Page 120 of Wife After Wife

“Excuse me, chaps, need to pay a visit,” said Charles, leaving Harry to answer Andre’s difficult question.

“Truth is, Andre, Ana’s being difficult,” he said. “That’s the kindest way I can phrase it. It’s not about the money—she’s got plenty of that. It’s all about revenge. Christ, I only had one affair in all the time we were married. One!”

“Pfft, English women. Her lawyer, I hear he is the best. How good is your Cranwell?”

“Suitably ruthless.” But then he remembered Tom’s misgivings. “I’m not sure he’s up to this particular War of the Roses, though.”

“You are on side of right. Rose Corp. was your father’s life work, no? You cannot let angry woman ruin his legacy.”

“Maybe I should find a lawyer who plays by different rules.”

“These English rules I think are difficult to break. Too much in favor of wives. Is wrong. Wives are not ones who make money, so why wives get half the money? Is crazy. I would not tolerate. In Russia we have ways of dealing with troublesome wives who make unreasonable demands.”

“You do?”

Andre gazed out across the grounds. And slowly drew his finger across his throat.

“Jesus, Andre. Tad extreme.”

“In Russia we take seriously our family battles. Someone threatens to bring us down, like you say, is war. Has always been this way. In England it was too, I think.”

“We haven’t beheaded our enemies for quite some time, Andre. Or our wives.”

“Not in public, Harry. In Russia we know how to do this, what is your word... discreetly. Ana, she make a big problem for you.”

“She does. But—”

“I can handle this problem for you.” He was still looking at the view.

“Youarekidding? This is England. Wives generally aren’t disposable.”

Finally, Andre turned to him. “Harry. I much enjoy being business partner. You and Charles are my English family. But you think Russian money is like tap to turn on. You take Andre to football, you get money. You play tennis with Andre, you get more money. I am businessman. There is no more money for Rose until problem sorted. Your wife is problem.”

Harry felt himself breaking out in a cold sweat.

“You give me nod, I make problem go away,” said Andre.

“How?”

“Russian assets, especially military—many things we can get.”

Charles was coming back.

“We haven’t had this conversation, Andre.”

•••

Harry woke up from a nightmare, bathed in sweat. His legs were twitching and his heart was racing. He flicked on the bedside lamp and looked at the clock: three a.m.

He made his way to the kitchen, where he poured a glass of water and swallowed four pills, staring out the window at the black waters of the Thames.

Andre hadn’t been serious. Of course he hadn’t. Even Russians didn’t go around bumping off other people’s wives because they were hampering football-related plans.

Harry sank onto the couch, feeling his heart rate slow. He noticed his stomach spilling over the waistband of his pajamas. He was out of condition, dependent on drugs. His life was unraveling. He needed to take control. He’d find a new doctor and be frank about his painkiller addiction. Most importantly, he’d go and see Ana, get her to see reason.

Ana

It was a Wednesday evening, and Ana was the only person left in the office. Eliza was at a sleepover, so she was working late on a concept for a new client. She’d put background music on and was enjoying the solitude.