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That took the wind out of Alex’s sails. ‘What friend?’

‘It was a man named Matthew Downing, an actor she knew from drama school. A boyfriend of his did everything she’s describing.’

Alex hoped Isabelle was telling the truth, but Alex would have to do due diligence. ‘Risky to use a friend’s story. Mathew could easily talk.’

‘He certainly could if he was alive. But he died a few years ago. Cancer.’

Alex sat back down in her chair. ‘This is a fucking mess.’

Isabelle seemed to calm down. ‘It certainly is.’ She sat down, crossing her legs. ‘Look, I know what I am, OK? I know full well. I’m difficult, cold, maybe a bit mean. But I didn’tcontrolher. I would never want a marriage like that.’

Alex swallowed thickly. ‘OK.’

‘OK? You believe me?’

‘Yes,’ Alex said. For now, she had decided to accept it until proven otherwise. ‘Now, I have work to do. And so doyou. Can you go and file for divorce, please?’

That took Isabelle by surprise. ‘What?’

‘As quickly as possible. This needs to happen now, or people will wonder why you’re dragging your feet,’ Alex told her. ‘They might even think you’re keeping her tied to you on purpose, which would back some of the things she’d been saying.’

‘I was dragging my feet because of emotional pain, but I guess nobody cares aboutthat. I’ll get it done.’ Isabelle walked out.

As soon as she was completely out of the office, Alex went out to reception to talk to Baker.

‘I need a private investigator,’ she told him.

‘What you need is aPA,’ Baker replied snottily. ‘I’m up to my eyeballs as it is. That fucking phone will not stop ringing. I can’t keep doing everything.’

‘I know,’ Alex agreed apologetically. ‘And Iwillget one. But not right now, OK? I need to hire someone to check a name Isabelle gave me…’

‘Matthew Downing?’ Baker sighed.

‘I need a thicker door,’ Alex mused.

‘So that’s it? If an investigator can confirm Isabelle’s story, you’re pressing on?’

‘No. I’m also going to talk to this mistress, too. She’s the key to this,’ Alex told him.

‘Do you have her name?’

Alex still didn’t. Despite Ivy Coulter’s cackling description of her own trickery, she still wouldn’t give the bloody woman up. ‘No, but I’ll get it,’ she vowed.

‘What about the party?’ Baker asked.

‘The party goes ahead,’ Alex said quickly.

Baker was staggered. ‘Is anyone even gonna come now that all this stuff is out there?’

‘They’ll gobecausethis happened. People love scandal. Whether or not it wins her the award votes is a different matter.’

‘So how are you gonna hit back at Erin?’

‘Sideways,’ Alex told him.

She had to. She couldn’t attack her directly. Not until she knew it was right to.

‘How?’