Page 30 of Behind Frenemy Lines

Charles

I was uncomfortably conscious of Kriya. Hard not to be, knowing she was in bed on the other side of the wall. Whole flat smelled of her.

So did I, after my shower. Turned out her lemongrass fragrance was from her bath wash. Didn’t help with how keyed up I was.

Kriya had emerged from her shower in a flowy print dress, her hair down her back. Dress was perfectly decent, only she wasn’t wearing a bra. Could see her nipples outlined against the fabric.

Stopped looking after that first electric moment of realisation, but mind harder to control than eyes. It was impossible not to imagine what lay underneath her dress.

Relief when we said good night and she went off to her room. She didn’t seem to have noticed anything.

Suppose she trusts me. That’s a nice thought, or should be. Don’t want Kriya not to trust me, of course. But equally…

Looked up how long it takes to get over an ex, after Loretta’s wedding.

Found a forum discussion that said it takes a month for every year of the relationship.

Kriya was with her ex for thirteen years, and it sounded like the breakup had been rel atively recent.

She was probably at least half a year off from being over it. Not that it was any of my business.

Couldn’t fall asleep, knackered as I was. Bed was comfortable enough, but there was a humming noise from the fridge and light shining from the display on the oven. Air on my face felt different, the way it does in an unfamiliar place.

Rolled over in case lying on my side turned out to be more sleep-inducing. Heard my phone buzz.

Reached out for it. Already broke my rule about not looking at my phone after seven p.m., when the building manager rang.

Seemed late for them to be getting in touch, but they might have sent an update about Loretta’s things.

She spent years acquiring all those books and figures and prints, cost a bloody fortune.

Can’t imagine having to tell her they’ve been ruined.

Message was from Loretta herself:

Are you awake? Do you have time for a call?

It was past nine a.m. in Tokyo. On the early side for Loretta to be getting up while on holiday, but maybe she was jet lagged. Must be serious if she was asking to speak at this time of night.

Switched on the lamp on the side table by the sofa, put on my glasses, and rang her.

Loretta: “Charles! You’re up late.”

Looked remarkably tragic for somebody on honeymoon. I was starting to get worried when Hayley popped up in the background and waved, beaming: “Hi, Charles!”

CG: “I just got out of the office. What’s up?”

Loretta: “I’ve been meaning to talk to you, but it’s been crazy busy. We’ve been spending all our time with Hayley’s parents, or I would’ve rung before. They left for Kyoto this morning.” She took a deep breath. “Charles, I’ve got to confess. I did something terrible.”

Thought of Loretta’s collection. “Did you buy something expensive?” If Loretta had bankrupted herself buying action figures in Japan and needed a loan, she’d have to join the queue.

Loretta: “No—I mean, yes, but that’s not what I meant. I meant, at the wedding.”

CG: “What was it?”

Loretta: “I want you to bear in mind that it was the day of my wedding. I was drunk. So, so drunk. And I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. But you and Kriya were being so cute together, with your lawyer banter, and I felt like there was a real energy there, you know…”

CG, with sense of foreboding: “What did you do?”

Loretta: “Hayley, you sensed the energy, too, right?”

Hayley: “Don’t drag me into this. I told you to keep your mouth shut and let love bloom in peace.”

Loretta: “I only wanted to help! I—wait. Where are you?”

CG: “What?”

Loretta: “That’s not the flat, is it? What’s that above your head?”

Glanced up. There was a framed painting on the wall, done on cloth, of purple and white flowers amid green blades of leaves. At the bottom right-hand corner of the painting was the word “MALAYSIA.”

CG: “They’re meant to be orchids, I think. I’m at Kriya’s place.”

Loretta: “ What? ”

CG: “She offered me her spare bed, because the flat—” Remembered uncertain status of Loretta’s anime things. “I need to tell you about the flat. But you go first.”

Loretta: “Go first? What do you mean?”

CG: “Tell me whatever it was you rang me to talk about.”

Loretta: “Oh, that. Don’t worry about that. ” She was transformed, bloody radiating good cheer. “Tell me about Kriya’s place. She invited you over, you said?”

CG, severely: “It’s nothing to get excited about.

I’m in the lounge. Our flat got flooded.

A pipe burst in the floor of the flat upstairs and the ceiling of my bedroom gave way.

It happened today, while I was at work. I haven’t been back yet, so I don’t know what the damage is.

” Hesitated, but best for her to know. “They haven’t said what’s happened to your room.

I don’t know what state your anime shit is going to be in. ”

Loretta: “That’s fine! Don’t stress out about it. It’s an excuse to buy more stuff while we’re here. We’re going to Ikebukuro today. We can stock up. I should go. You’ll want to go to sleep, or something.” Waggled her eyebrows.

CG: “Wait, Loretta—”

Loretta: “We mustn’t cramp your style. Are you wearing something nice?” Peered at me. “Babe, what’s sexy for guys to wear?”

Hayley, off-screen: “Women’s lingerie!”

Loretta: “True, but Charles isn’t going to go for that.” To me: “At least you’re not wearing your stripy pyjamas. Those make you look five years old.”

CG: “But what were you saying earlier, about being drunk at the wedding? What did you do?”

Loretta: “I said don’t worry about it. I’ll tell you when I get back. It’s no big deal. Have fun!” Winked meaningfully.

Hayley: “Bye, Charles!”

Call ended. Sat there gaping at my phone.

Loretta rejected the call when I tried ringing her back. She messaged:

Go to sleep, or whatever. It’s fine! I’ll tell you some other time

We’re going out now

She added an emoji of winged dollar bills in flight.

I texted: What were you on about? Did you say something to Kriya?

But Loretta didn’t answer, even though I could see from the double blue tick that she’d read my messages.

Turned off the lamp and flung myself back on the bed.

First thing I did when I woke up was grope for my phone. But there was nothing from Loretta. I wasn’t going to find out what terrible thing she’d done at the wedding until she was back in the country, probably.

Almost certainly something to do with Kriya. The lack of denials in response to my question was damning.

Rubbed my temples. It was eight a.m. Could have done with another hour of sleep. But I had promised Kriya to clear out before her party. Best to get on with it.

Rolled out of bed, located my shirt, underwear, and trousers, and put them on. Folded Kriya’s dad’s clothes and put them on the coffee table Kriya had pushed into a corner to make space for the sofa bed. Then I stripped the bed and had a go at collapsing it so I could put the sofa cushions back on.

Wouldn’t collapse. I was struggling with it, trying to be quiet, when there was a knock at the door.

Kriya put her head round the door. “You all right?”

CG: “Sorry. Did I wake you?”

Kriya: “Yes, but it’s OK, I wanted to get up to tidy anyway. Don’t worry about the sofa, it’s a bit stiff. I’ll sort it out later. Can I come in?”

CG: “Of course. It’s your flat.”

She was in the flowy dress she’d worn to bed the night before. And presumably still not wearing a bra.

Strangely intimate, seeing her like this.

Was consciously keeping my eyes averted, but somehow I’d managed to absorb a complete impression of early-morning Kriya, regardless.

Soft, bright-eyed, stray curls escaping from her ponytail to frame her face.

Her skin would be warm from sleep if I touched her.

Kriya was getting a mug out of a cupboard. Said: “Do you want coffee?”

Obviously I wasn’t going to touch her. Get a grip, Charles.

CG: “Yes. Thanks.”

Would have thought it would feel awkward, sitting there at Kriya’s small dining table while she pottered around the kitchen. But it didn’t. It was comfortable. Even as wound up as I was, it was easy being with Kriya.

She glanced over her shoulder, grinning. “Hope you don’t mind using competitor merch.” Showed me the mug she’d put my coffee in, with the name “Brown, Rosenburg and Cushway” on it.

CG: “I’ve got a Swithin Watkins mug at home. And a tumbler. They gave them out when they were phasing out paper cups at the coffee machines.”

Kriya: “I’ll need to get a Swithin Watkins mug.” Smile faded. “If I last that long.”

Didn’t pretend not to know what she was talking about.

CG: “There’s no reason you’d need to leave the firm.

I know you haven’t wanted to make a formal report about Arthur, but you have accrued evidence of a concerning pattern, if nothing else.

With what’s happened with Rosalind, and his objecting to you sharing an office with me—there’s external evidence of both those things.

It wouldn’t simply be your word against his. ”

Kriya: “Yeah.” Didn’t sound convinced.

She handed me a mug of coffee, her fingers brushing mine. Like getting an electric shock.

Observed my body’s reaction with resignation. At least Kriya didn’t seem to notice.

She said: “But even if I make a report, and they get rid of Arthur, where does that leave me? I’ve worked with Arthur since I qualified. Even before then—he was my supervisor when I was a trainee. I can’t imagine my work life without him.” She pulled a face. “That sounds pathetic, right?”

CG: “No.”

What I was thinking was that Arthur had really done a number on her. Hadn’t realised he’d been around when she was doing her training. She wouldn’t have been older than twenty-two or twenty-three. No wonder she couldn’t envisage a career without him.

Kriya: “It’s fine. All of my friends hate Arthur. And I haven’t even told them about what happened in Hong Kong.” She sighed.

CG: “Why not?”

Kriya: “Oh well, you know, it’s kind of a heavy topic, right?

We’re all so busy, we don’t get to meet up that often.

When we are hanging out, I’d rather not waste the time moaning about my job…

You know, Charles, you could never be a therapist. It is one hundred percent obvious from your face when you think someone is talking bullshit. ”

CG: “I didn’t mean—”

Kriya: “That wasn’t a criticism! It’s not a bad quality in a litigator.

OK, I didn’t tell my friends because they already hate Arthur.

They’re not lawyers. They don’t get what it’s like, that relationship with your supervising partner.

Arthur’s been my mentor, he’s taught me how it all works.

You work with Farah, you know what it’s like. ”

CG: “Farah’s not like Arthur.”

Kriya: “No. Fair enough. I wasn’t suggesting she’d cross boundaries, like Arthur—”

CG: “Farah expects me to do the job. It’s a high-pressure job, it requires long hours. It’s hard to get away from that, in a client-facing role. But Farah doesn’t think she owns me or my time.”

Kriya winced. “I was wrong. You’d make a great therapist. You might have to work on your bedside manner, though.”

CG, after a moment: “I’m sorry. It’s not my place to comment.”

Kriya shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. I like your honesty.”

Her foot knocked against my leg as she sat down at the table. Her proximity made me feel light-headed.

CG: “Loretta says that about my bedside manner, too. And Farah. It causes issues with clients.”

Kriya shrugged. “I’m not a client. I like that I always know where I stand with you.”

Felt a pang of guilt. Kriya didn’t really know where she stood with me. If she did, she’d know an inconvenient part of my brain was wondering what it would feel like to kneel down and press my face against her thigh.

Bet it’d feel incredible. I needed to stop thinking about it.

She said: “I know Arthur hasn’t been at his best lately.

But he’s been decent to me, over the years.

I wouldn’t be where I am now without him.

I get some crap from him as well, don’t get me wrong.

But he’s been a good boss a lot of the time.

That’s as real as the crap. And if I report him, either it goes badly for me, or it goes badly for him.

It could ruin his career. His personal life is already in a shambles.

I don’t know if I can bring myself to do that. ”

If Arthur continued behaving as erratically as he was now, Kriya might not have a choice. Seemed to me he was on a course to force her hand. At some point, it was going to be him or her.

But I didn’t need to say that. Kriya wasn’t stupid. On some level, she must know she was heading for a collision.

Kriya: “I’m going to get dressed. Have you got everything you need?” She jumped up and started taking things out of the cupboard. “I’ve got oats, muesli, Koko Krunch… There’s bread in the freezer if you’d like toast. Butter’s in the fridge. Or would you like peanut butter?”

Was going to say, automatically, that it was fine, but realised I was actually pretty hungry. Had forgotten to have dinner the night before. “Muesli’s good. I’ll help myself. Thanks.”

Was working my way through the bowl of muesli when there was a loud rapping at the door. Glanced around for Kriya, but the bathroom door was shut. Could hear the buzzing of an electric toothbrush through it.

A voice called through the front door:

“Hello? Kriya?”

Went to the door and looked through the peephole. Two women outside, both some variety of Asian and laden down with shopping bags. One was wearing big spectacles and yellow dungarees. The other was wearing a baby.

Opened the door. “Can I help you?”

They gaped at me.

The one with the baby said: “Oh my gosh, sorry! We thought this was Flat 57.”

CG: “It is Flat 57. Are you looking for Kriya?”

Kriya emerged from the bathroom, in jeans and a silky green top. She was putting earrings on—pretty dangly gold ones, with green stones.

Kriya: “Eh, what are you guys doing here? I thought we said brunch?”

Yellow dungarees: “Yeah, we said brunch. Nine a.m. Baby has to be back in his cot for his nap by eleven, or May Yin won’t get to sleep tonight.” She pointed at me. “Who’s this guy?”