Page 56 of How to Get Even

‘Yes, that’s me. Paige told me all about you.’ The mischief twinkling in Campbel’s eyes told Bella that they would be an accomplice to her mission.

‘And me, you. This place is fantastic. I’m just sorry you can’t get any free promo from it.’

Campbel waved her off. ‘No worries. We do alright.’

Bella took in the décor. They must do more than alright. It was beautiful and she already wanted to come back here. With the girls. Maybe to celebrate once they’d all achieved their vengeance.Afterthey’d been to Ali’s restaurant and filled up on delicious fried things.

‘I’ve got you set up back here.’

Bella followed Campbel past the bar and towards more standard seating tables, which, as she told Campbel, were perfect.

‘Okay,’ Bella announced. ‘So, I’ll head out, and if you could call me when he gets here. I’ll probably wait at least ten minutes before “rushing in”, with all the apologies.’

‘Yup. Can do. Anything else?’

‘Yes. Could you perhaps fill this withcoldcoffee?’ Bella asked, producing a take-out cup. ‘And, I’m sorry in advance for the mess. I’ll clean it up, I promise.’

‘Mess?’

* * *

Nearly fifteen minutes after Chester C. Carlton had arrived at QT, Bella rushed in, bag in the crook of her arm, several pieces of folded paper, phone and keys gripped in one hand, take-out coffee cup in the other, a single, elegant, wisp of hair out of place, and a blush on her cheeks not from rushing here as Chester would think, but from standing out in the damn cold for so long.

Chester C. Carlton had had the gall to be late.

But that only helped her cause.

Step 1.Look the part.Rushed, harried and utterly out of her depth was just what she wanted, because no one loves the fall of a socialite more than a journalist.

‘Oh Mr Carlton, I am so sorry I’m late. There was a problem with the… no, you don’t need to know all that, it’s just… anyway. Mr Carlton,’ she said again, as if trying to gather herself, ‘it is so lovely to meet you. Thank you for taking the time to meet with… us.’

She bit her lip and not-so-secretly checked her watch, scattering papers all over the floor.

‘Oh,’ she said, letting out a squeaking noise that she’d never once made before in her life. It seemed to prompt Chester to action though as he helped to gather up the discarded papers. One of which was a printout email about Zadzisai, which she snatched back a little too quickly for Chester to get a good look at, but enough to make him curious.

‘I’m sorry,’ she saidagain. ‘It’s just that this is the first time I’ve set up arealinterview with such a famous journalist and I’m a little nervous.’ Her tone of voice was practically the definition of obsequious.

Chester C. Carlton grinned with delight, though whether it was the compliment or Bella’s utter ineptitude, she couldn’t tell.

‘That’s okay, sweetheart. You’re doing great,’ he said patronisingly.

Step 2.Give them the upper hand.Making Chester think that he could run this interview lowered his defences and made him overconfident, so when he gestured to the table, Bella knew he’d taken both the lead and the bait.

‘Chase appears to be running a little late I gather.’

‘Chase? Well,’ she winced, a little. ‘Mr Carlton?—’

‘Please, call me Chester,’ he said, laying a hand on her forearm.

She smiled, hiding her grimace. This was what she wanted. ‘Chester,’ she echoed for him. ‘I think… when it comes to artistic types, they are often so preoccupied with their creative endeavours that other things… don’t seem to mean as much.’

‘Things like punctuality,’ Chester said, smiling like the Cheshire Cat. ‘I mean, I have met him before so…’ he dangled.

‘So you know,’ she half cried in mock relief. ‘Youknowhow difficult he is,’ Bella said, stretching the truth. ‘And how… critical he can be.’ Which was almost an outright lie.

‘Oh absolutely. Superior and dismissive,’ Chester added with a smile.

Well, kind of… but not really, she mused, replying, ‘Yes,’ instead. ‘I am very sorry he’s running so late though, so if you’ll let me, I’ll just see where he is.’

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