Dan headed back to work with a heavy heart. As much as he cared for Jess, he knew that he was doing the right thing by her and by Evie. It would get too messy if they carried on and he was ready to have fun on his own again now. He was just in the middle of testing a web site, when his desk phone rang.
‘Dan, have you got a minute? I’m in my office.’
‘Oh, er yeah, sure, Sam. I’ll come down and see you.’
Dan walked down to the end of the barn, taking in his funky surroundings and saying hello to various colleagues as he walked passed their desks. He knew he was lucky to work in such a pleasant environment, with such a friendly bunch of people. He tentatively pushed open the heavy pine door to his boss’s office. He felt apprehensive and racked his brains to think of any projects he may have cocked up recently.
Sam pushed himself back on his plush leather office chair and put his feet up on his huge antique desk. There were piles of paper everywhere, and Dan noticed a couple of thank you cards on the top of a filing cabinet in a corner of the airy room.
‘No need to look so nervous.’ Sam laughed . ‘Sit down.’ He waved his hand at a chair opposite his desk. ‘I wanted to give you a pat on the back actually. Here, look.’ Sam pushed a marketing magazine over the desk to Dan, and continued. ‘Take a look at page four. The recent web site you designed for Silicon Mobile has won an award for design and usability. They are delighted and so am I. It will be such good publicity for Lemon.’
Dan smiled. ‘Woah, that’s great. I thought it was shit hot!’
‘So, well done, Dan. ’ He smiled at the exuberance of his youthful employee. In fact, Dan reminded him very much of himself when he was young. Good-looking and cocky, but with enough intelligence to back up his self-assuredness.
Dan stood up. ‘I best go and tell those lads in the studio. Daniel Harris, the award winner!’ He exclaimed.
‘Before you go, Dan. I want you to have this.’ Sam handed Dan a cheque. Dan took it and looked at it quizzically. ‘Two grand! Sam, I don’t know what to say.’
‘You actually don’t have to say anything. In fact please don’t. Keep it quiet from everyone here and thank you again, Dan, great job.’
Dan shook his head in disbelief. ‘But you only just gave me a big pay rise a month ago. Thanks, thanks a lot.’
Sam waved his hand in the air, dismissing Dan’s comment. ‘Now, go spend it on that little girl of yours.’
‘Yeah, yeah. I’ll do that.’ Dan replied, virtually skipping back to his desk.