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‘Yes. Enjoy it.’

‘I am, believe me,’ Alex told her happily.

Leigh frowned. ‘Look, you dragged yourself out here, so I guess I owe you something. But I’ll keep itvague, OK?’

‘Cool,’ Alex said.

‘I brought you here today because I was sort of hoping you’d let something juicy slip that I could trade to someoneelseto keep quiet about something I would rather not get out because thatotherperson is a total dirtbag with no concerns about sticking to the facts whatsoever.’ Leigh finished her run-on sentence and sat back in her chair breathlessly, worn from exertion.

Alex did the calculations. ‘OK, so, it’s got to be about the affair, right? And who’d trade one juicy tidbit for another? A journalist?’ She watched Leigh’s face carefully for confirmation. She got it. ‘And the person hammering me most for interviews has been Ivy Coulter, whoisa dirtbag, god love her. So at a guess…’ Alex searched, and the answer came quickly. ‘Wait, did she find the mistress?’

Leigh’s mouth dropped open. ‘For fuck’ssake. I was so vague!’

Alex felt excitement bubble up. This was indeed useful info. She should run out right now and call Ivy to see if she could exploit this to her advantage. She had a couple of thoughts on how it could be used already.

But she didn’t move.

It was only then that she understood something she hadn’t before. Leigh’s opinion of Alex had weight. And the weight of it came from the fact that Alex respected her. Watching Leigh try to lie and trick Alex and doing such a dreadful job of it spoke to a strange integrity. Alex couldn’t help but admire it.

It sucked to realise that. Because they were enemies and couldn’t be anything else, ever. Too much water had passed underneath the bridge to swim back from.

Leigh seemed to be waiting for something. ‘Well?’ she eventually asked.

‘Well,what?’ Alex said, topping off her wineglass.

She pointed the bottle at Leigh. Leigh held out the glass while Alex filled her up. Alex put the bottle down and took a sip. This wine wasn’t worth eighty quid, but it was getting nicer by the sip.

Leigh didn’t drink. ‘I’m waiting.’

‘For what?’

‘Your next move,’ Leigh said.

‘My next move is to drink my wine and look at the dessert menu. I’m already feeling less bloated. I think I could probably squeeze in a scoop of ice cream—’

‘Stop it,’ Leigh said, suddenly angry.

Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘What’s up?’

‘I’m not fooled. You’re gonna do something. What is it?’

Alex didn’t know how to answer her, so she just sat there, slightly dumbfounded.

‘Can you just treat me with some respect?’ Leigh demanded.

‘What makes you think I’m not?’

‘Experience,’ Leigh said.

Alex was surprised at how much that hurt. ‘Jesus, Leigh.’

‘Youknowwhat I’m talking about,’ Leigh said, her tone darkening.

‘Are we talking aboutthat, then?’ Alex asked, slightly frightened. She was changing her mind about that ice cream. Now, it could only taste bitter.

‘I mean, why not?’ Leigh said.

Alex had a really good reason why not. But she wouldn’t admit that. Not ever.