Page 64 of Behind Frenemy Lines

Would have thought it would feel awkward, sitting there at Kriya’s small dining table while she pottered around thekitchen. But it didn’t. It was comfortable. Even as wound up as I was, it was easy being with Kriya.

She glanced over her shoulder, grinning. “Hope you don’t mind using competitor merch.” Showed me the mug she’d put my coffee in, with the name “Brown, Rosenburg and Cushway” on it.

CG: “I’ve got a Swithin Watkins mug at home. And a tumbler. They gave them out when they were phasing out paper cups at the coffee machines.”

Kriya: “I’ll need to get a Swithin Watkins mug.” Smile faded. “If I last that long.”

Didn’t pretend not to know what she was talking about.

CG: “There’s no reason you’d need to leave the firm. I know you haven’t wanted to make a formal report about Arthur, but you have accrued evidence of a concerning pattern, if nothing else. With what’s happened with Rosalind, and his objecting to you sharing an office with me—there’s external evidence of both those things. It wouldn’t simply be your word against his.”

Kriya: “Yeah.” Didn’t sound convinced.

She handed me a mug of coffee, her fingers brushing mine. Like getting an electric shock.

Observed my body’s reaction with resignation. At least Kriya didn’t seem to notice.

She said: “But even if I make a report, and they get rid of Arthur, where does that leave me? I’ve worked with Arthur since I qualified. Even before then—he was my supervisor when I was a trainee. I can’t imagine my work life without him.” She pulled a face. “That sounds pathetic, right?”

CG: “No.”

What I was thinking was that Arthur had really done a number on her. Hadn’t realised he’d been around when she was doing her training. She wouldn’t have been older than twenty-two or twenty-three. No wonder she couldn’t envisage a career without him.

Kriya: “It’s fine. All of my friends hate Arthur. And I haven’t even told them about what happened in Hong Kong.” She sighed.

CG: “Why not?”

Kriya: “Oh well, you know, it’s kind of a heavy topic, right? We’re all so busy, we don’t get to meet up that often. When we are hanging out, I’d rather not waste the time moaning about my job… You know, Charles, you could never be a therapist. It is one hundred percent obvious from your face when you think someone is talking bullshit.”

CG: “I didn’t mean—”

Kriya: “That wasn’t a criticism! It’s not a bad quality in a litigator. OK, I didn’t tell my friends because they already hate Arthur. They’re not lawyers. They don’t get what it’s like, that relationship with your supervising partner. Arthur’s been my mentor, he’s taught me how it all works. You work with Farah, you know what it’s like.”

CG: “Farah’s not like Arthur.”

Kriya: “No. Fair enough. I wasn’t suggesting she’d cross boundaries, like Arthur—”

CG: “Farah expects me to do the job. It’s a high-pressure job, it requires long hours. It’s hard to get away from that, in a client-facing role. But Farah doesn’t think she owns me or my time.”

Kriya winced. “I was wrong. You’d make a great therapist. You might have to work on your bedside manner, though.”

CG, after a moment: “I’m sorry. It’s not my place to comment.”

Kriya shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. I like your honesty.”

Her foot knocked against my leg as she sat down at the table. Her proximity made me feel light-headed.

CG: “Loretta says that about my bedside manner, too. And Farah. It causes issues with clients.”

Kriya shrugged. “I’m not a client. I like that I always know where I stand with you.”

Felt a pang of guilt. Kriya didn’t really know where she stood with me. If she did, she’d know an inconvenient part of my brain was wondering what it would feel like to kneel down and press my face against her thigh.

Bet it’d feel incredible. I needed to stop thinking about it.

She said: “I know Arthur hasn’t been at his best lately. But he’s been decent to me, over the years. I wouldn’t be where I am now without him. I get some crap from him as well, don’t get me wrong. But he’s been a good boss a lot of the time. That’s as real as the crap. And if I report him, either it goes badly for me, or it goes badly for him. It could ruin his career. His personal life is already in a shambles. I don’t know if I can bring myself to do that.”

If Arthur continued behaving as erratically as he was now, Kriya might not have a choice. Seemed to me he was on a course to force her hand. At some point, it was going to be him or her.

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