Page 68 of Knowing You
‘I’ve just been speaking to Casey Wilde,’ she says in an abrupt voice.
‘That’s nice.’
‘I had no idea you knew him so well. He politely told me that he’s withdrawing his submission. That you tried to acquire his book using underhand means. What’s wrong with you lately? Have you any idea what a bad stain this is on Thoth’s reputation?’
She shakes her head. Tells me to meet her first thing Monday morning in her office. I take another mouthful of my drink. Gary approaches me, still sailing high on the crest of his debut success.Bubblesis in the last selection of this year’s Young Adult Book Prize. He doesn’t stop chatting, which suits me. I just grunt in the right places. The jazz band play more loudly now. Irfan and Farah dance alongside Hugo and one of the interns.
For once ignoring the sugar content, I order cocktails and after a while begin to feel queasy. A man sits next to me. I see his grey suit from the corner of my eye. It’s Lenny.
The man who’s caused so much hurt.
I slip off the stool that almost falls over as my feet touch the floor and hurry towards the front table. Behind that in the corner of the room is a door for staff that I noticed earlier. The manager said it offers a backstage route to the kitchen and outside for staff cigarette breaks. I don’t engage with the familiar faces saying hello as I stumble that way. I yank the door open and hurry down the corridor. A Fire Exit sign at the end catches my attention. Grateful for the anonymity, I rush outside. The air smells of stale tobacco but no one is there. It’s a small backyard with recycling bins and a metal bench. I sit down and stare at a pile of dustbin bags. One of them is torn and spewing out rubbish.
The door creaks. The grey suit sits down next to me again. I move further towards my end of the bench.
‘Are you okay? Where’s Casey?’
‘Where do you think?’ I give a hollow laugh. ‘He left. Thanks to you and your stupid girlfriend.’
‘We’ve split up.’
‘So that’s why you are showing concern? My God, you really are a complete prick. She’s thrown you out so you’re trying to get back into my flat?’ The volume of my voice increases. ‘Well forget it. Someone else has your room now. And as if—’
‘I finished with her. And I’ve finally got my partnership at the agency so I’ve found a bedsit to tide me over until my pay rise comes in and I can get my own place.’
‘Congratulations,’ I say with a sneer. ‘What swung it? Did Beatrix somehow exert her influence? Did she shag one of the partners?’
‘Beatrix has got nothing to do with it. It’s just all the hours I’ve put in and a windfall at work financially. There’s going to be an auction next week forAlien Hearts. I think it’ll go to six figures.’
‘Poor Beatrix, after all the effort she put into snagging you.’
‘It wasn’t like that.’
‘Oh, please.’ I hope my face reflects utter disgust.
Lenny stares at me. ‘I’m worried, Violet. What’s happened to you?’
‘Nothing,’ I snap. ‘Although a bit of honesty from you would make the evening a great deal better. So, tell me – whatwasit like, then?’
Lenny loosens his tie and his eyes ran over my frame. ‘I guess I at least owe you the truth. It was never about Beatrix chasing me in order to get to Casey. Not in the beginning, anyway. We just fancied each other, that’s all, after meeting at a book launch. She didn’t even know I worked at an agency.’
Everything went into slow motion for a second as I looked at him. ‘What?’
‘She flirted with me. I found that flattering. I guess I was a little in awe. And,’ His cheeks flushed, ‘I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I thought she could be useful to know, with her reputation and contacts.’
‘Yeah, well what’s not to like about her.’
He shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t say Beatrix was my usual type, but when I was with her, I don’t know, somehow, I felt important and more connected to where I wanted to be in the publishing world. I didn’t fall for her like I fell for you.’
I blink several times.
His words replay in my head and our surroundings sway for a second.
Surely I must have misheard?
‘Why… why did you leave then?’
‘We’d grown apart. You must have noticed.’
