Page 81

‘No, you’re dodging me,’ Erin said. ‘Why?’

‘Look, I don’t think we have time for this…’

‘Did you speak to Amanda?’ Erin asked abruptly.

‘What? No,’ she said weakly.

She needed to work on her lying. It was piss poor.

Erin slumped against the cubicle wall. ‘Ah, shit. You did.’

Leigh didn’t say anything.

‘She signed confidentiality with Isabelle,’ Erin said with a nasty little smile. That smile was like a window into Erin, the real Erin. It was horrifying.

Leigh swallowed. ‘Yes, I know.’

Erin got back to her feet like a wobbly colt, her smile even wider. ‘You’re a nice person, aren’t you, Leigh? I always liked that about you. But the thing is, nice is a problem because it leaves you open to people who aren’t. People whose careers are about to blow up. People who could ask their PR companies to sack an employee.’

Leigh didn’t respond because her jaw was hanging wide open to the extent that she couldn’t form words. The reaction seemed enough to satisfy Erin.

‘Good girl,’ Erin said and walked unsteadily out of the cubicle.

Leigh stayed. Partly because she was scared, but also because she needed to pee. She could multitask.

She sat down on the toilet and let go, nearly ready to cry over what her life was about to become. It had been one thing to have to rep Erin with the knowledge of the kind of person she was. But now, it was openly hostile between them. The professional relationship was utterly untenable. And her bosses would not let her drop Erin for anything.

How the hell could she go on like this?

Thirty-Five

‘Alex, darling!’ Isabelle cried, almost running to her as fast as her stilettoes would allow. ‘You’ve outdone yourself! This party is a total success!’

Alex put on a fake smile. ‘Glad you like it.’

‘Almost everyone came! How did you pull that off?’ she asked quietly, but the jazz playing big band music in the corner was plenty of cover for the conversation.

‘I think you underestimate people’s willingness to be close to a scandal,’ Alex told her honestly.

Isabelle’s smile faltered. ‘Oh, come on, now. You muddied the waters like a true professional. Now, no one knows exactly what to believe. And that was just enough to save my career, I think.’

‘Yeah, I’m a clever little liar,’ Alex said.

Isabelle’s smile fell off her lips entirely. ‘Is everything OK?’ she asked.

‘Yeah, it’s great. I’m glad you’re enjoying your party. Maybe we can talk afterwards?’

‘About what?’ Isabelle asked, antennae up.

‘We’ll talk later. Enjoy the evening,’ Alex urged her, praying she’d just let it go.

But Isabelle was starting to look rather worried. ‘Alex, is…’

Steven interrupted them, thankfully. ‘Isabelle, we might have a small issue. Erin’s here.’

Isabelle’s eyes widened. She spun to Alex. ‘Did you do this? Another one of your little tricks for a photo op? Because I don’t think this was the night for—’

‘Nothing to do with me,’ Alex said. ‘I don’t repeat myself. Makes me easy to predict.’