Page 82 of The Plot Twist

‘Don’t whatever me. You should make sure Dominic hasn’t got the wrong idea.’

‘He hasnotgot the wrong idea. I made it quite plain that I was not interested in getting back together with him.’

‘Oh, you did, did you? And how did you go about doing that?’

Allie thought back to her conversation with Dominic and struggled to work out exactly where she had made it crystal clear that she was not interested in having him back in her life. It was glaringly obvious to her but perhaps not so glaringly obvious to Dominic and perhaps, god forbid, Jess had a point and that she had made a terrible terrible mistake just by allowing Dominic back through her front door.

‘Just don’t blame me if this all comes back to bite you…’

Allie stuck two fingers up at her phone and silently wished for Tom to finally win the battle of the antique wardrobe.

* * *

‘I’m so glad you came!’ Verity engulfed Allie in a hug, wrapping her in a floaty delight of orchid patterned silk and her signature scent of verbena and lemon, which Verity seemingly now knew to spritz rather than douse and was all the more appealing and less suffocating for.

‘Of course I came,’ came Allie’s muffled reply, ensconced as she was somewhere close to Verity’s boobs. She extracted herself as tactfully as she dared. ‘It’s a celebration, right?’

‘Itisa celebration, isn’t it?’ Verity’s eyes flashed with excitement. ‘We did it, Allie, we really did it.’

Allie shook her head. ‘Oh no, I take no credit for this.Youdid this Verity, you and Tessa. Is she coming tonight?’ Allie looked around the crowded room wondering just how many authors Verity was responsible for now and suppressing a moment of panic that maybe Verity really didn’t have time for her and all her nonsense.

‘She said she might. I think it’s been a lot for her the past few days. She’s been so brave, but she’s had to do a lot of talking to a lot of people, and I think another round of that, albeit in a party situation, might just be too much.’

‘Yeah, of course. The poor kid. I still feel bad about dismissing her and thinking of her as just one of Jake’s lackeys.’

‘Don’t.’ Verity took Allie’s hand. ‘Remember, she said it was partly you who inspired her to tell the truth about Jake.’

Allie looked at Verity sceptically.

‘This comes direct from Tessa herself,’ Verity continued, ‘she said you gave off an air of not giving a shit, about not believing in Jake’s special brand of coercive control, and it gave her the courage to do the same.’

Allie raised her eyebrows. ‘Wow, well, I’m glad that my total bafflement in the face of insidious evil worked out this time. Will you say hi from me next time you see her? Will she come back and work for you at Brinkman’s? Now that you practically run the place!’

Verity wafted her hand in dismissal. ‘Oh, don’t be silly, I don’t run the place.’

‘You don’t?’ Allie questioned teasingly. ‘Remind me of your new job title?’

‘Publisher.’ Verity coughed and looked slightly embarrassed.

‘Sounds like you run the place to me.’

‘Well, Iamthe boss ofyou, so don’t go forgetting that, will you?’

‘Absolutely not.’

‘Good. Now about this plan of yours, for your book. How’s that coming along? Of course, Iamone hundred per cent in charge now,’ Verity grinned at Allie, ‘but I still don’t think I can swing you any more extensions.’

‘I’ve got it all under control,’ Allie confirmed. The butterflies in her tummy were trying to persuade her otherwise, but she felt more and more confident with each chapter that she wrote.

‘Good. By the way, you should try some of the canapés here, they’re really good.’ Verity winked at Allie and then saw someone over her shoulder, and with a ‘Darling!’ she raced off to greet the newcomer, leaving Allie confused by that wink.

Allie made her way to the bar and picked up what looked like a margarita from a silver tray. She took a sip and turned round to face the room, wondering who she might know that she could talk to and wishing that Martin would have a change of heart and would turn up, bringing Angie with him. But on second thoughts, Allie decided maybe she wasn’t quite ready to face Angie yet. Soon, yes, but she needed a little more time to work on something first.

She raised her glass to a couple of authors she recognised, and was just about to make her way over to say hello when she felt a hand on her elbow and a platter of canapés came into view under her nose. She took a sharp intake of breath, immediately realising why Verity had winked at her when she mentioned the food and cursing herself for not thinking this could happen.

‘Hi,’ she said and turned to look up at Will, who was, of course, the person holding the tray.

‘Hi,’ he said gently, the corner of his mouth turning up in a slight smile. She bit her lip, not daring to hope what that faint smile might suggest.

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