Page 127 of The Chalet Girl

Emme told Cat exactly what triggered Lexy to slap her. Because of Emme’s comment about Bill and Jenny. Because Lexy was so wound up about Tristan and Emme and seething with rage because she had fucked Tristan not even two months ago. Perhaps more recently too.

‘Motherfucker!’ raged Cat.

‘Well… quite,’ Emme said, solemnly.

‘I can’t believe it!’

Cat was so livid, she looked like she might have been duped too. ‘But… at the party…’

‘What?’ Emme asked.

Cat couldn’t speak.

‘So what are you going to do?’ she eventually asked.

‘He’s back on Monday and I just can’t bear to see him. He’s such a liar, Cat! Disgusting. I mean, you warned me… I knew it myself! ButLexy?!’

‘Yeah, he should have told you that perhaps there was a conflict of interest there. But, you know, after you told me and Tiago about you two, I was thinking about the party…’

‘What?’

‘When you guys went flying in a heap on the floor. He wasn’t looking at Anastasia. Or Vivian. He wasn’t looking at Lexy Harrington, that’s for sure. He looked genuinely worried about you. I should have guessed about you two there and then. He was all foryou.’

‘Oh please, Cat! You of all people, after him and Anastasia…’

‘I dunno. At least hear him out. Does he know you know about Lexy?’

‘How can he? I doubt even Lexy knows I know.’

‘Well he knows something is off. He’s worried you’re not answering his calls and he knows Lexy has gone nuts.’

‘So what do I do?’

‘Don’t think about any of it yet. Let’s hit the mountain. I have tomorrow off. The Kivvi men are flying back into the country tomorrow and having dinner in Geneva when they collect Stella. We’ll get some air, the forecast looks great. I swear, the mountain always has the answer.’

Emme nodded. She had been skiing twice a week sincethat magical day in the gondola; she was even starting to envisage loving skiing one day.

‘For now, just stay here and keep ordering room service. Tiago’s on shift tonight, right?’

Emme nodded.

‘He’ll look after you.’

And just like that, Emme felt bolstered.

Chapter Seventy-Five

Cat walked into the lobby of Seven Summits and froze when she saw who was waiting for her, on a sofa opposite the chalet lifts.

‘Oh. I thought you were in–’

Tristan had his black holdall next to him. He looked like he had just flown in. He stood, and ran his fingers through his hair frantically.

‘I got an earlier flight. I need to speak to Emme. Please Cat, where is she? She’s stopped answering my calls. What’s going on?’

Cat levelled him with a look.

‘You’re a grade-A creep, you know that, right?’