Covering the Lies

by Sofia Grey

  “Come on,” she said. “We’d better get back. You don’t want to get demoted after only two days in the role.”

  Chapter Six

  Sylvie had plans for the next few days. This was their honeymoon, after all, and she was determined to coax Alex into doing something new. But first, since the sun was shining, she wanted to walk with him on the beach.

  Hand in hand, they strolled along the sand.

  Sylvie squeezed his fingers. “We’re going away for a couple of days, so don’t make any plans.”

  “We are?” He looked interested. “Where?”

  “It’s a surprise. You need to make sure you have some warm clothes. I’ve got to go to the shops, and we’ll pack when I get back.”

  He slipped his arms around her shoulder. “Skiing? It’s a bit early in the season.”

  “Nope. I’ve never been skiing. And no guessing. Today is a perfect day. No spoilers.”

  He seemed happy with that. Next minute, he was humming the Lou Reed song, Perfect Day.

  Sylvie sang along, and they turned to head back to the dunes with one final look at the sea. It was blue and inviting, a few tiny ripples running up the sand. Her heart lifted. Even Lara’s anguish couldn’t dent Sylvie’s optimistic mood today.

  “There’s Kate,” said Alex.

  Kate stood at the edge of the beach, Poppy in her arms, so they went to say hello.

  “Hey,” she said. “We’re on our way home. Would you like to join us for breakfast? Jordan is cooking.”

  Alex glanced at Sylvie, and when she nodded, he answered, “Sure. Sounds good. Let me take Poppy.” He swung the little girl onto his shoulders, and she squealed in delight.

  They found Jordan mixing pancakes, and he assured them there was plenty to go around. He looked tired, and he chatted quietly with Alex, while Sylvie helped lay out the breakfast things.

  “Is Jordan okay?” she asked Kate in a low voice.

  Kate frowned. “He was up late on a three-way conference call with the U.S. and Australia. He didn’t have much of a weekend off. I’m hoping when this baby comes he’ll cut back on his work commitments again.”

  “I’m sure he will. I wish all husbands were as supportive as Alex and Jordan. My friend Lara just found out she’s expecting, but her husband’s being a complete ass. Nick asked her to end the pregnancy. Can you believe it?”

  “That’s awful,” said Kate. “How can he ask her to do that?”

  “I don’t know. It sucks.”

  Kate frowned. “It’s not Lara Anderson, is it? Jordan knows Nick.”

  Jordan nodded. “Yeah.”

  Shit. She didn’t see him approaching. How could Sylvie have been so indiscreet? Nick was one of Jordan’s key guys at TM-Tech. How could she have forgotten? Her cheeks burned like a thousand suns, and she wished the floor would open beneath her.

  Kate was busy recounting Lara’s tale to Jordan—who was predictably shocked—while Sylvie felt more embarrassed by the second.

  “Is it the same Nick?” Jordan asked Sylvie directly, and she nodded, feeling very uncomfortable.

  “I’m sorry, Jordan. I shouldn’t have said anything. They’ll be mortified if they find out you know their private business.” She tried desperately to salvage the situation. “I keep forgetting where you work. You’re too nice a guy to be the same ruthless power-mad mogul that runs TM-Tech.”

  He stared for a second, quirking his eyebrows, and then he laughed. “I’ll take that as a backhanded compliment, shall I?”

  In a rapid change of subject, Kate asked if they’d like to come for dinner, and Sylvie gave her a grateful smile. “Sorry, but we’re going away for a couple of days. Maybe next time you’re home.” To her relief, the conversation moved on. It was unlikely to be forgotten, though.

  ****

  Lara had cried almost constantly since telling Nick. That he wanted her to terminate their child—their baby—was unreal. And using the word terminate made it sound like a business contract. She couldn’t speak to him, and he had nothing further to say to her. For the first time since they moved in together, they slept apart, with Nick in the spare room.

  On Tuesday morning, he shot out the door to work before she came downstairs. She gazed at her red eyes in the bathroom mirror. Should she call in sick? But if she did, what would she do with herself all day?

  Sylvie was so supportive when she called her the night before. She suggested that Lara go stay with her and Alex in Wales, if she wanted some space from Nick. Lara was a bit star struck with Alex, and had a tendency to turn into a gibbering fan when she saw him. It was a kind offer, though.

  Lara didn’t want space from Nick. She wanted him right here beside her, getting excited about the baby.

  Meanwhile, she had to go to work. She slathered on concealer, added more foundation than usual, and dressed with care. She’d quite possibly bump into Nick at some point and didn’t want him to see how much he’d upset her.

  One thing was crystal clear. She was keeping this baby. Abortion was not an option, and she’d go ahead, with or without Nick.

  ****

  Alex was lost in his music when Sylvie returned from her shopping trip. He followed her to the bedroom, to pack their gear, and spotted the two large backpacks on the bed.

  “Backpacks? What happened to the cases?”

  “These are better suited to where we’re going. Remember, Rock God—warm clothes and a waterproof jacket.”

  “How many guitars can I take?” He was serious. He hated to be without a guitar for any length of time.

  She gave him an indulgent smile. “One, and better make it an acoustic. Nowhere to plug in an amp.”

  He was intrigued. Somewhere cold with limited power options. He’d seen an ice hotel in Norway or Greenland, or somewhere on the Arctic circle. Maybe they were going there?

  When he saw the mountain of stuff in the back of their Audi SUV, he was puzzled. Even more so when Sylvie didn’t drive towards Manchester Airport, as he expected, but into the heart of the Snowdonia mountain range. She refused to tell him where they were going. He enjoyed the sense of mystery and admired the stunning scenery as they drove.

  The roads grew quieter, and Sylvie picked her way with care along steep, narrow lanes, and finally into a huge farmyard. A number of other cars were parked there, and several people milled around.

  She turned to Alex with a beaming smile, a hint of tease in her dancing eyes. “This is it. We’re camping.”

  He raised his eyebrows, amused. “Camping? As in, tents and things?”

  “You got it.” She smirked at his expression. “You ever camped before?”

  “Well... no. Have you?”

  “Loads of times as a kid. It’s the most fun. I’ll check us in. Then we’ll unload.” Her gaze slid to the back of the Audi, and Alex reassessed the pile of bags and boxes.

  “All this?”

  She nodded. “Yep. Time to dirty your hands, Rock God.”

  He laughed. She couldn’t be serious. “Okay. Joke over. Where’s the hotel?”

  She pressed a quick kiss on his lips. “No hotel. And we’ll have nowhere to sleep if we don’t get the tent up while we’ve still got daylight.”

  “You’re not joking?”

  “Nope. And by the way, we’re booked in as Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow.”

  “Sure. What’s a minor name change?” He tried one last time. “This is a gag? I don’t know the first thing about camping. I’m used to hotels, running water, double beds, and mini-bars. Not tents.”

  She sat back and gazed at him. “I know, and that’s why I wanted to surprise you, to make you try something new. If I asked you, you’d refuse to come.”

  Alex opened his mouth to refute this, but she was right. He contemplated sulking.

  A tiny worry line furrowed her brow. Was he being an ass? Maybe this was important to Syl, and he was about to stomp all over her.

  There was a faint note of anxiety in her voice when she spoke. “Two nights—that’s all.
If you hate it, we won’t do it again. I wanted us to do something normal. To get away from everything. We can go hiking, pony trekking, have campfires, and admire the countryside. Just you and me, and a bunch of strangers who won’t pay us any attention.” Her eyes pleaded with him, and he felt a surge of affection.

  “Okay. Two nights?”

  She nodded.

  “Let’s get started, Mrs. Woodrow.”

  Once the tent was set up, there were still a couple of hours until dinner, so they went for a walk. The scenery was spectacular. Mountains loomed all around. Rivers and streams were everywhere, with miles and miles of nothing but sheep and the ever-present birdlife. Al and Syl Woodrow signed up for a pony trek the next day, and then they joined the other campers for a meal in the barn.

  Their cover stories were simple, not that anyone was particularly interested. When asked, Alex said he worked in a music shop, while Sylvie worked in an office. There were several families there, two guys with their girlfriends, and another young, married couple. It was a comfortable and laidback group, and Alex and Sylvie fit in perfectly and unobtrusively.

  After dinner, they settled around the campfire, chatting vaguely to the others. Sometime later, Alex fetched his guitar and played softly for the group, taking requests for an impromptu karaoke. Sylvie teased him that he was missing a good career busking, and he laughed.

  Syl was right. If she’d mentioned anything to do with camping, he’d have refused to go, point blank. He couldn’t believe how much he was enjoying himself. He liked to go incognito amongst his fans, but this was taking it to the extreme.

  The next day was idyllic—pony trekking, walking around the lake, silly ball games with the other campers, and playing charades around the camp fire. Alex was disappointed when Sylvie told him they were leaving in the morning.

  They had one more week of privacy and then Sylvie would be flung headfirst into the rollercoaster of their other life together.

  Chapter Seven

  Adele had been warned by a number of her peers that getting Jordan on her side would be crucial to her role. He had the power to make or break her career in Europe, and she wanted to impress him. This temporary position was a godsend. If she had to stay in Houston and bump into Curtis almost-daily, she’d be a wreck. But here, in London, she could reinvent herself.

  The Adele who had her heart broken on a regular basis no longer existed.

  Wednesday, she dressed with care for her noon meeting with Jordan. She was his first appointment of the day. It was an opportunity to run through her work plans, gain approval for a few ideas, and review the team budget. She knocked on his open door and was graced with a quick smile.

  “Hey there, Adele. Come in. Sit down. I need a moment before we start.”

  “Your PA said you only just got in. If you’d prefer, we could have this catch-up as a working lunch? Go get a sandwich.”

  He glanced up, and then returned his attention to his laptop. “Sorry.” His voice was brisk. “I’ll be working through today.” He looked up again and smiled briefly. “Another time, perhaps?”

  He didn’t keep her waiting long, and soon was ploughing through her workload with her. Adele was impressed with his working style. He was decisive and clear in direction, but willing to listen and consider her viewpoint. He refused her request to bring in an expensive graphics consultant, but he delivered the news with a regretful hint of a smile that made her heart pound. Everything about the guy appealed to her.

  Christ. Good thing Jordan was married. She could fall for him so easily.

  She drifted back to her desk with three pages of actions to cover off, and found an email from Nick.

  Melda, You fancy playing squash again this week? I’m playing Jordan tonight, but we could play Thurs or Fri. Let me know.

  She replied quickly.

  Thurs or Fri is good for me. Thanks. I’m not busy tonight, though. Fancy a drink after you’ve finished with Jordan?

  She slipped out to get a salad for lunch, and Nick replied while she was out.

  Hi. Sure. Can make drinks tonight. Meet me at the gym, 7:15? We can book the next game while we’re there. See ya later.

  Would drinks include Jordan? Her pulse sped up at the thought.

  ****

  Adele stood in the foyer of the gym, lounging against the reception counter while she waited for Nick and Jordan to appear. She had time to get changed into casual gear, and she knew she looked good.

  She flicked through Facebook on her phone, and asked herself again why she was trying to get Jordan’s attention. He was happily married. He couldn’t be more off limits.

  Approaching footsteps caught her attention, and she looked up to see Nick walking alongside Jordan. They both looked pissed off, and her spidey senses leapt to full alert.

  “Hi, there.” She adopted a bright voice. “Drinks? Are you coming as well, Jordan?”

  He shook his head. “No. See you both tomorrow.” He strode out of the gym, and Nick pulled a face behind his back.

  “I’m glad he’s not joining us,” said Nick. “He spent the entire match trying to kill me.”

  “What do you mean? I saw him at lunchtime, and he was fine then.”

  “Maybe it’s me, but he seemed wound up. It’s not like him.” Nick huffed a breath. “Shall we book our court? Then we can escape for a drink, and you can tell me if your week is going any better than mine.”

  They didn’t even get to the wine bar, before Nick had his phone out and was checking messages.

  “For fuck’s sake.” He stopped in his tracks.

  Adele gazed at him, concerned by the bleak look on his face. “What’s up?”

  “See for yourself.” He handed her the phone, and she scanned the brief text. It was from Lara.

  We need some space at the moment, while we get used to this. I still love you and hope you’ll change your mind. Lara X

  “I’m sorry.” He gave her a fleeting hug. “I need to get home.”

  She watched him hurry in the opposite direction. What did she do now? Go have a drink by herself? Get hit on by the local talent? Or hide out in her apartment?

  Being single sucked.

  ****

  Jordan slept badly after playing squash with Nick. Sylvie’s innocent revelation tainted the way Jordan thought about him. He couldn’t stand to look at him, with this new knowledge. Maybe he felt so strongly because Kate was pregnant at the same time, after years of trying. A child was such a precious gift. It disgusted him that Nick would consider getting rid of it as easily as throwing out a piece of trash. There was no reason to justify doing that. Maybe Nick’s marriage was in trouble already, and he didn’t want the complication of a child? Was he having an affair?

  He didn’t want to disturb Kate, and got up ridiculously early, to catch up on his emails. She was worried about the amount of work he was doing, but the next twelve months were crucial for TM-Tech. He needed the company to be as stable and secure as possible, so that he could hand off the day-to-day running and go back to a part-time presence. That was assuming he had another year.

  He rubbed his eyes and hit the medicine cupboard for painkillers. By six-thirty, he was on his way to the office.

  The morning was uplifting. Another major contract was announced, with a German technology group who wanted a series of electronic switches for their factories. Another small step to economic recovery.

  Jordan had a lunch appointment with a guy he’d been trying to meet for months. It was typical that today, when he finally pinned down a meeting with Bart Russo, his head would be aching so hard he felt dizzy.

  Jordan swallowed the last two painkillers in the blister pack and took a few minutes to compose himself before heading down in the elevator. He wasn’t sure he could hold any kind of conversation at the moment, let alone one revolving around business. Should he cancel? No. Not when Bart had made the trip especially to see him.

  The first person Jordan saw in the lobby was Adele. She stood with Bart, in the
middle of a lively conversation. Her hands sketched a shape in the air, and Bart laughed. He appeared captivated by her. Maybe Jordan could capitalise on this.

  Adele spotted Jordan approaching and beamed at him. “I was keeping Mr. Russo company until you got here.”

  “Thank you.” The men shook hands and exchanged greetings, before Jordan turned back to Adele. “How do you know each other?”

  “I did some consultancy for him in Houston. I spotted him when I was passing through Reception.”

  “Maybe Ms. Bisset could join us for lunch?” Bart’s voice was gruff as usual.

  Jordan grabbed the idea like a lifeline. “Good idea. Can you join us, Adele?” With her there to drive the conversation, he might get through this without looking like an idiot.

  “Thanks,” she said, her cheeks pinking. “I’d love to.”

  Bart Russo owned and ran a small family company that manufactured specialist components, and TM-Tech had been trying for months to engineer a deal with them. If Adele helped swing this deal, Jordan would be happy.

  They ate in a cosy Italian café—West End prices in a rustic setting—and Adele oozed charm all over Bart Russo. To Jordan’s relief, he barely had to say anything, just clarified a few contractual details.

  The painkillers were slow to kick in. A stronger dosage would help, too. He had to tell Kate soon, but how?

  Four years ago, in a case of mistaken identity, Jordan was beaten around the head with a baseball bat. It took months to recover, and the surgeon warned there might be problems in the future. It would only take one missed fragment of bone to embed itself in the soft brain tissues, and Jordan would be fucked.

  The idea terrified him.

  His attention drifted, and he dragged his focus back. Bart was happy with the deal they hammered out. He said his goodbyes and headed out, leaving Jordan alone with Adele.

  “Well done,” he said. “That was good work. I was impressed.”

  “Thank you.” She gave him a bashful smile. “I started in the sales team at TM-Tech, then moved into Comms, and more recently into the creative strategy side. That’s one of the things I love about the company—the chance to move around and gain experience in more than one area.”