Why I Had to Leave My Job - improve your english
Why I Had to Leave My Job
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1 During my third week as Personal Secretary to James–an attractive, married 40-
something–he told me about his affair. This happened after his wife Sally came to the office while
he was in a “not-to be-disturbed meeting" with Lucy, one of the company’s financial team.
2 Naturally, I’d told his wife that he was busy, but as soon as “the meeting” was over, he called
me into his office. He told me he needed my cooperation to keep his affair secret. I was shocked.
He seemed anxious to know whether I could keep it a secret, so I assured him that he could trust
me. He said I’d get a 15% pay rise immediately. I felt even more embarrassed. It was clear I was
being paid not only to keep his affair secret, but also to lie for him.
3 The next day he bought a mobile phone for “emergency” use. Only he and I had the number
and he said I was only to call him on it if his wife or mistress became too suspicious. I was becoming
part of his messy private life. Yet I couldn’t afford to say no to the new salary. Could I?
4 As time went by however, the lies began really to affect me. I felt sorry for both the wife and
the mistress. I wouldn’t want to be in their situation after all. As for James, he started to look
increasingly worried and upset. He wanted to save his marriage and end the affair with Lucy. When
he asked me to help close his affair with Lucy, I almost refused. But he talked me round and
promised another pay rise. From then on, whenever Lucy phoned I lied to her and found excuses
not to put her call through. She got increasingly upset and aggressive on the phone, and I felt sick
every time I lied to her.
5 One day, Lucy rushed into the office while James was at lunch with his wife. She demanded
I tell her where he was, so I said he was out with a client. I was humiliated when she accused me,
in front of the whole office, of lying for him and getting money for that. “This was the last time” I said
to myself. “He had to do his own dirty work from now on.”
The next day, I resigned and decided to find a new job with no lies and no deceit. You would do the
same, wouldn’t you?
www.she.co.uk.
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