Page 96 of Shout Out To My Ex

Zara returns with a glass of water, which I take even though I don’t want it. I sip, then swallow and smile for my fussy nursemaids.

‘Happy now?’ I ask them.

‘I’m not bloody happy,’ says Cassie, close to shouting. ‘You nearly collapsed.’

‘Oh, for god’s sake.’ I swing my feet over the edge of the sofa and plant them firmly on the floor, making a grand display ofsitting. ‘See? I’m fine.’

‘Zara, can you please give us a minute?’ Cassie asks.

I adore Zara but right now, I could throttle her. She’s blown this all out of proportion, egging on my usually sensible sister, who appears moments away from calling triple nine. Zara reaches out and squeezes my hand, then leaves the office before I can squeeze the life out ofher.

I flop back against the sofa and emit a big, ugly, frustrated yowl.

‘This office isn’t soundproofed, you know,’ says Cassie, retreating to her desk.

‘Oh, yes, I’m well aware. The entire team was listening in on my argument with Leo. I could see them’ – I wiggle my fingers – ‘pretending to work but hanging on every word.’

‘Elle,whatis going on?’

‘Well, you should know – haven’t you orchestrated this entire thing?’

‘What?’ She recoils as if I’ve slapped her, visibly paling – either in indignation at the accusation or guilt.

Well, in for a penny and all that… I prop my elbows on my knees and fix her with an inquisitory look. ‘Even after we discovered that Lorenzo was Leo, you pushed me to collaborate with him. “It’s good for the label – it’ll be our big break”,’ I parrot. ‘At every turn, at every roadblock,you’vecalled the shots,’ I say, standing, as I’m too agitated to sit any longer.

Our office is rather small, but I pace the width of it anyway.

‘Even when I had to watch a fucking supermodel announce to the world that they’re getting married, you wouldn’t take no for an answer. It was all aboard the Cassie Bliss Collaboration Train! You haven’t seemed to care atallthat this has been torture for me – working side by side withLeo, having to ignore everythingthat happened between us, knowing I couldn’t have him, yet really,reallywanting him.’

‘Elle, I’m so sorry.’

And she genuinely is sorry, I can tell. A tear escapes and rolls down her cheek; she wipes it away with the back of her hand.

Well, now that I’ve had my rantandmade my sister cry, I feel even more awful. And deflated. I sit on my office chair, staring at the floor, swinging it from side to side. The movement is soothing.

‘Can I ask something?’

I look up and in true Cassie fashion, she’s composed herself – well, mostly. I nod. ‘What was it Leo said that made you swoo?—’

‘Pleasedon’t say that word,’ I beg with a raised hand.

It most certainly wasn’t a Regency-era swoon, no matter what Zara says, but I’m still mortified – especially as Leo was there to witness all the ensuing fuss. Or part of it, until he left –again. What is it about that man and leaving?

‘Elle?’

My mind has wandered – and no wonder.

‘Sorry. Go on, ask me again,’ I say, resigned, ‘because you are never going to believe it in a million years.’

Poppy

I’m reading through the finished article Bex, the assistant editor atNouveau, sent over, oddly proud that in a small way –verysmall considering how many edits she’s made – I contributed to this, when my phone pings with a message from Cassie. It takes me less than ten seconds to read it.

‘Nasrin, emergency meeting!’ I call out.

Her head pops up from behind her monitor. ‘Two minutes?’

‘Okay.’ I leap out of my seat and, bringing my phone, head to my favourite meeting room, the one with the view of the Thames. Nas will know where to find me.

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