by Susan Lewis
Standing behind what had once been Michael McCann’s desk, Sandy took the glass of wine Nesta was passing her and gazed thoughtfully out at the activity in the well. Craig and Bertie were explaining something to Jodi, while Harry and Diana shouted into their phones and called up information on their computers. Zelda was over at the National, so Janey had slipped into her office to make a personal call. Frances and Janine, the bookers, whom she hadn’t fired because she thought it might be worse for them having to work for her, were busy making their end-of-day checks, while the other assistants badgered them for dates and deadlines. Paul Patton, the new guy, had moved into Dan’s office, as Dan never came in more than once a week and both were happy to share for that time.
‘It’s amazing,’ she remarked as she sipped her wine and tried not to wish herself back to a time when Michael had been in this office, ‘in fact I can hardly believe it, can you?’
‘What?’ Nesta asked, ‘that you’re here and this is your little empire now, or that Michael’s just taken over as controlling officer of World Wide?’
Sandy laughed drily. ‘Both, I suppose,’ she answered. ‘But I was thinking about World Wide,’ and looking down to where the newspaper was lying open at a shot of Ted Forgon and Michael McCann shaking hands at the ATI offices in LA she said, ‘That’s got to be sticking right in Ted Forgon’s throat, so what I want to know is how did Michael do it? I mean, all Forgon ever wanted was to destroy Michael and no sooner does he get the means to do it than he gives it all away.’ Her eyes came up to Nesta’s. ‘Why?’ she demanded.
‘Does it matter why?’ Nesta responded. ‘Michael’s going to be every bit as good running World Wide as Forgon, probably better, in fact.’
‘I’m not disputing that,’ Sandy replied, ‘but it makes him my boss again. And if she’s his partner, then that makes her my boss too.’
‘Oh come on, Sandy,’ Nesta protested. ‘Look at all you’ve got going for you here. So what does it matter if technically he’s your boss? He’s over in LA and as far as London’s concerned, you’re the one in charge.’
‘But I’ll have to answer to him and maybe to her too,’ Sandy said tightly. Her eyes went down as though to conceal their expression. ‘This is the second time she’s stolen him from me…’
‘Sandy!’
‘You don’t understand,’ Sandy told her. ‘It’s a point of principle now.’ She raised her eyes again and looking at Nesta she suddenly started to smile. ‘Remember the lunch?’ she said.
Nesta frowned. ‘Do you mean the one you had with Ellen Shelby in LA?’ she asked.
Sandy nodded. ‘That’s the one,’ she confirmed. ‘I thought at the time it might turn out to be a clever move and guess what, I was right, because as soon as I’m ready Ellen Shelby is going to find out exactly what that lunch was all about.’ And brightening considerably, she closed the newspaper and raised her glass. ‘Drink up, Nesta,’ she said, ‘because this isn’t over yet. In fact it’s so far from being over, it could be just the beginning.’
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Copyright © Susan Lewis 1998
Susan Lewis has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
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First published in Great Britain in 1998 by William Heinemann
First published by Arrow Books in 2001
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ISBN 9780099517825