Chapter 01: A Home Visit
I have been a part of the accountancy profession for over 40 years. A profession that seems to be considered as one of the most boring in existence. However, before I finally retire I feel the need to put down - for posterity, some of the events that have happened to me. I hope you will see that this profession does sometimes have its moments.
I have spent most of my working life in a smallish town in the North West, working for a small firm. There is a lot of day-to-day contact with clients and close work relationships are built. Many clients have even become close personal and family friends.
My relationship with Jane had always been a good one. Her husband had started out in business before I came to the firm. He had worked hard and created a thriving business, which produced a good income. Jane had played the supportive wife, helping him grow the business and leaving him free to concentrate on that, as she ran the home and raised two fine boys.
I inherited them as clients when I joined the firm and from the beginning there was a rapport between Jane and I. She dealt with much of the financial side of the business and so our paths crossed often. We shared a sense of humour and one that was often laced with mild flirtation but neither of us had any thoughts of turning our (sometimes) racy conversations into anything more. It just felt good to speak with her and meet with her and I am sure she felt the same. Even though she was old enough to be my mother there was definitely something about Jane that caused her to be the subject of more than one or two erotic fantasies.
My home life was good but with 3 small children around, the physical side of our relationship hadn't been that important, for several years. Our sex life was very hit and miss, with a lot more "misses" than "hits".
Then the bombshell dropped. Jane's husband was taken ill with an incurable disease, which was the result of an earlier employment and involved his work with dangerous chemicals. A claim for industrial disease compensation quickly followed and though this was no real consolation it left Jane in a very comfortable financial position once the inevitable happened and her husband finally succumbed to his illness.
I helped Jane resolve a lot of the issues following the death - winding up the business, dealing with the estate etc and we, inevitably, became even closer but still on a business-like footing.
She came to see me at the office periodically to review her finances, fill in forms etc and I always looked forward to our meetings. I must admit that I always tried to look my best, wear nice after- shave etc, There were times as we sat alone together in my office that I wondered what it would be like to make a move on her but, at 58, Jane was nearly 25 years older than me and was still struggling to come to terms with being alone after almost 30 years of marriage. And anyway it was not a very professional way to behave even though Jane did look unbelievably attractive in her business suits and tight blouses.
The years had been kind to Jane and she tried to look after her figure by watching what she ate and by regular exercise and she was always well groomed – hair short and styled, acrylic nails and just the right amount of make-up. She always looked much younger than her years.
From what I could see she had quite a decent figure and always wore clothes that looked good. Her tight blouses seemed to show of her firm breasts and they also showed that she liked to wear light lacy bras. Which, at times, seemed to indicate quite hard and large nipples.
One thing she had confided in me as part of the industrial claim was that her husband's disease had left him impotent and though he tried manfully to please her in other ways she had not enjoyed full intercourse for some time.
I was lounging in my office doing some paperwork and sipping a coffee one morning later in the year when the phone rang. It was Jane.
"Morning John – How are you?" She asked.
"Fine thanks – and all the better for hearing from you" I didn't even think before saying it. It was just something that came out. My biggest downside – I always spoke my mind.
"I could do with seeing you soon actually to go through one or two share dividends I have received and one or two other bits and bob's"
The thought of a meeting with Jane always brightened my day but I knew I had quite a busy schedule ahead with a lot of time to be spent out of the office. Damn.
"When were you thinking?" I asked.
