Page 49 of Wife After Wife

“Jesus Christ. How many seconds have you worked here? Are you bonking him, Ana, or what?”

She looked Terri squarely in the eye. “I won’t dignify that with a reply. You know I’m engaged, and I would hope any career success is down to my ability and hard work.”

“But you do live with his sister, don’t you? So he’s a friend.”

“I wouldn’t call him a friend. I’ve only met him once or twice outside of work.”

“It still stinks. And I’m pissed off at losing you.”

“But you do understand I can’t turn down the opportunity.”

“No, you can’t.” Terri leaned back in her chair and threw her pen down on the desk. “I should loathe you, Ana, but for some reason I don’t. So here’s a tip. Watch out for Mia Fox.Hooray!is her life. If Harry has presented your move as a fait accompli without consulting her, she’s going to make your life hell. And if she thinks he’s taking a special interest in you, you’ll be toast. Mia wantsallhis special interest to be in her.”

“I’d expect Mia to have studied my work before agreeing to my promotion. And my work should speak for itself.”

Terri snorted. “Ana, do you really believe your own bullshit? Just tell me that. Honest answer.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Seriously? I know you’re young, and therefore perhaps not up to speed with the ways of the world, but do you really believe your talent is so outstanding that you could make art director that quickly? Do you not think family connections and ulterior motives might have had something to do with it? You know I rate your work, but... seriously? And Mia would never say no to Harry, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t want to. Watch your back.”

Ana’s mind whirled as she made her way back to her desk. Putting aside thoughts of Harry’s motivation, she wondered about Terri’s for a moment. Why would she be so patronizing about Ana’s promotion? Was she jealous? Did she have designs on Harry herself? Or was it just the whole tedious north-south divide business: grafting northerners having it “toof,” versus privileged southerners having everything on a plate?

Wait. What had Terri said?Family connections. Ana had assumed she was talking about Megan, but what if she’d meant Merry? Did Terri know something about that?

It was time for a chat with her sister.

•••

Merry waved at Ana from her table at Joe Allen. She needn’t have bothered. She stood out like a poppy in a field of corn.

Over the past year or so, her hair had grown progressively lighter, from its natural honey blond to platinum, and she was wearing a white polo neck with several gold chains dangling over the precipice of her uplifted bust.

As she waved, most other people in the restaurant looked too.

“Hi,” Ana said, air-kissing her sister. There was far too much red lipstick involved to risk actual touching.

As Ana sat down, she wondered if the extra makeup was hiding something. Merry looked tired. “How are you, and how’s Will?”

“Been better,” said Merry. She waved over a waiter. “Wine, dear sister?”

“Make it a large one.”

“A bottle of Chablis, please.”

“Certainly, ladies,” said the young waiter. “Are you ready to order?”

“My sister needs five minutes,” said Merry.

“Sisters! Wow, one so blond and one so dark. Who’d have thought?”

Ana regarded him coolly, wishing he’d go away, while Merry bestowed one of her charming smiles. The type that made men feel so very special.

He hovered, Merry’s smile apparently canceling out the request for five more minutes.

“I’ll have the tuna Nicoise,” said Ana, smacking the menu shut and holding it out to him.

“And I’ll have the pasta of the day, sweetheart.” She held out her menu as if offering a ticket to paradise.