Page 38 of The Plot Twist

‘Ha bloody ha. I don’t think you’re taking this seriously.’

‘No, I am! I promise I am. And I understand not wanting to meet up. But I don’t think Jake will ever know if you come round to my flat.’

Allie held her breath. She almost started talking again, but she took another breath, waiting for Verity to feel comfortable.

‘OK,’ Verity exhaled. ‘When?’

‘I’m on my way out to meet my sister but I’ll be back by 3pm?’ Allie gave Verity the address and then hung up. She looked quickly over her shoulder to check that the bus was still empty; Verity’s nervousness was infectious.

* * *

As she opened the front door to her flat later that afternoon Allie half expected Verity to be in disguise and was a little disappointed when she wasn’t. Allie made a point of bundling her into the flat and then checking both sides of the street before she slammed and locked the door behind her. Allie put her back to the door and pretended to wipe her face in relief with her sleeve. ‘Phew,’ she gasped.

‘Very funny,’ Verity said, her mouth a thin line as she handed her coat over to Allie.

‘Sorry, childish I know.’ Allie was trying not to snigger as she hung Verity’s coat for her. ‘Come through.’

For all the years they had known each other, Verity had never once been to Allie’s flat. They always met at Brinkman’s. Or smart restaurants in town. Suddenly, Allie felt self-conscious of her little flat, which was perfect in her mind but seemed rather pedestrian now that Verity, with her seemingly impeccable taste and generations of pedigree, was stood in it. Still, Verity had made it quite clear that they couldn’t meet in public and Allie was fairly confident that Jake Matthews wouldn’t have any interest in staking out her home. She led the way down to the kitchen at the back of the flat. ‘Tea? Coffee? Something stronger?’ she offered. Now that she could get a good look at Verity in the light streaming through the patio doors, she noticed that she didn’t look good; she was thinner and more drawn than she had been the last time Allie had seen her. And probably in need of that stronger drink. Verity paused. It was obvious she too felt she needed something alcoholic but was being too polite to ask for it.

‘How about I open a bottle of wine?’ Allie suggested and Verity smiled at her gratefully. Allie led her to one of the chairs at the kitchen table, pushed her gently and Verity sank down, looking decidedly shaky.

‘I know you think I’m overreacting,’ Verity said, unwinding one of her floaty scarves and then winding it back up again, ‘but honestly, I did have to check over my shoulder several times on my way over here.’

Taking two glasses from the cupboard, Allie poured them both a large glass and put one down in front of Verity. ‘There, have a gulp of that. You look like you need it.’

‘Thank you.’ Allie watched in amazement as the usually demure Verity practically downed the glass of wine in one go.

‘You want another one?’ she asked.

Verity shook her head. ‘Maybe later. Drinking isn’t really helping me at the moment.’ She glanced down at her now almost empty glass and looked as if she was ready to fill it with tears. ‘I either get sobby and maudlin or angry and filled with rage at Jake and bloody Brinkman’s.’

Allie was fascinated to see Verity filled with rage, she had only ever known her composed and professional. Fleetingly, she thought it might be quite fun to witness and wondered if Verity’s rage could be weaponized to take down Jake Matthews before she remembered that her friend and editor was sat in front of her almost in tears and that this was the time to be moved to compassion.

‘Jake said you’d found a new job though?’ Allie asked optimistically, she decided that confronting Verity for abandoning her wasn’t appropriate right now.

Verity’s face twisted and she laughed hollowly. ‘Yeah, that’s what that shit would like you to believe.’

Allie grimaced, both at hearing Verity swear, which was beyond surprising, and also the duplicity of Jake. ‘But he made it sound like you’d left of your own accord?’ Allie asked, trying not to sound combative.

‘Hardly. I wasn’t given a choice in the matter. Told it was cost cutting. Made to sign an NDA. My electronics were confiscated and then I was marched out of the building. I left out of the back door about thirty seconds after you were taken through the front.’

Allie stared at Verity in horror. This was truly terrible. It was all very well her and Martin making up amusing ways of doing away with Jake Matthews but the truth was that he really was a monster.

‘But what about all those doctor’s appointments?’ Allie floundered for an alternative explanation.

‘What?’

‘I sort of presumed you were out for job interviews, because, you know, you seem pretty healthy to be having so many doctor’s appointments…’ Allie was beginning to regret this line of questioning and her voice tailed off accordingly.

‘There’s more than one type of doctor, Allie.’ Verity sighed. Allie said nothing, trying to piece together what it was Verity was getting at. ‘Therapy?’ Verity eventually offered. ‘I’ve been having therapy to deal with the stress of working for Jake. But hey, the good news is that now we’ve moved on to discussing my trauma surrounding losing my job.’

‘Oh Verity, I’m so sorry.’ Allie reached across and squeezed Verity’s hand. ‘Is there anything I can do?’

‘Do?’ Verity laughed hollowly. ‘There’s nothing any of us can do.’

‘But surely?—’

‘Allie, don’t you think I’ve thought about this?’ Verity’s beautiful lip curled in frustration and anger. ‘Don’t you think I’ve analysed every possible alternative scenario? There’s nothing I can do but suck it up and look for a new job.’

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