Page 85 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘The other update,’ I continue, ‘is that Kate and the second fiancée’s brother, Willem de Vries, are off to Verona this afternoon where they will approach Lucia Rossi and inform her that Dunn isn’t who he says he is. They’re racing the clock, however, as there is every indication Dunn plans to propose to Rossi tomorrow evening.’

George, also an agent, raises his hand. To keep staff meetings running to time, we’re encouraged – rather,expected– not to interrupt another agent’s update, but I call on him. ‘Yes, George.’

‘Why isn’t the second fiancée going to Verona with your client? Why is it the brother?’

‘Well, if we were to ask them, I reckon they’d all have different reasons. The second fiancée – Adriana de Vries – is all for retribution and she’ll be here for the finale but, till then, her brother will act as her proxy. From what Kate tells me, she’s still processing the news about Dunn.’

‘And what about the brother?’ asks Nasrin. ‘Is he the vigilante type? He’s not gonna go all John Wick on this bloke, is he?’

There are sniggers around the table. ‘Er, not to my knowledge, no,’ I reply with a smile. ‘Marie Maillot has vouched for him, so we should be safe on that front.’

George raises his hand again.

‘That’s enough for now,’ says Paloma. ‘If you have follow-up questions for Poppy, talk to her afterwards. Thank you, everyone.’

Most of my colleagues disperse, but George stays back and so does Freya, my closest friend at the agency.

‘You want the goss, don’t you?’ I ask them.

‘Well, obvs,’ George replies with a dramatic roll of his eyes.

‘I do too, Poppy,’ says Freya. ‘I mean, don’t you think it’s a little…’

She trails off, leaving the rest of her thought unsaid, one of her endearing foibles, and George seamlessly finishes her thought with, ‘Suspect?’

‘The entirecaseis suspect – which part are you referring to?’ I ask, looking between them.

They exchange a glance, which tells me they’ve already discussed this.

‘Well?’ I press.

‘Your client and the brother,’ George states, hands on his hips.

How did I not see that coming? Maybe having to sully my Friday night by talking to Dunn has distracted me.

‘Agreed,’ I reply. ‘I’m suss about that part too.’

George’s eyes light up. ‘I did wonder. So, are they… you know?’ He waggles his brows.

‘George, you’re a grown man. Just ask if they’re sleeping together instead of talking like a self-conscious teenager.’

‘Are they?’ Freya asks.

‘Actually, I’m not sure.’

‘Oh,’ they sigh in disappointed unison.

‘Because de Vries ishot, Poppy,’ says George. ‘If it were me – if I were in your client’s position – I’d have climbed him like a tree by now.’

‘Setting aside that rather graphic imagery, how do you know anything about him? I’ve barely mentioned him in my briefings.’

He tips his head to one side. ‘Poppy, how many times do I have to tell you? I have excellent hearing – there’s nothing happening in this office that I’m not aware of. And I was curious.’ He shrugs, as if that excuses him snooping around my case.

‘Well, as you’ve so astutely guessed, I’m concerned that Kate is unwittingly transferring her feelings from Dunn to de Vries. Although…’ My gaze unfocuses as I sift through my concerns, still unsure where to land.

‘Poppy,’ says Freya, and my attention returns to the conference room.

‘Sorry.’

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