“The VGO bitch?”
I’d, of course, told Liz all about Robert’s would-be seductress. I’d raged about the vamp after Robert and I returned from Scotland. Though Liz had never met Serena, she loathed her on sheer principal, because that’s what best friends do.
“Yeah.”
Liz snorted. “What didshewant?”
“She wanted to tell me that she’s with Robert now.”
“See! I knew there had to be a logical . . .”
I shook my head.
“What do you mean,withRobert? They’re having a meeting orsomething?”
“No, Liz.”
She coiled her neck. “Don’t tell me that crazy bitch really did kidnap him.”
“She said . . .” I swallowed. “She’swithhim now. Like,with-with.As a couple.”
Liz made a sputtering sound. “She’s lying. The chick obviously has a few screws loose.”
“No.” It was all I could choke out.
“Okay, then she’s playing a sick joke.”
“She was pretty convincing, Liz.” I looked around meaningfully. “Robertisgone, isn’t he?”
“Pure coincidence.” Liz folded her arms across her chest. “Did you speak directly to Robert? No. Okay, then.”
“They’ve been talking behind my back since we got back from Scotland.”
“Sosheclaims. Have you seen any evidence of this?”
I shook my head. “No, but I wouldn’t. Robert takes most of his calls in his office. She also said she knew Robert from way back when—that they used to date and were only pretending not to know each other at the VGO headquarters to avoid a scene. She acted like she was doing me a favor by finally coming clean.”
“More lies.” Liz sounded so certain that I almost believed her. Iwantedto believe her.
“Why would she go through all the trouble of doing this, though? What could she possibly have to gain?”
“You said she was being all flirty with Robert when you two were at the headquarters, right?”
“So?”
Liz waved an arm like a defense attorney producing watertight evidence that exonerated her client. “She’s obviously trying to break the two of you up.”
“So, where’s Robert?”
She shrugged. “Hell if I know. But not with?—”
Liz and I locked eyes when Robert’s phone started ringing.
This time, it was Robert.
I’d never felt so much relief. “Are you okay? I saw the lamp tipped over . . .” I trailed off when a detail occurred to me. The caller ID.
PRIVATE NUMBER.
