Page 32 of I Knew You Were Trouble

Adriana groans, her head tipped back. ‘I suppose we need to confront him. Together would be best – and soon. Dinner with my parents is meant to be next Wednesday.’

I hadn’t planned on staying past Sunday and I have no idea when Jon is due to arrive in Amsterdam, but I suppose I could stay a little longer. Mina has already given me Monday off. She might be amenable to extending my personal leave another day or two.

‘Unless…’ says Adriana, and from her tone, I can tell something big is coming.

‘Unless?’ I ask hesitantly.

She sits bolt upright, clearly struck by inspiration. ‘What if we got back at him?’ she asks, more animated than I’ve seen her all morning.

‘You meanrevenge?’

I should have anticipated this, but foolishly, I hadn’t thought beyond proving to Adriana that I existed.

‘Yes!’ She edges closer, her eyes alight with excitement. ‘You and I join together and we…’ She flaps her hands like she’s trying to conjure the solution from thin air. ‘You know…’

‘Actually, I do,’ I say, angling my body towards her.

After my discussion with Poppy, I accepted that revenge was off the table, that justice would prevail simply by doing right by Adriana. But now…

‘In fact, I had the same idea,’ I add.

Her eyes bore into mine. ‘You did?’

‘Yep, and there may be someone who can help us.Ifwe can convince her to change her mind. But itisa long shot.’

Ignoring the ‘long shot’ part, Adriana grins, bouncing excitedly. And right as I’m about to explain who Poppy is, the front door opens and in walk Willem and Margot.

* * *

‘That’snota good idea,’ Willem says firmly. This must be his I’m-the-big-brother-and-what-I-say-goes tone. I’m not mad at it.

‘Will,’ says Adriana. ‘Listen to?—’

‘Ihavelistened and it’s too…’ The right word seems to elude him. ‘Just break off the engagement, then never see him again.’

Adriana switches to Dutch and as I only understand the basics, all I have to go on is her imploring tone. But no matter what she’s saying, it’s clear Willem isn’t going to waver.

This is a shame, because if I can’t change Poppy’s mind about exacting revenge on Jon, Willem is my backup plan. He seems like the sort of bloke with the skills –andthe connections – to do some serious damage to Jon’s life. But that vigorous head shake says it all. Hmm, maybePoppyis my backup plan.

I look over at Margot, who is listening intently to the siblings, even though she knows about as much Dutch as I do. When I catch her eye, she mouths, ‘What the eff?’

‘Right?’ I mouth back.

If anyone had told me when I woke up this morning how this day would go, I would have laughed out loud. There have been so many surprises, including my new alliance with Adriana, that I’m practically dizzy.

Adriana throws her arms out wide. ‘Then he just gets away with it. What’s his punishment?!’

‘His punishment is losing you!’ Willem exclaims. He turns, pinning me with an intense look. ‘Bothof you.’

It takes me a moment to comprehend the meaning behind Willem’s words. I’m little more than a stranger to him, yet he believes I’m worthy of more – more than Jon and his lies.

Willem expels an exasperated sigh and hooks his hands behind his neck again, a gesture that has more power over me – and my libido – than I’d like, especially as Ijustmade a pact with myself to stop perving on him.

‘So, you won’t help us?’ Adriana asks him.

It’s unlikely a yes is coming, but I hold my breath in anticipation regardless.

‘No,’ he says, and I slowly exhale.Poppy it is, then, I think. ‘I cannot support something that might end up backfiring – what if you end up in trouble, Ady, or in danger?’

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