“It’s a bit delicate. I need a dealer.” Clara spoke quietly, and she put her head close to him so she almost passed out.
“For cocaine?” Josh murmured. Clara nodded. He pulled out a pen and a piece of paper and started writing. “Here’s the number. He’s the son of a peer. Nice chap and he gets great stuff, is reliable and lives in Camden. I’ll tell him you’ll be calling and he’ll be fine.” He handed Clara the scrap of paper.
Clara read the number and her eyes lit up. “Josh, you’re a star, thank you.” She kissed his cheek.
“No problem. If you ever have any trouble with him, call me, OK?”
“OK. It’s reassuring to know I can still call you. I’ve had a bit of a hard time lately. Mind you I’m putting that behind me. How much do you use?”
“Too much, but only to take away the boredom at parties, never during the day and never when I have sex. Well, not too much anyway – it can stop me performing.”
“I didn’t think anything could stop you performing.” Clara shivered as she remembered his amazing sexual technique.
“So, what’s up? What problems have you had?”
“It’s just, well, James doesn’t know about any of this and I’m determined not to let him find out. You won’t say anything, will you?”
“Of course not. Clara, tell me.”
She thought for a minute, weighed up the gamble she was taking and made a decision. “I will, but first I need to go to the loo.” She stood up.
“You may want to take this with you,” Josh replied, handing her a wrap of cocaine before she went.
When she returned her mind was made up. Josh was the only hope she had for the Isabelle plan to work. He was also pulling on her heartstrings and she didn’t know why. She felt vulnerable, and she couldn’t cope with it. She had to get him to do this for her as well as for the others.
“You know I was working at SFH?” she said. Josh nodded. “Well, I was doing OK there, but, you see, I was ... well, I was sleeping with my boss.”
“Christ, Clara, that’s a bit clichéd for you, isn’t it?” Josh wasn’t laughing.
“I know. It didn’t happen for long. He chased me, and he made me feel good for a while. I didn’t feel very wanted after you stopped calling. Anyway, this isn’t your fault. But then he got jealous and he told me he was going to leave his wife and move in with me but I had to resign from SFH. I refused. He got me sacked. End of story.”
“That’s outrageous! You could do him for wrongful dismissal, sexual harassment, everything.”
“Yes, I know, but then James and my parents would find out. God, I couldn’t cope with that. It’s total tabloid sleaze and I can’t put my family through it.”
“No, no, of course you can’t.”
“Anyway, that’s only my story. After I was sacked, I walked into the nearest pub. And in there were two girls I recognised from SFH, one was a secretary, the other a trader, and they’d both been sacked too.”
“What for?” Josh was interested.
“Various things, but although their dismissal was kind of fair, it was unfair, if you can understand that. Other people were instrumental in getting them sacked, like with me.” Clara lit a cigarette and drank some champagne.
“It all sounds a bit weird.”
“I know, it’s bizarre – I mean, who would believe it? Three girls all sacked for things that meant they couldn’t appeal – well, apart from me. But three different people led to this and those people should pay.”
“What are you getting at, Clara?”
“We’re going to make them sorry. We’re going to make them wish they had never messed with us in the first place. Of course, what we’ll do is going to be legal, but they’ll be destroyed, just as they destroyed us.” Clara was animated.
Josh reached over and took her hand. “Baby, I had no idea. And you’re right, they should pay. But are you sure you know what you’re getting into? Shit, Clara, what a mess.” Clara nodded. Inside she knew what she wanted him to do, but he had enough information for now. The rest she’d save for pillow talk.
“Are you hungry? I’m famished,” Clara said.
“Great. We’ll eat here, shall we?” Josh motioned for a menu. Clara felt like she had done a great job, and for the first time, she hadn’t just done it for herself.
She wanted Josh. She knew it, but wouldn’t admit it. She needed him, not his dealer, but she couldn’t let herself feel like that. He might hurt her. He might be the only man who could hurt her. She didn’t know what she could do about that, but she had to get him to help with Isabelle. She would sort her feelings out later. At that moment the plan was the most important thing.
After dinner, she went back to Josh’s flat in the Chelsea Harbour complex, which reminded Clara of a hotel. When they’d been together previously he had never invited her there; they had always gone back to Clara’s. She felt uneasy: the flat was functional, with a great view of the river, and it was definitely the place for a rich playboy. The decor was minimal, and there were no clues to his life in the sitting room, the kitchen or the bathroom.
When they kissed, though, she forgot everything. They took one more line of cocaine and she didn’t notice how little she’d had that evening. They talked some more and kissed again. Sex hung in the air, but for once she was in no hurry. By the time they went to bed, Clara was fighting hard to keep her mind on her objective.
Afterwards she lay in his arms feeling safe and wonderful. She had to remind herself that she’d felt like that before and she hadn’t been safe.
“Can we try again?” Josh asked. “I mean really try this time. The two of us in a relationship. No one else, just me and you.” His voice was tender.
“Why, Josh? I mean, you say you want that, but last time you didn’t. What’s changed?”
“I have. I’ve grown up. I’m tired of airhead girls and you aren’t an airhead. I’m sure you’re quite mad, but you’re lovely and clever and you have your own mind. I’ve missed you. I didn’t know it until now, but I have.” Clara snuggled into his arms. She wanted to believe him, she really did, but she couldn’t let herself. Her heart had been broken before. The parties, the cocaine, the job, Tim – although she couldn’t hold Josh responsible for all of it, he had triggered it, and she knew that if she let him hurt her again, she might never recover.
“Josh, I really want to believe you, but because I’ve been messed around – or I’ve messed around – my life is a huge pile of shit. I need to do this revenge thing. I need to know that I wasn’t fired in vain and I’m not sure I’m ready to take the risk of falling for you when I’m in the midst of all this.”
“So you haven’t fallen for me already?” He looked hurt.
“I don’t know, Josh. You’re such a divine creature, and I’ve been in an imaginary love affair with you since I was a kid. I’m not ready to try the real thing yet, not after last time.”
“OK. I’ll prove I’m serious. What would it take to convince you?” Clara smiled at him; he sounded so sincere. However, he was probably just like Tim and all the others. He wanted her in bed, but he didn’t want her. No one wanted her. She had an idea, and if it worked, she would at least be able to get Isabelle. If it didn’t then she had only lost him again. She couldn’t feel any lonelier than she already did.
“I want you to sleep with someone else.” Clara spoke so calmly it took a couple of seconds for the words to sink in. When they did, Josh sat upright.
“What? Are you fucking insane?”
“Probably, yes. But this is the most important thing right now. If I can help them get Isabelle, then they’ll help me get Tim. Don’t you see?”
“No, I don’t, but I expect you’re going to tell me anyway.”
“Isabelle is a manager. She’s attractive, rich, successful and hungry for power. Virginia is this poor, boring creature, never had sex, probably never will. I mean, she’s so boring, who would want her? Anyway, although I don’t like her I feel sorry for her, and I don’t
feel sorry for Isabelle, who’s just the female equivalent of Tim.”
“Clara, you’re babbling. I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”
“Josh, please, listen. Isabelle is a bitch. She chewed up this girl and spat her out. She deserves the same.” Clara outlined their plan. When she’d finished she looked at Josh pleadingly.
He sat in silence, making Clara feel nervous. Eventually he spoke: “Very clever. The theory is sound – the share value will be low, it’ll go up dramatically when people start buying, she’ll think she’s a hero, until the truth emerges and the company goes bust. Right?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Clara said.
“Do you really think it’ll work?”
“Well, I wasn’t sure at first, but I know that it has to. Ella has some contacts who can forge anything, so getting a document to look authentic should be easy. But I don’t know how we’re going to find a company, which is one problem, and getting the information to Isabelle is another. But otherwise how can it fail?”
Josh couldn’t help smiling. “I can’t believe you’re doing this. I don’t know if you’re mad or brave or what. But where do I come in and why do you want me to sleep with someone else?”
“First, I thought you might be able to help us find a company. I know you lawyers take oaths and things, but if there’s a company that’s going down the tubes anyway you could let me find the information. If it works, there’s no way they’ll trace it back to us. If Isabelle screws up she’ll never have the nerve to point the finger, especially if we make it that she steals the information. That’s why you have to sleep with her. We need to ensure that Isabelle thinks the information is reliable. If she sleeps with someone who is a corporate lawyer and finds the information in his flat, she’s sure to take the bait.” They sat in silence for a few moments.
“So I have to sleep with the bad guy?” Josh asked. Clara nodded. “Fuck, Clara, I’ve just told you I want you, and you tell me to sleep with some horrible woman who upset your friend.”
“She’s not my friend. Anyway, if you’re serious about me you’ll do it.” Clara pouted.
“No, I won’t. If I want to be with you, I’ll tell you to get some other guy to sleep with her because I only want to sleep with you. You are fucking mad. What if I agree to find you a company? That information is quite easy to come by and you can get someone else to sleep with her.”
“Josh, I can’t trust anyone else to do this. It’s just sex, you know. I was thinking you should take her out once, and whet her appetite by telling her how much insider information you get about takeovers. How much money you could get and so on. Then take her out again, take her back to your place, and leave a document on the coffee table. You only have to give her a bit of sex. Just once. And you never have to see her again.”
“Why do I have to have sex with her at all?”
“Because then she’ll think she’s been lucky finding the information. Otherwise it may look like a plant.”
“It is a plant. Clara, you don’t want me to do this. You don’t want me to sleep with anyone else.”
He was right, she didn’t. But she knew he had to. Josh was their only hope. Without him, the plan would fail and then Tim and Johnny would get away scot-free. She had entered into this with a determination to see it through, and if Josh wanted her, he had to do this for her.
“I do. If you’re serious about showing some kind of commitment to me then you’ll do it.” She knew her logic was flawed, but she didn’t care.
“I need some sleep, Clara. We’ll talk about this later.” He kissed her tenderly then turned over, and Clara knew she’d won. If she lost Josh in the process, it was only part of a pattern. He would probably dump her again anyway. If he did this for her then maybe, just maybe, there would be a future for them.
She awoke the next day to find the bed empty. A note lay on the pillow. It read: “You win. I’ll prove that I’d do anything for you. I’ll do this. Speak later. Love, Josh.” There was even a row of kisses. Clara punched the air with her fist. She could almost feel the impending victory.
Chapter Nineteen
By the time Clara got back to her flat, the answer phone light was flashing. She played the messages: one from her brother, wanting to take her to dinner, and one from Josh, asking her to call him.
“Josh, it’s Clara.”
“Hi, darling, how are you?”
“Fine, you?”
“I’m OK, although I’m still shell-shocked. What you said last night, did you mean it?”
“Did you mean what you said?”
“About us? Yes, I did. I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”
“Then so did I.”
“OK, here goes. If I’m sacked because of you, you have to agree to marry me.”
Clara blushed. “Fine.”
“JF Technologies is the company you want. Stock has fallen dramatically. Bad management is destroying it. A friend of mine was called in to try to save it, but it’s beyond saving. It has a lifespan of about a month, maybe less, so you need to act quickly.”
“You are fantastic.”
“What about the next bit?”
“I’ll let you know. Josh, would you like to see me tomorrow night?”
“You know I would.”
“Then come round here and I’ll cook you dinner.”
“See you at eight, then. “Bye, darling.” Clara felt like crying every time he called her ‘darling”. She had forgotten that she couldn’t cook.
She called the others and summoned them. Then she made fresh coffee and ran to the shop to buy some pastries.
When the others arrived, Virginia first, Ella second, they were surprised to see food and fresh coffee.
“Have I come to the right flat?” Ella asked, and Virginia giggled despite the gloom that seemed to be eating her alive.
“We’re celebrating.”
“What?” Virginia asked, sitting down. Ella helped herself to a pastry.
“Our first successful plan,” Clara said triumphantly.
“Go on,” Ella urged.
“Well, my friend is a corporate lawyer. His name is Josh and he’s very successful and gorgeous. He has given us the perfect company to use. JF Technologies. Apparently it’s about to go bust. And he’s going to seduce Isabelle and ensure she sees the document.” Virginia and Ella were both dumbstruck.
“Really, he is. You two should draft a document and get your forgers to make it up. Maybe we could say that Microsoft is interested in buying it or something.”
“Clara, you’re a star,” Ella conceded.
“I know. And we need to move quickly. Josh needs to get into your fitness club. Can you get him a guest pass? Also, do you know when Isabelle plays squash?”
“Wednesday and Friday evenings at seven. That’s when she always plays,” Virginia put in, excited now.
After the initial elation, caution returned. “Why is he doing this?” Ella asked.
“Because he believes in what we’re doing. I told him everything – well, almost everything – and he cares about me and he wants to help.”
“Really?” Ella wasn’t convinced.
“Yes, really,” Clara said.
“So you didn’t sleep with him?” Ella said.
Clara resented this. “My relationship with Josh has nothing to do with you.”
“So you did, then.” Ella laughed. “Christ, at least you’re putting your sex addiction to good use.”
“It’s not like that,” Clara said.
“Oh? How is it, then?” Ella asked.
“I really like him.” They were all silent.
Eventually Ella said, “Sorry, I don’t understand. You really like this guy, yet you’re getting him to seduce someone else. Are you mad?”
“That’s what he said. I can’t expect you two to understand.” For the first time Clara seemed unsure of herself.
“Try us.” Ella was bemused by the situation.
“Because he hurt me
before. I’ve known him for ever and I had a crush on him when I was at school. Then when I was twenty we dated for a while. But he saw other girls too and he stopped calling me.”
“I guess not many men do that to you, do they?” Ella said.
“No, they don’t. And it hurt. I threw myself into my party life and I met other men and I started taking cocaine and now I don’t know if I can believe him when he says he wants me.”
“Clara, tell me you’re not testing him with this,” Ella said.
“I am.”
“Christ, you’re mad. He likes you. You can’t put him or you through this. You might lose him.”
“I’ll lose him anyway,” Clara answered.
“Why?” Ella looked at Clara, and saw vulnerability for the first time.
“Because everyone I love becomes disappointed in me eventually. He won’t want me for ever and he’ll probably hurt me even more. If he does this, at least we get one of our plans under way before that happens.”
“Christ, Clara, you’re fucked up.”
“So are you.” Suddenly Clara remembered who she was talking to.
“Maybe, but at least I’m not trying to destroy a relationship with someone I like.”
“That’s because you’re too cold to like anyone.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is.”
“No, it fucking isn’t.”
“Whatever. I knew you wouldn’t understand.”
“You know something? I do understand. I just think it’s wrong.”
“Do you want to get Isabelle or not?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Well, shut the fuck up.” Clara poured more coffee and lit another cigarette.
“What about the cocaine?” Virginia spoke for the first time.
“What about it?” Clara was not pacified.
‘do you still take it?”
“Yes, Miss Tight-knickers, I do. For relaxation, that’s all. Christ, can you two just give me a break? I thought you’d be pleased.”
“But ...”
Ella put a restraining hand on Virginia’s arm. She promptly shut up. “We are pleased. Well done, Clara. But before we put this document together, what can you tell me about JF Technologies?”
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