Page 52 of Wife After Wife

The happiness she’d felt about her promotion had been eroded awaythroughout the day, firstly by Terri’s insinuations and now by Merry’s revelations about Will and Harry.

She needed Percy and had been so glad when he picked up the phone and told her to come on over, he was all alone.

She paid the driver and knocked on the front door, rubbing her arms against the winter chill.

“Hi!” he said as she stepped into the warmth. “What a nice surprise. What happened to dinner with Merry?”

“Cut short,” said Ana, unbuttoning her coat. “I’ll explain later.”

“Intriguing! Glass of wine? I’ve got a red open.”

He was wearing his acid-wash jeans again, teamed with a royal-blue V-neck sweater tucked in at the waist. Ana made a mental note to take him shopping.

“That’d be lovely,” she said, following him into the kitchen, trying not to notice the laddish chaos. “I’ve got some good news, but can we delay the champagne until I’m feeling happy about it again?”

“Champagne-worthy news? Why the long face, then?”

As he poured the wine, she explained about the new position, then about Terri’s allusions as to why she’d got the job.

“Actually, that’s not such a bad thing, you know.” Percy ushered her through to the living room. The only light was from a table lamp, and the coziness was soothing. Ana began to unwind as she sat on the sofa and unzipped her boots, lifting her legs across Percy’s.

“What do you mean?”

“If people think you’ve got a special relationship with Harry, for whatever reason, they’re going to treat you with respect, not the other way round, surely?”

“But I don’twantthem thinking anything like that. I want to be respected for my work.Onlymy work. And I certainly don’t want them gossiping about me behind my back.”

“If Harry’s taking a special interest, who cares if that’s because you’re Megan’s friend, or he likes you, or just because you’re a great designer? Why would that piss you off?”

“Why would that... For heaven’ssake, Percy. Women should be judged on their ability to do a good job. Nothing else. Nobody ‘sleeps their way to the top’ anymore, and if anyoneeverthought that about me—or even that I’d been promoted because I was a friend of the family, I’d be mortified. I need to put Terri straight. I just wish Merry wasn’t...” She stopped.

“Merry wasn’t what?”

“Look, you mustn’t repeat this, OK?”

He made a zipped-lips gesture, but Ana didn’t care for the way he perked up at the scent of gossip.

“Merry’s been seeing Harry, for a while now. I think she basically got me the job in the first place. And... Will’s HIV positive and isn’t well at all.”

“Oh no. That’s terrible news, I’m so sorry. And Merry—well, I did wonder, the way she was acting round Harry at the party.”

“Her ability to be discreet seems to have declined as her hair has got blonder.” Anger bubbled up inside as she remembered their conversation. “She’s talking about marrying Harry, once Will’s out of the way.”

“Seriously? She’s not at all the dumb blonde she makes out, is she?”

“Scheming blonde, more like. Can you believe it? Poor Will, with a terminal illness, and Harry’s wife losing a baby and now with depression. And all the while those two shagging in their secret South Ken love nest. It’s disgusting. And to think he was going on at Megan for having a thing with Charles. Bloody hypocrite.”

“Love nest?”

“Yup, they leased a flat when Merry started coming down to ‘stand in for Will at meetings.’ It’s all so seedy. I almost feel like chucking the job back at Harry.”

“Nah, you’re overreacting. Just be happy about it! Congratulations, you clever thing.”

Percy leaned across and took the glass from her hand. Putting it down, he took Ana’s face in his hands and kissed her, slowly and deeply.“How about we forget about work for now?” he murmured, his hand moving to her breast.

The tension of the day was sent packing to be replaced by a new sort, already being wound tight.

As Percy’s kiss became more demanding, and he began to unbutton her silk blouse, her body’s powerful response took Ana by surprise. As his lips traveled lower, she arched herself toward him, then at once pushed him roughly away. She quickly took off the blouse and then her bra, before setting about Percy’s jeans, filled with a need that refused to take things slowly. Yanking them off, and then his boxers, she wriggled out of her skirt and underwear and straddled Percy, pushing him back against the arm of the sofa. Flinging her head back, her thick black hair flying, she gave herself up to the desire that surged through her.