Page 22 of The Temp

‘I hate it when people creep up on me like that.’ Frank does a little theatrical shudder. ‘What was I saying?’

Irritation rockets through my veins. ‘Threatening to tell Theo you slept with Linda isn’t going to make me change my mind. I’m going to tell my sister everything. It’s my duty to protect her.’

‘Duty? Do me a favour,’ he sneers, tossing the rolled-up kitchen foil into the air.

‘If you’re as innocent as you claim, then why are you trying to stop me from talking to Zelda?’

‘Because, sadly, your sister thinks the sun shines out of your backside. She’ll believe your crap. Anyway, do what you have to do and let her be the judge. But before you go galloping in like a heroine, you might want to know something.’

I cross my arms against my chest. ‘About what?’

‘Café Crouchy.’ I look at him, confused. ‘You know, the cafe I saw you and Liam in.’ My tummy tightens.

I blow a strand of hair off my face. ‘What about it?’

‘Remote workers love it, and do you know why?’ I shake my head. I’m guessing it isn’t for the rich Colombian coffee blend. ‘It’s soundproofed. So it’s nice and quiet, which was handy on the day I saw you because I heard Every. Single. Word you said.’

I glare at him. That can’t be true. Who soundproofs a coffee shop? A chill tiptoes over my skin, bringing with it a feeling of doom. Apart from the low hum of music, it was tranquil in there. A few people were quietly chatting but most of the customers were working on their laptops.

‘You’re bluffing,’ I retort.

Leaning forward, he whispers what I said to Liam word for word, before he stood up and faced me. My blood runs cold. ‘I could end your marriage just like that.’ Frank clicks his fingers. I shake my head, mind racing like a car without brakes – I’ll deny everything - tell Tom he’s lying because I sacked him for making a pass at me. That he’s a spiteful narcissist, making it all up.

‘Go fuck yourself,’ I snap.

But as I go to move he snatches me by the arm. ‘Is this some kind of sick revenge for what happened between us at the gym?’

‘Let go, you’re hurting me.’

‘I swear, Bella, if you ruin this for me and Zelda, I will destroy you and everyone you care about.’

Chapter 19

I shrug Frank off me angrily and he stumbles back. ‘If you think I’m going to stand by and watch you hurt my sister, allow you to blackmail me, then you can think again,’ I hit back, anger soaring through every cell in my body. ‘So, go ahead and tell Tom. I’ll deny it all. It’ll be your word against mine. Who do you think he’s going to believe, hmm?’

Frank opens his mouth to speak when a voice says. ‘Hey, I was about to send out a search party.’ I spin around. Tom is standing behind me, phone in the palm of his hand, as if he was just about to text me. His white cotton shirt is undone to his waist like a seventy’s medallion man, gold crucifix glimmering against his chest, face red from alcohol. My mouth fills with saliva – did he hear everything I said?

‘We were just catching up,’ Frank says, smoothly. ‘Bella is thinking of coming back to the gym.’

‘Really?’ Tom slips his phone into the side pocket of his black combats, then slings his arm around me, stinking of booze. ‘I thought you said you were too busy, my love. Mind you, you’ve got Daisy now.’ He plants a wet kiss on my cheek at about the same time as his phone bleeps and vibrates in his pocket. Relief floods through my body. He didn’t hear our conversation.

‘It was just a thought,’ I mutter, still shaken by Frank’s revelation.

‘Hey, we could get one of those joint memberships, work out together.’ Tom lets go of me and starts marching on the spot, head back, grinning like a loon. ‘They’re cheaper, aren’t they?’ He stops marching and looks at Frank, bleary-eyed. ‘Text me the details, fella. You’ve got my number.’ My guts turn to mush. They’ve exchanged phone numbers?

There’s a ruckus of footsteps and a shuffle of movement. ‘I love my sister-in-law, but bloody hell, Elaini could talk for England.’ Linda’s at my side, straightening her crumpled skirt. ‘I need another drink.’ She looks at me, our shoulders touching, and I register the flick of concern in her eyes. ‘The in-laws are threatening to visit tomorrow.’ Her eyes dart around the kitchen. ‘Pass me the wine.’

Outside, Linda tops up her glass with merlot, takes a pew next to her husband on the rattan sofa, grabs a handful of crisps from the bowl on the table and starts munching hungrily, giving me intermittent looks that say I take it the plan wasn’t successful.

Georgia stumbles along the decked patio in her white Converse platforms, a smudge of red lipstick on the side of her mouth, mascara smeared under her eyes. Brushing past me, she announces that she’s starving and then, in a voice loud enough for the entire neighbourhood to hear, claims that there’s never any decent food in this house. I can tell she’s had more than enough to drink. It was inevitable. Probably necked the entire bottle while I was inside trying to convince Frank to leave my sister. Daisy follows her swiftly. ‘I’ll make her a sandwich,’ she whispers reassuringly, gently squeezing my arm. ‘You okay?’

‘Yes,’ I lie, running my hands up and down the sides of my legs. ‘Just a bit tired.’ Daisy holds my gaze for a moment and then, with a quick look over her shoulder, tells me to relax. She’s got everything under control.

A fusion of Georgia and Daisy’s chatter and the sound of crockery wafts through the open bifold doors. I should go inside, sort my daughter out with some food, let Daisy get back to the party, but the need to release my sister from the clutches of Frank has intensified tenfold.

I go to stand up, then sit down again, trembling. If Frank blabs to Tom my life will be over. Perhaps I should just keep quiet. Save my marriage. As Linda said, their relationship will fizzle out soon. I shoot to my feet before I can talk myself out of it. I can’t bear the thought of Frank being a part of my family.

My eyes race around the garden. Tom is putting the lid down on the barbeque, two magpies are perched on the fence – a good omen – Behind me, Linda is telling Theo about a new series on Netflix - Zelda is sitting on the long bench under the pergola, phone in hand, hair in her face. Frank is nowhere to be seen. Bingo.

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