Page 36 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘Exactly,’ says Willem. ‘There’s a lot you haven’t thought about –eitherof you,’ he adds, his eyes sliding between me and his sister. ‘And thisisn’ta silly heist film – this is real life.’

‘First,’ I say, leaping to my own defence as much as Adriana’s, ‘weknowthis is real life. We’re not stupid!’

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I recognise that we are alittlebit stupid to have trusted Jon. Even so, my defence has the desired effect, and Willem immediately starts stumbling over an apology.

‘I didn’t mean to suggest?—’

‘Yes, you did. You absolutely “meant to suggest”. Which brings me to my second point. While I can understand how protective you are towards your sister, you aren’tmyolder brother. In fact, we’re practically strangers, so I don’t need you telling me what’s best.’

NowI’mscowling. At Willem. To his credit, he meets my gaze and even though Margot is sniggering behind me, I don’t break eye contact. Eventually, he looks away, chastened.

‘I apologise,’ he says quietly. ‘You’re right and I’m sorry.’

‘Wow,’ says Adriana. ‘Willem never apologises – to anyone, so?—’

‘Ady,’ he says, his head snapping in her direction.

She raises her eyebrows at him as if to say, ‘Am I wrong?’

He expels another exasperated sigh. ‘I don’t believe this,’ he says to himself.

‘Hey,’ she tells him, ‘you’re the one who invited Kate here, so…’

‘I guess that makes you Sandra Bullock,’ Margot quips. Willem’s mouth twitches, but the smile doesn’t take hold.

A phone chimes – it’s Adriana’s – and she reads in the incoming message. ‘Well, I don’t need to worry about dinner with Mama and Papa.’ She holds up the phone, her expression hardening. ‘Jon just cancelled.’

‘Let me guess,’ I say, my tone dripping in sarcasm, ‘some sort of diamond emergency?’

‘Apparently. He’s been asked to go to New York to fill in for a colleague at a rare stones trade show.’

‘My arse, he has,’ Margot scoffs.

‘I was afraid of this,’ says Willem.

‘Afraid of what?’ I ask, looking over.

‘If he’s not going to be here in Amsterdam and he’s not seeing you in London, then…’

He lifts his shoulders, his meaning obvious.

‘Then he might already have a third fiancée,’ I say, the realisation landing with a thud.

‘Yes.’

Margot gasps. ‘Arsehole.’

‘Kanker!’ adds Adriana, slumping onto the nearest stool.

‘I’ll look into it,’ says Willem.

‘I thought you said you weren’t on the team,’ I say.

He looks at me, his jaw tense. ‘This is different – this is about unearthing the extent of his deception, not about revenge. And I told you I was still investigating him.’

‘Oh god,’ says Adriana wanly. The poor woman – this is a lot to take in, even for me, and I accepted the truth about Jon a week ago.

‘So,’ says Margot, ‘I’m sensing that we’re no longer in a celebratory mood. Shall we postpone the champers?’

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