Page 24 of Behind Frenemy Lines

“Oh, don’t worry about it now. It’ll keep till you’re back in the office.” Arthur poured himself another glass of wine. “Got any plans while you’re in Malaysia?”

“Just spending time with my parents. I don’t have many friends left in my hometown, most people have moved away.”

I’d got Appa and Amma to swear not to tell the auntie-unclecontingent I was coming, so I wouldn’t have to entertain everyone in Ipoh and its environs who remembered me as a child. I’d have nothing to do other than eat and try to fix the way my parents’ TV kept logging them out of my Netflix account.

“It should be nice,” I said.

“Good,” said Arthur. Something about the way his eyes flicked to me and then skittered away made me nervous.

But he only said, “How are things generally? All right?”

I’d had half an hour to look through my inbox in my hotel room before we’d had to leave for dinner. “Everything’s under control. Rosalind emailed wanting advice, but nothing urgent. The partner in New York who’s going to do the US law advice for her dropped me a note to say thank you for the introduction to Sanson.”

Arthur’s face twitched at the idea of another partner getting work from his client. But he couldn’t reasonably object, and luckily for me, he didn’t seem to be feeling unreasonable that day.

“That’s great,” he said. “But I meant more, you know, outside work. I know it wasn’t easy, with Tom…”

“Oh, let’s not talk about Tom.” I kept my tone light, but I meant it.

“Right. I know what you mean,” said Arthur. “I hope he didn’t leave you too bruised, that’s all.” He met my eyes. “You’re a very special person, Kriya.”

Goose bumps popped up all along my arms and the back of my neck.

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” I said, as though it were my appraisal and Arthur had passed on some nice client feedback.

I had never felt so grateful for a table as I was now. If only the one between me and Arthur were bigger. “How are the kids?”

“They’re good. Coping better than me.” Arthur’s mouth quirked in a wry half smile. “Margot’s at uni, so she has somedistance from it all. And Lachlan doesn’t seem bothered. I think they could see the smash-up coming.”

He knocked back his wine and picked up the bottle, making to top up my glass. I shook my head. Arthur poured the remainder of the bottle into his glass.

“It was probably a relief for everyone else,” he said. “That it finally happened. I was the only one it came as a shock to. What’s the saying? The last to know.”

I thought about Tom and the way Zuri had said “Shit” when I’d told her about him dumping me. Angry, but not surprised.

I had felt like I’d sallied out of my front door on a fine blue-skied day and stepped straight into a pit. Half a year later, I wasn’t sure I’d climbed out yet.

I wasn’t about to share that with Arthur, though. On a normal day, he wouldn’t have been interested.

I missed normal Arthur. Weirdly intense Arthur who kept trying to make eye contact was freaking me out.

“It’s good that they’re not taking it too hard,” I said. “Shall we make a move?”

Arthur was quiet in the taxi back to the hotel, and as we waited for the lift in the hotel lobby.

The lift arrived. We both got in. I was beginning to think I might get away without having to endure any further awkwardness, when Arthur said:

“Kriya.”

I should have taken the stairs. “Yeah?”

Arthur didn’t say anything for a moment. The lift pinged as it arrived at my floor.

“Good work,” he said. “Enjoy your break. I’ll see you back at the office.”

“Thanks. Good night.” I stepped out of the lift with a sense of escape.

I wouldn’t be seeing Arthur now till we were both back in the UK, the week after next. He was leaving at seven a.m. forhis flight the next morning. My flight to Malaysia was later in the day. I’d be able to have breakfast by myself. Maybe I could even go for a swim in the hotel pool. Once I sent Arthur the note for Farah that he’d asked for, I’d be on holiday.

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