Page 102 of Love Thief

“I fucking knew it. I heard loads of stories about him. I’ll bet most of them are true. In the past, obviously. I mean, come on. Who in their right mind passes you up? And carrying his kids? Bella, he will be back in London in the flash of an eye. You look glorious. I know they say pregnant women glow, but Evie Greystone, you are lighting up this dull city.” She’s on a roll.

I get tears in my eyes, and Carrie jumps up and comes around the table to hug me.

Maybe it’s just because her mouth is so close to my ear, or maybe it’s just Carrie, but everyone in the shop hears the plans she’s got for me. “Let’s go shopping. I’ve got a lovely few shops to show you. We can stroll down this high street. I can stop and drink champagne at all my favourite places. They always have a bottle in for me.”

“I’ll bet they do. You spend a fortune with them.” I laugh with her.

“Quality, Evie, always go for quality. Bit like my men. No point moving from one to the next. If you get a good one, make sure you keep him keen. Works every time.”

I grin at the irony of the every time, as she’s advocating fewer men. But I know her. She takes no prisoners. And if you’re not prepared for the full experience, get out of town.

We finish up the muffins, and set off to stroll arm in arm down the high street. Tommy trails behind us, Carrie desperately trying to engage him in some salacious chat.

“Excuse me, but are you Evie Russell?”

We’re just about to enter one of my favourite shops in London, when someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn to find two younger women I’m sure were also in the coffee shop.

“She sure is. Do you want her autograph?”

I look helplessly at Carrie, who is like a dog with two tails at us being stopped.

“Yes.” I smile tentatively at them. I’m not quite sure what to expect anymore.

“You look a lot prettier in real life,” one of the girls states. “Those pictures on your friend’s blog don’t do you justice. I’d have a word if I were you.”

I work to keep my smile genuine at the mention of Lauren. Have a word. Ha! I might if I ever actually intended to speak to the woman again. But I don’t, so…

“Is it true you cheated on Marcus Russell?” the other one asks.

“Err,” I look around for Tommy and he moves closer to me. “No, it isn’t,” I say quietly. I hate having to talk about this sort of stuff to strangers.

“So why is your so-called friend saying the babies aren’t his and you cheated on him?”

“Because she’s a fucking liar, and no friend of ours.” Carrie says loudly with gusto. “Don’t believe a word that woman writes. She’s just jealous. She wanted to date Marcus, and he didn’t want her.”

I’m trying to shut Carrie down, nudging her arm and moving us nearer the doorway. But she seems determined to fight my corner.

“Well she lives with him. She posted photographs this morning of him and her at his house in Malibu. So maybe she knows the truth, and you’re just trying to take advantage of a tortured soul. Poor Marcus, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

Her friend looks amazed at her. And tries to pull her arm to shut her up.

“She doesn’t live with him. He threw her out, she’s back in London,” Carrie counters, fully red in the face now. “So if she’s posting that shit, she’s an even bigger fucking liar.”

Tommy moves in to my side, and I see the Lauren disciple curl her lip.

“Oh yes, Lauren said you had security, now you’re saying you’re carrying his babies. Why don’t you come clean and tell the truth. Dragging poor Marcus through the mud, no wonder he’s always out, drowning his sorrows.” She actually looks like she believes everything she’s saying. “Lauren told me in her private group chat that you’ve got a history of seeing other people. She’s getting proof. She’s going to share it with us.” She looks at her friend, who has gone pale.

“Shut up, you’re embarrassing us.” She’s trying her best to tug the friend away.

“I’m not. She ought to be embarrassed, flaunting herself all over town. Everyone will know she’s a liar. Then you’ll have to come clean and give him back everything you’ve taken. All his money, his houses. You expect us to believe you own all that yourself? Lauren told us you never mentioned one word for all the years you were her friend. And all of a sudden you trick poor Marcus and you’ve got loads of property. You’re a joke.”

Tommy steps in front of her as she moves closer to me, her face twisted into an angry snarl. I’m shocked, and saddened. How do people get so worked up over people they don’t even know? Or deserve the emotions she is clearly giving him.

Carrie drags me into the kitchen showroom, and Tommy stops the woman entering behind us. The security from the shop join Tommy on the pavement and they hussle the two women off, one running away, the other being dragged away shouting.

“Well that was unpleasant.” Carrie, the master of the understatement. “What a weirdo. Looks like Lauren has created more mini Laurens in London. Proof, what proof? And what’s all this property shit? You’ve owned them for years. Don’t they even know you? What the hell is that woman chatting?”

I sink into one of the comfy chairs in a kitchen display and strip off my jacket. I feel a bit nauseous. Tommy comes in, takes one look at my pale face, and asks for water and biscuits. Carrie asks for champagne.

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