Key of the Door (edited)

Key of the Door by Cilla Shiels

Josh welcomed his new assistant with a warm smile and a friendly chat to help her feel at home in her new position at the estate agents he managed.

“Welcome to our family, Jilly, I hope you’ll be really happy working here,” said Josh.

“I’m sure I will,” Jilly replied with a smile dentists would be proud to advertise.

Jilly joined the small team of three valuers, Sue, the deputy manager being the other employee responsible for getting the best deal for their clients.

Josh loved his wife, Marianne, and adored his children but lately he’d become very bored and was heading for the mid-life crisis he wore on his sleeve.

Jilly soon spotted Josh’s yearning for adventure outside his family home and finding his charming persona hard to resist.

Unbeknown to Josh, Jilly’s played the field fast and loose leaving many broken hearts behind. She can’t settle with one man but wants to be eternally youthful and fanciful. A broken engagement, a messy divorce resulting in her two children, aged nine and seven being cared for by their Dad with limited access to their Mum. That says it all.

Josh didn’t mention his new assistant much at home, brushing over the finer details about her which, foolishly, he thought Marianne would sit still for. He should have known better. Marianne is no fool she can sense his unrest. Weeks turned into months and Josh still hadn’t offered much in the way of information about his new recruit other than she’s good at her job.

Jilly knew he had become more besotted with her and she played the game fast and loose, using any opportunity to get close to him or engineer a compliment or two about her hour-glass figure.

Back home, Marianne was disturbed about her husband’s recent erratic time-keeping and his mumblings of “Jilly, Jilly,” in his sleep.

What do I do thought Marianne?

Has his new staff member turned his eye or was her husband just work-driven!

She decided to bide her time.

During the honeymoon period Jilly flirted and fussed in what she thought a seemingly non-fussy manner. She’d make coffee, offer to work late to finish an assignment and asked if she could accompany Josh on one of his house evaluations for experience.

She wasn’t saying what kind of experience she was hoping for.

Josh slowly realised what Jilly was doing and feared this could implode on him if he didn’t get it under control.

He didn’t know just how devious Jilly could be to get what she wanted. Her ex-husband could have helped him on this score.!

 Josh couldn’t see any of the warning signs but chided with himself that her good credentials stacked up well so there was no real reason to worry about her ‘lively’ character other than she liked male attention and he could handle that couldn’t he!

Sue was getting worried about the situation and confided in Dot the cleaner.

“Did you see that?” Sue asked Dot. “Jilly’s hanging on Josh’s every word and she seems to be invading his body space.”

“No,” replied Dot, “must be me age – I wouldn’t recognised a pass if it flew in my face..”

“She needs bringing into line,” added Sue.

The days went by and things were hotting up between Josh and Jilly. ‘Before long someone’s going to get hurt’ thought Sue.

“Ooh,” said Jilly one morning, “The mansion in Disbury’s up for sale. It states the owner’s are away aren’t they Josh?”

“Yes,” said Josh absentmindedly.

“I’d love to come with you to take a look. How about it?”

“Righto,” replied Josh, “I’m going over Tuesday 9.00 am. Take the key and go straight from home I’ll meet you there.”

Jilly was licking her lips at this opportunity to capture Josh’s attention full on. The thought of making love to him in the swanky mansion was almost too much to contain herself. She decided to get there early and take a rest in the master bedroom. She thought it would be a walkover. Josh was so besotted with her.

Tuesday morning Jilly sets off with her frilliest, skimpiest underwear and her full intention of getting her wicked way with Josh.

By 9.05 am Jilly was posed semi-naked on the super-king bed admiring the wallpaper and plush surroundings when she heard the front door open.

This is it she thought, time to enjoy the fruits of my labour.

She heard the key in the door. His footsteps on the stairs. Her heart was pumping with excitement. She could hardly contain herself.

The bedroom door opened up and she froze. Sue entered the room asking, “What on earth are you doing on our client’s bed in your underwear. Get dressed you hussy.

Josh’s been rushed to hospital with appendicitis. I’m sure he’ll want us to keep everything under control in his unexpected absence.