“We’re sorting it out. Did Josh tell you that? How Ella, this other girl, Virginia, and I were all sacked, and although it was kind of justified, it wasn’t really. We were all victimised and we’re going to make them sorry.”
“Josh told me about that woman. How you got him to sleep with her when he thought you two were going to get together. He told me you said that the only way you’d be with him would be if he did that. Then you told him to get lost. Which I don’t understand. I’m not sure if I agree with this mad plan of yours for revenge, you might get into trouble. And Clara, the first one worked because you used Josh. He really cares, you know.”
“Oh, you did have a long talk with him, didn’t you? Well, Josh left me once, you know, and he would have done it again. I need the bathroom.” Clara left the room.
Ella tried hard not to look at James.
“So you’re involved with this?” he asked. She nodded. “Well, I hope you know what you’re doing. Josh gave me the impression that these guys were all baddies and you were doing some sort of Robin Hood job in bringing them to justice, but I hate to think of Clara in danger.”
“We’re not doing anything illegal. So far, the only person we’ve ‘brought to justice’ is Isabelle, who was Virginia’s boss. She was a nasty, greedy bitch who nearly destroyed Virginia. In fact, we were all nearly destroyed, including Clara. We needed to do this. If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have anything left.” She still wasn’t looking at him.
“So, nothing illegal? Nothing they can trace back to you?”
“No. We don’t take risks like that.”
“Look, I care about Clara. When I met Josh I was furious about what was going on. Josh said Clara seemed unstable. I need to make sure she’s OK.”
“What did he tell you?” Ella wondered if he knew about the cocaine.
“That she slept with her boss, was sacked, then hooked up with two other girls to get her own back. I just don’t like it, Ella.”
“We would all rather this wasn’t happening but it is, and we’re coping. If we didn’t have this, things would be worse for all three of us.” Ella looked at him and saw the concern in his eyes. Her heart broke for Sam again; it was how he used to look at her.
Clara walked back in. She had calmed down, which Ella knew was thanks to the cocaine.
“Jamie, please don’t hate me,” she said.
“I’d never hate you, you know that. But what about Josh? He was serious about you, you know.”
“I don’t think I can trust him yet. James, don’t interfere where he’s concerned. And I didn’t mean to use him, it just happened. I miss him – I really like him – but I can’t cope with him at the moment, not with everything else.”
“OK. No pressure. But from now on I want you to tell me what’s happening. You have to be honest with me. I’ll go and make some coffee.” He went to the kitchen.
“He’s going to be OK, isn’t he?” Clara said.
“I think he is, but it’s a bit of a shock for him. He didn’t even know you were fired.”
“Um. I’m going to kill Josh if I ever see him again. Bastard.”
“He was just worried.” Ella tried to sound reasonable.
“No, he was probably trying to cause trouble for me and get his own back – I’m beginning to think the world revolves around revenge.”
“Maybe. And I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. But I know that people like Tim, Isabelle and Johnny deserve to pay for what they’ve done. However, if everyone took revenge on everyone else, the world would be in trouble,” Ella observed.
“Could you imagine if every man I slept with tried to get their own back on me for not seeing them again?”
“Well, you should be more careful before you go breaking hearts.”
“I think I’m going to take a vow of celibacy,” Clara said.
“I think Virginia’s got more chance of getting laid than that ever happening.” The doorbell rang.
“Shit, I’d forgotten about Virginia!” Clara jumped up.
“I’ll get it,” James called from the kitchen.
Clara and Ella looked at each other, then Clara ran to the door but James got there first. When Clara arrived, he was holding the door open, staring at the girl on the other side. Clara stared too: for a minute she didn’t recognise her.
Virginia looked fantastic and she was smiling. “Hi,” she said, sounding bewildered.
“James, it’s just Virginia. Let her in.” She pushed him to one side.
James was still staring at Virginia. “Sorry. Hello. Can I get you coffee?” he said. Virginia looked at Clara then nodded. Clara grabbed her and pulled her into the sitting room.
“That’s my brother. He knows everything,” she hissed.
Virginia looked at her. “God, he’s sexy.” She giggled.
“Virginia, have you been drinking?” Clara asked.
“Yes, I have a bit. Oh, well, never mind, it worked.” Virginia turned pink with pleasure.
“So, tell us all about it while James is making coffee,” Ella prompted.
“Oh, yes. Well, he was a bit scary, but very charming. Then I said exactly what you told me to say and he said he thought it might be interesting and offered me five grand if it comes off. We have to call him with a time and venue where he can pounce on Tim. I have to sign some papers. Is that all right?” Virginia asked.
“Of course. We’ll get them sent here and we’ll check them over. Well done. I didn’t think you’d do it,” Clara said.
“Neither did I.” Virginia giggled again.
“But he seemed convinced?” Ella asked again.
“Yes, and he said that when it was over he’d like to take me to dinner.”
“He asked you for a date?” Clara asked, goggle-eyed.
“I guess so, but I can’t be sure because I’ve never been asked on a date before.” Virginia collapsed into giggles.
James came back with a tray of coffee, which he passed round. He couldn’t take his eyes off Virginia.
“Have we met before?” he asked her.
“No,” she said.
“James, was that a line?” Clara was angry. How dare he show an interest in Virginia?
“No ... I just thought ... you know ...” he stammered.
“Anyway, why aren’t you at work?” Clara asked, trying to change the subject.
“Because I needed to see you. Anyway, now I’m satisfied that you’re all right. I should be getting back. Why don’t I take you girls to dinner this Friday?” he offered.
“We’re busy,” Clara answered, rather too quickly.
James shrugged. “Some other time, then. I’ll call you to fix it.” He kissed Clara on both cheeks and said goodbye to Ella and Virginia. His eyes lingered on Virginia, who turned fuchsia. Then he left.
“Why was he behaving like that?” Clara asked.
“Clara, I think we’ve got more important things to discuss. You need to call Tim to set up a meeting,” Ella said.
“Now?” she asked.
“No time like the present.” Ella got the telephone and handed it to Clara, who took it and walked into her bedroom.
“I can’t have you guys listening in,” she said moodily.
“What’s wrong with her?” Virginia asked.
“Her brother was flirting with you. She didn’t like it,” Ella replied.
“Gosh, was he? You mean, two men in one day?” Virginia asked.
“Yes. Now, drink some more coffee because you’re pissed.” Ella gave Virginia her coffee and tried to get her to stop giggling long enough to drink it.
***
Tim didn’t answer his phone. His secretary did. “Tim Pemberton’s office.”
Clara thought fast. “Is he there? It’s his daughter’s school.” It was a stupid lie, but seemed to work.
“Bear with me. I’ll just see if he’s available.” A minute passed. Then, “Tim Pemberton.”
Clara breathed a sigh of relief. ‘”Tim, it’s Clara.”
“Clara, darling, what a little fibber you are.” He sounded pleased to hear from her.
You don’t know the half of it, Clara thought. “Tim, can I see you?”
“So, you’ve decided to stop punishing me?”
“Yes, of course, I’m sorry I was so stubborn. When can we meet?”
“Shall we have dinner?”
“Yes. How about at your club?” The Tribor was one of Tim’s favourite venues. It would be the perfect place for the journalist to seek him out.
“OK, darling, that’s fine. Shall we say Friday? I’ll tell my wife I have a client event.” His breathing was heavy.
“See you there at eight. “Bye.”
They hung up. Soon he would be out of her life for ever. If all went to plan, it would take only a week. She had a line of cocaine to celebrate before she went back to the others.
***
“It’s all set for Friday night,” Clara said, sitting down.
“We need to call Declan,” Ella said, feeling the adrenaline rush.
“She doesn’t look in any state to talk to him.” Clara rolled her eyes towards Virginia, who had collapsed in a heap.
“I’m trying to sober her up. I’ll get some more coffee.” Ella walked to the kitchen.
Eventually Virginia returned to normal. “My head hurts,” she moaned.
“We told you not to drink,” Clara said.
“I didn’t have much,” Virginia protested.
“Well, it doesn’t take much for you, does it?” Clara pointed out.
“OK. Virginia, you call Declan now and tell him where he can find Tim,” Ella cut in.
“I’ll write it down for you,” Clara said, and went to get the notebook. She wrote down the name and address of the club and Virginia called Declan. When she hung up, she said, “He’s fine with that. He’s biking round the papers tomorrow – I gave him this address. And he wants me to send him some background information on Tim, and a photo. Have we got one?” Virginia asked.
“Actually, I have. You’d think he’d be able to get one himself, though.” Clara went into her room. She returned with a photo Tim had given her, a posed business shot used in brochures. Clara thought he looked slimy. “I’ll start writing some notes for him as well.” Clara went to the table and set to work.
Virginia left them to it and went for a lie-down.
“Clara, she did a great job, you know,” Ella said, a few minutes later.
“I know, I can’t believe it. Maybe there’s hope for her yet.”
“Looking like that I’m sure of it.”
“Yes, well, I’m not sure I wanted her to look quite so good.” Clara pouted.
“Clara, you should be pleased. Look how far she’s come from the scowling creature who used to work for Isabelle. Honey, this is what we wanted for Virginia, for her to find out what she really could be.”
“I know, but I’m not as big-hearted as you.” Clara was jealous, and the last thing she wanted was for James to like Virginia. James was Clara’s. He was all she had and she had no intention of losing him. Especially not to Virginia.
“I think we should be proud of her, that’s all,” Ella said.
“Whatever.” Clara muttered.
She typed her notes so that Declan would be able to read them easily, and included details of where Tim was born, everything she knew about his career, and his personal habits. She emphasised that the one thing Tim longed for was class.
By unspoken agreement they spent the night at Clara’s again. Ella cooked supper and Clara provided wine. That night they all slept soundly knowing they were over the first hurdle in the plan for revenge on Tim.
In the morning, they waited for the courier. Clara called James to let him know she loved him, and Virginia didn’t have a hangover as she’d slept it off. When the courier arrived, he explained that he had been told to wait and take back the envelope. Ella read the document, found nothing wrong, so Virginia signed it. The five-thousand-pound fee would be paid on successful completion of the assignment. They handed the envelope back to the courier, shut the door and gazed at each other in relief. They were over another hurdle.
“What are you going to do with the money?” Clara asked.
“We’ll split it,” Virginia said.
“No, it’s yours. I don’t need it. Anyway, you earned it,” Ella replied.
“I agree. Perhaps we could go shopping and get you some new clothes with it, Virginia,” Clara suggested. Ella did a double-take. Only yesterday Clara had said she wished Virginia had stayed looking boring.
“Really/” Virginia said.
“Yes, of course. We’ll spend a bit on clothes for you and the rest you can save. After all, you haven’t been working,” Clara said.
Clara was like Jekyll and Hyde, Ella thought. One minute she was sweet, the next a raging virago. It had to be the cocaine.
“Thanks,” Virginia said. She felt proud of herself – and for the first time she began to like herself. “This has been really good for me, you know,” she added. The others nodded. It had been good for all of them.
Chapter Thirty-four
Tim felt good. Clara hadn’t been able to resist him. She needed him, and he had known that if he waited she’d come running. Now that he’d been proved right, he felt he could do and have whatever he wanted. He had decided that it would cost him too much money to leave his wife, so having Clara as his mistress suited him fine. He would have to establish the rules, though: she would not be allowed to see anyone else and would sleep only with him. He knew that she would agree to this: she had tried and failed to live without him.
He left work with time to spare, stopping at the partners’ cloakroom to check his hair. He had to admit he looked good. As he stood outside and hailed a taxi to take him to the Tribor Club, he smiled at the thought of the night ahead.
***
Declan was excited. He had been speaking to his editor, who had implied huge Brownie points if he pulled this off. People were getting bored with exposures of footballers and B-list celebrities. The financial world was of interest to most people who didn’t understand it they knew that everyone in it earned too much money for doing too little. SFH had always shunned journalists, keeping quiet, closing ranks, only giving the official line. It portrayed itself as a squeaky-clean organisation. It would give Declan a great deal of pleasure to blow that image apart.
After reading the information given to him by Virginia, he had worked out his approach. He hadn’t needed a photograph, but he wanted to be sure that Virginia really knew the man. He had read the SFH prospectus, which was kept in the research library, and which held a photo of all the managing directors. That would be his introduction. He got his secretary to call the Tribor Club to gain him admittance as Lord William Galloway. His experience was that no one questioned titles and the receptionist had said that they would be delighted for him to visit.
He put on his tie cam carefully. It was a tiny video camera hidden in his Old Etonian tie. Around his waist he wore a body-belt that contained a DVD recorder and a battery, which would allow him to record for three hours. In his trouser pocket there was a remote control so he could start and finish recording as he chose. He had selected his tie because he knew that Tim hadn’t gone to Eton, or any public school. Anticipation pumped through him as he checked the camera was working then pulled on a tailored blazer. He looked in the mirror and smiled at himself. He then struck a James Bond pose, winking at his reflection. Declan was ready. The adrenaline rush he experienced when he left for the club was the reason he did his job.
Declan arrived at the Tribor at seven. He wanted it to look as if he had planned an evening there with a view to becoming a member and made himself known to everyone, including the barman. He chose a table that offered a good vantage-point from which to observe the bar and sat down. A mirror hung in front of him so he could see who came in without moving his head. Declan prided himself on his attention to detail, which made him the best journalist at th
e Sunday News.
Tim walked in at a quarter to eight, but Declan was ready for him. He watched him go to the bar, order a drink, then sit at a table near his own. He studied Tim and felt he knew him, or his sort. He was expensively dressed – Savile Row, Declan guessed. His hair was neat, probably dyed; there was no evidence of grey. He looked at his watch regularly; the barman brought him another drink, which showed that he often frequented the club, and exchanged a few words with him; Tim was obviously waiting for someone.
After half an hour Tim pulled out his mobile phone and made a call; he looked irate and his voice was raised. Declan made out the word “bitch” but nothing more. This was his opportunity.
Declan picked up his half-drunk glass of malt whisky and made his move. “I’m going to get you, you bastard,” he said to himself, as he approached Tim’s table.
“I’m terribly sorry to disturb you, but you’re Tim Pemberton, aren’t you?” It wasn’t the most original introduction, but recognition always flattered people. Tim looked at Declan, then his eyes rested briefly on the Old Etonian tie.
“I am. And you?” Tim was hostile, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes.
“William Galloway. Lord William Galloway.” The hostility evaporated. Declan put out his hand. Tim stood up and shook it.
“Please, sit down.” Tim motioned to the seat opposite him. “Have we met?”
Declan laughed inside at the fake posh accent Tim was using. It wasn’t as effective as his.
“No, we haven’t. However, I’ve been looking at your company. SFH? I was glancing through the prospectus today, trying to decide whether to invest my money with you. It’s so hard to decide, these days, with so many banks around. When you walked in, I recognised you from the photograph in the brochure. I find studying the people who work in an organisation helps me to get an idea about who I’m dealing with.” Declan put on his best smile.
“How nice. Did you make any decisions about us?” Tim raised a questioning eyebrow.
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