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TRUSCOTE & FUCKING DALTON

As per her new weekday morning routine, Alice sat in bed with a cup of coffee and scrolled through job listings. So far all she’d received in return for her efforts was a handful of copy-and-paste rejections —over-qualified, under-qualified, more suitable applicants, blah, blah, blah.

At this rate, she’d be begging Maggie to ask Markus if there was anything going at his firm before the end of the month, but she wasn’t quite prepared to sink that low just yet. Alice could sit comfortably on her high horse, at least until her next round of bills were due, and even then, she reckoned she might ask Maggie for a loan before she asked Markus for a job. She’d sooner put up with her sister’s scowls than a workplace full of toxic masculinity, which she imagined involved a whole lot of backslapping, mansplaining, and general grunting.No, thanks.

Alice’s laptop dinged with an incoming email, which immediately grabbed her attention, seeing as it was from Catherine Truscote. Her eyes rapidly scanned the screen… ‘Haven’t been able to reach you on your mobile.’

Yeah, because it’s in a bush somewhere.

‘There are some urgent matters I need to discuss with you… Please come by the office. I have a clear afternoon today, if that works for you.’

Alice sat up straighter and placed her half-full mug of coffee on the bedside table.

Urgent matters?

She’d resigned, or been fired, or whatever — but given the grounds, surely Truscote couldn’t be annoyed that she’d not served her notice period? Or perhaps Truscote hadn’t been made aware of the truth? Alice really didn’t fancy digging into it all with her, especially after her warning about Fran. And even if Jeremy had enlightened his colleague, it was unlikely he’d painted a pretty picture of Alice.

“Ow, shit.” Alice grappled for a tissue to stem the blood flowing from a hangnail she’d ripped off her finger whilst wondering about Truscote andfuckingDalton. She popped her finger in her mouth and for a moment considered not going.Why should I?

But, principles aside, Alice couldn’t deny the nagging urge to set things straight, and then there was that biting curiosity about theseurgent matters.

Two hours later, Alice was buzzed into her old place of employment. They’d hired a new receptionist already, a mousy young thing called Stephanie, who looked out of her depth and far from the sort that Jeremy would be looking to ensnare for Fran. Still, the thought turned her stomach.

“I’ll let Doctor Truscote know you’re here,” Stephanie squeaked.

Alice gave her a small nod of thanks and turned to the plants she used to lovingly tend, annoyed to see them wilting. She fingered one of the long skinny leaves of the yucca and gave it a sorry smile.

“You should really water these.”

Stephanie looked startled. “Sorry?”

“The plants. They need watering.”

“Er…” The young receptionist made to stand, but Truscote’s office door opened, and the woman’s formidable figure filled the frame.

“Alice, please come on in.” Her thin lips tugged into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Alice swallowed. She didn’t know why she suddenly felt intimidated by her former employer, but that was the feeling tightening her chest as she stepped across the carpet tiles and into Truscote’s office.

“Goodness, what did you do?”

Alice glanced down at the pink plaster cast that had captured Truscote’s attention. “Oh, this? It’s a long story. I’m fine.”

“Okay, good,” Truscote replied, thankfully not pursuing the details. “Stephanie, fetch some coffees, please. Don’t forget to heat the milk this time.”

Truscote glanced at Alice and rolled her eyes as she closed the door. “She’s a temp. Started a week ago. As nervous as a mouse, but we needed someone to answer the phones at least, after...”

“Yes, about that. I’m hoping Jeremy explained why I left so suddenly.”

Truscote tilted her head, her steely gaze narrowing with such barbed intensity Alice felt as if she were wilting like the office plants.

Alice rolled her shoulders back to remind herself that she actually had bones. Truscote motioned for her to sit and stepped behind her desk.

“Jeremy didn’t need to explain. I’m more than aware of what happened between you and… Francesca.” Her lips puckered as if the name had a bitter taste.

“Oh God, don’t tell me you were in on it too?” Alice covered her face with her palms.

“No, of course not. Let’s just say this isn’t an isolated incident. I tried to warn you.”