Page 85 of The Retreat
‘Whose word?’ Imogen pressed.
‘Um, well, I saw it on Instagram,’ Flora admitted.
Imogen was confused. ‘Do you follow me?’
Flora gave a light laugh. ‘I’m not sure. Perhaps someone shared it?’
Imogen knew that Flora had definitely been following her with a Finsta. It took everything Imogen had not to laugh at that. But Flora wouldn’t have gotten the joke.
‘How’s Paris?’ Imogen asked out of politeness.
‘Very boring. I had to leave. You know how it is. Sometimes you just need a shake-up.’
‘Hell of a commute to The Vespar,’ Imogen noted.
‘Ah, well, I’m working for them in a more freelance capacity now. I prefer to be able to pick and choose my projects.’
‘Sounds like you’re working for them in a fired way,’ Talia said.
‘I wouldn’t put it like that,’ Flora said. She cleared her throat. ‘So, how’s this place doing?’
‘I don’t know yet. We just opened,’ Imogen told her.
‘Oh, ha ha, of course. And you’re, err, staffed up?’
Talia, mid-sip of champagne, spluttered, sending a mouthful of bubbles straight over Flora’s pristine white suit.
Flora froze for a beat, then blinked down at the spreading stain as if hoping it might magically disappear. ‘Well.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Talia said nearly sincerely.
‘Can I get you a napkin?’ Imogen asked, barely suppressing laughter at Flora’s perfectly earned misfortune.
Flora pulled out her pocket square and dabbed at the stain. ‘I’m good, thanks ever so.’
Imogen cleared her throat. ‘You know, if you’re available, there’s a mountain of work to be done. We could use someone to hand out leaflets.’
Flora’s eyes narrowed, her smile tightening into something brittle. ‘I’m not available. Just making conversation.’
Imogen’s gaze stayed steady, her amusement barely concealed. She knew Flora well enough not to expect otherwise. ‘The offer stands. Open-ended.’
Flora smoothed her jacket, clearly offended but forcing a laugh to cover it. ‘I must dash, lots of things to get to. But I’m glad I could see the place. It’s… cute.’
‘So glad you could make it,’ Imogen said, voice tight as wire.
‘And you two,’ Flora said, turning back with a mocking tilt of her head, ‘best of luck. It’s quite sweet to see my sloppy seconds finding each other.’
Talia reached out, her hand landing discreetly on Imogen’s bum with a small, sly squeeze. ‘We’ll always remember you as our respective first pancake.’
Flora forced a smile. ‘Sure. Later.’ She turned sharply, heading for the door.
‘Say hi to your parents for me,’ Talia called after her, voice dripping with sweet venom.
Flora paused in stride for the briefest moment and then kept walking.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Talia turned to Imogen, and they both burst out laughing.
‘Did I just dream that?’ Imogen asked.
