Page 26 of The Retreat
Imogen risked a sidelong glance and caught the faintest quirk of a smile on Talia’s mouth.
‘Come, come,’ Celeste said. ‘Everyone’s dying to meet you.’
As they moved deeper into the crowd, the introductions started flying fast and loose.
‘That’s Daniel Parsons,’ Talia murmured under her breath as they approached a broad-shouldered man in a navy gilet. ‘He’s a senior associate, like me.’
Daniel spotted them and beamed. ‘Talia, mate! Andfinally, the elusive Alex!’ His handshake was vigorous, the kind that made Imogen’s wrist ache. ‘Was starting to think you’d made her up.’
‘I live to disappoint,’ Talia said coolly.
‘You’re a tough nut to crack, eh?’ Daniel said to Imogen, elbowing her lightly. ‘But she got you to us in the end.’
‘That’s Lara,’ Talia went on, just in time for a woman with a razor-sharp bob to glide over. ‘His wife. She’s also a lawyer atanother firm.’ And then she leaned in to whisper. ‘She hates him, but she’s pretty good at pretending she doesn’t.’
Lara landed among them and extended a hand. ‘Alex, what a pleasure to meet you. Iloveyour braid.’
Imogen smiled and mumbled something polite.
Then a booming laugh erupted beside them. ‘Talia!’ cried a man already wearing his name badge like a medal. ‘You beat me here! I bloody knew you would, early bird!’
‘Marcus Talbot,’ Talia whispered quickly. ‘Loud, but harmless.’
‘And the elusive Alex!’ Marcus said, seizing Imogen’s hand with both of his. ‘Welcome aboard!’
A woman who looked to be a wife/girlfriend stood behind him with the distant air of someone hoping a fire might break out so she could escape. Imogen was right there with her.
Before Imogen could say anything to Marcus, a woman with big teeth was zipping toward them.
‘Rebecca Knowles,’ Talia whispered. ‘HR. Runs everything. Don’t make eye contact unless you want to help stack chairs.’
‘Hi-hi-hi!’ Rebecca chirped. ‘Talia, hello! And the infamous Alex! You’ll need the schedule. I’ve laminated it, obviously!’ She beamed, pressing a copy into Talia’s hand, then spun off, presumably to greet someone else with a terrifying level of enthusiasm.
Talia nodded across the room to two older women. The pair were already arguing good-naturedly about who would break their ankle first.
‘Claire and June. Legal secretaries. They’ve been at Monroe since god knows. They know where the bodies are buried. Unfireable.’
‘Jesus,’ Imogen whispered. ‘Is there anyone here whoisn’tterrifying?’
‘Peter Chen doesn’t give me any trouble,’ she said, nodding at a guy ignoring everyone and staring at his phone. ‘He’s IT support and gives zero shits. Shocked they got him to come, actually.’
‘Who do we have here?’ said a husky voice coming in from the left. Imogen turned to see a woman with killer perfume and perfect eyebrows approaching.
‘Jade Robinson,’ Talia spoke quietly and quickly as the woman got closer. ‘Another junior. Flirts witheveryone. New partner at every event. Not sure she’s gotten the memo about the culture at Monroe, but I’m not going to be the one to tell her…’ Talia’s volume jumped to normal level as the woman reached them. ‘Jade, hello,’
‘You didn’t tell me your girlfriend was this cute,’ Jade said, eyes fixed on Imogen.
Imogen wasn’t sure if she was supposed to like the compliment or not, so she looked to Talia to see how to handle it.
Talia ignored it. ‘You bring… anyone?’
‘Ray was going to come, but then he pissed me off, so I’ve given him his walking papers.’ She turned to Imogen. ‘So, if you get bored, Alex, I’m in room six.’
Imogen stared, stunned.
‘She’s joking,’ Talia muttered. ‘I think.’
Jade winked and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Imogen blinking after her.
