Page 3 of The First Mistake

I tap my watch. ‘I’m running late,’ I say after her. ‘I’ll catch you later.’ But she’s already gone and is depositing Millie in the playground. I start walking out, knowing that within seconds she’ll be at my side.

‘So where are you off to all dressed up?’ she asks, half-accusingly, as she catches up with me. I look down at my black skirt; granted, it is a little tight. And my red top; perhaps a little low. But my jacket goes some way to covering me up. Suddenly conscious of what Miss Watts might have thought, I pull it closed.

‘Do I have to be going somewhere to make an effort?’ I laugh lightly, though Olivia is still nagging at my brain.

‘Anything other than pyjamas or gym gear is abnormal at this time of day,’ Beth says. ‘So yes, you looking like that, when us mere mortals haven’t even had time to brush our teeth, is really not fair, and most definitely shouldn’t be allowed.’

‘It’s just my normal work attire,’ I say. ‘Nothing out of the ordinary.’

My face flushes and she raises her eyebrows. Who am I trying to kid?

‘Ibelieve you, even if a thousand others wouldn’t,’ she says, giving me a wink.

I smile, though I feel the heat rise in my cheeks. ‘Did you hear anything about the girls falling out yesterday?’

She looks at me nonplussed and shakes her head. ‘No, why, what happened?’

‘Miss Watts just told me that a few of them had a bit of a ding-dong. It seems Phoebe and Livvy were involved. I just wondered if Millie had said anything to you about it.’

‘No, but I can ask her if you like.’

‘Probably best not to make a big thing of it for the moment,’ I say. ‘I’ll wait and see if Livvy mentions it.’

‘Okay. You still on for tomorrow night?’

‘Definitely! Nathan’s back today and already knows he’s on babysitting duties.’

‘That’s what I like to hear,’ she says, laughing. ‘A man who knows his place.’

‘Where do you fancy going?’ I ask. ‘Uptown or do you want to stay local? There’s a new place that’s just opened in Soho. Nathan went there with a client and raved about it.’

‘I don’t mind, could give it a try. Though saying that, I don’t get paid for another three days, so if it’s expensive, I might have to save it until after payday.’

‘No worries, it’ll be my treat,’ I say, and see her eyes momentarily narrow. I bite my tongue and immediately wish I could suck the words back in. I’d hate for her to think I’m being patronizing, but I’d genuinely like to help. It takes a little longer for my brain to catch up with my mouth and realize that she might appreciate a handout for something more worthwhile than an overpriced meal in a fancy restaurant.

‘Don’t be silly,’ she says finally, and I let out a sigh of relief. ‘Why don’t we do a pizza night tomorrow and go uptownnextweek?’

‘Sounds like a plan,’ I say.

2

‘So, are we going for the burgundy and gold for the drawing room at Belmont House?’ I ask the team around me, as they contemplate the mood boards in front of them.

‘I’ve tried working up a royal blue, with white accents,’ says Lottie, our junior designer, as she absently chews on the end of a pencil. ‘But it doesn’t look nearly as decadent as the burgundy.’

‘Great,’ I say, gathering up the loose papers that I’d strewn over the table during the meeting. ‘So, let’s present them with that and see what they think. Is there anything else?’

‘I’ve just got a few accounting queries,’ pipes up Matt, ‘but they can wait until Nathan’s back from Japan.’

I look at my watch and my breath quickens. ‘He’s due to land in the next hour or so, all being well. If he makes good time, he might pop in. Are you sure it can wait until tomorrow if he doesn’t?’

‘Yeah, course,’ says Matt. ‘It’s nothing urgent.’

‘Okay, so if that’s all?’ I ask, looking around at the nodding heads.

‘Can I have a quick word?’ says Lottie, hanging back as the rest of the team file out.

‘Sure,’ I smile. ‘What’s up?’

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