Cappuccino Daydreams: Buckland Gap 3

By Charles Stanley Wiltshire

Steven Harding has just graduated from university with a first class honours degree. He is now ready to begin a career in information technology, however, being an ex-criminal getting started is never easy. No longer is he an un-educated, drug-fueled, criminal. Now he has stopped the drinking and drugs and a new life awaits. Is he ready for the challenges ahead and is the world of IT ready for him.

This is his continuing story of hope and inspiration that shows how with enough determination and desire anyone can improve their chances in life if they are willing to work, sweat and fight for their dreams and not simply sit around blaming everyone else for their misfortunes.

For Steven the path has not been easy. He has very a violent past and the tragic loss of his mother and brother to deal with. Society had him labelled as a no hoper and very few were willing to give him a fresh start.
Cappuccino Daydreams is the third book in the Buckland Gap trilogy and is a very different story that can easily hold its own. The story is about Stevens first year after his graduation from university.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles Stanley Wiltshire
• Release date: Feb 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463841884

Charles Stanley Wiltshire

My name is Charles Wiltshire and I hail from Hampshire in England. My work experience is based around the IT industry but on my heart I have always wanted to be full time Author. I love creating stories and building fiction worlds. My other loves in life are cooking, running and motorbikes.

Book preview

Charles Stanley Wiltshire

Cappuccino Daydreams

Buckland Gap3

Copyright © Charles Stanley Wiltshire (2018)

www.bucklandgap.com

The right of Charles Stanley Wiltshire to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

ISBN: 9781724111708

First Published (2018)

Chapter 1

Steven took a careful sip of his coffee and stared thoughtfully out of the steamy cafe window. Outside it was a warm, sunny autumn day and a steady stream of unhappy looking people walked past as they headed towards their current places of work.

He hardly noticed the flow of people as he silently evaluated the last twelve months and his experience of post-graduate life. For Steven, it had been an interesting, challenging and at times worrying period in his life, but he had survived and now, here he was, about to start a day that could very well shape his destiny once and for all.

As he took another sip of the coffee Steven gazed across the road to the offices that had been his workplace for the past year. Not every memory from within that building was a pleasant one but he was still there and he was stronger and wiser for the experience. It had been an interesting year he thought to himself, interesting at times worrying and occasionally frightening. Steven's mind then wandered back to a point in time one year previous and his very first day of work.

Nervously he stepped from the busy commuter train and joined the early morning rush from Worthing train station. As Steven walked towards the exit he checked the time, it was eight twenty four so the journey from Brighton had taken just over twenty-two minutes.

Not bad he decided. The walk to his destination was just over ten minutes so he had plenty of time and there was no need to rush. Steven's destination was the offices of a small software services company known as Laver Byte Services Limited. Today was his first working day away from the coffee shop that had been his sole source of income for the past three years.

During this time Steven had been studying hard at Brighton University. At the end of the course, he had graduated in June with a first-class honours degree in business studies. For him, the past three years had been the most enjoyable period of his life so far.

While he had excelled at University Steven had also enjoyed his working time at the coffee shop and loved a very close and intimate relationship with a young man called Amir. Also not only had the three years been extremely agreeable but it also seemed to him that the time had sped by at a fast pace. Now, at the age of thirty, Steven was at last about to embark on a new, exciting career.

Not everything had been smooth sailing for Steven. He still missed his mother and the memory of her funeral shortly after he had left Portsmouth was still fresh in his mind.

Steven had visited his old hometown since then on a dozen occasions. The reason for these visits had been to visit his old friend Gerald and the staff at his friend’s coffee shop.

He had also heard of his father's passing as well as that of his auntie Maureen but he had not attended either funeral. News of his few surviving family members had also reached him, mainly through Gerald and Anne, the young nurse he had befriended while visiting his dying mother in the hospital.

Steven was aware that his cousin Sue was now a homeless drug addict who would never be in the position to regain custody of her children. She was stuck in a downward spiral of drug abuse and health degradation, Steven knew she would probably be dead within a couple of years. He also had two other cousins. Chris had been on the run for many years now and his location and well-being were unknown while Phil was a long term resident of a special hospital in Southampton.

He had made a special point of visiting Phil once a year just before Christmas. For Steven, this was his final link to his old family past and a life now gone. It was an attachment he found mentally helpful. He had also been pleased to hear during his last visit that Phil also enjoyed the visits.

Since graduation in June Steven had not found it easy to secure his first post-graduate position. Despite sailing through the course with flying colours and achieving a final first-class honours degree his criminal past was proving to be a major stumbling block.

The years he had spent in prison for armed robbery were simply not something that could be brushed under the carpet and it had taken him a while to secure the position his outstanding academic achievements warranted.

Now at last on a mild, cloudy October morning he was about to walk into the offices of Laver Byte and start the next chapter in his varied, troubled life. He stopped outside the office front door and hesitated for a moment, was he ready for this he asked himself?

Yes, he then decided and so he opened the front door and stepped into his new life.

The first thing Steven noticed as he walked into the front lobby was the shouting and swearing. At first, it sounded like a heated argument but he soon realised all of the noise was coming from just one person.

Steven looked around the office. It was mainly open plan with three meeting rooms to the rear. The lobby itself was only separated from the main area by a desk, two large plants and a couple of chairs. Behind this was the main work area which was made up of just over fifteen desks, printer tables and a small kitchen area.

The office appeared to be modern, clean and bright. There were plenty of large, clear windows and overall it seemed a nice place to work. Steven had been here once before, during his formal job interview but that had been on a Friday afternoon and there had only been a couple of other people around at the time.

One of those present had been Dan Lovett, one of the company directors and the actual person who had interviewed him on that Friday three weeks previous. It was Dan who first noticed him enter the building and he walked up to Steven with a broad smile on his face.

Good morning Steven, Said Dan warmly as he held his hand out.

Dan was a tall man at six foot, three inches. He was thin, muscular and sported a trim black beard. Dan was thirty years old and a fitness fanatic who loved running and cycling. He was married but as yet there were no children.

Steven took the hand and shook it nervously.

Morning Dan He replied

Dan appeared to pick up on Steven's nerves.

Feeling nervous? He said with a warm smile First-day nerves are to be expected but do not worry, you will soon settle in

Steven nodded and then noticed an angry looking man storm into one of the meeting rooms while swearing angrily into his mobile phone. He realised that this was the person who had been swearing a few moments earlier.

That chap looks upset He then said as the meeting room door was slammed shut

Ah yes, that is Arnold Explained Dan You will meet him later, but first let me show you around the rest of the office

Okay Agreed Steven.

The first two desks were to the left of the lobby. First, they walked over to those.

This is where I and Arnold sit, Said Dan We are the company directors. More often than not we are out with customers or in the meeting rooms, so these desks are usually empty

Next Steven followed Dan to a cluster of four desks. Each desk was fitted out with dual monitors and there was a computer positioned under each one. Two of the desks were occupied.

This is where the programmers sit, Said Dan these are the guys who write the software. Ashley is the head programmer

Dan then pointed at a tall, overweight man who appeared to be about thirty-five years old.

Ashley, this is Steven. He is our new Project Manager Dan added.

Hello, Said Steven with a smile.

Ashley smiled and nodded back in response.

Next Continued Dan we have Simon

Simon raised his hand and waved at Steven but he did not look up or say anything. He was a tall, slim young man with long shoulder length hair and looked to be in his mid-twenties. This response did not worry Steven. He knew that programmers could be a strange bunch.

Dan also did not seem fazed by the lack of communication from the programmer, he was very used to Simon’s mannerisms.

We also have Tony, He continued I expect he will appear soon. There is also Barry. However, he is on leave today

Steven then followed Dan to another cluster of four desks. This cluster was located in the centre of the office and each desk was fitted with a computer and a single monitor. Once again two of the desks were occupied.

This is where you will be sitting Said Dan this is the project management area

Steven looked at the desk that Dan was pointing towards and then at the occupied desks. Sitting at the next desk there was a woman who was dressed in a white blouse, very short black skirt and open top white shoes with a small heel.

The woman appeared to be in her mid-forties but with the amount of makeup covering her face, it was really hard to predict. She looked fairly tall, slim and the shoulder length blonde hair appeared to be very heavily bleached.

Hi, my name is Pippa, how are you? Said the woman with a broad smile as she turned towards Steven while remaining sat in her chair and held out her hand. She also did little to hide the inner contents of her skirt.

Steven ignored the obvious and crude display and shook her hand.

Nice to meet you Pippa He then added.

Pippa smiled, winked and then turned back to her desk.

On the other side of the desks, we have Chris Said Dan as he escorted Steven around the cluster of workplaces. Steven followed Dan and found himself looking at another blonde woman dressed in similar style to Pippa.

He smiled at Chris who returned the compliment but she did not offer her hand in greeting or a view of her underwear. Chris looked to be in her early fifties but once again the high level of makeup covering her face made this uncertain. Her hair was also dyed and there was just a hint of grey here and there. She was shorter than Pippa but otherwise similar in build.

What Steven did notice was the way both desks were arranged with monitors and panels. Although these two women were sitting opposite each other it was obvious they did not want to see one another or like each other very much.

Hi, said Steven with a smile

Hello Replied Chris with a slight smile that made it obvious she did not want to be disturbed.

Dan also appeared to pick up on Chris's mood and with a slightly embarrassed look, he led Steven away from her.

Over there He then said Are the meeting rooms. We have three of those and they are used for face to face meetings with clients as well as group telephone meetings

Steven looked at the meeting rooms. In the middle room, Arnold was sitting. He looked stressed and angry and everyone could hear that he was having a heated discussion with a group of clients.

Arnold is having a meeting with some people from our main client, Explained Dan they are a global company and the people he is talking to are in India. Sometimes the language barrier and quality of the line can make meetings a little heated

Steven nodded in understanding and followed Dan to the right side of the office.

In that corner Continued Dan you will find the toilets and next to that is a small kitchen area where we make tea, coffee and small snacks. Most people go out for lunch, however

Finally He added We have the software tester's area

To emphasise the point Dan walked over to the next cluster of four desks. Each desk was occupied and before Dan could start the introductions the tallest of the team jumped to his feet and introduced himself.

My name is Jamie, He declared and this is my test team

From this, Steven deduced that Jamie was the lead tester and a man who was proud of his position in life.

First, Continued Jamie with obvious disrespect for Dan's authority we have Lucy

Jamie pointed at a young woman in her mid-twenties. She was fairly short and a little stocky in build. Her brown hair was shoulder length and her looks were plain. The look of disinterest on Lucy's face made it fairly obvious she did not really want to be there. No doubt this position was nothing more than a wage to her.

Hello, She said with the slightest hint of a smile.

Hi, my name is Steven

Jamie did not wait for any further interaction, at this moment in time he had control and he was loath to let it slip away.

Next he added We have Anne

Jamie now pointed at another young woman in her mid-twenties. Anne was also fairly short at just over five feet tall. She was slimmer than Lucy and also more attractive. She sported long blonde hair and a beaming smile.

Hello Steven, She said in a bubbly fashion.

Thank you Jamie Dan then added

Jamie nodded and returned to his chair. Steven watched Jamie as he glared at the two junior testers before turning his attention back to his computer screen. Steven was not sure why but he had a feeling that Jamie would not become a close friend.

There was one final desk in the office. This was a single table just behind the testers area. Dan led Steven to the table where a middle aged man was sitting.

Finally, said Dan we have Charlie

Charlie looked up from his computer and smiled in a friendly manner. He looked to be a man in his mid-fifties. Charlie was fairly short for a man at five feet eight inches. He was also slim and muscular with rugged features and short hair that was nearly all grey in colour.

You must be Steven, Charlie then said, how are you?

Charlie stood up and shook Steven's hand.

I am good thanks, Replied Steven so what is it you do then Charlie?

I am the quality assurance manager, Replied Charlie it is a varied and interesting job which you will hopefully learn more about over the next couple of weeks as you settle in

Steven nodded in agreement. There would be a lot to take in over the next couple of weeks.

Good, Said Dan That is all the introductions done for now. You can meet Arnold later and you will come across the clients as they appear

Sounds good Answered Steven

Great, Continued Dan for the moment there are some test and procedure documents on your desk. You can spend the next couple of days reading through those and sitting in on meetings, that will help bed you in and help get you up to speed

Steven nodded and walked over to his new desk. He sat himself down and started to engross himself in the documentation. For the next hour, he read quietly while around him the busy team went about their tasks in what appeared to be a professional and confident manner.

His concentration was eventually broken by the sound of a door opening and someone calling his name.

Steven looked up from his computer screen to see Arnold standing in front of the meeting room. There was an agitated, almost manic, look in his eyes as he stared directly at Steven.

Arnold did not say another word, he simply pointed to the meeting room in a manner that indicated that he desired Stevens presence in there now, if not sooner.

That was a little bit rude, mused Steven as he smiled, stood up and then walked into the meeting room. Once at the entrance, he followed Arnold into the room and closed the door.

Arnold sat behind the desk and pointed to a chair on the opposite side. Steven took this as an invitation to sit down and therefore did so. He looked around the meeting room. It was very plain and consisted of a desk, four chairs, a telephone and one computer. On the wall was a whiteboard which was covered with yellow post-it notes.

The whiteboard reminded Steven of a lecture from the University where the discussion had been about pseudo agile companies. Businesses who simply threw together a whiteboard with to-do notes and then declared they had fully embraced the agile software development methodology, this he realised was a prime example of what the lecturer had been talking about.

Arnold was a slim, clean-shaven man who appeared to be in his late forties. His hair was black and quite short, almost military in style. His body movement was slightly jerky and he had all the appearances of a man who ran through life in a highly strung fashion while feeding off of adrenalin and confrontation while trying not to fall off the closest cliff.

Steven had never spoken to Arnold before but he knew already that they would never be friends.

For a couple of moments, Arnold sat silently while looking at his mobile phone. He did not appear to be actually doing anything or conversing with anyone and Steven could not help but wonder if there was a problem, he would realise the truth soon enough.

Eventually, Arnold looked up and explained his feelings.

So you are the new trainee project manager, he declared.

Steven nodded in reply.

You are a very lucky person did you know that? Continued Arnold

No, why is that? Responded Steven with a shrug