Page 69 of Friend of the Family

Amy stubbed her cigarette out, shaking her head. ‘Uh-uh. You’re too selfish. And not actually bright enough.’

‘Hey!’ laughed David, pushing her.

‘No, I should think you’ll still be a banker and you’ll still make piles of cash, but you won’t be like all the nobs in that marquee.’ She turned to look at him, her eyes fierce. ‘I walked around this ball for eight hours handing out drinks. D’you know how many times anyone made eye contact with me?’ She held up her thumb and forefinger in an O. ‘And I think I got three thank yous the whole night.’

David nodded. ‘They expect everything to be handed to them because it always has been.’

‘Exactly. And is that how you feel?’

‘No, I expect to have to work for it. But . . .’

‘But you feel bad because you’re getting a leg up?’

‘I suppose. I mean, I do appreciate the fact that I’m being given an opportunity – everyone needs a break to get their foot in the door. It’s just I hate all the baggage.’

‘Annabel, you mean?’

He paused, thinking.

‘You know what? Bel said something to me earlier tonight; she said, “Plenty of men would be glad to date me”, and she was right. She’s pretty, she’s smart enough in her own way, and she can be good fun.’

Amy raised a sceptical eyebrow and David chuckled. ‘Seriously. She makes me laugh. Sometimes.’

‘Oi!’ laughed Amy, reaching out and yanking his bow tie. David grabbed her wrists and they fell sideways onto the grass, giggling. He felt the warmth of Amy’s bare shoulders against him, smelled her skin, looked into her eyes. She stared back, the blue of her irises shining.

‘What the hell is going on here?’

Their heads whipped around simultaneously. Annabel was standing over them, two tiny fists on her slim hips.

‘Annabel,’ said David, clambering to his feet. ‘It’s not . . . We just fell over is all.’

‘Yes, it looks like it,’ she snapped.

‘I’ll, um, see you later,’ said Amy, smoothing down her dress and walking away.

David turned back to Annabel and found that she was already walking off. ‘Bel!’ he shouted, running after her. ‘Bel, wait!’

He grabbed her arm to spin her around, and as he did, Annabel used the momentum to bring her hand up hard, slapping him across the cheek.

‘Fuck you, David. Fuck you and fuck your townie slut!’

David pressed a hand to his face, actually more stung by her words. He had never heard Annabel swear before.

‘She’s not a slut.’

‘Really? Trying to screw someone else’s boyfriend? What do you call that?’

‘She wasn’t trying anything of the sort! And this isn’t about her, it’s about us.’

Annabel turned to face him, eyes blazing. ‘Don’t you dare try and make this my fault!’

There were tears sparkling on her cheeks, and David immediately felt terrible. Annabel was a snob, she was entitled and condescending, but she wasn’t a terrible person. She was a cross little princess bred for a life in society; a show pony. She didn’t deserve to be hurt like this.

‘Annabel, I’m so sorry, truly,’ he said. He reached for her, but she pushed him away, turning so he couldn’t see her face. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you, I just . . . Maybe I’m not the right guy for you.’

‘I know that!’ she hissed. Her face had twisted, her anger erasing her beauty. ‘Do you really think I’d let you finish with me?’ She barked out a cruel laugh. ‘I didn’t come here to kiss and make up, you arrogant shit. I came here to tell you that I have phoned my father and told him exactly the kind of man you are. There will be no job at the bank, and I doubt anyone else in the City will touch you now either.’

‘Bel, I—’