Ambition's End Characters

Sam - Mark's secretary and lover

Mark meets her when he takes up his first Managing Director's appointment at a business in the Midlands.

He soon realises that she is an extremely capable woman with an ability to be far more than just a secretary and she quickly becomes his right hand, organising his busy business life and frequently travelling abroad with him. She is capable, well organised, very hard working, charming and understands his needs and requirements in the office - and in bed.

They become lovers soon after first meeting long before Mark gets married to Abi and their affair continues after the marriage. For Mark she could be described as the perfect woman and every man's dream. She is a wonderfully efficient secretary and a fantastic performer in bed where she is experienced, uninhibited and satisfies his every need.

Sam becomes desperately in love with Mark and would do anything for him but is aware that although fond of her he does not hold the same feelings for her that she does for him. Nevertheless she continues to hope that one day he might leave Abi and live with her and how sad she secretly is that he doesn't reciprocate her feelings of love.

Towards the end of the book we see how she becomes increasingly resentful of the growing bond that Mark has with his daughter by Abi and decides on a course of action to do something about it.

Her very last words in the book have been described as "making the hairs on the back of the reader's neck stand on end".

Ambition's End Characters: Mark Watson, Sir Charles Houghton, Abi Watson and Sam.