‘Es Calo? Isn’t that the nudist beach?’ said Karin, looking at Reggie’s bowling-ball physique and suppressing a smile.
‘It’s very liberating, Karin,’ scolded Christina. ‘Reggie agrees, don’t you, honey?’
Reggie wasn’t listening. Instead he was looking at Christina as if she was a mouthwatering delicacy.
‘My yacht the Crusader is in Ibiza Town,’ he said to Karin and Adam, not taking his eyes off Christina. ‘I’d love you to come for lunch if you’re not busy.’
Karin nodded. ‘Well, it’s my birthday tomorrow, so I hope you have cake.’
As the night wore on, the music was edged up louder and louder. As the moon sprayed glitter onto the swimming pool, a lithe tanned man with Vilebrequin trunks around his ankles was standing by the deep end spurting Cristal into the water like a Formula One driver while, in the shallow end, two Swedish models were kissing. All around them the scent of sex and drugs drifted like clouds.
‘Shall we go and circulate?’ asked Christina, linking her arm through Karin’s. Reggie patted Christina’s bottom as they left and he returned to discussing economic sanctions in the Sudan with Adam.
‘What do you think?’ she giggled to Karin as they walked away.
‘I think he likes you,’ smiled Karin.
‘I made a vow to myself after the Ariel tragedy that, next time, I would date up. I owe it to myself after everything that happened,’ she said with a slight waver to her voice. ‘Between you and me, Reggie’s asked me to stay on with him after the weekend. He’s spending the next two weeks touring the Med. Do you think it’s too soon?’
‘But you hardly know him,’ said Karin, slightly shocked.
‘We’ve got so many friends in common it’s not funny.’
‘I think you’ve made up your mind,’ smiled Karin playfully.
‘Mmm … maybe,’ said Christina with a smirk. ‘Anyway, I’m simply exhausted after all that small talk. Do you fancy a naughty pick-me-up?’
Karin tried to not look disapproving. When it came to drugs, her circle of friends split between the dos and the do nots. If you did them, it was with a vengeance; it was not unknown for entire City bonuses to be blown in one summer on coke and opiates. If you abstained, it was usually because you were a member of Narcotics Anonymous. For Karin, taking drugs had no moral overtones, it was simply an issue of control. She’d smoked the odd joint at boarding school but had hated the way it made her feel – woozy and nauseous and not quite tuned-in – so she had mostly avoided the various drugs that had come in and out of fashion on the social scene over the years.
Christina tapped her on the waist. ‘Stop being such a puritan, Kay. We need to celebrate the start of my beautiful new relationship.’ They made their way to Christina’s bedroom and Karin sat back on the bed while her friend rifled through a cream vanity case. She looked up. ‘Shit. I’m all out. Will Adam have any?’
Karin shrugged. He was a very light user and sometimes kept a wrap in his wallet. She wasn’t sure he’d take kindly to her going through his belongings but, ever since she’d found the mysterious matchbook in Capri, she was always looking for a reason to have a snoop.
Their bedroom was just next door and she went through. She could see Adam’s Brioni linen jacket slung across the back of a high-backed leather chair and, picking it up, she slid her hand into the inside pocket, her fingers brushing against a bunch of keys, and a money clip holding together a sheaf of notes. She pulled out a butter-soft leather wallet and opened it. Ignoring the platinum and black credit cards, she slipped a finger into the silk lining and pulled out a piece of neatly folded paper.
‘Tina. I’ve got …’ her words trailed off as she realized it wasn’t a wrap of cocaine but a folded receipt. Her heart leapt as she saw it was from a jeweller on Bond Street: a ‘gold and diamond teardrop pendant’ costing £1500. Fifteen hundred. Her elation was immediately replaced by a twinge of disappointment.
‘So. Has he got any?’ asked Christina, appearing in the doorframe.
‘No,’ replied Karin quickly. ‘I’m going to find Adam.’
Karin was standing by the swimming pool, a glistening electric blue against the black of the night, staring into the darkness.
She was sipping a mojito slowly, alone with her thoughts, when Adam crept up behind her and pulled her close.
‘Unless I’m very much mistaken,’ he said, showing her his watch, ‘it’s gone midnight and that means one thing …’
‘It means I’m twenty-nine again,’ smiled Karin, resting her head on his shoulder.
Adam nodded and took her hand, leading her inside, the laughter of the crowd growing faint behind them. ‘I might have been late today,’ smiled Adam, ‘but at least I come bearing gifts. I take it you can’t wait another minute for your present?’
Karin tried to look enthusiastic. ‘Patience has never been one of my virtues.’
‘Well then, step this way for the show and tell …’
He pulled her into their bedroom and Karin slipped off her sandals and arranged herself elegantly on the bed, letting the ceiling fan woosh a stream of cool air across her body.
Adam rummaged in his black suitcase, then walked back to Karin with his hands behind his back. ‘Close your eyes and hold out your hands,’ he teased.
Karin sat up and did as she was told. ‘Happy birthday, honey,’ whispered Adam, placing a warm kiss on her lips and a package in her upturned palms.
Karin opened her eyes to see a long claret box tied up with a gold ribbon. She tore off the ribbon and flipped up the lid, which opened with a satisfying click.
Lying on a bed of black velvet was a string of clear and primrose-coloured tear-shaped stones, sparkling in the lamplight. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. It was exquisite. Adam took the bracelet and fumbled to fasten it around Karin’s wrist.
‘Diamonds and canary diamonds,’ he said, grinning. ‘Do you like?’
Karin was staring at the delicate string around her wrist with a bemused expression. ‘I like a lot …’
‘But …?’ asked Adam noticing the quaver in her voice.
‘But this didn’t cost fifteen hundred pounds …’ There was a trace of laughter in her voice.
‘I don’t follow.’ Adam sank on the bed and looked up at her.
Karin cursed herself for the slip, realizing she’d have to confess for looking in his wallet.
‘It’s nothing.’
‘No, tell me,’ pressed Adam.
‘Well, I found a receipt in your wallet and I thought …’
Karin saw it immediately – just a flicker of something in Adam’s expression that sent a cold shiver down her spine. When she had first found the receipt, her reaction had been one of disappointment, anger even. Their relationship seemed to be going well – very well in fact – and Adam had a lot of money. Had she misjudged the situation so terribly. Did he really think so little of her? But now the penny dropped. The necklace wasn’t for her. It was for somebody else.
‘Who is it for?’ she said softly, unconsciously fingering the bracelet.
‘Who is what for?’
‘The necklace, the receipt in your wallet.’
Adam stood up, suddenly angry. ‘What were you doing in my fucking wallet?’ he snapped.
Karin was not to be deflected. ‘Answer the question, Adam,’ she said calmly. ‘Who is it for?’
‘It’s for Erin,’ he said coolly. ‘It’s her birthday, so I thought I’d get her a little trinket.’
‘Erin’s birthday? Really,’ said Karin sarcastically. ‘You forget she used to be my assistant. Her birthday isn’t in August at all.’
Karin didn’t have a clue when Erin’s birthday was, but she knew she had to bluff him.
They locked stares and she saw him take a small, sharp intake of breath. She knew Adam Gold, the businessman, the ruthless negotiator, had been caught out.
‘Adam, tell me the truth.’
Her voice was high pitched and shrill and she c
ould feel her heart beating faster. She caught herself feeling fearful and insecure and hated herself for it. The last six months with Adam had gnawed away at her confidence so much that she was beginning not to recognize herself. She glared at him, baiting him to lie further.
‘It’s Claudia Falcon, isn’t it?’ she said calmly.
Adam had walked away from her and stood at the window, staring out into the blackness. In the distance they could hear the low hum of laughter from the party.
‘It’s not Claudia,’ he said softly.
‘Then why have you been spending so much time with her?’
‘Business!’ shouted Adam.
‘Yeah, right,’ said Karin sarcastically.
‘Look. We are putting together a financial deal – a takeover bid for the Astley Retail chain. We have to do it by stealth.’
‘Oh yes, stealth being the right word, when you’re fucking the banker.’
‘I’m not fucking Claudia,’ he said, twisting round to face her.
‘Adam, I’m not stupid. I’ve seen the way you are together, I can see—’
‘Claudia is gay,’ he said with finality.
Karin stopped in her tracks, stunned. Gay? That was a turn-up for the books. She felt her anger reboil as she realized he’d distracted her from the big issue. The necklace and who it was for. She knew she had let herself slip, her anger betraying her vulnerability and insecurity. But she’d come too far now to pretend it didn’t matter.
‘Adam,’ she said softly, walking up behind him, ‘the best birthday present you can give me is the truth.’
She could see their faces reflected in the glass, both sad and uncertain.
‘Karin …’ he began, then he stopped and took a deep breath.
‘There is someone,’ he said finally. ‘The necklace was for someone else.’
‘Can I ask who?’ Karin’s voice was little more than a cracked whisper.
He turned to face her and for a moment Karin expected the worst, but he gently picked up her hand and placed it in his. She wanted to snap it away but she felt drained of strength.
‘The necklace was for someone who doesn’t matter half as much as you matter to me,’ he said, stroking her fingers with the curve of his thumb. ‘Someone who doesn’t even come close.’
She snatched her hand away from his and stepped back. ‘How dare you?’ she spat. ‘How dare you treat me with so little respect. You’re lucky to have me. You know that, don’t you?’ she said defiantly.
Adam reached forward and touched her arm. ‘Kay. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It was a mistake. I was weak. I was foolish. Give me the chance to make it up to you.’
She took hold of his arm and threw it away from her. ‘There’s no second chances, Adam. I’m not like all the other women you’ve taken advantage of.’
He picked up her hand again and began unfastening the bracelet from around her wrist. She felt a rush of warm tears sting at the back of her eyes, wondering if she had pushed him too far. He was taking it all away from her. Everything.
‘So this is it?’ she said softly, biting her lip to stop her voice from cracking.
‘Sssh,’ he said softly, lifting her fingers to his mouth and kissing their tips.
Karin just stared at him, the tears flowing down her face now. ‘What … what are you doing?’ she croaked.
‘I want to make it up to you,’ he said quietly.
He held her left hand in his and began to wrap the bracelet around her third finger. Karin felt her heart skip a beat as the cold diamonds pressed against her skin.
‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to improvise,’ he whispered as he held the glittering bracelet in place and sank to one knee.
‘Karin, will you marry me?’
Karin looked down at him, his eyes so blue in the lamplight, her third finger obscured by diamonds, and began to laugh softly. Then she nodded. Adam pulled her down to him and pressed her hand against his face.
‘Baby, I want you. I love you. I need you,’ he said, kissing each finger in turn.
Karin laid her head against his. ‘The feeling’s mutual,’ she murmured, before words were lost in the swell of a passionate kiss.
58
‘What do you mean, they’re engaged?’ Molly spluttered to Marcus, trying very hard to conceal her emotions after he had told her the news. ‘They’ve only been going out two minutes! I have bottles of shampoo on the go longer than their relationship.’
‘Well, she’s done something right, because I never thought I’d see the day when Adam headed down the aisle,’ smiled Marcus. ‘They’re having a party to celebrate as soon as Karin can organize something suitably grand. Probably at Adam’s palazzo on Lake Como.’
That final detail made it even more painful for Molly. She didn’t even know he owned a villa in the Italian Lakes. She had been to the Versaces’ villa on Como and had often pictured herself in the role of a beautiful contessa. It was really all too terrible, especially when he had seemed to be getting along with Summer so well. She took a long drag of her Sobranie cigarette and began to think.
Engaged. Summer had almost choked on the word when she repeated it back to Adam. Moments earlier she had been feeling so happy. Adam had driven her out to the Fat Duck restaurant in the tiny Berkshire village of Bray, one of the few three-Michelin-starred restaurants in the country. She had been thrilled that Adam had wanted to see her the moment he’d arrived back from Ibiza, and was looking forward to a perfect night together. Instead, just as the starter had arrived, he’d said those three little words: ‘I’m getting married’.
‘Why did you bring me somewhere so special to tell me you were engaged?’ said Summer, aware of a large tear trembling on her eye-lid.
Adam folded his napkin on his lap and looked around in case anybody was eavesdropping. ‘Honey, it’s only just happened,’ he whispered. ‘I wanted to tell you as soon as possible and I was going to bring you here anyway.’
‘Don’t make it sound like you’re doing me a favour, you insensitive bastard,’ hissed Summer.
He leant over the table to stroke her cheek and she jerked away from him as if she’d been stung.
‘You’ve always known about Karin,’ said Adam. ‘This doesn’t have to change anything.’
‘Of course it changes things. You’re getting married.’
‘Don’t get all fucking sanctimonious, Summer,’ said Adam sharply. ‘I’ve been in a serious relationship the entire time we’ve been seeing each other. You’re not exactly in the best place to be taking the moral high-ground.’
‘But you’ve just made a commitment to her. That’s what changes things.’
Aware that a waiter was looking at them, Adam leant forward. ‘What hasn’t changed is the way I feel about you. I care about you.’
‘So much so that you’re marrying Karin,’ said Summer, taking a glug of Chablis.
‘Summer. Karin knows I’ve been seeing someone.’
Summer thumped her glass down on the table. ‘Oh I see,’ she said sarcastically, ‘so you proposed as a way of saying sorry?’
They looked at each other, neither one knowing what to say.
Summer looked down as a tear landed on the white tablecloth. ‘I want to go home,’ she whispered.
‘Don’t be silly,’ said Adam. ‘We’ve only just got here.’
‘I feel sick.’
‘Summer, stop being dramatic.’
Shaking her head, she pushed her chair back with a screech, ran to the toilets and threw up violently.
59
Early September was Erin’s favourite time in Port Merryn. Although it was still warm and sunny, the tourists had begun to clear so the streets and harbour had reclaimed their still charm. Knowing her Audi wouldn’t fit through the tiny village streets, she parked it at the top of town and walked down the winding lanes, taking it all in. Seagulls squawked, the air smelt clean and salty and there was space to breathe. Only a year ago it had been this very quietness that had driven Erin hal
f mad, but now it was a welcome relief to stroll in the sun and relax. Things had been getting a little too stressful in London in recent weeks, and the fresh air seemed to unjumble all the knotted thoughts in her head. She’d greeted the news of Adam’s engagement with mixed emotions. She tried to tell herself that, if he was genuinely happy with Karin, then she was happy for him, but the little stab of disappointment she’d felt when Adam had told her still refused to go away. She was also saddened at the deterioration of her relationship with Chris. After their argument at Cliveden, the only contact she had had with him had been a few awkward hellos in the corridor of Peony House. The last two times she had seen him with a pretty redhead, but he hadn’t even bothered to introduce Erin to her, which had irritated Erin inordinately.
She shook her head, trying to forget about London, and walked down the steep cobbled path into the village. She had to admit she felt a little nervous being home and she couldn’t quite place why. After all, this was Jilly’s seventieth birthday – that was supposed to be great fun, wasn’t it? Everyone was coming, Jilly had assured her over the telephone: friends from the village; even Erin’s only other living relatives – her aunt Louisa, who now lived in Australia, was making the trip over specially.
Erin realized that a lot of her uneasiness was down to guilt. She wished she had thought of throwing her grandmother a party herself, but she had been so busy with Adam’s summer schedule and now the wedding plans. It was no excuse, of course, and she was determined to make it up to her. She had gone to Gray’s Antique Market and bought her a beautiful gold brooch encrusted with topaz and pearls. It had cost her a week’s salary, but she hoped her grandmother would love it as much as she did.
The back door of the house was open, so the background noise of the party, Sinatra and the low hum of happy conversation was pierced by the loud caw of seagulls.
Erin stood in the doorway and looked on at the scene: Jilly surrounded by a throng of well-wishers, a large glass of red wine in one hand and a plump iced cupcake in another. She had dressed up in a red and cream floral dress, open-toed sandals over tan tights, her grey hair fastened on top of her head with a big tortoiseshell clip.
Gold Diggers Page 39