Page 124 of The One That I Want

‘Was it urgent?’ I ask. ‘What you wanted me for?’

‘Er, no,’ he replies. ‘Just wanted to show you how that spread turned out – the one you helped me with a couple of weeks back.’

‘I’ll be sure to come and find you, then,’ I say. ‘But it won’t be till tomorrow.’

Luca’s eyebrows jump an inch. He isn’t used to being fobbed off, especially by someone who crushed on him for years. Maybe now he’ll get the message.

‘Right. Er, thanks. I’ll just…’ He gives us a lipless smile, then leaves.

‘That was… intriguing,’ says Anjali. When I turn back to her, she’s eyeing me curiously.

‘Oh, it was just one of his fashion shoots – I helped him with a decision.’

‘I don’t mean Luca. I mean you. You’reactuallyover him, aren’t you?’

‘Oh, 100 per cent. Ever since he made a play for Tiggy, then got all stroppy when she turned him down.’

Anjali mouth falls open in surprise. ‘I had no idea. I thought you’d just grown tired of him. Anyway, Luca’s a darling, but he’s never deserved you. Too much of a cad.’

‘That’s exactly what Tiggy said,’ I reply. I still can’t believe I wasted so much time on him.

‘Right,’ says Anjali, ‘getting back to you and Ewan. What do we do next?’

‘We?’

‘Look, I got you into this mess in the first place – if it weren’t for my meddling, you’d be loved up with Ewan by now – and all your own doing. So, I’m going to help. Oh!’ she exclaims. ‘We should call Poppy. She’ll know what to do.’

‘I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before.’

‘Tell her we can come to her. I’ll clear my schedule.’

‘You don’t have to?—’

‘Greta, please. Let me help – as my apology.’

‘Okay.’ I leave Anjali’s office and head towards my own, my thoughts returning to Ewan. His face when he discovered I’d gone out with Harrison… My stomach flips again at the memory and by the time I reach my office, I’m in full panic mode.

What if he can’t get past what I’ve done and everything I’ve kept from him? What if meeting with Poppy is moot and he’s already decided to move on?

‘Well, you’ve at least got to try, Greta,’ I tell myself.

Poppy

As soon as they arrive, I lead Anjali and Greta to Paloma’s office where she and George are waiting.

When she called earlier, Greta told me that she and Anjali spoke at length, and now everyone knows everything. So that’s one less thing to worry about.

They also seem to be on good terms, meaning their relationship has withstood the circuitous fibbing this case has required. That doesn’t always happen. Even with Tristan, our relationship was tainted by duplicity. We got past it, him being angry after he discovered an intricate ‘fib’ I’d told, but it wasn’t pretty.

We get situated on the sofas in Paloma’s office, with me seated next to Greta, angled towards her. Almost immediately, her everything’s-all-right façade falls away.

This shift in countenance is understandable. This morning, she was riding the high of a new relationship, then the situation took an unanticipated – and alarming – turn.

‘First things first,’ I say to her gently. ‘Have you heard from Ewan since you called?’

She nods slowly, her brow furrowed. Right, so even though she’s heard from him, it’s not good.

‘I have, but he said he needs some time to think,’ she replies, her voice tight. ‘At least a few days.’

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