Page 65 of Duplicity

NICE

(Dirty bitch )

Athena:

So they spit roasted you. Excellent work

Sophia:

Thanks for being my canary down the coal mine w Kingsley

What’s your verdict??

Might take him for a spin once Thad gives me the boot

On Ethan? He’s really hot. But he’s as cold as ice. Seriously, the guy was scary. I can’t imagine you two together. But definitely hot

Sophia:

Remember babes, when fire meets ice, fire wins out every time

He’ll be nothing but a puddle on the floor when I’ve finished with him

Athena:

Got to love your confidence

Marls - next up: gang bang

He’d better fucking not. He seriously pushed his luck today

Also I told him about “jury duty” and he hit the roof. I think he thinks it’s something only poor people should have to do.

Athena:

What a shocker. He’s such a man-child.

Only a few more weeks, babe. Hang in there. It’ll all be worth it in the end, I promise you xx

CHAPTER 31

Marlowe

My and Tabby’s plans for our US trip are seriously building momentum. I was up late last night and early this morning completing the endless rounds of paperwork that Duke requires before we travel. Next Friday, Tabs and my parents will head to Great Ormond Street for a final round of check-ups to ensure she’s flight-fit and to gauge her current cardio-pulmonary levels for the team over at Duke. I hate more than anything that I’m not going, but my job here is to earn the money that will get us onto that flight and into that operating theatre.

Speaking of which, next Friday is my July payday, and then we’ll be out of here.

It’s really, really happening.

Today, Brendan is working from home and I’m going to base myself from there, too. Things between us may have reverted to normal after his little hissy fit over jury duty, but that insight into his personality definitely firmed up my resolve not to trust him with anything that’s going on in my life. As Athena said, he’s a man-child. A gorgeous, successful, filthy-rich man-child who’s spoilt rotten. He hasn’t earned the privilege of gaining the confidence of the grown-ups.

I’ve got to say, I’m a little nervous about being all alone with him, in a residential setting and without the buffer of our colleagues a few metres away. Still, I’m curious to see his pad. Elaine told me it was indecently palatial but a little on the Kardashian side, which made me laugh.

I cycle the six miles from my flat to Brendan’s penthouse in the fancy complex surrounding the restored Battersea Power Station. The final part of the ride, along the south bank of the Thames, is stunning. I take my time, not wanting to arrive a sweaty mess, although Brendan has—quite pervily, I think—demanded that I stay in my cycling gear all day.

Hereallylikes my cycling gear. So much so that he ordered me a new blush-pink outfit from Alo the other day. I’m wearing it now, and I’m convinced it makes me look naked from a distance.

Maybe that was his point.

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