Page 56 of Gold Diggers

Over Emily’s shoulder, Christina could see through the glass door of the bar and into the foyer of the hotel where, at that moment, she saw Ari walk in through the revolving doors towards reception.

‘If you’re looking for my husband, sweetie, he’s just walking in,’ said Christina. Emily had the look of a rabbit caught in a trap.

‘Christina. Look, I … I’m sorry. I thought he had told you. We didn’t realize you’d be here this weekend.’

‘Why would he tell me, you stupid bitch?’ hissed Christina. ‘That bastard’s filing for divorce on the grounds that I have been unfaithful, and all the while he’s fucking the maths tutor.’

Guests in the bar were beginning to look round. Karin leapt from her chair and put her hand on Christina’s shoulder. ‘Tina, it’s not worth it,’ she muttered as Christina shook her hand away.

‘You little whore!’ growled Christina. ‘What right have you got to parade yourself in front of everyone, in front of my friends?’

Emily moved for the door. ‘I think I had better go,’ she said quietly.

Christina laughed cruelly. ‘The fucking maths tutor? This is more of a mystery than Pythagoras’s theorem. What on earth does he see in you?’

Emily turned back and looked at Christina with surprisingly cold eyes. ‘I’m not you,’ she whispered.

Christina laughed again. ‘That’s right. And don’t think a mousy frump like you is going to replace me, sweetheart!’ she shouted.

Emily casually held her wrist up and jangled a string of diamonds.

Christina stopped cold. She immediately recognized it: a Tiffany tennis bracelet worth at least £30,000.

‘Christina,’ smiled Emily as she turned from the room, ‘I think I already have.’

Erin had been expecting to hate Molly’s daughter. After all, Summer was younger than Molly, considerably more beautiful and, having spent twenty-something years in Molly’s shallow world, she was bound to have the same expectant arrogance, the same hard-faced ambition. But when Summer arrived on The Pledge earlier that evening, Erin had liked Summer immediately. She was modest, funny, polite, and had a smile that was warm and genuine. Plus, unlike most people she had encountered in Adam’s world, Summer spoke and listened to Erin as an equal.

Summer had a body made for sin, that much was obvious, the simple white jersey dress she was wearing could not disguise her spectacular figure. But even though she looked like every man’s fantasy, she was quite clearly a girl’s girl, chattering to Erin about shoes and ice cream and rom-coms. It was just like going down the pub with one of her best friends. In Summer’s company, Erin felt herself properly relaxing for the first time in months.

‘I expect you come here every year, don’t you?’ asked Erin. The two girls had retreated to the top deck for cocktails as Adam had joked that Erin was only ‘half on duty’. He wanted to her to relax and enjoy the party, but to be there to sort out any complications. And Erin was glad Adam had been so generous as they had a spectacular view of the harbour.

‘Oh no, this is my first time,’ said Summer, ‘My mother always wants to drag me to these sorts of places, but thankfully I’ve been out of harm’s way in Japan for the last four years.’

‘Dragged to these sorts of places? What’s there not to like about yachts and champagne?’ laughed Erin at Summer’s objections.

Summer gave a half-smile and put her flute of Krug down on the walnut deck. ‘Hang on,’ she said distractedly, ‘my mobile is going.’ She looked at the screen. It was Sarah.

‘Summer! You’ll never guess where I am!’ gushed Sarah as Summer made a face to Erin. ‘I’m on Larry Nelson’s yacht! It’s that white and blue one right at the end of the dock. It’s so big. And the men here are lovely! Why don’t you come over?’

‘Are you still with my mother?’ asked Summer, slightly concerned.

‘No. I think she’s gone. But it doesn’t matter, because I’ve met everyone. Sum, I’ve just met this guy who plays for AC Milan but he’s injured.’ Sarah was giggling hysterically and slurring her speech.

‘Sarah, come back to the yacht,’ scolded Summer.

‘Oh, don’t be such a party-pupper … piper … pooper,’ slurred Sarah. ‘Anyway, I won’t be long. Just another ten minutes.’ She began giggling and was clearly talking to somebody away from the phone.

‘Sarah? SARAH?’ said Summer, but the phone had gone dead. She looked at Erin apologetically. ‘Look sorry, that’s my friend Sarah, I think I’m going to have to go and get her.’

Summer had switched into responsible mode. She had done it a thousand times before, when Molly had been coked out of her face at a party and needed a taxi summoning to some remote spot on the outskirts of London, or when a friend had called to say her mother was passed out cold in a bar.

‘Who the hell is Barry Nelson?’ asked Erin.

‘One of the richest men in the world.’

‘So why don’t you leave her to it?’ asked Erin. ‘I’m sure she’s enjoying herself.’

Summer glanced at her watch and frowned. ‘Hmm, I would, but she’s supposed to be in the Casino Square in twenty minutes. She’s presenting a programme about the lifestyles of the rich and famous. It’s the first night of filming tonight and she sounds totally out of it.’