Page 62 of Original Sin

‘Well, at least have some juice,’ said Meredith, indicating she sit on a fragile–looking cream tapestry chair. ‘Marlene has just pressed passion fruit, lemon, and apple. It’s quite delicious, and an excellent detoxifier.’

Tess sat down carefully as the maid brought over her drink.

‘Sean is dating a lovely young woman in London,’ said Meredith, sitting down opposite Tess.

‘Really? Who is she?’

‘Annabel Russell, someone he met in the clinic,’ said Meredith, without a flicker of embarrassment over her son’s latest fall from grace. ‘She’s an actress, I think, but from a very good English family. She knows William and Harry, the princes.’

‘So when did he get back to London?’

‘Last week.’

‘Well, that’s good,’ said Tess. ‘I haven’t heard any rumours coming from London about him going to rehab. No one seems to know.’

Meredith nodded. ‘We told the London office he had been seconded back to New York for a few weeks. If people have been suspicious, then I haven’t heard about it.’

Tess thought for a moment. ‘Even so, I think we should get some pictures of him out to the US and British press,’ she said. ‘Maybe at some high–profile charity event. I know there’s a big Prince’s Trust event coming up soon. I’ve looked through the photo agency files and all they have are pictures of Sean in nightclubs or at the polo. I think now is as good a time as any to start getting rid of his playboy image.’

The old woman smiled and Tess wondered how her face was so free of wrinkles or lines; how many face–lifts she’d had, how regularly she had Botox, what expensive creams she must use. If it was the latter, they weren’t Asgill products, Tess felt sure of it.

‘So, how are you enjoying it?’ asked Meredith after a pause.

‘Well, it’s busy,’ said Tess with a smile. She told Meredith about all the recent lunches she had been on with the biggest players on the Manhattan media scene. With the help of her friend Rebecca from the Oracle, she had managed to secure time with everyone, from the social editor of the New York Times to the publisher of the Daily News. Meredith nodded her approval.

‘Well, we could have done without the Jeff Daniels situation,’ she added, ‘But I think you handled it well.’

‘Patty has been terrific as well,’ said Tess modestly.

‘Is everything else all right?’ asked Meredith. ‘All seems quiet on the western front.’

Tess tried to hide her frustration. The biggest problem with her job was that the better she was at it, the less it looked as if she was doing anything. She was like a conjurer who had to make the rabbits disappear before anyone even thought to look in the hat.

‘Well, there was a minor situation with Liz,’ said Tess hesitantly. She knew Meredith wouldn’t like the fact she had been kept out of the loop, but at the same time a voice

inside her was screaming, Tell her how good you are!

‘A situation?’ asked Meredith.

‘Just a one–night stand. The man involved was threatening to go to the press.’

Meredith gave a little tinkly laugh. ‘Hardly Watergate, my dear.’

Tess bit her tongue. As much as she wanted to tell Meredith about her brilliant coup involving Larry, Liz, and Russ, she knew it was wise to be economical with the truth. Hers was a difficult position to be in; Meredith was her boss, but she had promised Liz that she would keep the Russ Ford episode completely under wraps. Were the situation reversed, Tess felt sure that Liz would welch on such a gentleman’s agreement in the blink of an eye, but for now Tess knew it was best to keep Liz on side.

‘Has everything been resolved?’ Meredith asked, sipping her detoxifying juice.

Tess nodded.

‘And how much did it cost us?’

‘Actually, that’s the good news. I pulled a few strings; it didn’t cost us anything.’

‘Good. Although I thought Elizabeth was cleverer than that.’

Meredith looked at Tess expectantly. After all, she had been the one to request the meeting. ‘Well, what else can I do for you?’

Tess steeled herself. For the last few weeks, Tess had been feeling very alone. Navigating the lives and loves of the Asgill offspring had been more difficult than she had imagined. In the past month, only William Asgill had escaped from any sort of trouble – and who knew what problems might be lurking under that particular rock? Tess had met William with his wife Paula, and some instinct told her that there was trouble brewing there. As much as she was enjoying her new job, it had nothing like the camaraderie of the Globe offices, and Tess was feeling very much in need of assistance with the research and a sounding board when she ran into problems – which seemed to be daily. Patty was far too busy with her legal work to be able to talk to her very much, and Lucy Cummins, Asgill Cosmetics’ communications director, felt so threatened by Tess that she only contacted her via email.