A wave of heat engulfs me, likeI've stumbled into the blast radius of a flame thrower. "I have not."
"Who is it?"
I am such an idiot for underestimating her. I should know better. Of course she'd back me into a corner in less time than it took me to not think through my line of inquiry. "No one. I haven't been fishing."
"Is it Mistral?"
"Mistral?" I say in utter disbelief. "What on earth gives you the impression I'm into Mistral?"
"I don't know. You know what they say about people who work together."
"No. What do they say?"
"I don't know, but probably along the lines of 'they inevitably end up fucking’."
Suddenly I feel on safer ground, like I've been frantically treading water and can now touch the bottom. "Is that right? Let's put your theory to the test with some empirical evidence. Exactly how many colleagues have you 'ended up fucking'?"
She raises a hand and counts off on her fingers, "Andrew Gillespie and Paul Langlands when I worked at Phoenix Group in Exeter, Mike somebody from Marketing when I briefly worked at that tech firm, and some really tall Norwegian bartender when I did some waitressing at uni. Enough 'empirical evidence' for you?"
"You don't remember his name?"
Bess points the pen at me. "Don't you dare shame me for not remembering his exotic and barely pronounceable Scandi name. Men forget the names of women they've slept with all the time and aren't made to feel ashamed about it."
I hold up my hands. "Fair enough."
"So are you?"
"No! I am not hot for Mistral!" I hold back from adding she seems to have a thing for Lutek, because that would be gossiping when the only clue I've had about it wasn't much of one.
"Who is it, then?"
I down the rest of my G'n'T in one. "I think I've had enough fun for one evening." I push myself to standing.
Bess laughs. "I'll get it out of you one way or another."
I have no doubt and absolute fear that she will.
Chapter twenty-two
Ed
I'vejustsettledinfor a post-dinner episode ofBake Offover a cup of tea when there's a knock at the door and muffled voices outside.
Opening it, I find Jeanette, Carlos, Lutek, Mistral, and Elly with Jackson on her hip. I know immediately what's coming.
"I don't want to have to make this decision," I say, moving to close the door. "Go away."
"Wait!" says Jeanette and steps into the doorframe. "We'resosorry, my love. You have no idea."
The desire to push against her and force her backwards is thwarted by Elly stepping in close behind her before I can entertain it.
"Yeah," she says. "Mistral's a complete arsehole."
"It's true," agrees Mistral from the back of the pack.
"I'm not even talking to her anymore," says Elly. "Not directly."
"I am," says Lutek, "but I'm not happy about it."
