Ping.
Tor’s message will tell him of a fight between her and Lawrence over the money. She can’t make it. She’s terribly, terribly sorry.This was my plan, and I insisted Tor follow my instructions. What else could she do? Zac will message her back in soothing, forgiving words, although he’ll be annoyed by her lack of ability to deliver what he wants.
Now, it is all about me, so I rise from my seat and head to the piano, stand beside the pianist and listen attentively. All the time, I can feel Zac watching, trying to work me out. I return to my seat, with an appreciative but brief glance in his direction. You must disguise the hook as you draw the fly through the water. Impressively, Zac does not approach me for twenty minutes. Perhaps he is merely cautious. But I feel him glancing and calculating, as I slowly become his mark.
At 8.25 p.m., a barman appears at my side. ‘The gentlemen at the bar would like to offer you a cocktail. What might madam prefer?’
‘A man who can choose the right cocktail for me,’ I say. Four minutes later a cocktail appears on my table with a new bowl of olives. I look at it.
‘Peas in a pod,’ says the waiter.
I take the glass, turn to Zac, raise it and sip.
The tall, dark, ravishingly good-looking Zac Estall stands, adjusts his jacket and walks imperiously to my table.
‘It was presumptuous,’ he says. ‘After all, you might just be here for the music, but I’ve been stood up.’
‘I wouldn’t say I’ve been stood up,’ I say. ‘Rather, I’ve been let down.’
‘Would you mind if I join you? Maybe for a little character assassination?’
‘Why not? Killing people is always preferable to killing time.’
Zac sits opposite me in a velvet armchair. He leans forward and appears panther-like in the darkness.
‘It’s a beautiful dress,’ he says. ‘Special occasion?’
‘Well, I wouldn’t wear this just to meet a friend,’ I say, smiling.
Zac laughs. ‘Not unless it was a special friend.’
‘And what’s your story?’ I ask.
‘Dating by app. Digital disappointment.’
‘I’m glad it wasn’t around in my formative years,’ I say,wondering if he’s actually attracted to older women or just sees them as easy prey.
‘It’s a perfect example of overpromising and underdelivering. I’m looking for a deeper connection, even if gloriously fleeting.’ His blue eyes stare into mine, and I nearly gasp. He is, quite simply, edible.
‘How fleeting?’ I ask.
‘Oh, you know. More than a swipe and less than a proposal.’
‘I’m Lalla, pleased to meet you.’
‘I’m Zac, and inordinately pleased to meet you.’
‘I’m married. And you may think me depraved that I was here waiting to hook up with an old flame, but it’s purely to support my fragile ego, which has been ravaged by age.’
‘I think your ego needs to look in the mirror.’
‘That’s very kind, but life has a way of chipping away at you,’ I say, and sip my cocktail.
‘And serendipity has a way of putting the pieces back together.’
‘Is this serendipitous?’
‘Two disappointed voyagers thrown together. Two peas in a pod.’
