‘How are you, Grace?’ Max said. ‘Take a seat.’
I sat down opposite him. Although the skirt of my suit was knee-length, it rode up slightly as I sat down, leaving the backs of my thighs exposed. The leather of the chair was still warm against them. I shifted, the enduring heat of his presence making me feel awkward and extending the hurt of his indifference. I wondered if Max knew what had passed between us, or if my reaction had given it away.
Almost as if he’d read my mind, Max’s next words increased my discomfort. ‘I see you’ve met my esteemed friend,’ he remarked.
I flushed. ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘He was here the day…’ I tailed off, not sure how to put into words the anguish of that morning.
‘He was, yes.’ Max didn’t speak for a moment. When he did, he seemed to have forgotten about his departed guest. ‘How have you been, Grace?’ he said.
He seemed genuinely interested, which put me even further on the back foot. It wasn’t like Max to be interested in the personal lives of his staff, and it made me wonder again if he knew more than he was saying. I didn’t want to acknowledge anything though, after his esteemed friend had so coolly blanked me. ‘Up and down,’ I said. ‘I need to get back to work.’
‘I’ve never been more glad to hear anything in my life,’ Max said, with a smile that disarmed me completely. For such a tyrant, he could be charming when he chose. ‘Liv...’
He left her name hanging in the air, but it told me all I needed to know. He’d missed me. It made me feel better about myself. I’d worked for Max for over two years, and I’d never known whether he was pleased with me, or not. I wondered what Liv had done to annoy him so but, knowing Max, it was nothing more than the unfamiliarity of a different face.
‘It’ll do you good,’ Max said. ‘Coming back to work. Keep you on the straight and narrow, and, hopefully, away from that dick.’
I felt my eyes widen. So he knew about us, after all. I was about to speak, to dismiss it as nothing but a chance encounter, when he spoke again.
‘Footballers like him are just overgrown man-boys,’ he said. ‘He’ll never be any good for you.’
I almost sagged with relief. He was talking about Leo.
I thought over his words. I felt embarrassed again, as if he’d somehow ticked me off for my bad taste in men. At the same time, I knew he was right, much as it pained me to admit it. ‘Is it okay if I start back on Monday, then?’ I said, to change the subject.
‘Most assuredly,’ he said, standing up to see me out. As I got to the office door, he touched my shoulder, and I turned to face him. ‘And, Grace, regarding our mutual friend...’ He indicated the now empty leather seat. ‘I don’t know what’s gone on between you…’ He spoke quietly, to avoid anyone overhearing, but his tone was intense and severe, and I felt myself growing hot with embarrassment again. So he had known.
‘…But I’d be very careful. Between you and I – and I don’t want this repeated – he’s just been charged with assaulting a girlfriend.’
Twenty Four
Her
I walked back out onto the floor in a daze. Liv was waiting for me, her face wild with excitement. ‘It was him, Grace!’ she said, stating the obvious. ‘And I know what his name is now.’
‘I don’t care what his name is,’ I said, my thoughts a dizzying whirl of disappointment. ‘I’m not interested.’
‘Liv!’ Max said, from behind me. ‘I need those account details now.’
‘Yes, Max,’ said Liv. She threw me an infuriated look. ‘Give me five, Grace. Okay?’
‘No,’ I said. ‘I’ve…got to go. I’ll see you tonight.’
I left the department and took the lift down to the entrance. I hardly noticed going through the foyer and didn’t stop until I was standing on the steps outside. I remembered standing there, not even a week ago, hordes of reporters taking photos of me and shoving mics in my face. Amazing how quickly a story dwindled, without further exposure to feed it.
For the first time, I understood what Kitty had been talking about, and why it was so important to act swiftly to capitalise on that moment of fame…or infamy. Just as well I was going to meet with her precious Jimmy, in an hour or so.
I fumbled in my bag, until I found what I was looking for. A crumpled box of cigarettes and, deep in one of the pockets, a lighter. I took a ciggie from the box and lit it, relaxing slightly as I took the first drag.
It was only then that I noticed a guy, standing a few feet away by a streetlamp and staring at me. As he saw me look over, he seemed to take a deep breath and steel himself for something. As I watched him, he came hesitantly over to me.
‘Grace?’ he said.
I nodded at him, taking another nervous drag on my cigarette. He was balding, with his hair cropped close and an everyday office suit. He was very much an average Joe, here in the City, but there was something faintly familiar about him, as if I’d seen him before. ‘Yes,’ I said, when he didn’t say anything further. ‘I’m Grace.’
I was beginning to think he was a reporter and was about to turn and walk away, when he finally spoke. He sounded anxious, as if he wasn’t sure he was doing the right thing. ‘I’m…Phil. I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have come here, only…’ He tailed off.
‘Only what?’ I said, mystified.
He took another deep breath. I could tell it was costing him big to say whatever it was. ‘Will you please tell your…boyfriend to back off?’ he said.
‘My boyfriend?’ I said. ‘You mean Leo? He’s not my...’
‘Look, I don’t know his name,’ he said, talking quickly and urgently. ‘All I know is, he’s come on heavy, to me and the others…paid us off and threatened to hurt us if we breathe so much as a word. Him and his gang of heavies.’
He looked at me, staring into my eyes, almost pleadingly. I stared back, not knowing what to say to calm him down. What the hell was he talking about?
As I inhaled again on my cigarette, his gaze left mine and travelled up past my right shoulder. His eyes widened in horror and, at almost the same moment, I felt a hand reach across me and pluck the cigarette from between my lips, before throwing it onto the steps in front of me.
Twenty Five
Her
I turned round, only to find myself face to face with the Filth Monger. He was smiling coolly at Phil. ‘As long as you keep quiet, you have nothing to worry about,’ he said, pleasantly. ‘You have my word.’
Phil stood there for a moment, transfixed – it seemed – in horror. Then he threw me an anguished look, before turning and bolting, back down the road.
‘And smoking is extremely bad for you,’ he continued. ‘As I’ve told you before.’
I looked at the remains of my cigarette, charred and flattened on the steps. I was so annoyed. I’d needed that. The sheer arrogance of the man was beyond question.
‘And littering is a crime,’ I said, turning my back on him. If he thought I was going to forget his treatment of me in Max’s office, he could think again.
Rather than turning me to face him – which I was fully expecting and ready for – he just put his arm through mine and walked me off down the steps and away from Ffyvells, towards Leadenhall Market. I tried to resist, but he gripped my arm and guided me across the busy road. The fact that the traffic stopped had more to do with his walking straight out in front of it, than anything to do with the traffic lights, so our crossing was punctuated by several angry drivers sounding their horns.
‘Who was that man?’ I said. ‘Why’s he so terrified?’
‘Do you really not know?’ he said, in disapproving tones. ‘That was one of your…friends from the F Bar.’
‘Oh,’ I said, flushing, as realisation dawned. No wonder he’d seemed familiar. I’d nearly left with his group, only to be stopped, at the last minute, by the man holding my arm so firmly now. ‘Why’s he so scared of you?’