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taking the time off would cost him his job. |
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"Where do you work?" she asked. "In case something turns up and I have to get in touch with you." |
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"Bates Engineering," he replied briefly, then gave her his home phone number and his number and extension at the office. "Don't ask for me by name," he said. "Just give the operator that extension. If you ask by name, you'll have to wait for a year." |
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So I was right, Linda thought as she noted down the numbers, he does work for his aunt's company, and I'm sure he won't lose his job no matter how much time he takes off. It must be a large firm, too. But that was no surprise; Linda had always assumed the late Mr. Bates's business had been successful because Mrs. Bates seemed to be very well off. |
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Linda was a little sorry that her guess about Peter's dependence on his aunt had been confirmed. She would have preferred that he had obtained a job independentlybut that was a foolish notion. No doubt he made a better salary and had more freedom working for his uncle's company. Also, his aunt might have insisted he work for her husband's firm if it was a family concern, as many English companies were. Since Mrs. Bates had no children and neither Donald nor Rose-Anne would be interested in employment in an engineering firm, Peter was all the family there was. |
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