Page 23 of Best Served Hot
All Alex had to do during this was smile and look innocent. But when he asked that question, she couldn’t help herself. ‘Oh, my grandfather? Yeah. He’s dead, actually.’
‘Oh no!’ Ethan said, pretending he gave a fraction of a shit. ‘I hope it wasn’t…’
‘It was very drawn out and painful,’ Alex said before he could finish. All of her grandparents were long dead, so she wasn’t worried about tempting fate. ‘He really suffered at the end.’
Ethan stared at her, his voice lost.
‘Well, anyway! Nice to catch up!’ she said with all the pep she could find. Ethan nodded mutely.
‘Right, well, we’ve got work to do,’ Nicole said. ‘But I’m sure you’ll be seeing Alex around set plenty.’
Ethan half smiled. ‘Yeah. I guess we’ll, err, be seeing each other. Around.’ He turned and walked away rather quickly.
Alex and Nicole were left alone in the hall. ‘Shall we head to my office? We’ve got somestuffto go through,’ Nicole suggested to Alex, who nodded eagerly.
***
They were in Nicole’s temporary office, private, big, painted the white of a psychiatric hospital, sat on an old leather couch in the corner. Nicole smiled at her, and Alex returned it. Then they were both laughing. It built quickly to hysterics.
Nicole was breathless by the end. ‘He, he…’ she stopped and collected herself briefly. ‘He called you a golden retriever!’
‘Yes, I caught that little comment. The subtext was very strong,’ Alex said.
‘Ah. Yes. It was made clear to me that he’d never think of you in any way that could be considered wrong,’ Nicole added.
‘Exactly. He’d never try to bang a golden retriever, would he?’ Alex paused. ‘You know what? Maybe it’s unfair to assume that.’
Nicole laughed again. ‘I wouldn’t put much past him these days. Oh, by the way, I loved the grandpa thing. I mean, if it’s not true.’
‘Not at all. One grandpa went in his sleep, and the other had a very quick heart attack. A pack of lies.’
‘What made you think to say it?’ Nicole asked, impressed.
Alex rolled her eyes. ‘He was being so fucking… He was so desperate to make it easy for himself. That’s what he wanted me to do for him. Make it easy. I wasn’t having it.’
Nicole nodded in agreement. ‘That’s him. He never says it. But somehow, I always tried to make his life easier. Taking every stress I could off his shoulders, shielding him from difficult conversations. I can see now that didn’t just happen. Hemakesit happen.’
‘How were we so blind? Alex asked, shaking her head.
‘We can see now, that’s all that matters.’
‘What do you think he thought when he saw me?’ Alex asked. ‘Do you think he thought…’
‘I know what he thought, the arrogant twat,’ Nicole broke in. ‘He thought you were going fullFatal Attraction.He thinks you’re back for him.’ She shook her head.
‘To get my revenge or get him back?’ Alex asked, revolted at the second option.
Nicole pondered on it for a moment. ‘I think he’s trying to figure that out as we speak. His problem right now is that he’s told me not to tell anyone that we’re married. So if I keep that promise, you might decide to confide in me about certain things.’
‘Or maybe Idoknow you’re married, and that’s why I’ve attached myself to you. It’s all a big scheme to get to him.’
‘Exactly. One way or another, you’re a ticking clock,’ Nicole said tranquilly.
Alex looked at Nicole in some wonderment. ‘It’s going just as you thought so far.’
‘I know. It’s almost disappointing how easy it is,’ Nicole said.
‘Almost?’ Alex pressed.
