."
