Page 100 of The One That I Want

Bex. I can’t believe it. She’s been my right-hand woman since I selected her asNouveau Life’s assistant editormonthsago. She’s been with me every step of the way. We’ve even been to bloody brunch together and I rarely see my colleagues outside of work!

My phone rings, startling me, and I dig it out of my handbag. It’s Anjali.

‘Hi,’ I answer, my breathy voice betraying my maelstrom of emotions.

‘So, you’ve seen it then?’

‘Yes. I can’t believe it.’

‘Nor me. Ihiredher,’ she says.

‘So did I in a way, hand-picking her forNouveau Life.’

‘We’ve both been duped.’

‘I hadn’t thought of it like that,’ I say sullenly. ‘The betrayal, it compounds it, doesn’t it?’

‘Absolutely! I wish ithadbeen Ivy – much easier on us, if anything.’

I don’t mention that I’d had the same thought – there’s no point.

‘Look,’ she continues, ‘I’m heading in early – can you meet me at the office in half an hour?’

‘I’m already here.’

‘Oh. Well, I’ll see you soon then.’

She ends the call abruptly and my phone rings again before I’ve even put it down. It’s Poppy this time.

‘Hey, I was just checking emails over brekkie. Did you see it?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m… I’mblindsided, Poppy.’

‘I can imagine. I’m really sorry, Greta. Let me know if there’s anything I can do. I’m coming in later to meet with Anjali, and I’ll pop by your office afterwards, okay?’

The reminder that Poppy and Anjali are meeting to discuss my love life cuts through the mental noise about Bex.

‘On that,’ I say. ‘What are you going to tell Anjali? About me, I mean.’

‘Just that I’m still on the case –yourcase – and I’m hopeful we’ll find you a match.’

‘Is that the truth?’ I ask.

She doesn’t reply right away, which sends yet another round of spasms through my gut.

‘Well, that depends,’ she says eventually.

‘On what?’

‘On you. Do you want me to keep the case open, or fall on my sword with Anjali and close it, leaving you to your own devices?’ She must be alluding to me pursuing things with Ewan. ‘I’ll do whatever you want, Greta. You’re my real client. But I should probably tell you about potential match number two before you make a final decision.’

The agency’s ‘one match at a time’ guideline comes to mind, now more pertinent than ever as I think of Ewan. Just last night, I was exchanging butterfly-inducing messages with him,andwe have a date tomorrow night. It’s not fair to him – or me – to maintain the façade with Anjali, especially when Poppy’s prepared to admit she didn’t find me a match.

Still… I should hear about the second potential match – if only for due diligence and to close the loop for good.

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